“Grandma!” Cynthia shouted.  She sprinted down the road towards her grandmother who was sitting in the back of a truck full of rescued hostages.  “I thought you were dead!”

“Oh posh,” the old woman replied, “Some ruffian just picked me up while I was out with the girls.  Gave him a piece of my mind about it, too.”  The pair embraced. 

The bear den, which was already crowded to begin with, was positively bursting at the seams, now.  Bears and wolves intermingled making it hard to tell one from the other. 

Happy reunions led to tears, hugs, and liquor.  Crunch was already well on his way with the liquor part.  The remaining Molotov cocktails from the saddle bags on his motorcycle became a welcome friend to help dull his pain. 

“I’ll get the doctor,” Connor said, stepping from the cab of the truck.

“I ain’t goin’ nowhere,” Crunch shouted with a slur. 

“Is it over?” Alex asked.  He was already waiting for Connor when he got out.  “Did you get Eli?  Torque?”

Connor didn’t know if he should tell him the good news or the bad news first. 

“Torque is dead,” he said, “We won’t have to worry about him coming around anymore.” 

“And, Eli?” he asked, “Did you get him?”

Connor shook his head which brought a look of consternation to Alex’s still heavily bruised face. 

“We’ll get him.  It’s just a matter of time,” he said, trying his best to reassure Connor. 

“Where’s Tess?” Connor asked.  Alex scratched at the back of his neck and rolled his eyes off to the side. 

“She went for a walk, said you’d know where.  I guess she couldn’t stay still knowing you were out there risking your life,” he said.  “She’s pretty pissed off that you ran out again.”

“Alex!” Crunch shouted from inside the truck, his jovial exuberance made his spill half his bottle around in the truck as he sloshed it about.  “I got my old gang back!”

“That’s great Crunch,” Alex said with a forced smile. 

“Shit, I forgot.  Can you get the doctor for him?  He got shot in both legs.  I’m going to go find Tess!”  Connor was already walking away as he spoke.  He started jogging through the den, past the rows of thick trees.

“Connor!” shouted Henry from the back of the truck.  Connor turned to see him leaning one leg over the truck bed while holding the gunshot wound closed with the force of his hand.  “We gotta talk.”

Connor’s feet were burning.  He needed to find Tess to talk to her quick before she got more upset.  Still, this was the bear alpha talking to him, the man who could officially end all the fighting once and for all with but a word.  He moved closer to listen to what Henry had to say.

“I know we got off on the wrong foot,” he said, “what with me thinkin’ you killed my wife; may she rest in peace.  After knowin’ you for a while, I’ve come to realize that you’re alright.”  He patted Connor on the shoulder, leaving a bloody hand print on his shirt.  “I’m goin’ to get my leg patched up today then tomorrow we’re goin’ out and finding that hunter.  If he really is the one that killed my Annie then he’s the one I need to sink my teeth into.” 

“We both do,” Connor said as he grasped his bloody hand. 

Connor felt something from the old man, recognition.  It felt like all his animosity towards wolves was starting to disappear.  Or it could have just been the alcohol that Crunch shared with him the entire drive.  Connor wasn’t quite sure. 

“We’ve scrubbed all their dens,” Henry said, “Where do you think this bastard might be hiding?”  He moved his leg slightly as the doctor came down with his bag.  The physician went to work right away, cutting open the clothing that covered the wound. 

“Alex once told me that he tracked this guy.  Maybe he has a few ideas we can use.” Connor suggested.

“That kid?”  Henry asked, “You really put that much faith in his tracking abilities?”

“When you see him in action, you’ll know what I mean,” Connor replied. 

“Go,” Henry said while he patted Connor’s shoulder again, “I know you’re running off to your woman.  Just make sure you keep that one close.  Not all battles need to be fought; sometimes you have to lose to win.  Don’t forget that.”  The fire in his stare was haunting.  It was the look of someone that knew loss.  Connor could feel his pain. 

Henry’s words continued to echo in Connor’s ears as he walked quickly out of the camp.  Not all battles need to be fought?  Was he talking about Tess?  Was he telling him not to argue with her?  You have to lose to win?  That made absolutely no sense at all.  No, it was something else.  Connor could just barely grasp at the meaning. 

There was only one place Tess would be, down by the fresh water stream that he’d taken her to picnic before.  Looking over his shoulder, he was glad to see there were no more guards following his every move.  He finally had a moment of freedom to meet with the girl he loved.

Then he was tackled to the ground. 

“Man, for an alpha, you’re pretty weak,” Samantha said.  She giggled as he struggled to get back to his feet on the slick mud. 

“What the hell was that for?” Connor asked.

“You brought everyone back safe and sound,” she said, “I thought I’d thank you.” 

“Maybe you can do me a favor,” Connor said as he wiped the slick mud from his face, “Give me and Tess a few hours of privacy?”  He winked, and then patted her on the head.  The mud on his hand rubbed into her already messy hair. 

“You’re such a dick,” she replied, struggling with her hair.  With a sigh she gave up.  Only a shower would save it now.  “Fine.  I’ll even keep the rest of the bears out of this neck of the woods.  Have a nice time.”  Samantha winked as she started making her way back to the house. 

Finally.

He could see her hair bobbing up and down just over the next crest of the hill.  A single candle was lit near Tess.  The light spilled to the trees, casting shadows at odd angles.  If he didn’t know any better he would have said it was haunted.  He shook his head and with a smirk, stepped over the edge of the hill to meet his mate.