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  So that’s who they were. Perhaps there was a small part of Remy—maybe the part that loved Helene—that was still good, which was why he didn’t kill Delacroix when he was an infant. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t a murderer. “You killed my mother.”

  “It wasn’t me! It was my wolf. I loved her and would never—”

  “But you still killed my father!” His hands curled into fists. He could end Remy right now. Drag him into the shadows, and no one would ever know. He should have done it a long time ago. “And the things you made me do …”

  “You didn’t take care of that child in Lafayette, did you?” Remy taunted, reminding him of that night. “You spared her. So, I know you don’t have the guts to kill me.”

  “Like I said, it’s over, Remy.” There had been so much blood and violence in his life, one would think one more death wouldn’t have mattered. But this was not the kind of world he wanted his pup to grow up in. “We’re taking you in. To the Lycan High Council, and you’ll have to answer for your crimes.”

  “The council?” He sneered. “I’d rather die at your hands. Not that you’d ever have the chance.”

  Remy’s hand shot out so quickly, he didn’t have time to think about what to do. A bright light turned his vision into a blinding white screen. Before he could react, his back hit the ground, and a heavy weight pressed on top him.

  “Like my little trick? You should thank the mages for that potion. Now, I’m gonna hurt you just enough to keep you alive until they—arrggh!”

  The weight lifted off of him as Remy howled out in pain. He was still blinded, but as he struggled to get up, a pair of hands gripped his arm. The scent of lavender and spice tickled his nostrils.

  “It’s me,” Mika whispered in an aching voice. “I thought he—”

  “I’m fine, but … I can’t see. Must have been a blinding potion. What’s happening?”

  She let out a relieved breath. “Gabrielle … she has Remy subdued now. He’s not getting away. Oh my God, I didn’t realize she could control her powers that way.”

  Damn, he wished he could see it. “Help me up …” She slung an arm under him and assisted him to his feet. The first thing he did was embrace her and bury his nose in her hair, then moved his hand to her belly. “Everything all right?”

  “I’m fine, we both are.” He felt her sigh against his chest. “And your grandmother is here too.”

  “Adelaide? Are you—”

  “I’m fine, child. I heard everything; we all did.”

  Mika cleared her throat and moved out of his arms. “I need to make a phone call,” she said. “I won’t be too far away.” He felt her squeeze his hand before her hand slipped away.

  Long thin fingers wrapped over his hand. “Thank you,” Adelaide whispered. “Because of you, we will finally be able to get justice for Helene and Armand.”

  His throat burned, so all he could do was nod. “I’m sorry I couldn’t kill him. I just thought—”

  “Shh. It’s all right. I understand. It has to end, all this death and blood.” Her voice was wistful, and he could picture a sad smile on her face. “My Helene … she was the gentle one. Hated conflict of any kind … the p-peacemaker of the family.” Her voice grew shaky. “She would have been proud of you.”

  As he heard the old woman sob, he turned toward her direction, reaching out to her. His grandmother fell into his arms as her thin, frail frame shook with sobs and wails. He soothed her, whispering to her in French and English as he rubbed his hand down her back. They stood there for a long while, and by the time she slowed down, his vision had fully returned.

  “Th-thank you,” she hiccupped as she stepped away.

  “You’re welcome.” Glancing around, he saw his aunt a few feet away from them standing over Remy. “Gabrielle? Is he—”

  “I haven’t killed him,” she replied. “Yet.”

  The Alpha lay on the ground as strips of dark fog wrapped around his legs and arms, pinning him to the ground. The lower half of his face was also covered in a mask of shadow, preventing him from speaking or turning his head, but the fury in his eyes completely conveyed how he was feeling at the moment.

  “How’s everyone else?” he asked Mika as she came back. “Did they—”

  “All the wolves have been subdued.” She put her phone back into her coat pocket. “No casualties. I’ve also called Daric. He’ll be here soon with reinforcements. We’ll take everyone back to Fenrir.”

  He huffed out a breath. “Almost forgot to tell you something Remy said.” He quickly relayed the story about how a mage came to the Alpha and struck his bargain.

  “Sounds like they wanted to turn you into one of them,” Mika said, huffing out a breath. “I’ll tell Daric when he gets here. He’ll be interested to know, I’m sure.”

  “What about your council?” Adelaide asked. “Will they give us justice? Without any consequences on my grandson or your clan?”

  “The Alpha is calling the Lycan High Council as we speak,” Mika said. “Lucas will relay the events to them, and I’m sure once they realize what Remy did and what he was up to, they’ll side with us.”

  “I wish my Helene was still alive,” Adelaide said. “But we cannot change the past. And I’m glad you have come back to us.” Her expression was full of hope as she looked up at him. “You will … stay and get to know us, right? I mean, for a little while, before you have to go back to your clan?”

  He slipped his hand into hers. “Of course. We are family … Mémère.”

  The smile on the old lady’s face could have lit up the night. “That we are.” She turned to Mika and took her hand, all three of them linked. “And soon there will be more of us.”

  His heart nearly burst his chest with happiness. Growing up, he’d been alone; surrounded by his clan, yes, but always alone, with only the shadow as his companion. But now, he not only had a mate and a pup on the way, but a whole family he never knew about, and a legacy that he would hopefully be passing on to his children.

  Shadow and light were facets of life and nature, one couldn’t exist without the other. And though he was a child of the cold darkness, from now on, his life would always be filled with the warmth of light from the love surrounding him.

  Epilogue

  One month later …

  Mika took a deep breath, taking in as much of the fresh, clean air as she could into her lungs. “That winter felt like it was forever. I’m glad it’s done. Don’t you love spring?” she asked her mate. “Everything’s so fresh and clean.”

  “Growin’ up, I never really noticed the weather, cher.” He helped her out of the car and shut the door behind her. “In the bayou, summers are long and hot. Everythin’ else is just wet and cloudy.”

  “But surely you can appreciate this weather,” she said. “Spring is always like a new beginning.

  He stopped and placed a hand on her belly. “I never thought I could start again, but maybe now I believe it. You’ve given me a new life.”

  His smile made warmth spread through her. “New beginnings are always something to be happy about. But,” she put her hand over his, “sometimes there’s no reason to start again. Sometimes you’re just fine the way you are.”

  He pressed his nose into her hair and inhaled. “Then you’ve given me something else. Something more precious than my own life.”

  Some days Mika couldn’t believe this was her life now. A few months ago, she’d been consumed by her own depression, drowning herself in work, and at the same time, trying to fill that void inside her with something. She thought a pup would be able to do that, and while she knew that she would be devoted to that life growing inside her, she now had so much more. She had a mate, and soon they would be a family. She was happy and content, and it was obvious that Delacroix would be an excellent father. They both had their fears and doubts, but she knew that together, they would be able to raise this child and give it so much love.

  “Are you sure you really want to do this?”

>   He nodded without hesitation. “I’m doing this for you and for me. I think … I think it’s time.”

  She slipped her hand into his and squeezed. “You know I love you now, right?”

  “I do, Mika.” And she had no doubt.

  “Okay, let’s go then.”

  Together, hand in hand, they walked through the gates of Holy Memorial Cemetery. When they reached Joe’s grave, she placed her free hand on top of his gravestone.

  “Hey, babe,” she began. “Sorry I haven’t been back for months. I’ve been really busy, but I’m here now. I wanted to say …” Her throat tightened, and her chest ached. “I’m sorry. I can’t,” she said to Delacroix.

  “It’s all right, cher.” He squeezed her hand tighter. “You probably feel like a part of you died when he did. That’s all right. Maybe that part belongs to him, and I would never ask you to take it back.”

  Her breath hitched, but the ache in her chest loosened. She knew this was his way of telling her that it was okay to miss Joe, and that he would never resent her for whatever feelings she had for her former husband. God, how she loved her mate, this man who she knew would always be there for her and their pup.

  He stared down intently at the name etched into the smooth stone. “You loved her first, I can never take that away. And I wouldn’t want to. Because if it wasn’t for you, she wouldn’t have learned to believe in love in the first place. So, thank you for that.”

  They stood in the silence for a long time, among the lush green surroundings and only the faint chirping of birds or the scuttle of squirrels breaking the tranquility. There was no need for more words, as Delacroix had spoken for them and said everything that was necessary.

  “I’m glad we came here,” she said, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.

  “Thank you.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead and nuzzled her cheek, then splayed a hand over her bump.

  “We should head out,” she said. “We have some very important people waiting for us.”

  Instead of going back to Manhattan, they drove to LaGuardia Airport, which was only a few miles from the cemetery. After leaving the car in the parking garage, they waited in the main arrivals area in the terminal building, scanning the doors that separated them from the concourses where the passengers were deplaning.

  Delacroix crossed his arms over his chest and tapped his fingers on his bicep. The flight was only thirty minutes delayed, but he couldn’t help but feel impatient.

  “Don’t worry,” Mika said. “They’ll be here soon.”

  As if her words conjured them up, the automatic doors whooshed open, and Gabrielle, Marina, and Adelaide stepped out.

  “Mémère!” he called as they strode over to the trio. He bent down and kissed his grandmother’s cheeks as Mika embraced Gabrielle and Marina. “How was the flight?” He’d been nervous because it was Adelaide’s first time flying, as she’d never left Louisiana in her entire life.

  “It was interestin’,” she said with a smile. “I never thought I’d ever get to ride in a plane.”

  He hugged his aunt and cousin. “And did you enjoy it?” he asked the teen.

  “Everyone was nice,” Marina said, her eyes wide and hands clapping together. “But I can’t believe we’re in New York. I’ve only seen it in pictures.”

  “We’ll have plenty of time for sightseein’.” Gabrielle’s eyes turned serious. “We should get to our meeting. I’m sure we’ll have plenty to talk about.”

  They led the Beaumonts to the car, and soon, they were on their way.

  Marina let out squeaks of excitement as they crossed over the Manhattan Bridge and saw the New York skyline. “The buildings … everything … they’re all so big.”

  Delacroix smiled to himself, remembering the first time he had seen it all. Of course, the circumstances were much different, as Nick Vrost had picked him up from a rest stop in the middle of nowhere in New Jersey. But there was the same sense of excitement as soon as he saw the skyline—it was that feeling that things were about to change, and now, looking at Mika, he couldn’t help but feel wonder at how much things had changed, and all for the better. Though his past molded him, now there was only the future to look forward to.

  They arrived at Fenrir Corp. headquarters and headed up to the executive level floors. Adelaide, Gabrielle, and Marina were not only invited to New York to visit him and Mika, but because they were about to do something very important. As soon as his grandmother had learned about the mages, she was eager to join the fight. “We can’t just do nothin’. They haven’t come after us, but they soon will, and I’ll be damned if we don’t strike first,” she had said.

  Almost everyone was there when they entered the Alpha’s office—Lucas Anderson, of course, as well as his sister, Adrianna Anderson. Daric stood in a corner, chatting quietly with the dragon himself, Sebastian Creed. Mika’s parents were sitting on the couch, while Jacob, Arch’s father Killian, and Lizzie were sitting opposite them. Arch and Cliff stood off to the side.

  The only one missing from GI was Wyatt, but then again, where Lizzie was, he usually, well, wasn’t. It seemed strange to him because after Mika was hurt, he never wanted to leave her side ever again, but Wyatt’s reaction was the opposite. Since the incident at the carnival, he avoided Lizzie, stopped stalking her office or even following her with his gaze if they were in the same room together. Maybe his suspicions about the two of them were wrong, but he’d been so sure, especially after hearing that Jean-Baptiste had sustained mysterious bruises and cuts while he had been in their custody. He glanced at his grandmother, and wondered if it would be ethical to ask her if she could tell if Lizzie and Wyatt were True Mates so he could start a betting pool.

  Lucas stood up and walked over to greet them. “Welcome to New York, Ms. Beaumont,” he said. “My name is Lucas Anderson, Alpha of New York. Thank you for coming all the way here to see us.”

  Adelaide peered up at him, then looked around. “Hmmm … I can see the appeal. Seems they grow all Lycans big and handsome,” she cackled. “If I was thirty years younger—”

  “Mama,” Gabrielle admonished. “Sorry, she’s not usually like this. I’m Gabrielle Beaumont, and this is my daughter, Marina.”

  Lucas took their offered hands and glanced at the teen. “Perhaps you’d like a tour of the shopping center downstairs while we have our meeting, Marina? I can have one of the staff—”

  “Just because she’s only thirteen doesn’t mean she can’t help.” Adelaide’s face grew serious. “Besides, I’m growing old, and my power is fading … that’s the price of dark magic, I’m afraid. But Marina, soon she will be all you have left. She will need to learn now before I am gone.”

  Delacroix reached out to his grandmother. “Surely it’ll be a while—”

  “Bah, don’t coddle me, child. I’m nearly ninety.” But she smiled up at him. “Don’t worry, I’ll still be here to see your bebes. Nothing will stop me from holding my great-grandchild.” She turned back to Lucas. “Marina’s much more sensitive than I, and her power is only growing. She can help you track what you’ve been looking for. Go ahead, ma chevrette.” She patted Marina’s shoulder. “Show them.”

  Marina looked around the room. “So much … glowing.” She pointed to Lucas and Adrianna. “Your mates aren’t here, but I can see your glow. Same there,” she gestured to the couch where Killian sat with Jacob and Lizzie.

  Before Delacroix could ask which one of the three she meant, Marina continued. “Oh, no.” Her nose wrinkled at Arch and Cliff. She shook her head. “No one yet.” Then she walked to Alynna and Alex, waving her hand between them, like she was touching something. “Oh, yes. Yes. The thread. So beautiful.” Then she headed toward Daric and Sebastian, and she let out a gasp. “You both have the glow but … you’re not Lycans.” She bit her lip. “You’re something … big,” she said to Sebastian. “And you …”

  “What am I, little one?” Daric asked, his eyes amused.

  “You’re like us, but differen
t.” Her eyes scrunched up at him, and she took his hands. “Oh. You touched something. Something …” Her breath came in small pants. “I don’t know … it’s like your hands … they have stains …” Her face went pale. “So much death … I …”

  “Shhh …” Gabrielle pulled her back. “It’s okay, it’s okay.”

  “Mama … it’s so terrible,” she sobbed into her mother’s arms. “So much blood.”

  Daric’s eyes turned stormy. “Before coming here, I transported the dagger,” he said, referring to the one artifact of Magus Aurelius that the Lycans possessed. The mages had another—a necklace, while a third was lost, which is what Daric and his son Cross had been looking for. “We change its hiding place every now and then.”

  “You can really see it?” Lucas asked Marina.

  “We both can,” Adelaide said. “The dark sight shows us the presence of magic, and in the case of powerful objects, traces of it.” Her small body shook as if a chill passed over her. “That object … whatever it was … bad gris-gris. Blood magic.”

  “The artifacts of Magus Aurelius were infused with the blood of three hundred Lycans and three hundred humans,” Daric said. “The mages plan to use all three to bring darkness and destruction to the world.”

  “Ah.” The old woman’s head bobbed up and down. “Three is a special number when it comes to magic, oui? Three artifacts. Three hundred humans. Three hundred Lycans.” She thought for a moment. “Just as I feared. Now, we must work together to find it. Whatever the Beaumonts can do to help, we will do it.”

  “Thank you,” Lucas said, bowing his head. “We appreciate any help you can give us.” He motioned for them to take their seats on the third empty couch in the room. “Now, I have some good news, at least. We’ve made some progress in tracking down how the mages are able to fund their activities. Lizzie?”

  The redhead stood up and took a tablet computer from her bag, facing it to the room. “It took a lot of work—I mean a lot of work, exhausting every favor I had and owing a couple more people, but I was able to trace the funds the mages have been using. The money’s been funneled into layers and layers of shell companies in the Bahamas, Lichtenstein, Estonia, Cyprus, and Cayman Islands.” She shoved her tablet forward and names began to scroll along the screen. “I was able to trace the sources from a couple of companies, most of which are owned by these people.”