Epilogue
Lily
Sunday mornings have become my favorite part of the week. The Haven quiets to a peaceful hum, and our private quarters transform into our own little world.
Today, sunlight spills through the bay windows of our living room, catching the steam that rises from my tea. I’m curled on the sofa, legal pad balanced on my knees as I review policy updates for the Haven’s new outreach program.
Alaric sits in the armchair across from me, glasses perched on his nose as he reads, occasionally looking up to smile in my direction.
Leo moves around the kitchen, the scent of freshly baked pastries filling our space.
And Raph sprawls on the floor near the fireplace, renovation plans spread before him as he reviews the expansion of the Haven’s east wing.
“We could add six more rooms if we reconfigure this corridor,” Raph murmurs, more to himself than to us. His dedication to helping the Haven grow never fails to warm my heart.
I set aside my legal pad and join Raph on the floor. “It’s going to be beautiful.”
He looks up at me, eyes softening. “A beautiful place for people to put themselves back together.” His hand finds mine, squeezing gently.
Leo appears with a tray of pastries, the buttery scent making my mouth water. Alaric abandons his book to join us on the floor, creating a circle of warmth and connection.
Time blurs into a tapestry of small joys—Leo feeding me bites of chocolate-filled pastry, Raph’s arm sliding around my waist, Alaric’s fingers tracing lazy patterns on my knee.
Laughter bubbles up as Leo dramatically recounts his latest kitchen disaster, our voices mingling with the birdsong drifting through the open windows.
Their scents weave around me in a fragrant cocoon, and the bond marks on my neck tingle with warmth.
This is our rhythm now. Just a few months ago, I never imagined I could feel this happy.
A soft knock at the door interrupts our intimacy. Leo rises to answer it, returning with Savannah, her usually composed expression tinged with unease.
“I’m sorry to disturb you,” she says, eyes flicking between the four of us. “But there are two federal agents here asking to speak with Lily.”
My blood turns to ice water. “Federal agents?”
Savannah nods, a tight movement. “FBI. They’re waiting in the lobby.”
Three pairs of Alpha eyes turn to me, concern radiating through our bond.
“I’ll be right there,” I tell Savannah, who gives a quick nod before disappearing back down the hallway.
My Alphas move as one, rising to stand with me. Alaric’s hand finds the small of my back. Raph’s jaw tightens with protective instinct. Leo steps slightly ahead, as if bracing to shield me from whatever threat might be waiting.
The walk to the lobby feels longer than usual, my mind racing through possibilities. What could the FBI possibly want with me?
The agents stand when we enter; a tall man with salt-and-pepper hair and a younger woman with sharp, assessing eyes.
“Ms. Bennet?” the woman asks, her gaze cataloging my three Alphas with professional detachment.
“Yes,” I answer, drawing strength from my Alphas.
“I’m Special Agent Reeves, this is my partner Special Agent Mercer. We’d like to ask you some questions. Privately.”
Raph steps forward. “You can use my office. It’s private.” He turns to me, eyes softening. “We’ll wait outside.”
The agents exchange glances before Agent Mercer nods.
Minutes later, I’m seated across from them at Raph’s desk, my hands folded in my lap to hide their slight tremor.
“Ms. Bennet,” Agent Reeves begins, “we need to ask you some questions about Mari Lawrence.”
The name hits me like a gut punch. I haven’t heard it spoken aloud in months, though it’s lingered at the edges of my mind. Mari, who I bared my soul to before she betrayed me.
“Mari?” I manage to keep my voice steady. “What about her?”
“She’s a person of interest in an ongoing federal investigation,” Agent Mercer says, his weathered face giving nothing away. “This location is the last place we’ve been able to track her.”
I blink twice. “You’ve been looking for her?”
“For nearly three years now,” Agent Reeves confirms.
What follows is a barrage of questions that blur together. They want to know everything: when I met Mari, how close we were, what we talked about, her habits, her contacts, any strange behavior.
I answer mechanically, reliving memories I’d tried to bury. Our late-night conversations. Her sudden interest in my past. The way she’d sometimes stare at me when she thought I wasn’t looking.
And finally, that day. The betrayal. I remember in a flash the tear tracking down her cheek as I passed out.
“Thank you for your time, Ms. Taylor,” Agent Reeves says eventually, sliding a business card across the desk. “If you remember anything else, anything at all, please call us.”
When they leave, I remain seated, staring at the business card in my hand. The Haven was Mari’s last known location. Three years they’ve been looking for her. What is she involved in?
The door opens quietly, and my Alphas slip inside.
“What did they want?” Raph asks, crouching beside my chair, his hand warm on my knee. “Is it about the bank transfer you tricked out of—”
“It’s about Mari,” I interrupt. “She’s a person of interest in some federal investigation. They wouldn’t tell me why.”
My mind spins with the weight of it all, memories of Mari surfacing like ghosts I can’t quite shake.
Alaric leans against the desk, his eyes searching my face. “What are you thinking, Lily?”
I look up at him, then at Leo and Raph, these men who’ve become my entire world. In their eyes, I see unconditional support, unwavering love.
“I’m thinking about helping them find her,” I admit. The words feel strange on my tongue, but right. “I think I got to know her quite well… I mean, I know she betrayed me, but… I have a sense for how she thinks. I could help them track her down.”
“I want to find her and—” My throat closes up. “I need to look her in the eyes and hear why she did it.”