Epilogue

Frowning, Sam twitched her leg. Something was tickling it, disrupting her concentration. She was lying on her stomach in bed, laptop in front of her as she finished going over the contract Sinclair had sent her and…

The tickling sensation returned.

Absentmindedly, she reached back and waved her hand in the general direction of her leg again. The deal she’d worked out with Sinclair to lease part of her territory should prove to be financially beneficial to the pack. They’d spent the last three months hashing out all the details, but she wanted to make sure Sinclair hadn’t slipped something extra in at the last moment.

Some might say she was over-cautious, but she still didn’t completely trust the—

Damn! Was that a fly walking on her or…? With a growl, she swung her hand backwards and promptly connected with something hard.

“Hey!”

“Damien!” She rolled onto her side to find her mate sitting beside her on the bed giving her an affronted look and rubbing his cheek. Last time she’d checked he’d been sleeping beside her.

“Why did you hit me?”

“Why were you tickling my leg?”

“I wasn’t tickling your leg. I was blowing on it.”

“Technicality. Why?”

“Because the back of your thigh is irresistible, and it leads to other, even more irresistible places.” He gave her a crooked grin and she couldn’t help but smile back.

Reaching over, she closed her laptop and then settled on her back. The contract could wait. Damien had apparently woken in a playful mood.

“Other irresistible places? I’m not sure what you mean.” Sam blinked at him innocently.

A mischievous glint appeared in Damien’s eye and she could feel a quiver of excitement starting within her. In the short time they’d been together, her mate had proven to be an adventurous and extremely skilled lover.

“It would appear a demonstration is in order.” He leaned over her and kissed the juncture of her neck. “This spot here is one of my favourites.”

She gave a contented sigh as he murmured against her skin.

“Right here, your cleavage, is very irresistible to me.” He nuzzled the gaping neck of the shirt she wore. It was one of his that she’d donned as a nightshirt; she loved having his scent wrapped around her.

“My boobs aren’t big enough to have cleavage.” She pointed out.

“They’re perfect to me. Just like the rest of you.”

“Perfect? Really?” She rolled her eyes.

“Are you doubting my judgement?” He cocked an eyebrow at her.

“Well…”

Damien shook his head and continued his inventory of her charms not stopping until her entire body tingled and she was squirming in anticipation of where he’d next focus his attention.

Suddenly, he sat up. “What about you? Do you find any part of me irresistible?”

A snarl of frustration escaped from her throat. “Damien, that isn’t nice!”

“And since when have I ever been nice?” A smirk curled his lips.

“It would seem a certain co-Alpha needs to be put in his place.” Abruptly, she pushed him onto his back and began to tickle him mercilessly.

He laughed and attacked back, the two rolling like pups on the mattress. Eventually the game grew sensual and soon they were kneeling, facing each other.

“I love you, Sugar.”

“I love you, Damien.”

Face to face, equal. It was her favourite way for them to come together. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers lightly brushed the mark of their blood bond. It was on the opposite side of his neck from Beth’s. She hadn’t wanted to erase the other woman’s memory. Beth had helped make Damien the man he was now.

Sam leaned forward and kissed her mark. She still marvelled at how a blood bond could multiply the pleasure both partners felt. Her need was his. His tension was hers. Together as one they’d climb to the heavens then hover on the edge before giving a unified shout and crashing back to earth.

It was perfection, the way they—.

The doorbell rang.

“Damn.” They swore as one, eyes meeting, equal looks of frustration on their faces.

“We could ignore it.” Damien suggested. “Someone else will answer.”

“No one else is home except us, and Grandfather and Florence; they’re both resting right now.” She’d made her peace with the old man—sort of. As Damien had pointed out, you never knew when someone would be gone forever. Holding onto old hurts didn’t prove anything.

The doorbell rang again.

“Maybe whoever it is will go away.” Damien nibbled at her neck.

Sam sighed regretfully even as she angled her head to allow him better access. “You’d better see who it is.”

Damien grumbled but got up. “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll get rid of them and be right back.”

“Hurry!” She urged him as he left the room. Lovemaking seemed a lot more interesting at the moment than going over legal notes.

 

Damien stomped down the stairs. His afternoon delight with Sam was being interrupted and he wasn’t happy. He’d arranged for everyone to be away for the day and now some door-to-door salesman was going to ruin everything. Funny how he’d never given much thought to the restrictions a pack placed on an Alpha’s sex life. There was always someone around, always someone wanting to talk to you. He and Sam really needed to look at reorganizing the house so they had a wing to themselves. A sound-proofed wing.

The doorbell rang again just as he reached the front entryway. He jerked the door open.

“Yeah?”

“Damien Masterson?” A tall rugged-looking man eyed him up and down. A Lycan. Older, with a scar on one cheek. He looked vaguely familiar.

Damien gave a brief nod. It was probably someone from Lycan Link sent to check up on him. His name might be off the most-wanted list, but he had no doubt they still kept close tabs on him.

“Good.” Without warning, the man slugged him in the jaw.

The unexpected greeting had him staggering backwards into the doorjamb and the other fellow grabbed him by the throat before he could react.

“What the f—” Even before he could finish his curse the Lycan replied.

“My name is Stone. Did you work for Deirdre?”

Damien stiffened, wary of the man. Elijah Stone. Deirdre’s mystery partner. “Why do you want to know?”

“If you did, I might have to kill you.”

“Do you get a lot of positive responses with this warm friendly manner of yours?” Damien quirked a brow, refusing to acknowledge the man’s scare tactics. Breathing was overrated anyway, or so he tried to tell himself when his comment resulted in the man tightening his grip.

“Just answer the question.”

“You seem to already know the answer, but yeah, I was stupid enough to work for her.”

Stone slowly released his grip and stepped back, arms held loosely at his side, his gaze assessing.

Damien straightened and tested his jaw. It wasn’t broken, but the man had a damned good right hook. “Interesting way you have of greeting people.” Stone didn’t react to his snide comment, so Damien tried again. “If you’re here to kill me I’d suggest we take this out back. Too many human witnesses.” He gestured towards the street.

Stone didn’t turn to check behind him. “Deirdre said you’d quit. Why?”

Realizing he couldn’t distract the man, Damien sighed and answered his question. “Let’s just say I saw the error of my ways.”

A sneer twisted the man’s mouth. “Poetic, but what the hell does it mean?”

“It means I was fucked up and the whole organization was, too. I finally realized it and left.” Damien moved to fold his arms and then thought better of it. He needed to be ready to block another attack. His inner wolf didn’t trust the man before them and neither did he.

“Good answer.” Stone inclined his head.

“Come again?”

Stone didn’t explain, instead seeming to steer the conversation in a new direction. “I’ve been watching you on and off for the past few months.”

Damien frowned, recalling all the times he’d felt he was being watched but had never been able to locate who it was. Stone? But how had the man remained undetected? He hadn’t been using a scent mask…or at least not one that left a flowery trail. “How and why?”

“The how is my secret. The why… Like I said, you left. I wanted to find out why.”

“Deirdre didn’t tell you?”

“We’ve had a…falling out over the direction our organization developed during my absence. I’ve spent the past few months tracking down ex-employees and dealing with them. My way of making restitution for any damage they might have done.”

“Which means?”

“Some lived. Some died.” Stone’s eyes narrowed, a deadly look coming over his face.

“Not the best severance package.” Damien murmured. He had no difficulty seeing this man enact it. There was a cold, ruthlessness about the Lycan that had been evident in some of the men who worked for Deirdre; men for whom life had no meaning, and killing was as much a part of their daily routine as taking a piss. Yeah, Elijah Stone had that look about him with something extra added in; an air of determination that he’d accomplish his mission no matter what obstacle got in his way.

Not even a hint of a smile curved the corner of the man’s mouth. “They got what they deserve.”

“And what do you think I deserve?” Damien flicked a glance over Stone’s shoulder to the street beyond. Traffic was light, a few neighbours were on their porches. Still too many witnesses for the man to kill him on the spot.

 

“Damien?” Sam had grown tired of waiting for him. She’d pulled on a t-shirt and yoga pants and, hearing an unfamiliar voice, had headed downstairs to see who was keeping him from her bed.

As she descended the steps it became apparent it was a Lycan. Male. Powerful. Deadly. She slowed her pace as she analyzed the scent emanating from him. Who the hell was this and what was he doing in her territory?

Her inner wolf raised its hackles, preparing to defend the pack against this new threat and by the time she reached the bottom of the stairs she was in full Alpha mode. Damien tried to pull the door shut just as she reached it, but he was too late. She yanked it out of his hand and then stood in the doorway shooting questioning glances between her mate and the strange Lycan. “Who’s this?”

“An old… acquaintance.” Damien replied, clearly not pleased she’d made an appearance. He tried to step in front of her but she firmly took her place at his side.

“My name is Elijah Stone.” The male eyed her up and down then lifted his chin.

“Sam Harper.” She snorted at his posturing and put her hands on her hips. This Elijah dude was impressive and, if she didn’t already have her own mate, she might have found him interesting. About Damien’s height, solid muscle, dominant. But where Damien’s eyes sparkled, this man’s were deadly serious, almost flat as if he’d forgotten the joy of living; his last name—Stone—suited him. And there was no quirk to the corner of his mouth, no playful sexual aura about him. An order from this man would have most Lycans turning belly up. Good thing she wasn’t most Lycans. “What are you doing in my territory? Passing through or reporting in for a prolonged visit?”

Stone didn’t answer her, instead casting a look at Damien. “You chose well. She’s a good mate for a warrior.”

A warrior? She’d never considered Damien a warrior, but it appeared to be Elijah’s mindset. It would be easy to picture the man in fatigues and dog tags, a gun slung over his shoulder or a knife in his hand.

“We’re good for each other.” Sam stepped closer to Damien, bristling at being ignored. “And you didn’t answer my questions.”

Stone looked at her and inclined his head. “Passing through.” His voice was deep, guttural, and she barely held back a shiver at the sound of it.

“And my severance package?” Damien put his arm around her shoulders, holding her protectively close.

Sam frowned, wondering what was going on. While she wanted to ask, she didn’t want to let on to Stone that she and Damien had any secrets from each other. Damien’s past was something they’d only started to explore. He had a rogue’s natural reluctance to share, and she knew it would take time to uncover all the demons that lived inside him.

Elijah shook his head. “No need to worry. What I’ve observed matches the records I retrieved from Deirdre. You won’t be seeing me again.”

Damien didn’t let his relief show but, because she was pressed against his side, Sam felt the fractional relaxing of his muscles. Whatever this ‘severance package’ had entailed, she didn’t have any doubts that it wasn’t good. And knowing Damien, he would have taken off rather than stay and allow danger anywhere near their pack. Thank heaven she wouldn’t have to go tracking him down again! Another trip to Stump River wasn’t part of her plan. The place was probably still frozen rock solid despite spring being just around the corner.

“And what about the others?” Damien asked. “The rest of the organization?”

“Everyone gets what they deserve in life. I just make sure it happens.” Stone’s voice was as expressionless as his face, but Sam was sure she saw a hint of emotion behind his flat, black eyes. Was it sorrow? Perhaps the man wasn’t quite made of granite. “There’s only one I’m still looking for. A man named Dante.”

“Dante?” Sam looked at Damien. He hadn’t even flicked an eyelash in response to hearing the man’s name. Too bad she hadn’t controlled her own reaction better for Elijah immediately focused all his attention on her.

“You know him.” It was a statement, not a question. Stone narrowed his eyes. “Where is he?”

Damien pulled her protectively closer, a warning rumbling in his chest. “Sam only knows him in passing. Dante came looking for me. And before you ask, we weren’t friends and I’ve no idea where he’s hiding his sorry ass.”

Stone flicked a look between the two of them, seeming to weigh the veracity of their statement and finally nodding. “There’s no scent of deceit about you. I will look for him elsewhere.”

Without another word, he turned and left.

Sam remained silent until Stone was out of earshot and then let free the shiver she’d been holding back. “What was that about?”

“My past. For a minute I thought it was going to bite me in the butt.”

“I’m glad it didn’t.” She reached behind him and pinched his rear. “I’m the only one allowed to bite this.”

“Really?” Her playful attitude helped defuse the tension she sensed in him and a wicked grin curled his lips. “Perhaps we should go back upstairs so you can check the area out.”

She laughed and he swung her into his arms and spun her around. As he turned to carry her inside, she caught a glimpse of Elijah, now nearing the end of the street. There was a deadly determination about the man, but also a sadness.

Silently, she wished him luck. Everyone deserved to be happy in life, even those who seemed to be made out of stone.

 

~ FIN ~