Chapter 28: Epilogue

Tyler Trip

I was always the last one to fall asleep and the first one to wake up.

I couldn’t drift off until her steady breathing lulled me into slumber. I couldn’t keep my eyes shut when I was scared she wouldn’t be there when I woke up.

I watched her as the sun rose, its rays filtering through the white curtains and lighting up the golden strands in her red hair.

I used to have nightmares about the war, but now my only fear was that Caroline was an illusion; a glimpse of the future I’d lost.

I used to grieve for Del, but now my heart ached every time I imagined Caroline gone.

My fingers brushed her cheek, giving my mind the reassurance it needed that she was still there.

Sometimes, touch wasn’t enough to convince me she was real. Sometimes, I needed more.

I’d need her to recount how she woke up covered in ash and walked out of the charred house.

I hooked my leg around hers, and she sighed as I pulled her close, her face nuzzling against my chest, her eyes still closed.

Her scent wrapped around me, calming my erratic heart, as I eased away from my panic.

Caroline was here. She was safe.

I lay with her until she woke up. Her eyes were heavy and dazed as she smiled lazily at me, stretching like a cat.

She rested one hand on her stomach, and I watched it rise and fall with each breath, while she used the other to stroke my face, her fingers catching on my stubble.

“Morning,” she whispered. The light reflected off her eyes, highlighting the tiny sliver of blue in her right eye.

“Morning,” I murmured back, reaching out to push her hair back. She arched her back slightly, exposing her neck as she twisted her legs further with mine.

My heart skipped as I glanced at the old scars on her neck; the remnants of the wound I had tried to staunch with my fingers.

Two of the punctures cut straight through the mark I had imprinted on her skin.

Caroline smiled but a tiny line of worry appeared between her eyebrows. “You’re staring,” she said.

“I’m not,” I denied, forcing one side of my mouth up into a half-smile. “I’m just admiring how beautiful you are when you wake up.”

“You should be used to the sight by now,” Caroline said, the line between her eyebrows deepening. “You’ve been up before me every day since—”

“There’s lots to do,” I cut in. “You’re just always sleeping in.”

Caroline kissed my lips softly. “We don’t have to talk about it, Tyler.” She rolled off the bed and stood, unsteady as ever.

A thick scar remained on the pale skin of her thigh but she had regained her full mobility and strength after she had risen from the dead.

I propped myself up against the headboard, watching as she pulled off my old t-shirt and grabbed her running gear from the closet.

“I’m not avoiding the subject,” I protested. “I was never on it.”

Caroline gave me a dry look. “You were staring at my scars.”

“I was looking at my mark.”

Caroline rolled her eyes and disappeared into the closet again to search for her sneakers. “I don’t know how to convince you that I’m real,” she said from inside the closet.

“I told you what happened… What I remember. Everyone else has told you what they saw. I pinch you all the time.” She popped her head out. “I don’t know what else to do.”

“It’s only been a month,” I said tightly. “I need time.”

Caroline frowned and came back to the bed. She kneeled in front of me and took my face in both of her hands.

“If I was dead, could I do this?” she asked, kissing my forehead, cheeks, and nose. “This?” Caroline kissed me deeply, her fingers slipping into my hair. “Or this?” One hand moved to my abdomen.

I pulled away and took both of her hands. “I searched for you in the flames,” I said, my voice strained. “I thought you were Ryan. I thought I was too late and that you were already dead.

“And then I heard you breathing and I found you through the smoke and when I reached out to you, you were covered in blood and ash.

“You were ~dead~, Caroline, and I thought I was too. The next thing I knew—”

“You were being dragged out of the fire by Grant. I know, Tyler, I understand—”

I recoiled. “But I don’t,” I replied harshly. I felt a rush of resentment, panic, and intense and consuming love. “I don’t ~understand~ why you would light our house on fire—”

Caroline glared. “Because I needed to get your attention. To warn you—”

“While you were still ~inside~?”

Caroline’s eyes glassed over and she went silent.

The thought tortured me.

Why didn’t Caroline grab what she needed from the house and then light it on fire from outside? It was the peak of summer, dry and without rain. The rest of the house would have caught alight.

“Ryan came,” she murmured. It was the excuse she had given before.

“And there was no time between you entering the house and Ryan coming for you to get out?” I pressed.

She was silent again, her eyes distant as she replayed that day in her mind.

I knew the answer to my question. I knew she had built a pile of kindling in the living room, lit candles under all the curtains, and set the kitchen ablaze.

It was almost as though she had engineered the fire to be inescapable.

“I’m going for a run,” Caroline muttered, pulling away.

Panic seized my throat and muscles, and I sat there dumbly as she tugged on her sneakers and left.

I fought the urge to follow her to ensure she would be safe. I had done that for the first week and she hadn’t reacted favorably.

So I sat back and waited, mulling the question over and over again.

Why hadn’t she tried harder to save herself?

Caroline Ryder

I pushed harder, refusing to take any step for granted as I ran. I remembered the feeling of immobility and the frustration that nearly drove me insane when my leg had been injured.

I was freed from that now; healed and strong once more. It wasn’t a blessing I took lightly or an opportunity I was going to squander.

Running through the brisk autumn morning was just the jolt my sleepy mind needed.

The air nipped at my cheeks, a pleasant contrast to the warmth my body generated as I ran. The grass crunched beneath my feet, the leaves just beginning to change and fall.

I ignored the slight burn in my lungs and kept my head high, trying not to look at my feet as I ran. I heard a few giggles and turned to see some kids waving.

“Hey, Luna!” one shouted.

I raised my hand in a quick wave but didn’t slow down, pushing myself up the incline toward the mountain’s peak. The cool air bit into my lungs and energized my muscles, so I kept my pace steady.

Reaching the top, I bent over, checking my pulse at my neck as I gulped in air.

I straightened up with a grimace, leaning back to stretch and take in the view of the valley nestled between Mt. Timbre and Mt. Oaks. It had been peaceful since Moray’s death.

A week after the clash between our communities, Trip and I sent Mick to extend our condolences, apologies, and offer of friendship.

They accepted everything but the friendship, not quite ready to forget all the harm Ryan had caused as alpha.

So, we agreed to be friendly neighbors. They no longer feared attacks from us, and we no longer felt threatened by them. At last, there was peace.

That thought brought me back to a conversation I’d had with Trip.

I sat on the cliff’s edge, my feet dangling over the side as I worked to steady my breathing. My stomach twisted as I thought about Trip’s constant worry.

He hardly slept anymore. He watched my every move and wouldn’t leave the territory without me. I knew he wanted answers, but all I had were hazy memories.

~“I’m a songbird,” ~Del whispered, her hand covering mine, ~“but you’re a phoenix.”~

I felt the burn then; the raw sensation of my skin bubbling and peeling back to reveal a fresh layer underneath.

I screamed and thrashed. Del’s version of the alpha’s house vanished, replaced by a house engulfed in flames, thick smoke coiling around me.

I screamed and screamed as the fire consumed my skin, charring it.

I brought my hands up to my face and gagged: the skin was black, bleeding, and blistered.

I screamed for Liam, for Tyler, and for my mother. I begged for mercy in the form of death.

I was in agony.

And then I wasn’t.

I sat up as if waking from a dream; ash drifted off me, revealing smooth skin untouched by the flames.

My hands ran over my arms, finding no burns. My fingers traced my neck, finding no wounds. My palm rested on my thigh, finding only an old scar.

And I stood to watch the sunrise.

“You’re predictable,” Han said as he approached, pulling me from my thoughts. “How is it that I knew exactly where to find you?”

I shrugged and patted the spot next to me. Han sat with a groan, his shoulder bumping mine as he smiled. “How are you?”

“Good,” I said. “Just another day living my second life.”

Han laughed. “Zombie Girl.”

The joke made me glad I could feel a pulse under my jaw.

“At least Mom and Dad have stopped hovering,” I said, shifting the topic slightly, “now that Libby’s starting to show.”

Han rolled his eyes. “All Mom does is collect baby clothes and buy useless gadgets.”

“It’s her first grandchild,” I defended our mother. “It might be the only one she gets for a while since Trip and I aren’t planning on having a kid and you’re still unmated.”

“Mating is the next adventure,” Han said, surprising me. He’d always been cynical about mating, insisting his mate was either long dead from the war or impossible to find.

He saw the shock on my face and rolled his eyes. “Don’t be weird about it.”

“I’ve never heard you talk about mating like that, Hanna,” I said, excitement rushing through me.

My brother deserved a love that was free of judgment and trial. After a lifetime of being compared to Grant, he deserved to be appreciated for who he was.

Han ran a hand through his white hair and shrugged. “You know, I always thought mating was bullshit.

“I was sure Mom would leave Dad if she knew about Grant, Mick and Libby made me want to puke, and I saw what happened to you when you lost Liam…”

“I get it,” I said.

Han smiled shyly. “But Mom accepted Grant, Libby and Mick are expecting a baby, and you found Trip.” Han met my eyes and held them.

“What I saw him do to get you out of that fire, the devastation we felt when he thought you were dead… And when you guys were reunited… I don’t know… I just want~ that~.”

I blinked rapidly to stop any tears from spilling over and punched Han in the shoulder.

“I’m glad you’re ready for it,” I said sincerely. “I’m sure there’s a girl out there who doesn’t know how lucky she is right now because she doesn’t have to put up with you yet… Hey!”

We both laughed as Han shoved me, his shoulders shaking with laughter.

I sobered up quickly, noticing just how much my little brother had changed.

Han was watching me too. His eyes held the same look as Trip’s, like he wasn’t sure if I was really there.

“I decided to take Trip up on his offer,” Han mumbled after a moment. “I’m going to start training to be a medic.”

I was glad Trip had passed along my suggestion.

“I think it would be cool. It’ll keep me in the fight but I don’t have to hurt anyone. Makes me feel connected to Liam too.”

I grinned. “Liam would be ecstatic if he were here.”

Han nodded, a tiny bubble of pride appearing on his face. “I know.”

We walked down the mountain, discussing the small things in life that I missed.

Han walked with his hands in his hoodie as he told me about the books he had read, his gift ideas for Mom’s birthday, and his name suggestions for Mick’s kid.

We walked past the repairs being done to the surrounding buildings that Ryan, Theo, and their followers had set fire to.

Luckily, Morda had appeared before any structural damage was done to most of the buildings. Now, the pack was repairing the remaining damage.

Han shook his head, disbelief etched on his face. “I can’t wrap my head around why that jerk tried to torch the territory, especially when he was trying to take it over. Who in their right mind sets fire to the place they’re planning to move into?”

I just shrugged in response.

“How’s the new house treating you?” Han asked, changing the subject.

“It’s okay,” I replied, not giving much away. Trip and I had moved into a small cottage, a far cry from the grandeur of the alpha’s house.

No one had made a move to rebuild our old home. I wasn’t sure if Tyler ever wanted to go back there.

As we neared the heart of the pack’s territory, where the market was located and most of the houses were, we slowed down.

Trip and Rowan were there, along with Sarah and Jackie. Aaron and Bennie were probably out on patrol.

Han let out a sigh. “I should head home,” he said, giving Trip a nod from across the clearing. “I’ve got a ton of studying to do and it looks like the alpha wants a word with you. Probably without me.”

We shared a quick hug and Han took off, waving to our inner pack before heading home.

“The phoenix herself,” Rowan greeted me, a grin spreading across his face. Bennie had come up with the new nickname and the pack had embraced it.

I growled in response. “I already told you—”

“Enough with the teasing,” Jackie scolded Rowan, then turned to me with a smile. “Hey, Caroline.”

Tyler slipped his hand into mine as a silent apology. “Did you see the progress on the outer homes?” he asked. “I was impressed by how much they’ve managed to finish.”

“That’s because my enforcers are helping out,” Sarah chimed in, a hint of pride in her voice. “They’re efficient.”

“We were also incredibly lucky that Caroline’s witch sister-in-law was here to save our asses,” Rowan added. “Have you heard from Grant and Morda, Phoenix?”

I stuck my tongue out at him. “They’re doing fine,” I reported. “Last I heard, they were off chasing down some old friend. A Vivian something? I’m not sure.

“Lux and Keegan went the other way though. More Sun Warriors to deal with.”

I remembered how emotional it had been to say goodbye to my brother and his mate. How grateful I had been that they’d seen the flames from two towns over and come back.

And even though we’d barely spoken, it had been hard to say goodbye to Lux.

The silver woman had taken me aside after I had repeated my story multiple times, sharing her own near-death experience when she had been shot by her father.

She said that she had seen the Moon Goddess and was convinced that the Del in my vision had been a representation of the deity. I wasn’t as convinced.

“Witches,” Rowan muttered to himself, shaking his head. “What’s next? Vampires?”

“Let’s hope not,” Sarah quipped. “I could do with some normalcy.”

We all agreed.

Rowan and Jackie wandered off, in search of something to eat. Sarah left too, eager to get back to supervising her enforcers. Trip tugged on my hand, and we started walking.

Trip hadn’t cut his hair in a while and it was starting to brush the hood of his sweatshirt. His facial hair was overgrown too; his stubble transforming into a thick beard.

I didn’t mind his new look and he didn’t seem to either as the air was turning colder and the days shorter. My stomach clenched when I realized where he was leading us. Back to the alpha’s house.

“Tyler—” I protested.

He kept walking.

So, I followed.

He stopped us just before the porch and rubbed his jaw as he looked over the charred skeleton that was now the only thing remaining of our once beautiful, albeit empty, home.

“I can live without knowing exactly how you came back to me,” Tyler said. “What is important is that you are here. But I can’t go on wondering why you decided to do it.”

“To save the pack,” I said, trying to soften my words.

“You know what I mean,” he said, his green eyes meeting mine.

I sucked in a breath through my teeth. “I pledged to give my life to them,” I answered. “Lighting the fire from the inside seemed like the best chance to make sure it caught.

“Yes, I could have lit the fire from the porch but I didn’t. Ryan came and we fought. I won by lighting that match.”

Tyler swallowed hard and looked down.

“I can live with my choice,” I told him firmly. “I would do it the same all over again if I were given the chance. We won, Tyler. We beat Ryan and Moray. We ~won~.”

“You could have died,” Tyler snapped. His shoulders shook as he stifled a sob.

I tried to imagine what it had been like for him when he realized I was trapped and burning, the same as Del. I tried to imagine what it had been like for him searching for me inside of an inferno.

And I couldn’t imagine it. I couldn’t even think of it because I knew that if our roles had been reversed, I would have been hysterical. I wouldn’t have been able to function at all.

I would have been too stricken with grief, panic, stress, and nausea. I would be wondering too; losing sleep too; driving myself crazy too.

“You also could have died,” I told him. “You went to fight an angry group of armed humans. You were just as likely to die. I’m sure if you could go back—”

“I would not relive that day in the same way,” Tyler said fiercely.

“I know,” I said, taken aback. “I’m sorry.”

Tyler’s face crumbled.

“I’m ~sorry~,” I repeated.

~I’m so fucking sorry.~

Tyler looked up at the house. “I never want to see this place again.”

Hesitantly, I took his hand again. When he didn’t pull away, I leaned my head onto his shoulder.

“We made some great memories here,” I countered. “Remember when I first showed up with all of my things?”

Trip chuckled. “Yes,” he said, “I was so nervous.”

I slapped his chest. “You were not—”

He grinned down at me. “I was,” he insisted. “I was scrambling to impress you. I made you shitty coffee, remember?”

“Absolutely the worst,” I chimed in, my own grin matching his. I gave his hand a gentle tug. “Remember our first night sleeping in the living room? I was so uncomfortable all night long. My back was sore for days.”

He chuckled. “But you loved being next to me.”

“I did,” I admitted without a hint of embarrassment. “I ~do~.”

“We made love here,” Tyler said, a smirk playing on his lips. “In more ways than one.”

I bit my lip, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. “We healed here, had arguments here—”

“You had your first beer in the kitchen,” Tyler recalled. “And your first lousy house party.”

“Unforgettable,” I laughed. “We even tried to decorate.”

Tyler cringed. “Thank God the new place is already furnished.”

“We burned and then ate a lot of awful food here,” I said, my grin a little crooked.

He gently cradled my face in his hands. “I met you for the first time here.”

“We fell in love here,” I said simply. “I started my new life here.”

“Yes,” he whispered, “we did.”

“This was our home,” I said, reaching up to touch his cheek. He leaned into my hand.

“Not anymore,” he said, his voice deep and resonant.

“No,” I agreed. “Now, you are my home.”

And he was mine.

~End of The Feral War~