Page 101 of Hunted

Epilogue

River

Eleven Months Later

SUNSET IN OCTOBER OUT ON MY PARENTS’ RANCH had always been one of my favorite things about fall in Texas. There was just something about this time of year that stirred my blood. Maybe it was the crisp, cool bite to the air or the gorgeous high cirrus clouds that formed gauzy streaks over Lake Buchanan. Or maybe I’d just always loved watching the sky turn brilliant hues of orange and gold before fading into the dark blue of twilight.

The scent of crushed leaves decaying underfoot made me think of pack hunts as a family out on the back acres of the ranch. Simple times when everything had been easy and uncomplicated. Now four of my brothers were mated to the best damn partners I ever could have hoped for them to find. I’d been transferred to the Austin field office. Ellie and I had moved into our townhome together and were part of the North Austin pack.

And in just a few minutes, I would officially be her mate.

The backyard out underneath the live oaks had been turned into an enchanted kingdom, all thanks to Hayden, Rowan, Jori and London. They’d spent all day stringing the trees with wispy white fairy lights, setting out chairs and double checking with the florist that there were actually going to be enough rose petals. Meera and Piper had been on pergola duty, helping West and Topher carefully drape layers of white silk across the wooden wedding arch August had designed and built as his gift to us, before festooning it with white lilies and pale pink roses.

London: Two minutes, Caldwell dudes. Be late, and there will be no more jokes about last minute outfit changes from the ladies, or how long it takes us to flat iron our hair. Looking at you, Deputy Hot Pants!

Brody: Wouldn’t think of it. And your hair is always gorgeous, babe.

“We’re up, gentlemen,” I announced to my brothers. “Any last words of advice?”

“Seeing as all seven… make that eight of my sons,” my dad nodded to Topher, “are about to be lined up in front of half of Blood Moon, let’s try not to end this thing with a brawl.”

“I mean, I just don’t know.” Dallas let his head hang back. His dirty blond hair was tied back in a neat man bun and like the rest of the groomsmen, he had on a charcoal gray suit and a silver tie. “Maybe West should stand between me and Ethan for old time’s sake.”

Ethan smirked. “You gonna make your wife come bail you out of jail when she’s five months pregnant? Pretty sure you won’t be getting any of those fancy key lime pie cupcakes she sends over to The Spoke on nights you have to work late after a stunt like that.”

“For the record, sometimes she fills them with chili powder—”

“They say there’s a pot for every lid,” my dad muttered, never having understood Dallas and Lacey’s epic pranking, particularly when it wound up involving calls to the fire department. “Get over here. That tie’s crooked.”

“Yessir.” Dallas flashed me a wink. I rolled my eyes, glad I wasn’t having my tie redone for the fourth time in half an hour.

Brody tapped something on his phone, then shoved it in his pocket. “That’s our one-minute warning, people. Has everyone got their phone on silent mode? I don’t want to hear anyone’s ring tone blasting out Hit Me Baby, One More Time in the middle of the ceremony.”

West scowled as Topher tried unsuccessfully to smother a cough. “For the thousandth time, I was on call for emergency Major duty. It’s not my fault your golden retriever is a criminal mastermind who was intent on taking out your wedding cake.”

“Shut ‘em down,” Brody ordered in his bossiest Alpha voice to a chorus of grumbles. “No one needs to doomscroll social media that badly. Thank me later.” He turned to me. “You need anything? Big moment, your mating day.”

“Just to see Ellie at the end of that aisle and know that this is real.”

“There’s no feeling like that in the world.” Brody clapped me on the back. “And just between the two of us, try not to faint.”

“Will do.”

“Anytime.” He whistled between his teeth. “That’s it. Time to roll. Line it up, gentlemen.”

We took our places in the front before the pergola. Hayden’s bandmates from Daisy Addiction were singing and playing acoustic guitar. The aisle between the white wooden chairs where our guests were seated was strewn with pale pink and white rose petals. As Ellie’s bridesmaids came down the aisle, I found my parents in the first row. My mother was quietly checking the crowd while trying not to look conspicuous about it, which meant something was definitely up, and my dad was blinking way too fast. Crap. I looked away. If I started crying, West would turn it into a meme before we could even get to the cake cutting.

Breathe, August said silently from beside me as Hayden made her way down the aisle in a swirly pink dress to take her place beside Rowan as maid of honor. Don’t lock your knees. We both know West will put it on YouTube if you pass out.

I literally hated all my brothers right now.

And then Ellie appeared at the end of the aisle, flanked by Piper and Meera. Her dress was sleeveless and off the shoulder, layers of soft gauzy material fluttering down to a short train. Her hair was piled on top of her head in dark curls, with two chopsticks poking out, of course. My Ellie.

Beside me, Hayden burst into tears. “I thought I could do this. Nothing will ever be the same.”

“You’re not losing her,” I said under my breath to Hayden as Ellie came towards us. “You’ll never lose her.”

“I know that. It’s just everything is changing.”