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Thompson looked at Paige in my arms, tilting his head. “She has her coven then?”
I smiled. “Yes, she does. She will always have them. They are our family.”
Thompson nodded, walking over and picking up the dress from the cave floor. “Then her family is pack. We will accept them just as the Rigel pack accepts the witches of their city into their pack.”
I watched as he folded the dress, draping it over his arm. As he noticed me watching, a pink hue tinged his cheeks. “I would like to place this dress in a grave plot next to Markus. Although they are together on the other side, I would like for them to have some symbolic resting place for our pack to visit.”
I smiled at the Beta and nodded. “That is a great idea, Thompson. I’m sure the pack will be happy for the answers and to know their late Alpha and Luna are reunited.”
“Thank you, Alpha. Then I’ll join the others unless you need me for anything here.”
I shook my head. “No, go and help clear out the caves. You may spread the word of what had happened to the others. I think it’s only fair that they know the truth about Markus and Silva.”
The Beta nodded, turning and running to join the others, Silva’s dress folded delicately on his arm. I remained in the open cave, Paige resting in my arms. She looked peaceful, all the problems and worries gone from her face as she slept in my embrace. After some time, the caves began to quiet, the screams of vampires gone and the echoes of wolves reuniting replacing them. I decided then to rejoin the packs, careful not to wake my sleeping mate.
I gave the area one last look, my gaze following the flow of the waterfall, watching as the moonlight reflected off of the water at the top. It was a beautiful space, and I had every intention of returning. The cave needed a new energy, and making this a meeting place for all the San Diego packs seemed like the perfect way to do just that. When I stepped out of the cave, cheers greeted me, their sound waking Paige. She looked around the area and sighed with relief as her gaze landed on children clinging to their mothers.
“We did it,” she breathed, looking up at me.
I carefully sat her back down on her feet, smiling back at her. “You did it,” I said. “Without you, we never would have found them. We never would have known where to even look.”
“He’s right,” Alpha Alexander said, stepping forward with Chase and my uncle at his side. “We were at a complete loss before you came along. I’m sorry we didn’t trust you before; we could have saved everyone months ago.”
Paige’s smile saddened as she shook her head. “No, the fates decided that this was the time for me to help. I hadn’t known anything until Markus took me. I understand now why that was.” She turned to me, smiling with tears in her eyes.
We left the caves after that, making our way through the forest in the dark. Many of the packs shared space in their vehicles for the rescued wolves, each taking those who had lived closest to them before they had been taken. Madilyn and Thompson rode with Paige and me.
“Paige?” Madilyn asked once we reached the city. She and Thompson had been whispering back and forth since we started driving, seeming to try and understand what she had told the Alphas back in the cave.
“Yeah?”
“Why did the fates wait until Markus had taken you? You said you understood now. Is it simply because the witch Silva had been his true mate?”
Paige let out a sad sigh, tracing shapes in the window of the passenger seat. “Yes, partly.”
“Why wouldn’t the fates have revealed this to you after he chased you on the beach?” Thompson asked. “Markus could have been reunited with Silva then.”
Paige looked back at him and shook her head. “He never could have been reunited with her in life, Thompson. Not after she had taken in as much dark magic as she had. All it would have done is leave him broken-hearted. He would have been forced to watch her leave just as he had gotten her back. This was the only way for them to be together again in the end.” She looked out the window. “It was far less cruel for him to die first.”
The car grew quiet, heavy with her words on our minds. No one spoke again until I made the exit towards Point Loma and away from Oceanside.
“You’re going to the other packhouse, Alpha?” Thompson asked with concern. “The pack will want to see their alpha back at the packhouse.”
“All of my things are still at the Coronado Packhouse,” I replied. “As are Paige’s things. We need to grab a few things before we head back. This will also give the pack time to clear out Markus’s things from the Alpha’s apartments.” I looked in the review mirror at Thompson, raising my eyebrow. “They will also need to prepare a room for Madilyn. You and she will be co-Betas from here on out.”
Thompson pulled out his cellphone and typed out the orders to the rest of the pack. “I understand, Alpha. I’ll tell the pack to have everything prepared for your arrival.”
I smiled and nodded. “Thank you.” I looked at Paige beside me, her smile greeting me.
“I think we need to plan a stop at my parent's house before we go to any packhouse,” she said, touching her stomach. “I still have some special news to share with them.”
I smiled back, reaching over and placing my hand over hers. “We’ll do that first, then.”
“I’m gonna meet Paige’s family?” Madilyn asked excitedly, poking her head between us.
I shoved her back into the backseat with a playful growl, the car filling with laughter.
“Ama is going to go nuts when she finds out we’re having a baby.” Paige sighed happily.
