Alexandra's Legacy

Epilogue

James LeVeau Riley stood with his hands on his hips and looked upward. Stars peppered the night sky, illuminating the dark woods beyond the compound. He watched as Joshua carried his daughter back to their home and shut the world outside.

Alex had achieved her wolf form and was now completely a werewolf. She would grow into her newfound powers in the weeks ahead with her mate by her side. Pride filled him. She was a woman any man would be proud to call daughter.

Joshua had claimed his daughter in the tradition of their people. It was done. He wasn’t sure how he felt about it. On one hand, he was glad to have her settled. On the other hand, his little girl was gone and a grown woman remained. Their relationship would be different from now on.

It was good for both of them. He was looking forward to his first lone run with Alex. She was a beautiful wolf and that wasn’t just parental pride talking. The joining ceremony today had given the entire community something to celebrate. Unfortunately the burial of his brother and sister-in-law would be next.

He sensed a kindred soul in the darkness. He wasn’t alone, but no one approached him. A sense of loneliness washed over him as he thought about his wife, Leda. Even after all these years he missed her. Missed the feeling of togetherness, of solidarity, of belonging that came with loving and mating with someone.

His daughter had that now, and for that, he was eternally grateful. Turning, he headed toward his brother’s house, now his home once again. There was much work to be done. There were still bounty hunters who wanted them dead. And James wasn’t convinced all the traitors had been sniffed out of the pack. They’d need to be extra vigilant. The women and children had to be protected at all costs.

Isaiah watched James LeVeau walk away. He was grateful to the older man for challenging for the position as alpha. If not for him, Joshua would have certainly challenged, especially with possession of Alex at stake. That would have left Isaiah in the position of having to accept the duty of Striker or handing it off to one of his younger brothers, who were nowhere near ready to handle the responsibility.

Just thinking about it made his skin itch. The walls of the compound seemed to close in as they always did. His father had never understood him. No one in his family seemed to understand he needed to be free in order to survive.

Or maybe they did.

Joshua had taken over the position of Striker instead of Isaiah as if he’d been born to it. And not once had his younger brother ever criticized him for stepping aside and not accepting the responsibility. That was good, especially now with everything that had happened. Things would be tense for a while, but they would survive. It was what they did.

His new sister-in-law would help ease Joshua’s burden and for that Isaiah was grateful, because as soon as things calmed down he was leaving for a while. He didn’t know where he was going, only that he needed to get away by himself. The violence was growing within him and if he didn’t get away, he was afraid it might actually hurt someone in his family.

He turned away, ripping off his clothing as he went. He needed to run free and untethered. Shifting as he ran, he disappeared into the thick forest, his clothing left lying in the dirt.