Quinn's Quest

Epilogue

Bethany sat at the table with the rest of the pack, feeling more at home than she had since she’d first stepped foot into Haven. That was Quinn’s doing. She couldn’t believe he’d told her he loved her. They were mated now. Not just physically, but for real. Committed to one another.

Another night at work had come and gone and the bar was closed. It had become a ritual for all of them to spend a few minutes sitting around and talking about the day’s events. They were also waiting for an update from Damek.

Bethany crossed her fingers, hoping the vampire had come up with some new information.

She looked around at all the faces that had quickly become so familiar, so dear to her. Meredith sat beside Isaiah at the head of the table. Bethany had no idea how the other woman dealt with the alpha. Frankly, sometimes the sheer force of his power scared the heck out of her. But when he looked at his mate she could see the softening in his eyes and that made her like him.

Hank sat a little away from the rest of them, deep in thought about something. His blue eyes watched the door, waiting for Damek to arrive. She’d always thought he was the most intense of the bunch, after Isaiah, but it had increased over the past few days, ever since their last failed attempt to rescue Chrissten. She wondered if he thought about Chrissten, worried about her.

The others sat around chatting and laughing and teasing, just like a real family.

They were all so different, some pureblooded and others half-breeds, yet there was no denying the unbreakable bonds that existed between them. And they’d all put their lives at risk to help her and to help rescue Chrissten. She felt lucky and honored to know them.

Isaiah chose that moment to raise his head and stare down the table at her. She froze in her chair, feeling much like a small animal must when faced with a rather large predator. Her heart took off, like a racer hearing a starter’s pistol. Even though he’d been nothing but kind to her, she didn’t think she’d ever get used to this fearsome male.

Quinn’s arm was draped over her shoulder, his body angled protectively close to hers. He sensed her unease and gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze as if to remind her she no longer had to face the world alone.

“Do you have anything you’d like to announce?” The corners of Isaiah’s mouth quirked slightly, as though he was trying to hold back a smile.

She glanced up at Quinn, who stared back at the alpha. “Bethany and I are mated.” The pride in his voice warmed her heart. She reached for his hand beneath the table. His fingers closed around hers and squeezed.

Of course all of them already knew they’d mated. There was no fooling a werewolf’s sense of smell, and Quinn’s scent was all over her. Plus the debilitating heat had passed, leaving her satisfied and content. But this was the official announcement and it would ease the tension between Quinn and the other single males, or at least she hoped it would.

“Congratulations.” Meredith’s excitement was genuine, which helped Bethany to relax even more. She’d wondered what the older woman’s reaction to the news would be, considering Michael had shown an interest in her.

She glanced at Michael and he inclined his head toward her and then Quinn, seeming to resign himself to the news. They accepted the quiet congratulations of the rest of the pack. It was official now. No going back.

They’d already told Craig. It seemed only fair to tell him before they made their announcement to everyone else. He’d studied her with his calm blue eyes. Then he’d reached out and hugged her, welcoming her to the family. Family. She hadn’t had that in a long time.

“He’s coming.” Hank got up from the table and made it to the door before Damek opened it. The vampire scowled at Hank as he swept inside. Hank simply shut the door and leaned against it, arms crossed over his chest.

Damek’s gaze went straight to her and Quinn and he delicately sniffed the air and smiled. She wanted to bury her face against Quinn. Knew her face was red. She knew the pack could smell Quinn’s scent on her where he’d marked her as his. She should have realized the vampire could smell it too. Thankfully, he said nothing, and his discretion impressed her in spite of herself. It seems the vampire was a gentleman at heart.

“I haven’t picked up the scent of anything yet.” Quinn stiffened beside her. “But,” Damek continued, “I have not given up hope.”

Craig stood and offered Damek a sheet of paper. “These are some possibilities for a van that Quinn saw speeding from the scene. He only had a partial plate, so this is as far as I can whittle it down.”

Damek took the list, scanned it and handed it back. “I’ll have some of my people look into this and call before dawn with whatever I learn.”

He whirled away and headed for the door once again. Bethany was beginning to learn that Damek was a man of few words, especially when he meant business. She wondered why the vampire always came to the bar with news rather than calling. Maybe he was lonely. Whatever the reason, she was glad for his help, in spite of the fact he was one scary male.

Damek cocked his eyebrow at Hank, who was still leaning against the door, blocking it.

The two men stared at one another for a long moment. Power snapped in the air and Isaiah slowly pushed away from the table and stood, ready to defend the younger wolf if it became necessary. Werewolves and vampires were natural enemies, or had been before bounty hunters had started destroying them all. The alliance between them was uneasy at best.

As though the two of them had come to some unspoken agreement, Hank slowly inclined his head to Damek and shifted out of the way, opening the door for the ancient vampire.

In the blink of an eye he was gone, melted into the darkness beyond. Hank closed and locked the door again.

“Well, that was interesting.” Meredith released a breath. “I need a drink.”

Isaiah laughed, leaned down and kissed his mate. “I can do better than a drink.” With that, he scooped her into his arms and headed for the doorway that led to the apartments. Meredith called her goodnights over his broad shoulder.

The rest of them laughed and the group broke up. Teague and Neema quickly disappeared, followed by Kevin and Benjamin, but not before they all offered their congratulations to her and Quinn.

Michael stopped in front of her and she tensed. He offered her a grin. “Too bad he met you first.” With that, he leaned down and kissed her full on the lips. It was so fast, she didn’t have time to react before he retreated.

Quinn growled. “Do that again and I’ll rearrange that pretty face of yours.”

Michael grinned. “Fair enough.” He thrust out his hand. “Congratulations.”

Quinn stared at it for a moment and then took it. They did that male shoulder-bump thing that manly men did.

Bethany shook her head. She’d never understand the workings of the male mind. One minute they could be ready to kill one another, the next they were best buddies. Michael lightly touched her shoulder and then left them to head upstairs.

Hank was the last of the pack to stop in front of them. “We’ll find her,” he promised. “We’ll find Chrissten.”

“Thanks.” Quinn offered his hand to the other male. They shook and Hank nodded to her before following the rest.

Then it was just the three of them. Craig seemed so alone among all the werewolves. Not that he’d ever said anything, but Bethany knew he’d have to feel strange about it all. Reaching out, she hugged him. “Thank you for accepting me into your family.”

He returned the embrace and whispered in her ear. “You make him happy and he deserves that.”

Bethany’s eyes stung and she nodded. This family needed to be whole again. And they would be. She truly believed that.

“Come on, baby. Let’s go to bed.” Quinn wrapped his arm around her waist and urged her toward the stairs. He glanced over his shoulder at his younger brother. “You coming up?”

Craig waved his hand. “In a bit. I have a few things I want to check out.”

Quinn frowned and Bethany sensed his concern for his sibling. “Don’t work all night, okay?”

“Don’t worry. I’m fine.” With that parting statement, he disappeared down the hallway into Meredith’s office and shut the door behind him.

“I’m worried about him.” Quinn stared at the closed office door.

“I know.” There was nothing either of them could do. They were all dealing with Chrissten’s loss in their own way. “We’ll keep an eye on him.”

“Have I told you lately how much I love you?” he asked. He brushed his lips over the top of her head and the hand on her back pressed her closer to his side.

“Hmmm, maybe not in the last ten minutes,” she teased.

He grinned and scooped her into his arms. “I’ll have to do something about that.” He carried her up to their apartment and into their bedroom. He kicked the door shut, keeping the rest of the world at bay.

As he lowered her to the bed, he said the words she’d never get tired of hearing. “I love you, Bethany. You’re my miracle. My hope.”

“Oh, Quinn. You’re mine. I love you so much.” Their lips met and her body heated, ready to show Quinn just how much she loved him.

Down the hall in another apartment, Hank lay on his bed and stared at the ceiling. He could hear Kevin settling down on the couch out in the living room. Feminine laughter filled the air and a door was slammed shut.

His arms were locked around a pillow. He buried his face against the white cotton and inhaled, trying to block out the noise from the happy couple in the apartment down the hall. He didn’t begrudge Quinn and Bethany their happiness. He wanted the same thing for himself.

“I’ll find you, Chrissten,” he vowed.