Chapter 110: Chapter 110

Everyone looked at him, startled.

“I’ve been through hell. My life as a Rogue was horrible, especially for the first few months on my own. Moving to Moonstone saved me in more ways than one; they sheltered me, they gave me a place to call home. Everyone but Zale disliked me; well, that was until…” he drifted off, looking at Suki, who finally chose to look at him once again with tear-stained eyes. “Things changed when I experienced the bond. Suki believed in me in a way that no one else ever had my entire time as a Rogue. And Reynard.” He looked at him. “Rey shouldn’t have believed in me at all when he learned the truth, but he did.” He breathed, “We all share this bond, and I care deeply for them. I can’t lose them, not now when we’re all finally coming to terms with our connection.”

Suki stepped away from Rey and closer to Brendan. “But, Brendan, your pack, your family, your home.”

Brendan stepped closer to Suki and held her chin. “You are my home. Both of you.” He looked at Rey and smiled. “In terms of my family…” He swallowed the fear in his throat and faced Alpha Conri. “Alpha Conri, Alpha Wilder?”

Alpha Conri crossed his arms. “Yes?”

“With both your permissions, may I suggest something somewhat… crazy?”

The two Alphas exchanged a look and nodded to Brendan to continue.

“I would like to stay here, in Moonstone, as a permanent resident.” Brendan watched as his parents looked at one another, concerned and saddened – they thought they were losing two sons after all. He quickly continued before anyone could say anything, “But I would also like to be a permanent resident of Nighttide, with permission to come and visit my family as frequently as I possibly can.” He smiled confidently and nodded his head to the side. “And perhaps improve my shadow magic skills too while I’m there.”

For a moment, both Alphas stayed silent.

“You realise it’s not normal for werewolves to have dual-residencies for packs, correct?” Alpha Wilder interrogated.

“Yes, sir, but–”

Alpha Conri interrupted him, “We don’t migrate from one to another unless it’s for one’s mate bond, and in those cases the mates agree to one permanent residence. Nighttide is still sealed within its shadow borders. You cannot leave when you wish.”

Brendan gulped down the last shred of his confidence on the matter.

“However,” said Alpha Wilder. “You did contribute to saving the entire werewolf race.”

His eyes widened slightly, glistening with hope, but he fought to hold it back, not wanting to raise his hopes.

“It could be useful to have a member of my pack who could ensure our alliance with Moonstone is staying strong, and what better way to do so than having someone who is a resident of both packs? What do you think, Brendan?” offered Alpha Conri.

“I… I would be honoured, Alpha,” he bowed.

Arching a brow, Alpha Conri stepped towards Brendan. “We’ll work out a system that works best for the safety of Nighttide and allow you to come and go somewhat freely, as well as allowing your companions to occasionally visit too. I expect you to train harder than ever for this position. Do you understand?”

Brendan smiled. “Yes, sir.”

“Good.” He mirrored a fraction of Brendan’s smile and turned to the rest of the room. “Now, I must go tend to the warriors I’m distributing to aid all the packs in need, as well as ensure the transfer of our prisoner is running smoothly.” He bowed his head in farewell. “Alpha Conri.”

He bowed his head in return. “Alpha Wilder.”

Facing his mates, Brendan was greeted by Suki and Reynard, who hauled him into a warm and joyful group hug.

✧ ✧ ✧

It was over. It was finally over. They saved the werewolves from extinction, and they were free to be together. Forever.

“I couldn’t be happier right now,” Suki wept happy tears, wiping them away as they all left the Wilder manor and walked through the village, where it was slowly becoming peaceful once again.

“Me too,” said Rey, looking at his phone. “My uncle said he’ll come for dinner after he’s dealt with one more urgent task but will need to go back to helping seal the borders after.”

Brendan held his sister, who was falling asleep in his arms, not wanting to part from her brother. “That’s great. Suki, what about your father?”

She hummed, “He agreed and was keen to end our phone call so he could call the restaurant to reserve the best table for all of us. Oh, and he’s already ordered the soufflé and tarte tatin for dessert.”

“Such a posh Beta-daughter,” Brendan said flirtatiously.

Meeting her eyes with his, she retorted, “Don’t forget, you’re a Beta again now, Brendan.”

Taken aback, he tilted his head. “Oh, yeah. That’s going to take some getting used to.”

Suki smiled, then looked down at Katherine. “How’s she doing?”

“Tired,” Brendan’s father replied as Brendan handed her to him. “It’s been a crazy few days. Plus the long trip here and it’s going to be a long trip back too.”

Brendan cleared his throat. “It’ll be late after we have dinner; you should stay here.”

His mother placed a hand on his back. “Sweetheart, we don’t want to impose.”

“I have my own place that the Alpha gave me. It’s not huge, but it’s big enough for all of you to stay for tonight and any other night you want to visit.” Brendan smiled at his mother, appreciating her aged radiance. “It would be nice to have more time to catch up.”

“That would be lovely, thank you, son. Besides–” She turned to face Suki and held her hands. “–I would love to get to know all about this mate of yours, or I should say… mates.” She grinned at Reynard. “Very handsome mates.”

A faint hue of pink hit Reynard’s cheeks.

“Yeah, what can I say, I’m a lucky–”

Shouting and screaming drew all their attention.

Down in the village, close to the entrance of the pack, stood Alpha Conri and his warriors, leading a chained-up and muzzled Hadeon into an armed truck to escort him back to the Nighttide pack. A few witches and werewolves were screaming and crying at him, loathing him for all the pain and suffering he had caused.

Seeing him once again, in that moment, Suki realised something that they all had missed.

“Wait!” she cried out, sprinting towards them. “You can’t kill him.”