Epilogue
Chad
Six Months Later
The skyscrapers stretch endlessly above us, trapping the summer heat and amplifying the suffocating feel of the city. It clings to my skin relentlessly, and I wonder how I ever called New York home. The streets are alive with movement—honking cabs, street vendors, tourists craning their necks to take in the towering high-rises. It’s chaos. It’s nostalgia. And it’s too damn hot.
I swipe a hand across my forehead, grimacing.
Mason smirks beside me, his easy stride somehow unbothered by the oppressive heat. “Warm?” he asks, his tone light but teasing.
“Warm?” I shoot back, arching a brow. “If your sister were here, she’d say it’s hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk. So yeah, a little more than warm.”
He chuckles, the sound low and lazy like he’s basking in my suffering.
“I did offer to stay at the hotel,” Dean pipes up, his voice smooth as ever. He’s on Lakelyn’s other side, strolling like this heat doesn’t exist. “Air conditioning. A bed. Nothing but each other’s company. Sound familiar?”
“Tempting,” I admit with a glance his way, unable to hide the faint grin tugging at my lips.
Lakelyn ignores us both. Her wide eyes are fixed on the glittering chaos of Times Square, where massive LED billboards light up the streets like midday. “This place is insane,” she breathes, turning in a slow circle. “I think there are more people on this block than there are in all of Blue Ridge.”
She’s not wrong. The streets swarm with bodies, voices layering over one another in a constant hum of activity. Once, this was my refuge—a place to blend in, to disappear. But now, it’s different. Now, the crowd feels distant, the noise muted, because my focus is on them.
I glance at Mason, his broad shoulders relaxed as he takes in the sights. At Dean, who leans closer to Lakelyn like her gravity is irresistible. And at Lakelyn herself, who’s still marveling at the city like it’s something out of a dream.
I let my gaze drift back to the skyline. New York isn’t home anymore. Home is wherever they are.
With a quiet sigh, I catch up to Lakelyn and thread my fingers through hers, my other hand brushing against Mason’s as we fall into step. Dean meets my eyes and smirks, like he knows exactly what I’m thinking.
“Alright,” I say, feeling the city fade. “The faster we get to Lilah’s place, the faster I’m out of this heat.”
“And the faster we’re back in the hotel,” Dean quips smoothly.
Lakelyn swats his arm, her playful grin matching the warmth in her voice. “There is more to life than sex.”
“True,” Dean nods with mock seriousness. “But we’ve got a lot of time to make up for.”
Mason chuckles, his laughter deep and low, and I can’t help the smile that tugs at my lips. It’s tempting— too tempting—but I reel it in, focusing instead on the towering building we’re approaching.
The high-rise is more than impressive, even by New York standards. Polished glass reflects the city back at itself, and the sleek marble entryway gleams under the afternoon sun. A uniformed doorman steps forward, holding the heavy glass door open with practiced ease as we approach.
“Afternoon,” he greets, giving us a polite smile.
“Thanks,” I reply, leading the way into the cool, air-conditioned lobby. The sudden chill is a relief, and I take a deep breath, feeling the sweat on my skin start to dry.
Lakelyn lets out a soft gasp beside me, spinning in a slow circle as she takes in the space. “This lobby alone is bigger than my whole apartment used to be,” she mutters.
Dean leans toward her, his voice low and teasing. “Think of it as inspiration. Maybe Lilah can hook us up with a real estate agent while we’re here.”
Mason snorts, shaking his head as he presses the button for the elevator. “Yeah, because a penthouse in New York is exactly in the budget.”
“It could be for a few months,” I say, as the elevator dings almost immediately, its gold-trimmed doors sliding open.
We pile in, and Mason hits the button for the penthouse.
As the elevator ascends smoothly, Lakelyn peers over at me. “Do you think she’ll like me? Should I be worried?”
“Worried?” I repeat, smirking. “Not at all. She’s just excited to meet you. The unicorn that caught my attention. It’s a big deal.”
The others laugh, and the tension in my shoulders eases. When the elevator dings again, we step out into a wide hallway with double doors at the end.
I knock twice, and after a moment, the door swings open to reveal Lilah looking effortlessly glamorous in a casual tank top and shorts. “You made it!” she says, pulling me into a quick hug before gesturing us inside.
Her penthouse is…breathtaking. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame a view of the sprawling city skyline, the streets below a blur of motion. Modern furniture fills the space without feeling cold, and everything—from the glass sculptures on the side tables to the massive abstract painting on the far wall—screams money. It’s everything I used to crave.
“Wow,” Lakelyn breathes, walking toward the windows. “This is…insane.”
“Isn’t it?” Lilah beams, clearly loving the reaction. “Come on, let’s sit down. Drinks? I’ve got a bottle of champagne chilling.”
I follow the others into the living room, sinking into the plush sofa as the city stretches endlessly behind us. The view is spectacular, but it’s the warmth of my pack close by that makes me feel grounded. For the first time today, I feel like I can truly relax.
“Rafe and Miles are still working. They’ll be home soon,” Lilah says, stepping into the living room with a bottle of sparkling water in one hand and glasses in the other. “Elliott just ran to the store for some snacks.”
She perches on the armrest of a nearby chair, her gaze sweeping over the four of us with a knowing smile. Her eyes linger on Mason, who has made himself comfortable beside me.
“I’m so happy you didn’t let him run,” Lilah adds, her grin widening.
Mason wraps his arm around my shoulders and presses a kiss to my temple, his lips warm against my skin. “He tried.”
“I believe it,” she replies, her laughter light and teasing.
The sound of the front door opening interrupts the moment. “I’m back!” a voice calls out, unmistakably cheerful and bright.
Elliott walks in, balancing two grocery bags in his arms. His easy smile lights up his face as he takes us in. “Oh, good! Everyone’s here already.” He sets the bags on the kitchen counter before striding over.
“Finally meeting in person!” he exclaims, opening his arms as if he’s about to hug everyone at once. “Mason, Dean, Lakelyn—this is long overdue.”
Dean raises an eyebrow but shakes Elliott’s hand firmly, the ghost of a smirk tugging at his lips. “Good to put a face to the voice.”
Lakelyn laughs, stepping in next. “And to finally meet the person who convinced Chad to move back to Blue Ridge.”
“That was a team effort,” Elliott replies with a wink.
“It was the show, not you three,” I say before he can say anything else.
He smiles at me before turning to Mason. “And you must be the infamous Mason.”
“Infamous, huh?” Mason chuckles, gripping Elliott’s hand. “I’m sure Chad exaggerated.”
“Not at all,” Elliott says with a playful grin. “You’re exactly as he described.”
Before Mason can fire back, the door opens again. Two more figures step in, one with a confident stride and an air of quiet charisma, the other with a warm smile that immediately puts everyone at ease.
“Look who’s finally here!” Lilah announces, rising from her seat to greet them. She presses quick kisses on their lips, and I can’t help but smile at how happy she is. A completely different person from the girl I met that first day of Omega in Paradise.
Rafe, ever the picture of effortless charm, waves casually. “Sorry for the delay. Got caught up on set.” He moves toward us, his handshake firm but friendly as he greets everyone. There’s no arrogance in his tone, just an easy self-assurance that makes you forget he’s one of the most recognizable faces in the world.
Miles follows, adjusting his glasses and giving a sheepish grin. “And I got stuck in traffic. Typical New York, right?”
Elliott claps a hand on Miles’s shoulder. “Better late than never!”
Introductions go quickly, everyone settling into an easy rhythm despite the newness of it all. Mason, ever the observer, seems to relax a little more with every word exchanged, though his arm stays draped protectively over my shoulders.
Rafe takes a seat across from us, his sharp eyes glinting with humor. “So, how’s life in Blue Ridge treating you all? Adjusting to the quiet after this chaos?”
Lakelyn laughs, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I wouldn’t call it quiet. Let’s just say our lives got a lot more interesting when Chad arrived.”
Miles chuckles softly. “Sounds like you’re keeping busy.”
Dean leans back, his arms crossed, but his tone surprisingly light. “It’s been…different. But good.”
“Different is good,” Rafe agrees, raising his glass in a mock toast.
As the conversation flows, Elliott disappears into the kitchen and returns with snacks, passing them around like he’s known my pack forever. It doesn’t take long for laughter to fill the room, the easy camaraderie making the penthouse feel less like a stranger’s home and more like a shared space for old friends.
I glance around, taking in the scene—the pack I’ve found in Blue Ridge and the connections that brought us here. It’s surreal but comforting, a reminder of how far I’ve come and how much more there is to look forward to.
Mason catches my eye and smirks, leaning close to whisper, “Think they’ll survive a visit to Blue Ridge?”
I grin, nudging him with my shoulder. “Guess we’ll find out.”