There’s a long moment of silence as both Chloe and Andrei process what I just did.
I feel no guilt.
And certainly no fucking regret.
He not only fucked with my family, he tried to take Chloe from me again.
Andrei breaks the silence by saying, “I’ll make sure the fight is cleaned up. You make sure Mother gets home safely.”
I nod, suddenly eager to check on my other children.
Walking over to Chloe, I say gently, “My love, it’s time to leave.”
Pulling her close to me, I help her step over the dying ghoul.
Tucking her head into my chest, Chloe asks, “What… What do we do about Charity?”
“Andrei,” I say and turn my head toward him. “Is the battle done with?”
“It is,” he says, staring at me with eyes I can’t quite read.
“Send them off,” I order, and move through the door.
Behind me, I hear Andrei start to hum a tune about being a Firestarter.
While in front of me, scattered all over the bowling alley, I see countless dead bodies.
Dav slowly makes his way over to me. Blood is splattered all over his hairy bare chest. He’s picked up a slight limp but otherwise seems whole. He really should have been born a werebear, but I doubt I should tell him that.
Sticking my hand out to meet his, I ask the question that fills me with dread. “How do you and your pack fair?”
“We lost two,” he says, gripping my hand. “But we knew the risks coming into this.”
“I’m devastated for your loss,” I say, and don’t let go of his hand. “Is there anything we can do to help you?”
He shakes his head. “Later, when we’re rooting out the rest of Gentleman Jack’s pack, I could use some backup.”
He said I, not we.
That’s his way of telling me it’s a personal matter, and he would like me, specifically, to assist him.
“I’ll be there,” I say. “We’ll be sending all the fallen to the hereafter with fire.”
“I’ll be taking mine with me,” he says grimly and releases my hand. “I saw Raphael running with a young lady in his arms. He’s got the berserker in him, doesn’t he?”
Nodding my head, I say, “He’s found his soulmarked.”
“Good. I set my second on his tail. He’s the fastest one in the city. We’ll keep his scent and make sure he’s got cover if needed.”
That takes me back for a moment, but I can feel the genuine care in his words.
I pull Chloe tight against me. “Dav, I can’t thank you enough for that.”
Nodding his head, Dav turns towards a couple of his guys. The wolves have bodies slung over their shoulders—their dead.
“We’re heading out, Asher. I’ll call if there are any updates.”
“One thing,” I say before he can walk off. “What do you know about witches?”
Dav freezes instantly.
Slowly turning back to me, he says, “If there’s a witch alive in this city, I’d rather be on the other side of the planet. Do we need to relocate?”
“I don’t know.” I motion to the surrounding mess. “But we’ve been getting a bad vibe.”
“Keep me up to date,” he says then sharply shakes his head. “I need beer and red meat.”
I look to Chloe once he walks off and growl, “The Order is next. Their fucking days are numbered. They will pay for all of this shit.”
Chloe frowns, her eyes full of worry. “What about what Dav said? Is it safe to stay here? Shouldn’t we leave?”
“No,” I say. “This is my city now, and I’ll be damned if anyone fucks with it.”
Chloe stares at me, almost in the same way Andrei did, then she nods her head. “Okay. I trust you.”
Leaning down to kiss her, I immediately notice something is… off.
This close, she smells different…
Pushing my nose into her hair, I take deep breath after deep breath.
Filling my lungs with her essence.
Then I jerk back and stare at her in wonder.
“What?” she asks, her eyes filling with alarm. “What is it?”
It takes me a few seconds to answer her, my mind nearly stunned by the sheer joy I feel just thinking the words .
“You’re pregnant.”
Out of all the miracles to come out of this shitty city, this is one I never expected.
Epilogue
Raphael
I’ve tried my best to keep my beast under control, but with the battle raging around me and the smell of blood heavy in the air, it’s no use.
He hungers… he thirsts… for the other half of our soul.
The wolf I killed is only the start, I can feel it in the very marrow of my bones.
More will fall.
More will die.
Every motherfucker that stands in our way will meet their fucking maker in pieces.
A roar builds in my throat, and it’s everything I can do to hold it and the beast back.
Being this close to her now… we are enslaved to our purpose.
The purpose to find.
Claim.
And be whole.