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Kendra nods, beaming with pride. "They're amazing," she says. "And they deserve just as much credit as anyone else."
Jack leans down and kisses her cheek. "We're all proud of you, Kendra," he says. "You've done something incredible."
Kendra's smile falters for a moment, and I can see a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I just wish Eve could have been here to see it," she says softly.
I take her hand and squeeze it. "I know," I say. "But she's here in spirit, Kendra. And you've done her proud."
Kendra nods, taking a deep breath. "I know," she says. "I just...I wish she was here to see it with her own eyes."
There's a moment of silence as we all sit there, lost in our own thoughts. The city is still in chaos, but for this brief moment, we can forget about what's to come.
What matters is that the biggest fight of our lives is over.
And it's time for the Enclave to reshape the world.
Epilogue
Wewatchasthecity changes over the next few days...as we take our first steps into what used to be New York City Hall. This is where we're going to establish the new government.
Not that we have any say in that. There are others who will take the reins now--activists working with the Enclave. Like Carson said, our crew is more the burn it down type than build it back.
And now...now we decide where we'll make our home in Solstice Bay.
That's how we find ourselves going back to Eve's Apple.
Only a few weeks have passed, but it feels like ages since I first stepped foot in Zane's shop, barefoot and bleeding and begging for his help. Everything in the shop has changed; the ACB ransacked it looking for us when we escaped, and it's a complete mess. I squeeze Zane's hand as he stares at the life he built, smashed up and ruined.
I know we can rebuild...just this tiny little space for us.
The four of us set to work right away, cleaning up the debris left behind by the ACB. It's hard work, but it feels good to be doing something productive. Zane is methodical, sorting through the wreckage and deciding what can be salvaged and what needs to be thrown away. I catch sight of Carson and Jack bonding, too...and that makes me happy, because I want my pack to get along. I know that Zane and Carson will come around to Jack; he can be a real pain in the ass, but he's got some really great qualities too.
As we work, we talk about our plans for the future. Carson wants to turn Eve's Apple into a headquarters for our crew, a place where we can gather and plan our next moves. I suggest making it a haven for omegas who want to get a synthetic claiming mark--because packing up should be achoice, not a requirement. There are going to be lots of people out there--women, and the rare male omega--who will still seek refuge.
We can be that place for them.
But first things first...we need a bigger bed.
A nest.
After a night out with Olivia and Jade, celebrating the end--for now--of the ACB, I come home to find the house immaculate, the smell of food wafting from the apartment behind the shop. Jack meets me at the door, where he's smoking a cigarette that he stamps out as I approach.
"Hey, sweetheart," he says, taking my hand with a sly smile. "We missed you."
I raise my eyebrows and glance down at the cigarette butt. "I thought you were going to quit," I tell him.
He shrugs. "Starting now...I'll try. Just need something else to do with my lips and hands."
I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him, his fingers splaying out across my lower back. "I think we can figure that out," I whisper.
"Come inside," he says, his voice low and full of promise. "We have a surprise for you."
I laugh as he pulls me through the door, where I find candles lit in every corner, the lights low and voices coming from the kitchen. "You three weren't fighting, were you?" I chide.
Jack laughs and shakes his head. "Not at all--actually, we're all pretty excited."
"Is that so?"
"Yep," he nods. "Zane's cooking a nice meal for the pack, and then..."
