Chapter 35: Thirty-five: Epilogue.

Daniel was nervous.

As such he was pacing  back and forth in his hotel room, the old brown checked curtains mocking him from where they hung. He felt like this day had dragged on and on to get to this point. He just wanted to see his mate already.

Sammy had demanded he give her the afternoon alone with her brother, and that Daniel should entertain himself, until she and Dax had gotten a proper catch up, prior to their official introduction.

But, Portland was more than boring for a wolf who liked open spaces. Buildings, in a built up area did nothing for him, no matter what was inside them. Therefore, Daniel was going out of his mind, and practically clawing the walls.

After another half hour of pacing, he finally heard it, the familiar footballs that belonged to Sammy Gray, but she wasn't alone. He was sure he wasn't meeting Dax, until later, when they met for dinner.

Daniel practically leapt to the door in one bound and ripped it open, wanting to find out who was with his mate instead of himself.

"Right on cue," Henry laughed, unkindly, rolling his eyes as he spoke.

"Shut up, Henry." Sammy chided him with a scowl.

Daniel frowned, "What's going on?" He asked suspiciously as his arms automatically opened to welcome Sammy home to them.

Her scent and the softness of her body settled his agitation immediately, as the walls stopped feeling like they were trying to close in on his lupine self. If Daniel had Sammy, then all would be fine.

"I found him in the lobby. No idea why, he wont say." Sammy shrugged, cosying in to Daniel, her own self filled with a pleasant relief as they embraced.

"I don't have to reveal my business to you," Henry scoffed.

"Also, he's in a pissy mood. But, I promised Grams and Bast, I would give the loser a chance, so, are you alright if he joins us for dinner?" Sammy asked Daniel.

Henry scowled, reining back a growl, and questioning whether he should be relieved he never grew up with Sammy as an annoying little sister. But, he shook the idea away, as he thought of the love and acceptance she had brought them all in the last six months.

"As you wish," Daniel answered her, blatantly nuzzling the spot on Sammy's neck where he had left his mark and making her body shiver involuntarily.

He smirked at Henry when his jaw tensed. He understood why he was hesitant about mate bonds now, but what Henry didn't realise was that Daniel was just as much at Sammy's mercy as she was at his. Maybe even more so.

But, understanding and dropping the rivalry between them, were two completely matters. Especially when Henrybtried to denounce their connection at every possible opportunity.

He squeezed Sammy tighter for a moment, desperately wanting to run his tongue along her skin and taste her, before he forced himself back, "Shall we go?" He asked.

"As soon as I'm changed," Dammy smiled, slipping past the two growling men. "Don't worry, I won't take long. I'm starving too," she called back to the door.

It took Sammy five minutes to slip on her cocktail dress, and heels. Another two to loosen her blonde hair so it was cascading down her back and a total of three to freshen up her almost non existent make up.

Sometimes it paid not being a girly girl. But, still her appearance had Daniel thinking he should get changed too, his trousers felt way too tight suddenly.

"Dax is looking forward to meeting you, and I'm looking forward to the tripple chocolate cheese cake on his specials menu." Sammy smiled as she spoke, grabbing her mate's hand while ignoring his obvious tenting issue, and pulling him into the corridor beside Henry.

Daniel laughed at Sammy's sweet tooth, as they all headed out, and back down the ridiculously beige hotel corridor, towards the elevator. It took him a whole thirty seconds to regret saying yes to Henry accompanying them. Sammy's dress was backless, her skin screaming at him to touch her. But her big brother was also present in that elevator.

Fate was a cruel bitch.

It took them another agonising forty-five minutes to arrive at Dax's restaurant. Forty-five minutes, where Daniel kept getting lost in the conversation while he thought about fucking skunks!

Outside the restaurant was a fair queue, and bot Daniel and Henry were shocked at Sammy's sudden confidence, when she walked up and straight in the door behind a security guard who didn't even blink at her.

However tonight, that's where her luck seemed to run out. There was a new hostess, and Sammy had to admit it irked her how the woman was openly leering both the men she was with.

"Excuse me?" She barked, to get the woman's attention. "Dax Renton, you're boss, and my brother is expecting us. So, kindly stop drooling over my m...husband and my brother, and show us to a table." She hissed making the woman redden, then frown.

"Dax's sister is a vet in Montana, and last I heard she wasn't married." The woman bit back arrogantly.

Daniel could feel Sammy's anger rising.

"I am that vet, you utter harlot!" Sammy seethed, with a lower yet somehow more threatening voice, "Now, I would hate to cause a scene here, so why don't you run along and find the man himself," she glanced at the woman's name tag, "Alanna." She sneered out her name.

Henry smirked at his sister, he liked her feisty side. But something smelled off in here, he wasn't sure what though.

Alanna sighed, "Look sweetie," she condescended to Sammy, "I'm not pulling my Michelin Star chef boss, out of his kitchen, for an over enthusiastic fan, with delusional ideas about him. Now, if you do not have a reservation, I suggest you leave."

That did it, Sammy actually growled, a noise which startled all four of them. But, unfortunately for Alanna, it wasn't going to deter her. Sammy pushed by the woman making her stumble, as she stormed towards the kitchen.

She was discreet enough to not draw any further attention from the other patrons, and unfortunately for a scrambling Alanna, she couldn't reach the woman who had barged past her, without making a scene herself; mostly due to the two large men blocking her way.

Sammy pushed through the entry door into the noisy kitchen, and screeched out, "Dax Renton, get your ass over here right now, or so help me God, you will need a new hostess, after I hospitalise this bitch!"

The staff burst out laughing, as Alanna came stumbling through the doors.

"You can't be here, I will call the police," she threatened, pausing when the more seasoned staff members began to laugh.

Dax came out from the walk in fridge, "Alanna, meet my sister," he stated without looking at any of them, tio busy engrossed in a jug of white sauce. "Sorry, Sammy she's new."

"Dax get your eyes out of the bechemel and have the decency to apologise with eye contact," Sammy scolded him.

"You're actually his sister?" Alanna almost threw up.

"You were told," Henry laughed at the woman's expense.

Dax looked up at the noise, "It's hollandaise, not bechemel actually," he stated with narrowed eyes. "But I think I'm going to make fresh." He sighed. "Sorry, I'll be a bit late in joining you, Lara is late again; my sous chef."

"Yes I know who she is, Dax, we chat quite regularly." Sammy stated, rolling her eyes.

"What? How?" He suddenly looked at her again.

"Facebook." Sammy shrugged, smiling evily. "Who do you think she bitches about her over bearing boss to?"

Dax frowned playfully, "She must have another job then, because I'm certainly not that." He laughed.

"Sure thing, Dax. Whatever helps you sleep at night." Sammy smirked back.

Daniel was watching their interaction, taking in Dax for the first time, his large brown eyes and dark hair seemed off somehow. But he liked his calm demeanour. However, he was so laid back, it didn't fit at all with the image he held of a top quality chef.

"Out of my kitchen, Sammy!" He suddenly barked. "And take those mammoths with you. Environmental health would shut me down in a heartbeat if they knew there were animals in here," he snapped, his words giving the wolves pause, before he added, "Alanna, get them a table sorted out already!" He added, winking to Sammy with a smirk when everyone else had turned around.

"Yes, Chef." She nodded sheepishly, before scurrying out, her eyes on the floor.

Daniel waited at the door to allow Sammy to walk ahead in front of him, unashamedly watching the sway of her ass in her dress.

But, as alluring as she was even he couldn't help but get the feeling something wasn't quite right here. It put his curiosity on edge; he couldn't detect a threat as such, just an anomaly.

Half an hour later, their first course had just been cleared, and Dax came out and took the fourth chair at their table.

Henry stiffened when he sat, but Daniel and Sammy hadn't noticed, they were too busy smiling at the party's newest addition.

Dax's eyes twinkle as he studied them both.

"You found your mate then, Sammy. I'm glad." Dax simply blurted out.

All three of them froze, eyeing Dax with concern. Daniel and Henry both had several accusations to throw at him, but in a crowded restaurant they were too worried they might growl and reveal themselves if they tried.

"Dax," Sammy stated hesitantly, "What?" She threw out with a slight shake of the head.

"Oh, calm down. There are no humans in here, I'm surprised your two fluffed up guards didn't notice," Dax teased, leaning back in his chair with a cocky smile, "Even my comment in the kitchen didn't rouse your suspicions much?"

"We're leaving," Daniel stated, as he stood up.

"Like Hell we are!" Sammy snorted, yanking him back into his seat, "Dax, explain." She demanded.

Dax smiled feeling Sammy's compulsion wash over him.

"You know, you dont have to go all Alpha on me," He laughed, "Long story short? Werewolves live in solitude and follow their own laws, but that doesn't mean they are the only creatures part of the non-human community. Hell, in here tonight, we have at least three vampires, six sirens, a succubus, I believe you and Alanna are already acquainted. Then there are five fae, eight witches, two banshees, four leprechauns and seven gnomes. Oh, and one other wolf, Lara finally arrived for her shift."

Sammy's skin was crawling, "Dax, what the fuck?!" She asked, feeling hurt at him for keeping secrets.

"Sweetie, you were never abandoned by all of us. The magical community kept you safe, as soon as we discovered you were alone." Dax answered.

"And who are you?" Daniel asked frowning, "Why couldn't you tell her who she really was? Find her help!"

Dax scoffed, "Where do you suggest we started? Her father kept her hidden from his pack! How cruel would it have been to explain it all to her as a child, without need!" Dax snarled back, a wave of power washing over them and silencing the whole room. "Do not question me wolf! I went above and beyond my duty when I found her!"

"What duty?" Sammy asked, her own anger simmering lightly under the surface.

"Exactly. I had none. But, I still stayed

Even when your own father refused to come back again! I kept you safe!" Dax raged, suddenly seeming much older.

Sammy frowned, thinking everything over, before pausing and looking at the man she thought she knew, "And what exactly are you, Dax?"

Dax smiled, "There she is. Now that is a good question. I am known as many things, but there is a reason this restaurant has a killer wine list."

"Really, you want to throw a riddle at me? Just spit it out," Sammy demanded, her fist slamming on the table.

Dax stilled, his face darkening momentarily. "I am Dionysus."

He said it plainly, but some how there was a weight to his words.

Daniel paled, and Henry stilled. Sammy's foster brother was claiming to be a god.

"Oh please," Sammy laughed, you aren't old enough! You forget, I helped you squeeze your pimples!"

Dax rolled his eyes.

"Your third foster home, the nouveau pagan hippy idiots. Always high. They prayed to me. But, I ignored them. Then one day, you found their alter. You asked me, me of all the gods for help. A little half breed she-wolf, abandoned and lost, and your prayer came to me for help. Never in all my life, had something like that happened," The man Sammy knew as Dax spoke of something she had never told him, "You asked for your big brother..."

Henry stiffened looking at his sister like he could see her as a child, tears streaming down a face hidden by matted golden curls.

"Sammy?" He asked, as her watery blue eyes found him.

"I... I had seen you once. I knew that you existed, and I had this idea that while he had left me, you could have saved me. That big brothers could be heroes. I was just a child at the time. But I never told you about that." Sammy stated confused, as she turned to the mysterious male at the table.

"Two days later we met at the foster home, after a police raid was performed on your foster parents. I couldn't give you your brother, but I decided to be your brother instead." Dionysus smiled warmly at Sammy. "I have to say, it is a time I will always cherish, Sammy."

Sammy suddenly felt very small, and Daniel simply wrapped his arm about her, pulling her close enough that he could scoop her onto his lap.

It was Henry who spoke next, "Thank you." He said clearly, eyeing the god in front of him. "It is good to know she was safe after all."

"It was my pleasure, besides I get to keep her first born child as payment. Which is only another eight and a bit months away by the looks of things," he smirked, causing a chorus of stupefied growls. "I'm joking." He bellowed in between laughs, "Well partly, you are pregnant."

Sammy's mouth dropped, "What? How can you even know such a thing?"

"I'm the god of fertility, Sammy, among other things. Trust me I know."

Sammy reached for her wine, her hand freezing midway at the realisation.

"Oh, don't worry, its non alcoholic, I made them switch it before you drank any." Dionysus laughed. "Congratulations." He added wiggling his eyebrows.

Daniel couldn't help but smile at the news, where as Sammy despite her secret joy, looked like she may pass out from shock.

"I'll give you guys some privacy," Henry offered leaving the table and heading towards the men's room.

When he exited into the corridor that scent from Dionysus hit him again. It was clearer this time, and now, he was the one in shock.

It couldn't be.

He followed the smell right down the long red corridor and out the fire exit at the end.

A growl escaped his lips as he stared at the dark skinned woman from his past. After all this time, here she was.

Eloise.

She was stood wearing chef whites, frozen mid sip from a bottle of water, as she stared at him.

"Henry?" She asked in shock.l, her body rippling with awareness at his presence.

He moved so fast she could barely register that he was in front of her. His nose buried against the mark he had laid on her all those years ago.

"Eloise," he practically purred against her, her knees weakening as his arms slipped around her waist, pulling he close.

His mouth was on hers in a flash, her bottle forgotten and spilling its contents on the ground, as his tongue chased away the memories of his rejection. His teeth nipping at her lips as he took possession of her body once again.

Eloise had always promised herself she would be strong. That should she ever see him again, she would tell him what she thought of him before walking away.

But her planned arguments, well thought of insults and home truths had evaporated the moment she saw him, and now, as he took her against the wall of the place she worked, she wasn't really sure if they had ever really been there to begin with.

The End.

*Author's Note: Henry's story will continue in the next Oops book. I will announce more on my Facebook page, when the time comes. The next book I will be working on is The Kelpie's Mate: Caspian's Call. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it.*