Epilogue
Three weeks later…
Main Street was already decked out for the holidays. Garlands wrapped around streetlights. Window displays showcased turkeys and cornucopias alongside early Christmas decorations. It looked like something out of a Hallmark movie.
And certainly something Axel’s mate was already obsessing over.
Normally, he would have scowled at the decorations but call him a changed male because he didn’t…
hate it? How could he when Rebecca had already put together a list of decorations she wanted.
Including two Christmas trees, which he planned to cut down himself.
One for their bedroom and one for the great room of their cabin.
Their cabin.
It gave him immeasurable pride knowing the home he’d built with his own hands was now his mate’s home, too. That it would be for the rest of their lives.
He kept his hand at the small of her back as they walked, guiding her around a family with strollers clogging the sidewalk. Late November carried its usual chill. He’d worn a heavy jacket just in case Rebecca got cold, since it didn’t generally affect him the way it did her.
“There’s Frank,” Rebecca said, lifting her hand to wave.
The older man from The Pet Pantry was arranging a display of holiday-themed pet toys in his window. He spotted them and waved back, a broad smile on his face. “Professor Miller! Axel! Good to see you both.”
“You too, Frank,” Rebecca called.
They kept walking, her easy familiarity with the town still something that made his chest tight. She belonged here now. Had carved out a place for herself in a way he never had in two decades of living on the outskirts. People knew her. Liked her.
They passed The Roost, and he felt the shift in her immediately—a tightening, a flicker of something sad and complicated.
His gaze followed hers to the “Seasonal Help Wanted” sign in the window.
A replacement for Iris, who was still awaiting trial.
While Becca had emphatically dropped charges against her, the community college hadn’t.
She was likely facing probation, restitution damages, community service, and possibly a short stint in jail.
Last week, when he’d collected the mail, he’d found a letter addressed to Rebecca. A written apology letting her know Iris was getting professional help. The fallout weighed on his mate, even if she didn’t talk about it. He could sense it through their bond.
“You all right?” he asked quietly.
“Yeah.” She squeezed his hand. “Just hate how everything turned out.”
“Not everything, I hope.” He lifted a teasing brow, hoping to lighten her mood.
“Not everything.” Her smile was soft. “Just, you know.”
He hummed.
They walked in silence for another block, passing more shops with their festive displays. Rebecca slowed in front of Harrison’s Outfitters, studying something in the window—a compass with an ornate brass casing. Beside it, a leather journal and a set of fine pens.
He filed it away as potential Christmas gifts. He already had a very long list and planned to get her everything on it.
“Oh! There they are!”
Axel’s attention snapped forward. Standing outside the Mountain View B&B were two figures he’d only seen in photos—Rebecca’s friend and her mate.
Elle Kennedy was impossible to miss. Cotton candy pink hair caught the afternoon sun, bright against her dark jacket. She was petite—shorter than Rebecca—but the way she bounced on her toes and waved suggested an energy that more than made up for her size.
Beside her stood Bastian Croft—a name he’d heard whispered about in the past. Not surprising considering the goblin had a reputation as a supernatural bounty hunter.
Tall. Broad-shouldered. Arms covered in tattoos that extended from beneath his rolled-up sleeves.
His hair was shaved on one side and long on the other.
Bastian’s intense green eyes currently locked on Axel with the kind of assessment one predator gave another.
“Becca!” Elle launched herself forward and Rebecca let go of Axel’s hand to catch her friend in a tight hug. “Oh my God, I missed you so much!”
“It’s been like two hours since we talked.” Rebecca was laughing, squeezing her friend in a hug.
“You know what I mean,” Elle said as she pulled back, hands on Rebecca’s shoulders, studying her face. “You look amazing. Like, genuinely glowing. Mountain air agrees with you, clearly. Or…could it be—”
“Don’t you dare!” Rebecca cut her off. He didn’t miss the cute flush that crept over her cheeks or the way his mate’s eyes darted to him.
“Oh, fine. I’ll behave.” Elle’s gaze shifted, landing on Axel. Her eyes went wide. “Holy shit, you weren’t kidding.”
Bastian gave a low growl, stepping closer to his mate. “What, babe?” She batted her lashes at Bastian. “I’m allowed to assess my best friend’s mate to determine if he’s up to snuff.”
“And?” Axel couldn’t help but ask, his mouth twitching.
“Oh, he definitely passes the test.” Elle’s eyes were locked with Becca like they were sharing a secret conversation.
Rebecca cleared her throat. “Right, introductions.”
“Axel MacKinnon.” He reached forward, offering his hand to Elle first, as was polite.
“Scottish, right? Becca mentioned the accent.” Elle’s handshake was surprisingly firm.
“Aye.” He shook her hand, releasing it just as quickly before offering it to the goblin.
Bastian stepped forward. “Bastian Croft. Good to meet you.”
Axel shook his hand, noting the strength in the other male’s grip. “Likewise.”
They held eye contact for a beat longer than necessary, silent understanding passing between them. If Bastian wondered about his scar or how he got it, he didn’t make any indication.
“All right, now that the alpha male posturing is done,” Elle said cheerfully, “can we please get food? I’m starving.”
“Lead the way.” Rebecca looped her arm through Elle’s.
They started walking, the women falling into easy chatter. Axel and Bastian followed a few paces behind, content to let their mates take the lead.
“The Timber Lodge?” Bastian asked after a moment.
“Aye. Good food. Quiet.”
“Works for me.”
They walked in silence, watching Elle gesticulate wildly about something that had Rebecca laughing. Through the bond, he felt his mate’s joy—bright and uncomplicated.
“Elle wants to see the cave tomorrow,” Bastian said. “The knife.”
Axel’s jaw tightened. “Rebecca doesn’t want me going back.”
“Not a problem. I can take her.” Bastian casually slipped his hands into his pockets. He didn’t ask why, which Axel was grateful for.
“I can give you the GPS coordinates and you can borrow the UTV at our place.”
“Perfect.”
“Rebecca wants you both over for dinner afterward.”
“That should be fine. Shouldn’t take too long.”
“Good.”
The restaurant was only a few blocks away. Maggie—one of Rebecca’s students’ mothers—greeted them at the door and led them to a curved, corner booth. Axel took the seat on the outside. Bastian did the same from the opposite side. The girls were shoulder to shoulder in the middle.
“So,” Elle said once they’d ordered drinks. “How’s everything been? Really?”
“Good,” Rebecca fussed with the menu. “Really good.”
“And the whole...” Elle made a vague gesture. “You know. Everything with Ambrose?”
Rebecca’s hand found Axel’s under the table. “No issues.”
Elle’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn’t push. “Okay. Good. Let us know if anything comes up on that front. Bastian has plenty of connections.”
“Will do.”
“Glad he got what was coming.” Elle flipped her menu open. “He was such a dick.”
“The biggest,” Rebecca agreed.
“And you?” Elle glanced at Axel. “You taking good care of her?”
He huffed. “Should I prepare myself for the best friend interrogation?”
Elle laughed. “I’m just happy she’s happy. That you both found each other. And happy I get to come visit sometimes.”
The server returned with drinks and the conversation shifted.
Elle dominated most of it—stories about a forged painting she’d authenticated, about her cat Teddy destroying another pair of Bastian’s shoes, to which he grunted with irritation, and about the ridiculousness of academic conferences and how she couldn’t wait to finish her PhD.
Axel listened, content to watch his mate in her element. The way she smiled. How she leaned into him unconsciously. The small touches—her hand on his arm, her knee pressed against his.
Bastian seemed equally content to let Elle talk, his arm protectively draped over the table’s back. Occasionally their eyes would meet, and something unspoken would pass between them.
Food arrived. Elle immediately started critiquing the steak preparation compared to how Bastian would have done it. Rebecca kicked her under the table, which made Axel’s lips twitch.
“What? I’m just saying—“
“Elle.”
“Fine. It’s delicious. Happy?”
Bastian smirked into his drink.
The meal passed easily and the drinks flowed freely. It was comfortable. By the time they’d finished, it was well past dark.
They escorted them back to the B&B. When they reached it, Elle hugged Rebecca again.
“I’m really glad you’re happy,” she said quietly.
“Me too.”
Elle pulled back, then surprised Axel by hugging him too. “I’m so glad she found you.”
He was more glad than he could ever put into words.
Bastian shook Axel’s hand. “Tomorrow. Nine?”
“Works.”
Then they disappeared into the B&B, leaving Axel and Rebecca alone on the sidewalk.
“That was such fun,” Rebecca said on a long sigh.
“Aye.” He was surprised by his own admission. He liked Bastian. The male wasn’t one for small talk and he appreciated that.
“Elle likes you.”
“Does she?”
“Trust me. If she didn’t, you’d know.” Rebecca leaned into him. “What did you think of Bastian?”
“He’s all right.”
Rebecca laughed. “So verbose! So...you like him?”
“Aye.”
She smiled up at him. “Good. They’re important to me.”
“I know, lass.”
They started walking back to where he’d parked the truck. The streets were quiet now, most shops long since closed. Their footsteps made clipped sounds on the sidewalk.
“Elle invited us for Christmas,” Rebecca said after a moment. “To Walton.”
“Heard that.”
“Would you want to go?”
He stopped walking, turning her to face him. “Wherever you want to be is where I want to be.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the only one that matters.” He cupped her face. “You want to spend Christmas in Walton with your friends and family? We’ll go. You want to stay here? We stay. You want to go somewhere else entirely? We’ll figure it out.”
Her eyes went bright. “I’m thinking...maybe we stay here this year and then Walton next year? We can take the bunnies in their carrier.”
“Traveling with the little snacks. Sounds perfect.”
“Yeah?” She caught her lip between her teeth.
“Aye.” He kissed her softly. “Now come on. Let’s get home.”
Home. Where Basil and Sage waited. Where her books filled his shelves. Where they’d built something together that felt permanent and real.
“Home,” she agreed, taking his hand.
They walked back to the truck and he slipped his coat over the thinner sweater covering her frame, just to be sure she was warm enough. There weren’t any clouds tonight. The stars were bright overhead and the air crisp. His mate’s hand was warm in his. The bond between them hummed with contentment.
He’d spent centuries convinced his story was winding down. Now he knew it had only just begun.
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