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“She has me to do that. If Jasper causes issue….” Colton bristles up, instant defensiveness and spins around to face us once more. His mood rocketing.

“Colton! Please. Jasper needs time and patience. We can bring him home and back to the pack, don’t be so hasty to dismiss him. He’s no threat to us.”

“Alora is right. As much as I will miss the boy after a decade of his company, he belongs by his sister’s side. He belongs among wolves. He has become so used to our community that I fear he maybe forgets what he is and might need some kind of rehabilitation. To remember how to be a dog!” Varro smirks and Colton’s eyes amber ever so slightly, a scowl on one corner of that normally very pretty mouth.

“We’ll take care of him, you don’t need to worry about that. He’s my family.” I cut in to dampen the mood and slide in between the two of them as Colton and Varro both seem to move forwards into the clearing in the center of the room and face each other off wordlessly.

“Well then. I guess once my package is delivered, all that is needed is a time and place for our reunion. Treaty in hand of course, and maybe some prettier surroundings. I am partial to a fine dining room with rich cuisine. Somewhere clean…. with less dust. I’m not allergic to a little light either.”

“Seriously?” Colton snorts again, showing his severe dislike of Varro, hating his every word, and I eyeroll. I know it’s going to take time for a born and bred vampire slaying warrior to warm to what was ingrained as an enemy, but he needs to chill a little.

“That can be done at the homestead, as long as you leave your hybrids behind. You and Darrius come alone.” Stern and to the point, I know the only way to deal with these two is to take charge.

“No way, Lory. Imagine the uproar if two vampires walk into the homestead. The pack will go crazy.”

“Colton, things have to change and he’s my biological father. The agreement was that he will have a relationship with me and bring peace. The sooner the pack get used to seeing them, the better.” I reach out and lay my palm on Colton’s forearm, feeling his tension bristling under the surface as he turns and paces. A sign he’s itching inside for action instead of words. He hasn’t come down from his battle fueled adrenalin high yet.

“She has a point. You better condition your mutts to be more accepting, especially if you are bringing more hybrid vampires into their home. Who knows how your children will turn out. It’s not always a given that the wolf gene reigns supreme. One of them might look a lot like me.” Varro winks at me, and all I can do is elicit another heavy sigh. This isn’t what Colton needs to hear tonight.

“Doubtful. Or else Alora would have more than a set of red eyes.”

“You can never tell. My DNA is strong, and well, this is the first tri-brid mix that I have ever heard of in my lifetime. Maybe Alora was just unlucky to pop out as a Lychan.”

I open my mouth to answer but the sudden blink blink and then blinding brightness of instant illumination makes me flinch instead. Covering my eyes as I adjust to new light and then look around in dismay at how badly run down this place is now we can see it fully. It’s so much worse when it can be seen clearly.

“You have your work cut out here if you wish to bring this place back to what I assume was its former glory” Varro points out and I frown at him in stupefaction for a moment.

“What?” I never even thought of the fact that Colton might want us to come back here, but it’s the only solution if Juan is out of the picture. The fractured pack need to be brought back together and the homestead just isn’t big enough for all of us. It hits me so suddenly with just a simple word from him, that this is where our future lies. I’m not sure how I feel about coming back here after everything that’s happened.

“Wolves are good at rebuilding. We know how to start over and thrive. I’m not worried about it.” Colton just can’t seem to drop his defensive attitude, but I don’t blame him, even distracted by my own thoughts. An entire lifetime of being conditioned to hate the vampires and in one night he’s being asked to accept one as his father-in-law and be on good terms.

“The main breakers were pulled, and the fuses ripped out. An easy fix once we found them.” Meadow appears, seemingly jovial at their accomplishments and Cesar is hot on her heels. Neither fazed at all and at least they don’t seem as hostile and combative towards Varro as my mate is.

“The others are outside, turning on floodlights and restoring power to nearby buildings. Everyone is waiting to find out what’s next.” Cesar drops a hint, meaning they too want to know what’s going on now we’re all in here and the fighting has stopped. It feels surreal and not like a bloody battle was raging outside not so long ago.

“Allow me… I suppose being clear on one thing will help your pack disperse back to their homes for now. Juan can only hide if there are crowds outside.” Varro rubs his temple for a second, his blood red eyes seeming to glow a bit bright and then he gives me a crooked smile when he catches me staring at him. “Sending them off. No need for them anymore; Darrius informs me that they have Juan and are heading our way. Sadly, his minions didn’t survive. So, it’s a solo prisoner I have to take.”

My heart sinks knowing that with the fall of his loyal, their mates too have perished, even though they were completely innocent in this. More lives lost because of that man and yet it was unavoidable no matter the outcome. Those wolves had to pay for their crimes and their family is seen as collateral damage. It breaks my heart knowing we just lost more souls in this night, and it was no fault of theirs. At least now I know Sierra will be spared if Juan disappears for good.

“Disperse the wolves once the hybrids go. Send the valley pack back to their homes, and most of ours back to the stead. We need to find out who we lost and make arrangements for the dead. Keep only our best sub packs here to carry out the orders tonight.” Colton is commanding Meadow, pacing towards them and setting things in motion as I adjust to my overly bright surroundings. I’m lightheaded and exhausted and don’t know how long I can hold on. I need rest.

“What about his dead? Are we left to clean that crap up too?” Cesar snarls at Varro and joins Colton in that aggressive wolf glare he has going on. My heart sinks at the sight of it, knowing it was too good to be true to have Cesar seemingly fine with our guest. I know the entire pack are going to be worse than this in the new light of day.

“If you want me to have mine drag away the remains then so be it. It makes no difference to me. They can work to clean up if that’s what you want, Alora.” Varro shrugs as if I am merely asking him to pick up his used dinnerware after a meal.

“You’re kidding right? By sunup they will turn to ash and no longer dirty our valley. Make the living ones leave and give my pack some piece of mind. The last thing we need is your vermin crawling all over our fallen brothers and sisters.” Colton snorts, his eyes staying amber as the thought of how many we lost lingers in his heart. His whole aura changing to that of regret and heartbreak.

“Cole, Radar is incoming with…” Cesar cuts in, obviously linked to his buddy on a one to one, and Colton stiffens all over. His mood nosediving and I sense the instant hesitation in him. Despite everything that’s happened I always knew this would be the hardest moment for him. They are bringing his father to us, to be handed over to the person who will oversee his death. Whether now or in ten years, this will be the last time Colton ever lays eyes on him.

“Tell him to bring him here.” Colton’s voice deflates and his tone is huskier than normal. The emotion hitting him hard as he too knows this will be a goodbye, no matter what is going to happen to Juan. I suddenly feel sick and hurt for him. Knowing how confused he must feel inside.