The Pack - On the Run
Epilogue

I never had a chance to fire the gun. Before I could properly pull the trigger, the Glock was knocked out of my hand and grasp.

I cried out my protest, feeling desperation and fury rippling through my body and fueling my wolf.

She was just under my skin, ready to rip it open and be free from her confines. I welcomed her steady presence, opening myself to her spirit, but was stopped short before I could change.

“Shhh... That’s enough, Josie. You’ve done enough. It’s Louis’ call now,” Raph’s soothing murmur reached my ears at the same time his trunk-like arms slithered around my waist and wound me tight to his body.

Meanwhile, Louis sprung literally out of nowhere and - as unexpectedly - wrung dad’s neck in a swift, practiced motion. My father didn’t even have a chance to catch a whiff of what was going on, and then he was dead.

I recoiled in surprise, watching strangely detached as his limp, lifeless body fell to the ground next to mum’s in such a way that they were facing each other, looking into each others’ soulless eyes. And I couldn't help but notice that dad got exactly what he wanted in the end - he was forever reunited with mum.

I swallowed the tears I didn’t know I was shedding.

Again, I felt I had been screwed over by both my life and Louis. Everton had just killed my dad. He had taken even that choice away from me. I still couldn’t decide if I was relieved he had saved me from turning into a murderer or mad.

My gaze flickered to Louis’ - his face was a hollow mask of a hardened Enforcer who had dealt enough death blows to be unmoved by another. And yet, his eyes seemed sad when they briefly crossed with mine. As soon, though, they returned to being stone-cold, and Louis turned halfway towards the woods, partially shielding us with his strong, lean body.

I had no idea what he was doing until he stated in an even, emotionless voice.

“This ends here. You’ve got your revenge. The Hunter and his wife are both dead. Their son will soon change, and the girl is already turned. As of now, the siblings remain under Redforest Pack’s protection. Touch the pups, and my Pack will come after you. I swear this on the Blood Moon as the Enforcer and the envoy of the Redforest Pack,” Everton said to no one in particular. “Now, get the Hunters’ bodies and get the fuck out of my Alpha’s land,” he added in disgust.

Two shadows cloaked in long black robes emerged from the mist and stopped at the foot of the forest. I watched them, not understanding a bloody thing.

What revenge? What war?

“We hear you, Enforcer Everton, and we will cease our pursuit if neither your mate nor her brother harm what’s ours. We swear this on the Blood Moon and the High Alpha of the Loupine Pack,” The taller of the two shadows said in a quiet, silky way. Then he turned to his companion and barked out. “Take the bodies.”

“What? Wait!” I protested, somehow breaking free from Raph’s clasp, only to be locked in Louis’ embrace before I could reach any of my parents.

“No, no, no... Let me go, you dick!” I shouted, scissoring the air in front.

“You must let them take the bodies if you want Mikey to be safe,” Louis murmured into my hair, his voice silky but firm.

“What? No! You’re insane!” I exclaimed, fighting him harder.

“Josie, it’s part of a deal our Alpha has made with the Loupines. Your father has committed a grave crime in our world. He has killed the pup. It’s unforgivable in our world. His life for your safety.”

“But why take his body? Has he not paid enough? Is he not dead already? Aren’t they both?” My voice broke. “Why would anyone want to take their bodies?”

“There’s a tradition our kind has regarding burials. The Loupines are more of a religious kind. But it doesn’t matter now. All you have to focus on right now is Mikey and his safety. The Loupines won’t stop chasing him unless they have the bodies. And my wolf won’t stand it if they target you or your brother. The war will break loose.”

“B-But... My mum! I didn’t even say goodbye...” I choked out.

“You’ll do that. We’ll have a proper ceremony at the Pack. For now, you have to let your folks go,” Louis murmured, hugging me closer to his warm, hard body. But I couldn’t feel any heat. I was cold. So, so cold.

How did I do that?

How could I just let my parents go?

* * *

There were plenty of people gathered around a bonfire that night. I didn’t recognise most of their faces, but that didn’t bother me slightest. I wouldn’t remember anyone anyway with how much my vision was blurred by my tears.

Mikey was squirming in my hold, tugging impatiently at my hand in. He didn’t know as of yet what was going on, and I found no words to tell him that our parents were gone and we were now stuck with the Alpha who screwed us over and over. Some leader he was.

I glanced at his strong form, dressed in formal attire, emerging from the shadows, and gripped Mikey’s hand a tad harder. They told me my dad and his friend ambushed Loupines a while back and killed one of their pups. In retaliation, the Loupine Pack leader bit my father, turning him into the very monster my dad used to hunt. A week later he had gone through his first shift and attacked me and Mikey the same night, dooming us into becoming werewolves. I imagined Loupine’s Alpha hadn’t expected any of us to live through our transition. Dad was supposed to watch both his children die by his own hand in front of his eyes, stuck in a mid-shift. A fitting punishment, if you asked me. Hardly any human survived a transition, after all. But here we were, broken but finally left alone.

Which gave me hope that this nightmare would finally end.

The sparks flew into the sky, blown by a soft breeze, and I watched them sparkle in the soft silver hue of the moon.

“Today, we gather to officially welcome Josephine and her brother, Mikey, in our ranks and to bid farewell to their parents,” Jack stated in a low voice that somehow still reverberated through the forest.

Mikey squirmed at my side as he tugged me harder by my hand, demanding answers, and I hugged him to my side with a soft “shh”, feeling my chin tremble.

That was when Louis finally made his appearance. I felt his calming presence behind my back before his strong arm wrapped around my middle and tugged me to his chest. I let him, allowing myself to draw from his strength despite the fact I was still angry at Louis for his underhanded move. He and his father were pretty much alike - sneaky bastards who used others to achieve their goals.

I wasn’t sure if mating to a guy like that was a good idea, though my wolf totally disagreed. Not only did she understand his reasons, she seconded them. In her mind, all was simple. Dad deserved to die for killing the most sacred thing for wolves - their pups; Mum could not be saved, Mikey needed the Pack to help him through his upcoming change, and we needed our mate. Simple. Not for me, though, but it wasn’t something I wanted to dwell on that night.

That night was all for closure. So I shut my eyes and, grabbing a bit of dirt, tossed it onto the bonfire just like I saw the rest of the wolves do. Then, Jack flung his head back and started to howl the most somber and heartwrenching tune. Soon, all the Pack followed.

Louis squeezed me harder when a first sob shook my body. I threw my head back and joined the rest, filling my cry with all the desperation and hurt I had felt.

It was healing.

It was cathartic.

And for the first time in a long while, I felt I could finally be free.

The end.

Thank you all for being with me through this journey! I really hope you liked this short family drama. I would much appreciate your opinions, reviews and comments.

Once again, thank you all!

Love ~

Marcy