Epilogue
Fisher puts the last of his and Averie’s bags in the trunk of his car and slams the lid shut. Jeremy claps him on the shoulder, and they start a conversation I’m too far away to hear from my perch on the top step of the front porch on this bright, crisp morning.
Vaden is talking with Averie a few feet away. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but he looks sad, even though he’s trying hard to hide it, and she’s definitely emotional.
The rest of the Blackshaws are standing in small huddles, chatting, yawning, and just being present for this send-off.
No one in this house is an early riser, except maybe Luka and his mate, Eden, who are both so fresh-faced and wide awake that they must have been up for hours.
Talis just looks half-asleep and pissed about it.
It’s been a chaotic couple of days ever since we had a meal to celebrate my pregnancy and Averie and Fisher’s intention to leave for what might be a couple of months or longer.
Averie and Fisher have been busy finishing packing and spending time with Fisher’s dad before they leave.
Fisher’s dad is keeping an eye on Fisher’s house now that I’ve moved into Vaden’s cabin and have no plans to leave it anytime soon.
Maybe after the baby comes, we’ll reassess whether we need more space, but I like how cozy it is, and would happily stay there forever.
Hopefully, by then, Dayne will have finished building bigger cabins in the forest, since there’s no space in the farmhouse if we ever have guests.
Saying goodbye to Averie can’t be easy for Vaden, who will worry about his sister constantly. Averie and Fisher have promised to check in often, and if they have any trouble, we won’t be the only ones rushing to help. The Blackshaws aren’t just a pack; we’re a family.
“You don’t have to work at the grocery store, you know?” Dayne says, sitting beside me on the porch with his sleeping son. “We’ve invested enough over the years to take care of everyone.”
“I need to do it for me, and I like Mart.” I scan my beautiful, tranquil surroundings. “As much as I love it here, it would be nice to be a bit more social in town and get to know the locals as well.”
He strokes Patrick’s back. “Have you made an appointment with the doctor yet?”
I scrunch my nose. “What for?”
He flashes me a grin. “For your pregnancy.”
My eyes widen. “Wait, I can go to a doctor.” I lower my voice, though I’m not sure why. “Won’t they realize my baby is a shifter?”
“Your baby won’t shift until puberty,” he reassures me. “You’ll have a perfectly normal pregnancy. Nothing would make the doctor think they’re anything but fully human. Speak to Talis and Savannah. They see the same doctor.”
I nod. “Thanks, I will.”
He starts to get up, then stops and says, “It’s the best feeling in the world.”
“What is?”
He glances at Patrick, sleeping in his arms, then at Angel, held by Talis. “Being a parent. You have something really special to look forward to. I can’t say I’ve ever been happier than I am right now.”
Gavin calls him over to talk about patrolling, and as he walks away, Vaden appears, plopping down beside me and wrapping his arm around me. “Hey. Sorry I abandoned you for so long.”
Smiling, I rest my head on his shoulder. “You didn’t abandon me. You were saying goodbye to your sister. Totally different things. She’ll be okay. No need to worry that something will happen to her in South America or even Oklahoma.”
He kisses my forehead. “I know. I just wish she was somewhere I could be close if she needs me.”
And South America is so very far away. “She’ll be back before you know it. Have I told you I love you today?”
He chuckles. “Yes, when I was trying to pry you out of bed this morning, but I will never get tired of hearing you say it. I love you too, baby.”
“We'd better hit the road,” Fisher calls out.
He’s stopping by the store to say goodbye to his dad because his dad is already at work, and it seemed pointless for him to drive all the way up here when Fisher would need to pass by the store when leaving town.
Vaden and I get to our feet when a car suddenly pulls up. I didn’t think we were expecting any guests, and from everyone else’s confused expressions, they’re equally bewildered about who’s stopping by this morning before 9.
Jeremy, closest to her, moves to intercept the driver of the blue Mini, a pretty brunette, when she gets out of her car and glances around, as if looking for someone.
“Hey, are you lost?” Jeremy asks her.
Dayne passes a sleeping Patrick to Savannah and moves to the woman, frowning.
“I’m not lost,” the woman says, still scanning us. “I’m looking for Dayne Blackshaw.”
Dayne steps up to her, eyeing her curiously. “You found him. What do you want?”
“I’m Alice, your mate.”
TO BE CONTINUED…