Chapter 166 166. EPILOGUE

Chapter 166 166. EPILOGUE
Luca’s POV

It is the first night of the Harvest Moon Festival which also happens to be the last day of the deadline the two Alphas gave us twenty days ago. By midnight, we are no longer sons of Kaelara. We are strangers to it.

Everything is in order. The properties are sold and we manage to get most of the money in the bank—everything that we can use to start anew in the mainland and also fund the new venture me and my brothers are planning in a few months.

Most of the communicable properties of Crystal Ridge pack are also sold and the money distributed to the members. Some of the assets left are transferred under the names of Yoseff Beckett and Eliott Sharpe.

I don’t really give a damn what they’re planning to do with them, but I bet it’s part of whatever aftermath plan they’ve been talking about for weeks. Either way, Crystal Ridge exists only in memory now.

Surprisingly, it doesn’t sound as sad as it sounds.

We stand near the forest’s edge where the path begins. The festival lights flicker in the distance near the town square, but we do not join them. This night does not belong to celebration. It belongs to closure.

I look at Tabitha beside me. The glow from the lanterns down the hill brushes her face.

“Are you really sure about this?” I ask her.

She nods. “I’ve never been sure in my life.”

Jace slips his hands into his pockets as he scans the island one last time.

“Kaelara is beautiful,” he says. “It’s a bittersweet feeling to leave it behind. Besides, we’re the only ones getting exiled. Are you sure you want to come with us?”

Tabitha smiles at him.

“Before I came back months ago, I was already itching to leave this island. I didn’t even wanna go back,” she confesses. “Then I remembered why I loved this island when I was a kid. I remembered the cliffs and the water and the stories Dad used to tell me. I got to rediscover that. Now I’m ready to let it go.”

I study her carefully.

“You do realize that if you do this, you’re leaving the only place that holds your father’s memories.”

She shrugs.

“Every sea reminds me of Dad,” she says. “We can just find other seas to remind me of him.”

There is no tremor in her voice, only certainly. And damn does she look even more beautiful now.

“Besides,” she continues, “Mom left last week. She didn’t even wait for the deadline. She’s recuperating on the mainland. With her gone and you four leaving, there’s no reason left for me to stay. I’m going to take a gap year and then continue my last two years of college next year.”

Reed exhales slowly. “Alright. Once we leave this island, there’s no turning back. We’re not letting you go, princess,” he murmurs against Tabi’s hair.

My sweetheart giggles. “Good. You’re stuck with me, then.”

She steps into us and the space closes naturally, like we are orbiting the same gravity. Her hands find Reed and he pulls her in, his grip firm at her waist as if he is afraid she might slip away. She turns and Jace is already there, his grin fading the second her lips meet his, his fingers settling at her hips while he exhales into her mouth. Evren’s gaze darkens when she reaches him, and he cups her face before kissing her with an intensity I rarely see with him. Then she comes to me, and when her lips touch mine the world narrows to warmth and breath and the quiet hum beneath my skin. I slide my hand to the back of her neck and kiss her like I have all the time in the world, even though midnight waits for us.

She pulls back with a faint blush. “You’re my family now, you bullies.”

I laugh and cradle her face in my hands. “Do you want to watch the fireworks before we leave?” I ask her.

She nods.

We walk deeper into the forest. The path is familiar beneath my feet. The grove opens before us, and our mom’s tree rests beneath it. It rises tall above us, branches stretching wide as if shielding her even now.

This place has always given us the clearest view of the sky.

The first firework bursts above the canopy as we step into the clearing. Gold light spills through the leaves and scatters over the bark. The sound follows seconds later, rolling across the grove.

We form a circle around the tree.

Evren places his palm against the trunk while Reed bows his head. Jace presses his forehead briefly to the bark as if listening for something only he can hear.

I rest my hand against the tree and let out a slow breath.

“We’re leaving tonight, Mom,” I say. “This is the last time we get to stand here. We won’t be back. But you’ll always be with us.”

Another firework blooms above us. The sky flashes silver through the leaves.

“And by the way…” I glance at Tabitha. “We didn’t introduce her properly before,” I say. “Allow me to do it right.”

I take Tabitha’s hand and guide her forward until she stands beside me at the base of the tree.

“Mom,” I say, keeping my voice steady, “this is Tabitha. Our mate. The woman who has our hearts. The woman we love.”

Tabitha blushes but she does not look away from the trunk. She kneels and brushes her fingers along one of the roots.

“Hi,” she says softly. “Your sons grew up to be bullies. They piss me off so well.” She laughs. “But they’re also amazing men. They have so much love to give even though they were surrounded by anything but. So… I promise I’ll give back as much love as I receive from them. I’ll take care of them.”

She glances up at us and smiles. “None of us are perfect. But I believe the five of us are meant to be together imperfectly.”

Evren bends first and kisses her. Reed follows. Jace lingers on purpose just to earn her laugh.

When it is my turn, I pull her into me and kiss her slow. The mate bond hums beneath my skin. It feels like current running through bone. Its fuller now. Complete. The last barrier dissolves somewhere between breath and heartbeat.

Tabitha is truly ours. Our mate.

My wristwatch chimes softly.

It’s midnight.

“It’s time to leave,” I announce.

Evren nods.

I glance at our mom’s tree one last time. “Good bye, Mom.”



We walk out of the forest and down toward the coast where ships are docked along the shoreline. A large vessel waits at the pier.

On the shore stand Rhett, Elsie, Evelyn, Melanie, Arthur, Isabel, Wyatt, Rye, and Ian.

Rhett steps forward and nods toward the ship.

“Take care of my ship,” he says.

I laugh and toss him my car keys. “Take care of my car,” I reply.

He catches them with ease. “Deal.”

Evelyn wraps Tabitha in a tight hug. “Oh my god. I’m gonna miss you!” she says, her voice thick. “I’m visiting you one of these days whether you like it or not.”

Tabitha laughs and squeezes her back. “I’m looking forward to that.”

I spot Elsie stands close to Reed, speaking softly to him. Melanie holds Evren’s hand for a moment before letting go. Arthur clasps Jace’s shoulder and says something that makes Jace nod with rare seriousness.

Isabel approaches me with Wyatt, Rye, and Ian.

She smiles up at me. “I’m proud of you,” she says.

I raise a brow. “For killing our evil father?” I ask lightly.

She shakes her head. “For standing up for what you believe in. For who you love. That kind of ferocity is what makes a true Alpha. When he has someone worth fighting for.”

I glance back at my brothers and Tabitha.

“Our actions resulted in the dismantling of our pack. I’m not sure that’s something to be proud of.”

Wyatt taps my shoulder.

“Don’t get your panties twisted. Crystal Ridge might be gone, but we’re hearing a new pack will form soon. I think they’re recruiting rogues and former members together.”

Ian hums in agreement. “Maybe this time they’ll find a better way to coexist.”

“I hope so,” I reply.

“It’s just unfortunate what happened to Wilson...” Rye shifts his weight.

I hold his gaze.

“Whatever happened to him is the result of his own decision. Just like us, he fought for his cause. I can’t exactly blame him for that.”

Wilson disappears after the battle. No one finds his body or even a trail. Maybe he dies in the forest and the wild claims him. Or maybe he survives and hides. No one knows.

Either way, his story ends the way he chooses.

I clasp their shoulders one by one. “We have to go. I’ll see you when I see you.”

“Take care, Luca,” Isabel says with a smile.

I nod and return the smile.

Together with my brothers and Tabitha, we board the ship. The deck rocks beneath our feet as the crew prepares to depart.

Andrew lounges on a sun lounger with a glass in his hand.

“Ah, the stars of the event are finally here,” he says before sipping his pina colada.

Tabitha laughs. “I can’t believe you’re ditching school in the middle of the year! And you’re even coming with us. Can’t you ask your dad for a jet or something?”

“Hey, I get these benefits after being your gateway car driver during your wolf war—or whatever you call it.”

I sneer.

“Also, I’m taking a few days of vacation before I return to Kaelara to finish my last year of college and handle my dad’s boring business.”

“Alright, Mr. Businesspants. Stop boasting about your corporate kingdom,” Reed drawls.

Andrew snorts. “That’s coming from people who are about to start a tech company on the mainland. Tell me if you need a business partnership in the future.”

“Okay, nerd,” Jace replies.

Andrew looks at Tabitha and raises his brows. “Seriously, how did you fall in love with these jerks?” he deadpans.

She laughs and wraps her arms around us. “Because they’re my jerks,” she says.

I smirk and kiss her. “We sure are.”

Evren kisses her next. Then Jace. Then Reed.

Andrew rolls his eyes and makes a gagging noise. “Get a room!” he groans.

Reed grins at him. “Later,” he says.

The horn sounds across the water as the ropes are released. The ship begins to move, carrying us away from the island that raised us and cast us out.

I watch Kaelara grow smaller against the horizon.

Home is no longer a place.

It is my brothers beside me

And the woman we choose, every single day.

\-The End