Epilogue

Haley

 

Two years later...

 

“Haley Elizabeth Poe.”

That’s my cue. I need to run. Today is graduation. I can’t believe I’ve made it this far. At first, I wasn’t sure I would like it in Window Rock, but the place has grown on me. The Alpha is really strict, but not. He’s fair, and I kind of like him—as long as I don’t piss him off. His mate, Keeley, and her sister, Danielle, are amazing. They’ve made me feel like I belonged here from the moment they met me.

I glance out at the crowd.

The Alpha and his mate are here along with my mom and dad, my grandparents on Midnight’s side, and the two-year-old terror better known as Edgar. He’s my little brother. The day the official documents for my adoption arrived, Leora and Midnight found out from Danielle, she was also pregnant. I think it took us all a moment to realize we were going from a pseudo-family of three to four in no time. There were plenty of growing pains, especially for me. I hadn’t had a family before who cared, but a flesh and blood kid meant more, at least, to me in the beginning. I had abandonment issues for a long time. I’d been sure, the minute Edgar arrived, they’d put me out. Instead, I’d been integrated into every aspect of Leora’s pregnancy, including Edgar’s birth. FYI: I’m not sure if I’ll ever want kids now.

Today is another happy day, though.

I pause on stage for the photographer and smile while shaking the principal’s hand. When Midnight signed me up for school, I thought I’d be so far behind, the school system would force me to get my GED, but with tons of hard work on my part, and straight A’s, I graduated with my class. I flip my tassel to indicate I am a graduate, at the same moment a tingle of awareness slides down my spine.

He’s out there, too. No one sees him. I do, sometimes. When he lets me. He’s a ghost, you see. He’s my mate, too. The day on the freeway, when we all almost died... he rescued us. It’d also been the day we formed a psychic link. Telepathy is a pretty common ability; however, I wasn’t the telepath in this crazy situation.

Ghost had been. He says he’s a null, so he didn’t understand, but I bet he did. Anyway, he sticks to the shadows. He doesn’t approach me, nor does he stick around Window Rock. He does talk to me, though. All the time, it seems. Then, he disappears. He says no one can know about him yet, but it makes me feel a bit... icky. I shouldn’t have to lie to my parents, right?

When the last student for our class sits, the principal has us stand, then he presents us to our parents and the faculty of our school. Midnight and Leora are so proud of me. They have encouraged me from the beginning, telling me I can do anything I put my mind to. You have no idea how good it feels to have them in my corner. I also have Midnight’s parents, my now grandparents guiding me along. I swear his mom—my grandmother would feed me until I popped if I let her when they came to visit, which is more often than not. It’s oddly comforting having all of them in my life. They treat me like I’m biologically theirs and as though they’ve known me my whole life. I can’t quite explain how much they mean to me. Don’t think I ever will.

So, what’s the next chapter of my life going to look like? College at Turnskin University. When I first arrived here, I had regular sessions with Danielle and Keeley. They helped me channel my pyro abilities, especially after I’d had some horrible nightmares in the beginning. Then I spent three days a week with Brie—she’s the town and pack’s therapist, talking about things and learning different ways to cope with everything since leaving the group home. In between them and school, Midnight also gave me the chance to be a raven. We flew together all the time. Then one day, he let me fly on my own. He said I needed to learn to trust myself. I can’t explain how I felt, but after that, everything changed. Between the four of them, I’d finally come to accept, I’m worth the love I am shown by Leora and Midnight and my new grandparents. I am worth having an education, and I am worthy of going to college. And, I am an amazing shifter to boot.

While I’d been with Danielle and Keeley, I’d been introduced to several people at the fire department. One of them, Capt. Leonardo Casseus, headed the Arson Investigation Team. He could use someone like me. Since I can produce fire, track it, and just by looking at it, tell someone how it started, I’d be invaluable to them. So, I am going to study not only criminal justice, but also fire science. When I return in four years, I’m going to be the best damn arson investigator in this county.

It’s my solemn vow.

My name is Haley Elizabeth Poe. Watch out world. Here I come.