Epilogue

Gabi sits upon a large rock that is perched up above the village for her to overlook. She can’t believe the sense of calmness that she is feeling over the village since the change in Chief. Mori is already making so many changes for the good for all of them. Everyone’s attitude and demeanor is starting to change for the better, as if Dyrk’s anger and hostility was laying a dense fog over the town, blanketing them from the outer world and not letting anything in or out. But now, the fog has seemed to clear, and the sun is shining on the town again, bringing joy and happiness to the clan once again.

Gabi smiles to herself.

She knows the clan will be okay under Mori’s rule.

She sees Lucy talking to some of the clan members and throwing her head back as she laughed. She is happy that Lucy was welcomed with open arms and no judgements. If Lucy decides to stay with the clan, Gabi knows she will be protected and safe.

“Hey, pretty girl.”

Gabi hears that same familiar voice that always brings a sense of calm throughout her body and a smile to her face.

Renn sits down next to her. Gabi looks over at him and smiles. His ash hair is tied back, and those gorgeous eyes are looking at her as if she’s the most important person in his life. Her heart warms and her stomach flutters.

Renn reaches up and tucks a piece of hair behind her ear.

“What are you doing up here?” he asks.

“Just watching. The village feels so different, but in a good way. I think Mori is going to be a great chief for the clan.”

Renn nods. “I agree. And it looks like your sister is fitting in just fine too.”

Gabi smiles. “I’m happy for her.”

Renn senses a bit of sadness in her tone.

“Gabi, you sound sad. What’s wrong?” he asks her.

Gabi lets out a sigh.

“It’s nothing, really. I’m glad that everyone’s happy. It’s just…” She stops, not knowing exactly how to explain what she is feeling.

“It’s just what?” Renn asks with concern.

Gabi shrugs. “I don’t belong here anymore. I think it’s best I leave and maybe go back to the village where Una is and figure out what to do next?”

“You want to leave?”

Gabi looks over at Renn and can see the pain in his eyes when she voiced out her thoughts. She’s not trying to hurt him, but she no longer feels like this is home. Yes, she will always see them as family, but she needs to find where she belongs.

“What about us?” Renn says quietly.

“What about it? Renn, you and I will always be close, no matter where we are.”

“Is that all we are? Just friends?” he asks her.

“Renn…”

Renn can’t hide his feelings for her any longer. When Mori abolished the law on wolves and humans not mating, he saw that as a green light for him and Gabi to be together. They no longer have to worry if they were related since it is clear that her father is not Dyrk. It was all or nothing now. He is going to tell her how he really feels and see what she says in return. He prays to the moon that her feelings are mutual.

“I have to tell you. My feelings are more than just friends for you,” Renn finally admits.

Gabi is shocked by what Renn just said. He likes her. He actually has real feelings for her and wants something more.

Before she can answer him, he grabs the back of her neck, pulls her forward, and kisses her. It is gentle and sweet. Gabi feels it is the best first kiss there could ever be.

Renn releases her and pulls back to look at the reaction on her face. Gabi keeps her eyes closed for the moment, trying to catch her breath and control all the feelings and urges that were running rampant inside her.

When she opens her eyes and looks at Renn, she smiles and said, “My feelings are more than just friends too.”

Renn is filled with joy in that moment and pulls her into his arms and kisses her again.

They hear a cough close by and separate to see Lucy standing by the rock.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she says with embarrassment.

“Not a problem. What’s up, sis?” Gabi says to her as she moves back to her original spot on the rock.

“This just came for you and thought you might want it,” Lucy says as she hands Gabi an envelope with her name on it.

“Do you know who dropped it off?” Gabi asks her.

Lucy shrugs and sits down on the grass next to the rock.

“Just open it and see,” Lucy tells her.

Gabi turns the envelope in her hands for a moment before tearing down the side and pulling out the piece of paper that is inside. There is a photo in there too.

When Gabi looks at the photo, she gasps. It is a picture of her mother. She was so beautiful. She hands the picture to Lucy and opens up the letter.

Dear Gabi,

I have tried to write this letter to you in so many different ways, ever since I saw you talking to the people at the village. Looking at you up there, I saw so much of your mother in you. Even though I only knew her for a short amount of time, she captured my heart that day. But I’d made a promise a long time ago to the Luminars. It killed me to leave her, but I didn’t want to risk her getting hurt. But in the end, she did. When I went to the house where those wolves had been, I found the chest and the photo. To think all this time, I had a daughter. I can’t wait for us to meet. But right now, I must do what I promised, and that’s to kill the evil ones. We will meet someday soon. I am so proud of the young woman you have become.

Love,

Dad

The tears are running down Gabi’s face by the time she finishes the letter. She had a father and before even meeting her, he was proud of her. It is then she realizes what she needs to do.

She looks at Renn and asks, “Will you go back to the village with me?”

“Yeah, but why?” he asks her.

“So we can continue what we started. Advising the Luminars about what the ancient scrolls had said. About fighting the evil one.”

Gabi jumps down from the rock and starts heading back into the village with Renn and Lucy following closely behind.

***

In another part of the village, back in the home he had Gabi staying in. Dyrk is leaning against the sink in the bathroom.

Everything he worked for, all gone because of one girl, not just any girl, a human. After everything he did for her, this is how she repays him.

She was going to be sorry—in fact, they all were. He was just waiting for the right moment.

He turns the faucet on and starts to wash his hands under the sink.

He looks up and sees Baine standing behind him in the mirror.

“You called for me?” Baine asks.

“Get them ready. We got work to do,” Dyrk tells him before he leans over and washes his face.

Baine nods and leaves.

Dyrk pulls his head back up with the drips of water running down his face. He stares at himself in the mirror focusing on one part in particular. The crescent shape in the center of his forehead. He shakes his head as his hair falls back over the mark and is hidden once again.