Epilogue
“Where is he?” Ren murmured to Mars.
“I don’t know,” Mars said low, scanning the forty people laughing, drinking, celebrating and dancing at Dame and Misty’s reception. “He hates weddings.”
“Since when?” Ren whispered.
“Since this morning. That’s what he told me.
He said, and I quote, ‘Weddings give me a migraine, and I hate all this mushy shit’ and then he said, ‘before I flip every table in here, I’m going to be mature and take some space, because I’m not getting yelled at by Ren again.
’ And then he told me not to tell you about it, which, obviously I tell you everything because we are living this life together, woman. ”
She fluffed her flowy lavender skirt and huffed a laugh. God, Stellan was a splinter, but over the past few months, they had grown a weird friendship. It mostly consisted of them trading insults, but whatever.
“I keep finding myself at weddings with you,” she mused.
“My forever wedding date,” he said easily.
Oh, he looked so handsome in his black suit, matching his brothers.
His dark hair had product in it today, and was all sexy-messy, and his blue eyes were darker.
His animal wasn’t ramped up. Mars just looked relaxed and happy.
The last three months had been the happiest of her life by far. Even Mom was warming up to him.
She couldn’t believe she got to be his. She couldn’t believe Mars was hers.
Just the thought of how deeply she’d fallen for him, and for this Ambush clogged her throat with emotion.
Ren slid her hand against the crook of Mars’s elbow and rested her cheek against his arm as she watched Misty and Dame dancing in the center of the dance floor.
Misty looked so beautiful in her white flowing dress, and her radiant smile every time she looked at Dame.
She loved their love story.
Mars kissed the top of her head and slid his arm around her, squeezing her tight to his side as she slipped her arms around his waist. “Prettiest forever wedding date,” he murmured.
She pulled her attention away from Misty and looked up at her mate. That man never failed to wake the butterflies in her stomach.
She lifted up on her tiptoes and kissed him. His hand went gentle to her cheek, and God, she had never loved anyone or anything this much.
“Okay, can we tell her now?” came Misty’s voice, breaking the spell between Ren and Mars.
Confused, Ren eased out of the kiss and frowned at Misty and Dame, who were heading their way. The song had transitioned to a new one, and there was a spark of excitement in Misty’s eyes Ren didn’t understand.
“We shouldn’t do it without Stellan here,” Dame said.
“He would be pissed,” Mars agreed.
“What’s going on?” Ren asked.
“He’s at the bar,” Misty said, pointing to the back of the room.
Ren snorted as she spied Stellan pouring his own shot while the bartender was busy. “Of course he is.”
“Come on,” Misty said excitedly, grabbing Ren’s hand.
Confused, Ren allowed herself to be dragged toward the bar. She glanced over her shoulder at Mars, but he and Dame were smiling, and they were following closely behind.
“Look,” Misty said, “I wanted to tell you days ago, but the boys said you would be mad at me making my wedding about you, and that we had to wait until after the wedding, so I did. I have kept my mouth shut for three full days, and it has been torture!”
“Wait, is that why you haven’t been talking to me?”
“Yes! I am terrible at keeping secrets!”
“I thought you were mad at me for something,” Ren uttered as they sidled up to Stellan.
“No,” Stellan said sternly.
“What?” Misty asked.
“No to whatever you are about to ask me. The wedding is over. I’m off the clock.”
“Fine,” Misty said, grabbing a bottle of champagne and a stack of red plastic cups from behind the bar. “Hi Gary.”
“You having fun?” the bartender asked.
“I’m having the best day of my whole entire life.” Truth.
Ren grinned and then laughed as Misty handed the cups to Dame and grabbed her hand again.
“Where are you going?” Stellan asked from behind them.
“To tell her,” Misty called out without turning around or slowing.
Ren heard a muttered curse from Stellan, and when she turned to see if Mars was following, she noticed Stellan had stepped into line with the other Ledger brothers.
Whatever was happening, the entire Ambush was ramping up with excitement, and now all the boys’ eyes were glowing brighter.
Misty took them right outside the venue and to the tree line. There was a picnic table there, and she set the champagne down and turned to Ren, gripped her arms firmly and looked her in the eyes. They were rimmed with moisture. What was happening?
“Ren, we found out some stuff. We have been digging since the day you let us in that you are a Half-Cat, and we found something big.”
“What?” she whispered thickly, her heart picking up its pace.
Misty inhaled a steadying breath and blew it out. “You’re always going to remember this moment, so I don’t want to say it wrong. I don’t want to mess this up.”
“Okay. What is it?”
“Mars found out who your father is.”
The blood drained from Ren’s face, and she glanced over at Mars. His eyes were like blue flames right now, and he was looking at her so intensely.
“Okay, who is he?”
“His name is Grady King. He’s the leader of his Prowl.”
“His Prowl?” Ren asked, not understanding.
“Panther.”
Ren dropped her gaze to the bejeweled embroidery on Misty’s dress, then back to her friend’s eyes. “So, I’m…?”
“You’re a panther.”
Shock consumed her. She wouldn’t have guessed it. She had imagined she was a tiger but had never had any clue of what she actually was. She had just needed something to believe.
“There’s more,” Misty said, her eyes so full of emotion. “Your father didn’t know about you. He had no idea. He wants to meet you as soon as you’re ready.”
“He does?” she asked.
“Misty nodded. Your mom already knows. I talked to her about it yesterday and she’s wrapping her head around some things, but Grady really wants to meet you. He never knew he was a dad.”
“I was the one who talked to him,” Mars said low. He nodded comfortingly to her. “He seems good. He seems genuine. If you don’t want to meet him, you don’t have to. But if you ever do, he’s waiting.”
“What the hell?” she said, her breath hitching as she backed to the picnic table and took a heavy seat. “Okay,” she uttered, mind racing. “Okay. I would’ve been a panther.”
“You are a panther. You’re a Cat. Your animal is a panther.”
“If I had an animal.”
Mars was the one who knelt in front of her now. “There’s more.”
Her eyes burned with emotion. How could there be more?
Mars ran his thumb under her eye, catching a tear. “I can Turn you.”
Those four words in that combination made no sense.
He repeated them. “I can Turn you.”
“To a tiger?” she whispered.
“No,” he said, shaking his head slowly, his glowing blue eyes boring into her.
“I can wake up your animal. Half-Cats can be Turned by Cats, but for them, it’s an awakening.
And it isn’t even a near death experience like a normal Turning of a human.
You’re already halfway there. I have talked to three Half-Cats who have been Turned by their mates, and they’re normal Cats now. ”
Ren’s face crumpled and she shook her head, denying the truth. Couldn’t be. Couldn’t be.
“Hey,” Mars whispered, his eyes filling with emotion as he wiped tears before they could streak all the way down her cheeks.
“You can stay a Half-Cat if you want. You can. I love you either way, it does not matter to me. But someday, if you want to meet your Cat, and you want to Change with me, and you want to kick Stellan’s tiger’s ass… ”
She laughed thickly as Stellan muttered, “She can fuckin’ try,” behind Mars.
“…then I can Turn you. I have asked all the questions. I know how to do it.” Truth, truth, truth, truth.
No more Almost-Changes? No more questioning who she was, or where she belonged? She could be a normal Cat?
“Would I still be allowed in your Ambush?” She asked. “Since I’m not a tiger?”
“I’m a human and I’m in the Ambush,” Misty pointed out. “Pretty sure you could be a frog shifter, and you’ll still be with us. We are stage five clingers.”
“I’m not,” Stellan said, but there was a lie in his voice.
“This is your big day,” Ren told Misty, admonishing her. “This isn’t supposed to be big moment for me.”
“And that’s why the boys made me promise to wait until after our nuptials. I’m totally good with us sharing the happiest day ever.”
She really loved her friend. Ren kissed Mars and nuzzled her cheek against his hand, then stood and hugged Misty. And then Dame. And then she squared up to Stellan to fist-bump him, but he shocked her to her bones and hugged her. “I’m still going to call you a Fake Cat,” he said low.
“And I’m still going to call you a dipshit.”
He huffed what almost sounded like a laugh and then ended the hug abruptly and pushed her toward Mars. “I hate when women cry.”
Ren rolled her eyes and looked up at Mars, who looked so content, and happy right now. So steadfast.
“You had me from day one, didn’t you?”
A slow smile stretched his lips. “I didn’t understand it at the time, but yes.”
“You were never my hunter, and I was never your Rabbit. You are going to be my Maker instead, aren’t you?”
God his smile was consuming. He dipped his head once. “It would be my absolute honor.”
She couldn’t even imagine the bond they would form when he woke up her panther. She couldn’t even imagine it. But she was ready. She was excited.
“Oh, I forgot,” Misty said from where she and Dame were pouring red plastic cups of champagne for a toast.
“There’s more?” Ren asked.
“Guess what two of the Half-Cats Turned Cats had?” Misty asked.
She had no idea, so Ren shrugged. “What?”
Misty turned toward her and handed her a cup of champagne, and her eyes were so soft as she said on a breath, “Kids.”
Oooooh. Oh. Ren’s face crumpled and she fell to the ground. Just…hit her knees. “Don’t,” she said mindlessly. “Don’t.”
Mars knelt down and pulled her against him, kissed her on her temple once, twice, three times. “Completely healthy, no losses. As long as they are both Cats, cubs are viable. Their cubs are grown, and healthy.”
Her shoulders shook with her silent sobbing.
Her Ambush was breaking her in the best way right now. In the best way.
She could have it all? She could have Mars, and Misty who had become her best friend?
She could have Dame and Stellan at her back?
She could have her place in the Ledger Ambush?
She could have her animal? She could Change with the man she loved?
She could meet her father? And then she could possibly have babies with the man she loved?
“I hate when she cries,” Stellan announced. “It makes me want to kill someone.”
“Well, I’m pretty sure they are happy tears, so no murder is necessary,” Misty explained as Ren melted into Mars’s arms.
“That’s a thing?” Stellan demanded. “Happy tears? How dumb.” He grabbed the bottle off the table and shoved it toward them. “Let’s get this stupid toast over with. I want to go home.”
Dame and Mars chuckled, Misty griped at Stellan but handed out the plastic cups, and Ren struggled to her feet and tried to keep her mascara from running onto her pretty bridesmaids dress.
Mars put his cup near Stellan’s half-full champagne bottle.
“To the next nine months before we meet here again. To the amazing changes that we can make. To Misty, who is now an official Ledger, and to her and Dame’s big day.
Welcome to the family, Misty. To Stellan for staying sober enough to not ruin this party. ”
“Thank you for appreciating the effort,” Stellan muttered, and they all laughed. Even Stellan almost cracked a smile.
Mars looked down at Ren beside him and pulled her tightly against his side. “To my mate and the things we will accomplish together.”
Oh, the promise in his voice.
That man was a fixer. He was going to set everything that had been wrong in her life…right.
“To this Ambush,” Mars finished, lifting his glass a little higher.
And then they took sips to that toast knowing in nine months, for the annual Ambush reunion, they would all meet back here in Salt Lake City, and they would have a new set of stories and accomplishments to share with each other.
Life was good.
It was going to get even better with Mars by her side.
Ren was full of love, hope, and joy.
Mars had given her so much more than he even understood, and she was going to spend the rest of her life making sure he was happy too.
Everything that had been missing in her life was falling into place.
And in this moment, she knew.
She knew without the shadow of a doubt, she was meant to be here, with these people, with Mars. All of Ren’s mistakes and triumphs had led her here, and now she was excited about the future.
Now, she couldn’t wait to experience what happened next, with the man she loved, with the life she was meant to lead, and with the Ambush who had stolen her heart.