Epilogue
Diz stood under the arbor the dogs had built in the center of the practice track. The thing was covered with white flowers and gauzy shit that the females insisted on. No one would ever tell them no on that, even if it did sit smack dab in the middle of their manly domain.
Because today was the day.
The day they’d all been waiting for.
The one that had him so anxious, he hadn’t been able to sleep last night.
He shifted from one foot to the other, nervous as hell. They all were. Drake, Beast, Blister, and Surge stood shirtless behind him. Blister seemed the least nervous of them all. Diz wanted to know his secret.
Eyes scanning the white folding chairs lining a center aisle strewn with rose petals, he saw many familiar faces. Owyn, Renner and his mate, Ryan, and Magic were among the cats from the Ouachitas. Surge’s mother sat on the front row, holding a wiggling Artie. Gracie sat next to her, pretending to be a big girl. And the newest member of their club, Mandrake Folsom Jr.—named after his father—slept soundly in his bassinet.
The Elder, Illia, stood front and center, next to the burning kettle that contained the mating markers.
“How long does it take to get dressed?” Beast grumbled impatiently.
“Well, I peeked at Ella’s dress,” Drake said. “It looked, uh… complicated.”
“Isn’t it bad luck to see the dress?” Diz asked, and Drake turned white.
“Oh, shit. Is it?” He looked to Illia and she nodded. “Well, fuck me. Why didn’t anyone say so?”
“I hardly think luck has any place in a mating ceremony,” Illia said in her monotone.
It was true. They’d worked hard to get here, but even still, Diz considered himself damn lucky.
For the past three months Dessy had trained hard with Illia. There’d been tears of frustration, but through it all, he’d encouraged her, held her when she needed it.
As a cat, she wasn’t familiar with the way male wolves were marked. Cats didn’t have a ceremony, they just clawed the shit out of their partner. Efficient as fuck, really. But she knew it was important to the pack, and she wanted desperately to give the dogs their mating ceremony. Except Illia insisted it could only be done by Destiny.
Rules, schmules. Whatever.
Dessy had put pedal to the metal and learned all she needed to know to perform the ceremony.
He was so damn proud of her.
But before performing her first job as Elder, Diz was taking his turn under the brand. And he could hardly fucking wait. Sure, it was symbolic, but wearing his mate’s mark was something he’d been dying for.
Heads turned as a black limo bumped its way down the tiny dirt road. The thing was coated with a heavy layer of dust by the time it pulled up to the track.
“There’s my female,” Blister murmured.
“Aw, damn,” Surge whispered. “I think I’m going to hurl. Fucking nervous, man.”
The limo parked and the driver got out to open the door. Tana came first, followed by Annie, Punk, Ella, and finally, finally, Dessy.
She was fucking gorgeous beyond words in her gauzy white dress. Unassuming angel. Diz’s mouth hung open, and there was no hope of him coming off looking like he had it together.
Destiny was pregnant with triplets, which meant she looked about seven months along instead of three. She owned it as she waddled down the aisle behind the others. She was the happiest little pregnant female he’d ever met, which made Diz love her even more.
She glanced nervously at him, and he managed to lift his jaw off the floor to grin.
When each of the females had joined them under the arbor, the ceremony began. First Illia would conduct the marking for Diz and Destiny, then Destiny would perform the other four.
Through their bond, Diz could feel her trepidation. But he had full faith in her. She’d do fine. The pack loved her, and she them. Illia was right, they were a hybrid pack, and that was exactly perfect.
“We’ve come together today, to celebrate the mating of five very special couples.” Illia’s voice rang out without the need for a microphone. “Drake and Ella. Beast and Punk. Blister and Annie. Surge and Tana.” Her eyes landed on Destiny and her face changed from a muted expression to one of pride. “Diz and Destiny.”
She reached over, stirring the flaming kettle. The branding tool was coming up to temperature.
“We’ll start with Diz. Your path to your mate was long and winding, and not without a few bumps. Now you have young on the way, and all you’ve desired except one thing. You wish to be the bearer of your mate’s mark.”
“Fuck, yes,” Diz blurted.
Illia scowled.
“I mean, yes.”
He reached for Destiny’s hand, winding his fingers through hers for strength.
“Your pack has chosen the head of a wolf with the claw marks of a cat to be your brand. It shall from here on out be the mating marker used by the Dirt Track Dogs. Destiny, come forward.”
She reached up on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on Diz’s cheek before she went to take the marker Illia held for her. Turning to face him, he got his first look at the glowing tip of the brand. She held it in front of her body with trembling hands, and when her eyes met his, they were concerned.
Yeah, baby. It’s gonna hurt. But so, so fucking good.
His wolf agreed, growling his appreciation.
He gave her a sure nod.
Illia spoke to Diz, holding his gaze with severity. “With this mark you commit your life to the loving and serving of your mate. For as long as you both shall live and even into death.”
“Yes,” he said. “Absolutely.”
She seemed pleased by his answer.
“And Destiny, by placing the mark, you deem your mate worthy of your devotion. For as long as you both shall live and even into death.”
His mate nodded. “I very much do.”
Diz’s heart soared once again. He’d never get used to the feeling of her loving him, and he never wanted to. He wanted it to be new every day.
“Now then,” Illia said. “Let nothing come between you, and may your bond outlive the sun. You may now mark your male.”
Destiny met his gaze, clearly conflicted about the idea of hurting him.
“Mark me, Dessy. Wolf is dying for it.”
She nodded, inching the glowing red emblem of wolf and claw closer to his chest. The anticipation was the worst, but he was practically hard for it, wanting her mark in his skin the way he’d put his on her.
With a deep breath, she shoved the burning iron against his skin. A strangled sound left his throat, but he grit his teeth through the pain.
“Love you,” she whispered, holding the marker in place until it was time to pull it free.
Diz clenched his fists tight. In two more seconds he was going to have her in his arms. Just two more…
Finally the marker clattered to the ground and she eased forward. “Is it okay?” she breathed, tears in her eyes.
It was more than okay. It was damn fucking perfect.
He reached for her, pulling her close and maneuvering around her baby bump. Kissing her hard on the lips to reassure her, he let his wolf get close to the surface.
“Mine,” he whispered, pulling back a fraction.
“Mine,” she breathed back.
Illia bent to pick up the marker. Returning it to the kettle, she said, “As your pack’s newly appointed Elder, Destiny will continue from here.”
Destiny gathered herself, wiping her eyes. Diz pushed all his love through their bond, wanting her to know he was right there with her, then he stepped to the side.
She let out a slow breath and smiled at the remaining couples.
“And now for the moment you’ve all been waiting for. You will take your vows and receive your mate’s mark.” She looked at Ella. “Sorry we couldn’t do it before Mandrake was born.”
Ella held up a hand. “Manny. Call him Manny. Please.”
Destiny laughed and so did the people in the audience.
“Ladies, if you’ll take the markers in hand, we can get started.”
One by one, the females pulled the long handled brands from the kettle and stood before their mates.
Destiny faced the guys and repeated the vows she’d just said herself. “With this mark you commit your life to the loving and serving of your mate. For as long as you both shall live and even into death.”
“Yes,” Drake said, with a sure nod.
“Yes,” Beast said, staring Punk right in the eyes and wiggling his nose like a bunny.
“Yes,” Blister said in his quiet way, his eyes moving over Annie like he was hungry.
“Hells yes,” Surge said.
Destiny turned to the ladies. “By placing the mark, you deem your mate worthy of your devotion. For as long as you both shall live and even into death.”
“Yes. Always yes,” Ella said, nodding.
“Yes,” Punk said, wiggling her nose back.
“Yes. So worthy,” Annie said, giving Blister a sweet grin.
“Aw, yessssss,” Tana said, winking at Surge.
Diz couldn’t take his eyes off Destiny as she conducted the ceremony that was so important to them.
“Let nothing come between you, and may your bond outlive the sun,” she proclaimed. “The marking may begin.”
“We gonna do it all at the same time?” Ella asked nervously.
Destiny looked at Illia for guidance.
“That will be fine.” The Elder nodded.
“Okay…” Ella looked at Drake and the expression on his face was the rawest Diz had ever seen from his alpha. “Let’s do it.”
She pushed the marker against his skin, and the others followed her lead. Diz pressed his lips together, the pain from his own mark still fresh. He watched as his brothers each reacted to the delicious pain. Hissing, grinding teeth, fists clenching.
Annie sobbed as she held the brand to Blister’s scarred shoulder, but his gaze locked on hers only spoke of pure love. She’d see what it did to him when this was all over. Being marked by the one who’d taken a chance on him… Yes, that brother was the most changed of them all.
Punk and Tana were all business, but Diz didn’t miss the emotion swirling around those two badass females.
Surge laughed, loud and boisterous as Tana flung the marker away and lunged for him. “That’s what I’m talking about,” he murmured against her lips.
Diz clapped along with their family and friends as the couples recovered from the marking ritual.
“And now, to conclude the ceremony, we have one last order of business unique to DTD.” Destiny glanced at Ella, and their First Mate grinned mischievously. “You might have noticed the racecars parked along the track and assumed they were there for decoration.”
Diz had assumed that. He frowned at the guys who looked as confused as he felt.
“In the ultimate display of trust…” Her voice turned sarcastic. It was cute. “… the males of DTD will allow their females to drive their car one lap around the track.”
Five sets of eyebrows shot to the sky.
“Say what?” Surge scoffed.
There were sounds of disbelief as the women snickered at their orchestrated joke.
That’s what this was. A joke.
“Good one,” Diz said, reaching over to pinch Dessy’s cheek.
She stared at him, grinning. “Oh, this isn’t a joke, Diz. This is the final act of the ceremony.”
There were several beats of silence.
“But… technically, Ella has already driven my car,” Drake argued.
Destiny shrugged. “Then it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“But Annie doesn’t drive a standard.” Blister seemed relieved by his own words.
“Oh,” Annie said, nodding. “I’ve been practicing. Ella taught me.”
Beast squinted at Punk. “Was this your idea?”
“I plead the fifth,” she said.
“Well damn, baby girl.” Surge frowned at Tana. “That bet we made last night… that was… you knew I’d lose.”
“Of course I did. But that’s what you get for… um, negotiating.”
Silence fell over the dogs as they looked at one another, contemplating.
“What do you say, boys?” Drake murmured. “We ready to hand over the throttle?”
Surge sighed, long and hard. “We’ve already given ‘em the throttle,” he wiggled his eyebrows, “if you know what I mean. Might as well let ‘em drive our cars.”
Diz laughed. “I’m in,” he said, grabbing Destiny’s hand, wrapping it in his and holding it out in front of him.
“Me too,” Beast grumbled, doing the same with Punk’s.
Blister took Annie’s, winding their fingers together and adding them to the pile.
“Yep, yep.” Surge and Tana came next.
Drake and Ella followed.
“Okay, let’s do this,” Drake rumbled. “Dirt track life.”
“Huh!” they said in unison.
“Dirt track love.”
“Huh!”
“Dirt track daaaaawgs.”
“Win!”
“Dirt Track Dogs.”
“Win!”
And live happily ever after, Diz added in his head.
Then, as one voice, the pack howled.
“Owoooooooooo!”