\[Rosco’s POV\]
I wrap my arm around Denali and pull her against me as she stares at her father’s unmoving form. Where we touch, I can feel all of her emotions and know that what she did couldn’t have been easy but was necessary.
“He got what was coming to him.” I murmur, kissing her cheek. “Don’t think too much about it.”
“I know.” She sighs, finally dropping her weapon. “But do you truly think that all of this is over?”
Was all this over? That was a damn good question. I knew that those responsible for threatening my daughter's well-being were taken care of, but that didn’t mean that more wouldn’t pop up in the future.
For the time being, the best thing we could do was learn more about the original members of Denali’s mother’s pack and the curse that their leader brought about. With knowledge was power, and it would help us better understand what was happening and plan accordingly.
“As long as I’m here, I won’t let anything happen.” I assure her. “I’ll protect you and Serenity with all that I am.”
Nodding, Denali leans into me as she takes a shaky breath.
“Come.” I say, beginning to lead her out of the room. “There’s no reason to remain here with something so unpleasant.”
Denali doesn’t argue as we step into the hall, where Charlie is waiting.
“What’s the order, Alpha?" He asks, waiting for instruction.
“Take the body and burn it. Once it is burned, place it in a safe and throw it into the deepest part of the ocean.”
Maybe this was going to extremes, but I wasn’t taking any chances. Roger was a sneaky bastard, and I didn’t know if he possibly sold his soul to some kind of demon.
“That’s a bit...” Charlie begins but stops as I shoot him a look of warning. “Understood.”
“Once you’re finished, you are free to go back to Crystal Fang.”
At my words, he gives me a look of confusion.
“William is going to need someone capable to help him rebuild the pack.” I explain.
Although I trusted William not to do anything too crazy, I didn’t know what his next moves would involve, and I worried for him. After watching him self- destruct after losing Marigold, I wouldn’t put it past him to attempt to do something stupid due to the loss of Elise.
“Are you saying you don’t want me to stay here as your beta?” Charlie pushes. “I’ve sworn my loyalty to you long ago, and that doesn’t change simply because you’re now leading a different pack.”
“Once you have helped William establish his place in Crystal Fang and found a suitable replacement as beta, you are welcome to come back here and work under me.”
Since taking over Emerald Moon, I haven’t picked a beta, delta, or gamma, and I was more than willing to take Charlie in.
“I’ll be looking forward to your return.” I grin.
“I’ll try not to keep you waiting for too long.” Charlie says, reaching out and clapping my shoulder before heading out.
Later, I sit in bed with Denali and Serenity, enjoying their company, as we finally have some time to be together as a family. Of course, I knew that this peaceful moment wouldn’t last forever, which made it that much more special. There was no denying that we still had a lot to deal with ahead, but in this single moment, I would truly cherish what the Ggoddess had given me.
\[Elise’s POV\]
My body feels light. So light that I’m almost certain that I’m floating. Warmth presses against my skin, and for the first time in my entire life, I feel an overwhelming peace and calm that radiates throughout my entire being.
Was this Nirvana? If so, that meant that I truly did die back in Crystal Fang, right?
Opening my eyes, I’m instantly blinded by a dazzling light. Blinking a few times, I attempt to clear my vision until finally I can take in the world around me.
It is beautiful, with rolling hills and soft grass that tickles my skin as it sways against it due to the nice breeze that blows.
Continuing to examine my surroundings, I find beautiful wild flowers in every color of the rainbow and what looks almost like translucent butterflies that lazily dance around them.
In this moment, I’m absolutely certain that this is, in fact, the afterlife, but I’m a little confused. Why was I here in Nirvana when I truly belonged in hell, suffering for all of my misdeeds?
“Because I have summoned you here.”
Gasping, I jump up and whirl around, searching for the one who has spoken, but I come up empty.
“Who?” I whisper, not giving up my search. “Who are you?”
“You know me.” The voice responds. “All of the wolves know me.”
Eyes widening, I process the words that I’m hearing.
All the wolves know me. There was only one person who could possibly say something like that.
“You’re,” I whisper in both disbelief and awe. “You’re…”
“That’s right, Elise.” The voice responds as a beautiful woman with flowing white hair and kind blue eyes. “I am Selene.”
I don’t speak while I continue to take in the woman.
“How?” I murmur, trying to make sense of what was happening to me. “Why are you here, and why am I…”
“I said it before.” She responds gently. “You have been given the opportunity to have a second chance.”
An opportunity to have a second chance. Why on earth would she grant such a thing to a sinner like me? I didn’t do anything to deserve such things when there were so many who deserved the chance more than me.
“You’re a special case.” Selene explains, reading my thoughts. “Your purpose has yet to be fulfilled.”
Frowning, I raise a brow while trying to determine what it is that she means.
“Your promise to protect your niece.” She explains. “Although the immediate danger is taken care of, that doesn’t mean that there won’t be more in the future, and she is a very special being.”
Very special being. Was that the reason that my crazy father and his goons wanted her so badly? But didn’t they refer to her as the cursed child? Then how was she so special?
“She alone can eliminate your entire race.” Selene explains, causing shock to roll through me. “Because of that, she must be guarded at all costs.”
“This is all crazy.” I whisper, shaking my head. “She can eliminate my entire race—you mean the wolves, correct?”
“That is correct.” She confirms. “Because of that, she must never be taken by those who mean harm.”
“And how am I supposed to stop that?” I demand. “I’m dead!”
“This is where your second chance comes into play.” Selene responds. “It is up to you whether you accept or decline.”
“Are you saying I can go back to my body and continue?”
“Not at all.”
More confusion rushes through me due to her response. Wasn’t she saying that I was being granted another chance? Then why couldn’t I go back to my body and my life?
“Your body is already gone.” Selene says slowly, causing a pang of pain to shoot through me. “You would be reborn entirely.”
Eyes widening, I take in what she is saying as I realize exactly what she means. I would be reborn, meaning I would have a new family, a new life, and a new name. I would have to protect Serenity as someone else entirely.
“What about everyone I left behind?” I ask quietly. “Would I be able to be with them again?”
“You won’t.” Selene says sadly. “If you were to give away who you truly are, then you will die again, and this time you’ll stay dead.”
Growing quiet, she waits as I take in what is being said.
I could live again and help Serenity, but I would never be able to reveal who I was.
Instantly, an image of William pops into my head, causing my heart to hurt.
“Not even him.” I murmur, more to myself than to Selene. “He would continue to believe that I was dead.”
I didn’t care much if I couldn’t tell anyone else, but after what William went through with his mate in the past, I was sure that he was hurting over my death. Was he okay with having to live with both mine and Marigold’s blood on his hands?
“What is your choice?” Selene asks, snapping me out of my head. “Will you take this chance to go back to the world of the living and protect Serenity, or will you remain here?”