Epilogue
“Here, give him to me, I’ll change him.”
Beau held his hands out expectantly frowning when Griffin merely raised an eyebrow at him.
“I think maybe he’s hungry,” the omega said.
Beau let his arms fall to his sides. He thought he had Aidan’s cries all figured out.
“Oh, are you sure?”
“Well, we only changed him an hour ago and…” Griffin’s nose twitched, “…super-senses don’t lie.”
“But that’s not his hungry cry.”
“No, it’s not.” Griffin was staring down at Aidan in bewilderment. “What are you up to, little guy?”
Aidan’s cries only grew louder. Beau reached for him again, and Griffin handed him over. Immediately, the crying stopped.
“Ah, so that’s his game.”
“What is?” Beau asked.
“Cuddles with Daddy. I think he’s figured out which cry gets which of us to pay attention.”
Beau was all for fair division of labor, and since he couldn’t do the feeding, he tried to do the lion’s share of the changes.
“Do you think so?”
“Who wouldn’t want to be in the arms of a big, cuddly teddy bear.”
Griffin was smiling so Beau wasn’t worried about his mate feeling like their little one was playing favorites.
There was the sound of a door opening in the distance. “That’ll be Ronan.”
“I can take this little guy to the lounge if you two need some peace and quiet.”
“Actually, you should join us. It’s about Antoine and Virgil.”
“Oh.”
He did his best to dampen down the anger that swamped him on just hearing those names. As far as he knew, they were still keeping a low profile after what happened at the clinic. Just as well. If Beau had any hint of where they were, he wasn’t sure anyone could stop him going after them.
Beau followed Griffin into his study, taking a seat in a large armchair in the corner, settling Aidan in the crook of his arm. Griffin sat down at his desk, pulling some papers out of a folder as Ronan walked in.
“Hey, guys. How is the little one doing?”
“The usual,” Griffin replied. “Sleeping during the day, up all night, keeping us on our toes.”
Ronan grinned. “Just wait until he reaches toddlerhood. Kieran has brought hide and seek to a new level.”
The whole pack was very aware, given he’d disappeared during lunch the previous week, prompting a pack-wide search only to find the wolf cub had crawled behind some curtains in the library and fallen asleep.
“How’s Alexa?”
“Teething,” Ronan said, running a tired hand across his eyes as he sat across from Griffin, setting a tablet down on the table.
Griffin pulled it closer, frowning at whatever he saw on the screen. Beau sat up, wondering what was going on.
“That makes three,” the alpha said.
Griffin nodded but didn’t say anything.
“Three what?” Beau asked them.
“Three jobs we’ve been offered this month that we’re pretty sure originate with Antoine and Virgil.”
Beau growled under his breath, startling the baby in his arms. Settling Aidan against his shoulder, he rubbed a hand up and down his back until the baby calmed.
“They’re really stupid enough to try that?”
“Oh, yeah,” Ronan said, seeming unconcerned. “They’re using third parties as go-betweens so it’s harder to make the connection, but we’re certain it’s them.”
“Why?”
Given what had happened, he imagined they’d be keeping their distance. They had to know Briar Wood would be out for blood after they tried to steal their leader’s son.
“They were serious about wanting us to work for them. Since we’d rather kill them than work for them, they’re trying the sneaky approach,” Griffin said.
“And probably still looking for leverage, searching for a way in,” Ronan added.
Beau had suspected that part. In the past few weeks, there’d been strangers at the edge of their pack land and members of their pack being followed when out and about. It left everyone feeling on edge and taking precautions.
“We’ve vetting all contracts with a very careful eye and not taking any that seem in the least bit suspect,” Ronan said.
“In case they’re traps,” Griffin clarified.
“Do you think that’s likely?”
“I think it’s possible. They want leverage, it’s hard to tell what lengths they’ll go to in order to get it.”
They’d already tried taking Aidan, an action which Beau felt had marked their cards. There was no redeeming them in his eyes.
“Find them and I’ll kill them,” he offered.
Ronan sat back, looking to Griffin.
“I like that plan. Simple. Effective.”
“You both know it’s not that simple,” Griffin retorted sharply. “They’re fixers. In plenty of pack’s pockets, holding many of their secrets.” He pulled a small black notebook out from his desk drawer, tossing it onto the table. Beau leaned forward. He hadn’t seen that since Nathan Beaumont’s party.
“What’s in that?”
“Evidence that some of Nathan’s fights were fixed. That he’s knee deep in fraud, money laundering, and a couple other things.”
Ronan whistled. “And you’re just sitting on it?”
“It’s a double-edged sword. Virgil and Antoine wanted it badly, I’m guessing because it implicates someone more powerful than Beaumont, someone they either want to protect or blackmail. To them, those sometimes mean the same thing.”
“So, you’re saying if we kill them, this more powerful person might come after us.”
“Antoine and Virgil are going out of their way to give the appearance that they’re in control here. They’ve been telling certain people that we work for them, and now they’re trying to make that a reality.”
Ronan sat forward, his hands pressed together. “Finn, maybe it’s time we did what we’ve always planned to do. Made Briar Wood official, brought the pack public.”
That was the first time Beau had heard either of them talk that way.
“What would that mean?”
“We’d be just like any other pack,” Ronan said. “We’d apply for recognition from the council, join a few groups that align to certain pack laws, basically… go legit.”
“We’re not there yet,” Griffin argued. “Too much of our business still relies on us being out of sight and out of mind. And beyond the reach of those rules that would stop us doing our job. Not to mention the reactions we’d get if it ever came out that I was head of the pack and not you.”
“If it keeps us safe from people like your parents…”
“Will it keep us safe from them?” Beau asked.
“They won’t be able to attack us directly, not if we ally with the right people, the right packs.”
Griffin got up, pacing toward the window.
“There are packs out there who stand for the kind of stuff we do. They’re trying to make changes from within pack law. Things that would protect omegas, regulate fights and fighters, stop the breeders. But there’s so much red tape, it takes years to make any meaningful changes. If we made the pack official, here and now, we could end up in a lot of trouble for some of the stuff we do. They might put pressure on us to return people they rightfully feel belong elsewhere.”
Griffin’s eyes strayed to Ronan.
“Other packs would have claims on more than half our people. And we’re not yet in a position to buy their freedom if Briar Wood was to go public.”
“We’re working on it though,” Ronan said.
Griffin shrugged. “It’s a waiting game. Either the laws change in our favor or we have the funds to pay off the people we need to in order to keep everyone safe.”
Beau looked down at the baby in his arms. “This world sucks.”
“Yeah, it does,” Griffin said. There was a small smile on his face. “But that doesn’t mean it always will.”
“We can’t bring the pack out into the open if it puts people in danger,” Beau added.
“I agree,” Finn said, looking to Ronan. The alpha held his hands up. “It was just a suggestion, that’s all. We’re going to have to do it someday.”
“When the time is right,” Griffin said. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t… look at making some allies before we reach that stage. Our views on omegas and fighters aren’t that popular, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t people out there who feel the same way. They may not like some of our methods, but that’s a bridge we can cross when we have to.”
“Our methods are no worse than those we act against,” Ronan countered. “They may even be better. Fairer.”
They gave chances, Beau knew. For people like him, a second chance could be life-saving.
“We know how to show mercy,” Griffin agreed.
“Virgil and Antoine don’t deserve mercy,” Beau said, swallowing a growl and holding Aidan closer. They’d used up any chance they had.
“No, I think we can all agree they don’t. But we have to be smart about this. Back off, keep a close eye on what they’re doing, anticipate their next moves, and wait until they let their guard down.”
“Then we strike.”
“Then we remove the threat. With, if possible, no connection leading back to us. After that, we do the usual.”
Beau frowned. “What’s the usual?”
Ronan grinned, and Griffin rolled his eyes.
“What any business does when someone takes out a competitor. Cherry-pick the best of their clients. When I worked for them, I wasn’t just their tool. I learned a lot. I know a lot. This.” He touched the black notebook. “Is just a tiny portion of the information that I have on their clients. And every year, I learn a little more, make connections between people and packs. They know that, it’s part of why they want me under their thumb so badly.”
“But they left you alone for years. Why now?”
“Probably didn’t know where he was at first,” Ronan answered. “And then they didn’t understand what we were doing here. It’s not like we advertise. It probably took time for them to figure it all out.”
“I might have drawn attention to us,” Griffin added, a hint of guilt in his expression. “I wasn’t as careful as I should have been looking for my brothers. Word got back to Antoine and Virgil.”
“So they know you’re looking for them?”
“I’m certain they’re searching for them, too. Leverage, remember?”
“Then we have to find Michael first.” He felt a pang in his chest as he thought about Drew.
“Every lead has been a dead end. The guy who bought him took a bullet to the head months ago and didn’t exactly keep business records. At least we know they’re having as much trouble as we are.”
It was poor consolation, but better than nothing.
Aidan started to cry again, and Beau felt more confident he knew what their son wanted.
“Someone’s hungry,” he said, standing and carrying him over to Griffin.
“Why don’t we take a break,” Ronan suggested. “There’s nothing urgent to be discussed today.”
“Sounds good to me,” Beau said, looking to Griffin. His mate as staring down at their son, a sad smile on his face.
“Why not?”
Ronan left, and Beau pulled a chair over to sit next to Griffin.
“You’re worried.”
“That’s a leader’s prerogative. I’m responsible for my pack, for keeping them safe. But the truth is, the simple fact that I’m here is creating a lot of the danger.”
“You really think things would be much different if Ronan was leader? Or Quinn? They’ve both got a checkered past. Hell, we’ve all got checkered pasts.”
Griffin lifted his head, meeting Beau’s eyes, a small smile on his face. “Ah, but I bought you, fair and square. No one had the right to take you from me.”
“And you’re my omega,” Beau retorted. “That’s my bite mark on your neck.”
It was a source of pride to them both that it hadn’t faded like they’d expected. A sign that they were mated, in every sense of the word.
“The next person who tries to take you or our son will die by my hand,” he vowed.
Griffin’s smile became a grin. “You make the sweetest promises. I’m lucky to have you.”
“And you do,” Beau insisted. “You do have me. I’ll do whatever I have to to keep you and the pack safe.”
“Even if it means fighting again?”
“Even if.”
He needed Griffin to know that he would have his back, no matter what. He’d struggled with knowing his purpose after Griffin had brought him back from being feral but having a mate and child had made some things crystal clear to him.
“Then I guess I’d better stop moping around and get back to work.”
Beau nodded to the feeding baby. “You are working. And you heard Ronan, there’s nothing urgent. Let’s take a few hours for family time.”
The lounge had always been Griffin’s favorite room. And then Beau had arrived in his life, and it became something more, something better. He’d changed things around to accommodate Beau’s bear and there was now a corner of the room, by the window, where he could sleep in the sunlight, the breeze blowing across his fur. Griffin often joined him, in his cheetah form, when time allowed. These days, it all depended on little Aidan and whether he was fussy or sleepy. They had rigged up a little hammock for him so that he could sleep right next to them. Griffin longed for the day when he came into his shifter animal and all three of them could cuddle together.
“Where do you want to settle down?” Beau asked him.
“By the window,” Griffin said, carrying Aidan over as Beau tugged two of the larger pillows together. They lay on their backs, side by side, Aidan lying on his tummy across Beau’s chest. When the baby fussed, the alpha rumbled something, his hand stroking soothingly across Aidan’s back until he settled.
“Do you think he’ll be an alpha?” Griffin wondered. “Or maybe an omega?”
“For his sake, I hope he’s a beta,” Beau said softly. “It would spare him a lot of pain.”
“I wouldn’t swap that pain if it meant never finding you,” Griffin murmured. “We appreciate what we have so much more because of what we’ve fought through to get here.”
And if sometimes his arms ached at the thought that there should be another child in them, then it was simply a reminder to not take any moment with Aidan for granted.
Aidan started to cry again, his arms and legs flailing. Griffin eased him into his arms, unsnapped his babygrow, and took it off. If there was one thing Aidan thrived on, it was skin-to-skin contact. He rubbed circles across the baby’s tummy while Beau took off his shirt, then he passed Aidan into the alpha’s waiting arms. Aidan’s eyes were scrunched closed but they opened wide at the first touch of his skin to the alpha’s and then he gurgled with contentment.
“Better, huh?” Griffin asked, leaning in and smiling at their little one. And then it happened. Aidan smiled back.
“Beau, look.”
The alpha glanced down and grinned. “Who’s a happy cub, huh? Yes, you.”
That got an even broader smile from Aidan, his whole body squirming with happiness.
It was, of course, just at that moment that a phone call interrupted them. Grimacing, Griffin glanced at the phone’s screen.
“I have to take this. Sorry, guys.”
He stepped out of the room and headed toward the office, phone to his ear. It was half an hour before he could end the call and make his way back to the lounge. Beau and Aidan had moved to the far side of the room, Aidan fast asleep in the little baby hammock, Beau stretched out on the floor, in bear form. He lifted his head as Griffin stepped inside.
Griffin glanced at Aidan again, assuring himself that the baby was snoozing before he shifted and padded over to lie next to Beau. The alpha huffed and nudged his body against him, the warmth of his fur familiar and comforting. Griffin let his tail curl around the alpha, stretched out under the heat of the sun, and let himself fall asleep.
He woke to Aidan making noise; happy, contented sounds. Raising his head, he saw the Aidan’s legs kicking in the air and his hands waving. Beau still slept, and he was careful not to wake him as he got up on four paws and padded over to Aidan’s hammock. He let his head rest against the edge, taking in Aidan’s scent before a tiny hand grabbed hold of his fur. Aidan’s face turned down in a frown, but before he could cry, Griffin started to purr. He leaned in, letting his head rest lightly on Aidan’s tummy, purring contentedly. Aidan’s cry stopped before it even started, their little cub making a soft sound before his hand found Griffin’s fur again and gripped it lightly. So intent was he on settling their little one that he didn’t notice Beau change back, not until the alpha was kneeling next to him, one hand on Griffin’s back and the other on Aidan’s head.
“There are my two beautiful boys,” Beau said. “I was having this really great dream. I was free from my chains. I had a pack, and a mate, and a son. Then I woke up…”
Griffin knew that dream. He’d had it himself more than once. And he never knew how the story ended, until now.
“…and it wasn’t a dream at all.”