“What point is that?”
Turning to face my father I find the same stoic face staring back at me. The face that I’d seen staring back at me in the mirror since I first witnessed the threat of all I’ve built. A face I’d seen before, over the years, one that when I was young scared me. I had become my father, I truly understand why he was so coldhearted at times. “I will stop at nothing to kill every last threat to my people. I will show no sympathy for their pain. It’s time to send the message that we are ready.”
My father nods and for the first time I see something in his eyes that I’ve never seen before … Pride and acceptance. He fully accepts me as his alpha and trusts that I’ll make them all pay for what they’ve done.
“Lead the way son.” He steps aside and says “show us and we will follow.”
And he will stand by me every step of the way.
As I approach the clearing I see movement up ahead. Not one but several of my clan stand tall and guarded. Ready to pounce, ready to fight, this brings comfort to me instantly. My brothers and sisters, risking their lives to protect those of my mate and our daughter.
Once they realize it is me, I can see them relax.
“Merick,” Luca is the first to approach me, followed closely by Cole and Xander. Each not much smaller than I. When they arrived in town, I admit I felt a small sense of peace. These were the best of the best, members of our pack that are known for their hunting abilities among other things. They trained daily, living their lives in wolf form more than humans. They trolled the world, seeking revenge for the enemies that once attacked. With their arrival came protection, and they are the ones I know would give my girls the security I need for them. They would top at nothing to destroy those saboteurs that threaten us all.
“How are my girls?” Luca stands more than six feet tall, hair as black as coal and passed his shoulders. His blue eyes so light they are almost silver, and a stern look on his face. Never have I ever seen this male smile or laugh.
“The women are inside with them, I am sure doting over the child and ensuring your mate feels a sense of peace.” We’ll have to work on his wording and the desire to fit in. Though some in town know of our powers, there are still those that haven’t a clue. Luca has lived limited time with those other than fellow shifters. “Lots of squealing and awes.”
“Olivia and Taryn,” I correct him and all he does is nod. “Remember we need to appear as though we are nothing more than a close knit family to the townspeople”
“I have no intentions of interacting with the people. I am here to protect.” Again, nothing more than a stiff nod and a stance that shows he is on guard and ready to defend always.
“We’ll work on the cabins, make them suitable for you.” Another nod. My property is large enough that we can build smaller cabins and homes throughout. Many of those arriving have their own means of space, but these three have lived off the land never settling on one place for long, for many years. It’s time I give them some stability and having them here, so close, that is just one more source of security.
I want to build a force around Taryn, one that allows her and our daughter to live as normal as possible. However, I know that no matter how hard I try, I will never be able to give her the peace that she would have been given had I simply left her alone from the start.
“We’re okay, no need to go out of your way.”
“There is, you being here, that is something I will never be able to repay.”
“We are here to protect our pack, it's a job we take very seriously. She may be your daughter, Merick, but she’s the bond that will hold us all together, the one to make us all stronger. Olivia is a gift to all of us, and together we will stand to protect her. We will give her the life she deserves and we will stop at nothing to ensure her safety. She’s a part of our world, and we are here because we want to be.” He and the other shifters disappear into the woods. They’ll stay close by, I’m sure.
This is where we begin, where we are all united as one. A sacred bond formed that will be unbreakable. We are united.
Epilogue
Ryder
I stare across the room as Lily takes Olivia from her mother, kissing the little baby’s forehead. She’s a natural with the child and it fills me with a sense of longing—something I haven’t felt in a long, long time, if ever, when I watch them.
She looks up at me and then looks back down at the baby. I start walking toward them, but Merick steps in front of me. “I need you to go work on him some more. See if you can get him to talk. We don’t have much time before they send others to look for him. We need answers, whatever it takes, we have to make him talk.”
Merick is my best friend, my brother, my alpha—no, I’m not technically part of his pack, but I’ll always follow his lead. When he told me he’d found his mate, the one that was prophesied, I’d felt relief. We’d tried to find her for years before he finally tracked her down. Taryn has always been the missing piece and now it's all falling into place. Our worlds are bonded, we are all as one.
There is nothing that I won’t do for him, especially if it means keeping his
