Epilogue
One Month Later
Katalina couldn’t quite believe they’d pulled it off. There were people here actually here enjoying themselves. She wandered through the party filled with pack members from both Dark Shadow and River Run. Listening to their conversations and their laughs, provided a sense of contentment she’d yet to experience. Music pulsed through the air, the timbre resonating through her blood. The huge fire crackled and spit, casting its warmth and glow over them all and the smell of food wafting through the air, mixing with the scents all around her made her sigh with satisfaction. Over the past month, she’d grown into her wolf. Sometimes, it amazed her, seeing how different the world was through the eyes of her wolf; the wolf used more than just sight. Scent, sound, touch, all of these things guided her through the woods, through her new life.
Someone called her name. Katalina paused, looking for the face to match the voice. Her hand raised, a smile spreading across her lips. “Hey,” she called back, carrying on with her wandering. Being an alpha’s mate wasn’t the easiest of titles to have. She sometimes felt as if she’d had ten years put on her overnight. Pack members from both Dark Shadow and River Run came to her for advice. They asked her opinion on the situations of everyday pack life. This new life was so vastly different from her old one, but in many ways, it felt completely right. She might not know anything about the way a pack should be run, but she had her ‘real world’ opinions, and so far they’d got her through some pretty difficult situations.
“Kat! Kat!” A second later, Toby’s arms wrapped around her shoulder. “Come with me to get some food! I’m starving. Just come off my patrol.”
Katalina changed her direction, smiling at Toby’s infectious enthusiasm. “So how was it? All quiet?”
“Yeah, some of the old fogies from Dark Shadow are hanging around the borders. The idiots are missing out on this awesome party! Seriously, Kat, this was the best idea.”
“Thanks, Toby. I’m pretty pleased with the outcome. Is Cage coming?” she asked hopefully.
Smile dropping for a second, Toby answered sadly, “No, he’s doing double shifts. I don’t think he’ll come after.
“Do you think he’ll ever forgive me?” she asked, feeling responsible for hurting Cage.
“I’m sure he will, Kat. Let’s not talk about him now. We’re at a party,” Toby replied, brightening.
“Katalina.” She’d hear that voice anywhere, through the loudest of parties, the biggest of crowds. Her smile changed as she sought him out, her Shadow Wolf. He still took her breath away. Her heart raced when he returned her smile, contentment filling her soul.
“Go on then!” Toby grumbled. “I’ll grab food and come find you.”
“Okay.” She planted a kiss on his cheek, hurrying off. “Hey, you,” she murmured, wrapping her arms around Bass’s neck, “finished all your important alpha duties?”
“Just one more left,” he breathed into her mouth, before claiming her lips with his.
“Oh, what’s that?” she asked, hoping he didn’t have to leave again.
“To keep all the wandering eyes off my beautiful mate.”
Katalina laughed as she dropped her hands away. “Come on. Nico has claimed the best seating.” She took his hand and pulled him toward the far edge of the party.
Nico sat lounging on a sofa, his eyes fixed on a girl who stood by the fire.
“Who’s that?” Katalina whispered as they approached.
“Oh, that’s Olivia. Nico’s had a crush on her forever.”
“She not feel the same?”
“She’s pure blood. Nico’s half.”
“So! That’s not an explanation!” Katalina snapped.
“No, not any more, my feisty girl,” he chuckled.
Katalina jabbed her finger in his side and ran off laughing. She jumped onto the sofa next to Nico. “Hey!”
“Hey, yourself,” Nico answered.
“So, ‘bodyguard extraordinaire’, why don’t you stop staring and go talk to her?” Katalina teased.
“Talk to who?” Nico asked.
“Olivia,” Bass answered for him.
“Stop telling your mate all my secrets!” Nico grumbled. “And I’ll talk to her when I’m good and ready. No interfering, you two.”
Katalina laughed, ruffling Nico’s perfectly styled hair, much to his disgust. “I have magic powers, Nico. He can’t help but tell me.”
“You two are disgusting, you know that.”
“You’ll be disgusting, too, when you’ve finally worked up the nerve to speak to her!” Katalina countered.