The music in the bar was pounding, and Zeke stood and looked out over his empire as Blu, Scar, and River patrolled the other floors below. It had been one hell of a time in his hometown of Lost Creek, but for him, things were finally beginning to come together.

When Esme had stepped off the train that day, he had known instantly that she was there, and close to him. Hell, he had felt her coming from miles away, and he had pined for her each day while they had been apart.

Meeting her as a child had meant something more than ever to him. He had been given a head start in learning about life and love. His mother had explained to him, very carefully, the ways of his kind, and being a wolf shifter, he began to understand that fate sometimes chose for you.

Zeke loved his fate.

He loved that Esme had been chosen for him by destiny, and that they had been fated and joined by the stars since the moment she had come into this world and opened her eyes.

Esme was special.

So very, very special.

There weren’t enough words in existence to describe how important to him she was, but he would have to settle for paramount.

She was paramount to him.

Below, down on the ground floor, he watched as the doors were thrown open and another wild night was ready to begin at The Nowhere Bar. They had experienced an influx of clientele over the past few weeks, and Zeke was finally starting to feel as if things were on the up.

The Lost Alphas and their rivals The Unbroken Bears had been at war for decades, but now, with the arrival of Esme, Zeke hoped they would be able to find a truce and settle old scores so the whole town could move forward.

He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed.

He had been told, long ago, of a prophecy involving him and the love of his life. A girl who would run with the wolves and who would give him an heir that could change the world forever.

Esme.

Zeke knew there was a much darker force playing out in the mountains and forests around Lost Creek, and it was only a matter of time before they would be at their door. The town couldn’t stay safe forever, they had kept terror at bay for so long, but now, he was sure chaos was on its way.

He had to keep Esme safe, and he had to protect the rest of his family and land.

Blu leaned out onto the second floor balcony and looked up at him, and Zeke nodded his head with a wry smile. It was good to be a part of such a strong brotherhood, one that had stood the test of time and that was only going to thrive and continue, no matter what.

Blu cast his eyes down to the ground floor, and River looked up at them both.

No matter what was heading their way, they would be prepared. They would fight, and they would win.

They had spent too long in the shadows, and they had been outcast and shunned for as long as they could remember. Between them all, they had decided it was their time to shine.

The elder members of their pack were very old and weary, and the head of them was close to death. Zeke barely dared think what could potentially happen when the day came and Magnus, the old wolf, was no longer there to lead them, but soon, they were going to have to put measures in place…

And he was so glad Esme had arrived before that time came.

He sniffed the air and he could tell she was near. He licked his lips and smiled, and then he pushed back off the balcony’s frame and walked back toward the stairs. He ran down them quickly, two at a time, and when he reached the ground floor, she was the first thing he saw.

She was standing there looking like an angel, her blonde hair flowing and almost glowing white, and her eyes shining emerald green.

He had done many things to her, but this was by far his favorite.

He walked quickly to be by her side and swept her into his arms. He looked deep into her eyes and she smiled back at him, a knowing, loving smile. One that only true lovers could share.

She ran her hands through his thick black hair and kissed him on the lips.

“You have no idea how much this look suits you,” he whispered as he reached down and rested a hand on her swelling belly.

“Oh I do,” she said mischievously as she looked down and placed her hand on top of his. “I wish I felt as good as I look, though,” she grinned.

Her skin was luminous and her nails were strong and long, her hair flowed thick and her eyes were bright and green. She carried part of Zeke inside her. She carried his wolf cub, and she was going to give him his heir.

Magic had happened between them and fate had come through.

The prophecy was beginning to take shape.

“Did you ever think, when you were younger, that when you grew up you may be stuck in the middle of a wolf and bear war?” Zeke asked her with a wry smile as he wrapped his arms around the base of her spine and pulled her into him. Her baby bump pushed up against him and she bit her lip and grinned.

She still couldn’t look at him without feeling the pull of desire.

Oh, the things she could do to him right there and then.

“No,” she teased. “But to be honest, I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my time…”

Zeke leaned in and kissed her and held her tightly. He hadn’t just found his soul mate, he had begun a family, and the next generation of Lost Creek Alphas… his legacy was continuing, and now, their position was only going to become stronger.

Esme rested her head on him and breathed him in. She had never been happier. She had spent her entire life wandering the world and feeling lost, until finally, her fate had brought her back right to where she had begun. It seemed ironic that the town was called Lost Creek… It may have been hidden from the rest of the world, and was a place where some people went to disappear, but Esme couldn’t say that now. She had come to Lost Creek and she had been found. She had put her faith in the universe, and it had repaid her tenfold. She had found her man, the love of her life, the father of her children, and her future…

Zeke was her fated mate, and now that they had come back together and were joined once more, there was nothing that was ever going to break them or stand in their way.

True love always wins…

And for Esme and Zeke, they had both received gold.

 

 

THE END

 

the Lost Creek story will continue…