Later, much later, when the events of that winter were nothing but memories, I went back.
I stopped in front of the tree and stared down at where Livingstone lay.
From the earth, wild roses had bloomed, covering his final resting place.
The petals were thick, the vines tough.
The thorns sharp.
CASWELL WAS IN AN UPROAR.
They’d felt the moment their Alpha had left them.
They thought he’d died.
They were confused. Scared. I couldn’t fault them for that.
They looked to Joe. “Show us,” they begged. “Show us.”
He did. His orange eyes. And he said, “It was always supposed to be me. Ever since I was born, I was told I was going to be this person. This figure. This Alpha. I’m sorry if you think I’ve failed you. I’m sorry if you don’t understand. I don’t expect you to. But you are never alone. You will never be alone. This line of kings and queens, of wolves and men, it was never the be-all and end-all. There will be others. I promise. I am here for you. We all are.”
“We don’t have an Alpha!” a man in the crowd shouted. “What are we supposed to do now?”
Joe nodded. “This is a new future, and one you can decide for yourselves. In my time as the Alpha of all, I learned more than I had in all the years before. We’ll find someone to take my place. Someone who loves you as much as I do. My father told me something once. He said that the measure of an Alpha is not the power they wield, but the strength of their pack behind them. And you are strong. I know that now more than ever.”
IT WAS SPRING WHEN the garage reopened.
We all gathered on Main Street, the scent of new brickwork and paint strong and pungent. The buildings that had been damaged in the fight against Livingstone and his wolves had all been repaired, but it’d taken longer for the garage.
I found Gavin in our room beforehand, standing in front of the mirror, scowling at his reflection. His hair was a little longer, and he was starting to fill out, losing the gaunt, haunted look on his face. But the scowl was familiar. I hoped it always would be.
“There you are,” I said. “We gotta get going. Can’t be late.”
“I know,” he muttered. “I’m almost done.”
I went behind him, settling my hands on his hips, hooking my chin over his shoulder. He leaned his head back and sighed. I bit back a growl at the sight of my mark on his skin.
“What’s wrong?” I asked him, watching him in the mirror.
He was quiet for a moment. Then, “Big. Today feels big.” Words were coming easier to him. He was still prickly and blunt, but more and more of him was coming out. I couldn’t wait to see all that he was.
I shrugged. “That’s because it is. Your first day on the job. Gainful employment and all that. I’m a city employee, so my salary sucks. You’ll need to support me. Fair warning, I have very expensive tastes.”
He rolled his eyes. “You sure don’t dress like it.”
What a dick. Of course he’d be mine. “You really need to stop listening to Rico. I’m a humble man.”
“Bullshit. You’re a stupid man.”
“Stupid Carter,” I teased him.
“Exactly. Stupid Carter.”
I waited, giving him time to say what he needed to. I wasn’t usually a patient person, but I was learning to be because of him.
He said, “Gordo wants me there.”
“He does.”