AMIDST THE CATS' CRADLE - 26

E P I L O G U E - - - - G W E N

When two young boys were running around the house, it was difficult enough to keep the place tidy and quiet; but, when all the kids from Shifter Squad Six were included, chaos that had never before been experienced ensued. However, Gwen remained in the center of it, grinning foolishly.

A fool in love, she chuckled to herself.

Duncan and Dawson got along great with Jerome's youngster Monroe in particular, but also with the other kids, and the yard and home were full with laughing and play. While Madeline, Tom, and Tim had not mentioned their plans to expand their family, Gwen had the impression that they were close behind them given that Cassie, Jerome's wife, was expecting their second child.

When powerful arms wrapped around her and pressed her against Mitch's broad chest from behind, she was jolted out of her heated thoughts. She leaned back, letting go of the touch, and flicked her eyes up at her beautiful husband—or at least one of them.

"You've been gone for quite some time. "Thought I'd come to make sure you weren't taken away by any wolves," he teased, kissing her neck.

"The only wolves in this home are the Crawleys, and I don't think they have any arms left to pull anyone right now," Gwen observed, pointing out the window where Tim was pretending to be a wolf, losing a big struggle to his twins and Shaun's child Roman, and Tom felt depressed at the sight of it.

All of the men of Shifter Squad Six seemed to have two completely different personas. The unflappable, deadly, scary as hell warriors that they were when work needed to be done, and the grinning, loving, jokester fools they were with their families and friends. It was a juxtaposition Gwen had come to love and admire.

“I feel left out,” Jordan’s deep voice called as he padded through the kitchen barefoot, dressed in a forest green T-shirt and some jeans, perfectly relaxed and at ease.

“I’d say get your own, but I’m told she shares us,” Mitch bit in with a playful barb, receiving a grin from his brother before Jordan leaned down and gave Gwen a peck on the lips.

“Not working seems to make you two entirely too dramatic,” Gwen said with a flourish, rolling her eyes despite the fact that she was smiling wide.

“Can’t argue with that,” Jordan said with a shrug, picking up an apple from the basket on the table and biting into it. At the look Gwen gave him, he quirked a brow. “What?! You know Shaun will burn the first batch of burgers and I’ll have to pretend like I wanted it that way to begin with. Let a man eat!”“None of them know how to handle a grill. Too much heat, not enough patience,” Mitch grumbled, squeezing Gwen tighter in his grip.

“You’re one to talk! You could go and show them how it’s done, you know,” Gwen said.

“Can’t! Got my hands full!” Mitch called with a whoop, picking Gwen up so fast she had no time to protest against it. “See! Can’t cook a thing like this,” he said with a mocking pout, putting on his best sad face.

Jordan used the moment to steal another kiss from Gwen, and she couldn’t help but be perfectly happy as things were. Months had passed since their last run-in with The Firm. The stunt they’d pulled in Cebu had finally been enough for The Firm to sever all ties with them, and none of them seemed to mind.

Jerome had been let out of the Crypts about three months ago, and by now, all of them were well-rested and ready for something new. The Firm was a bitter memory in their past. Their injuries healed, their minds sharp and their bodies ready, Shifter Squad Six was raring to go.

But then again, it didn’t seem to Gwen that any of the men were particularly happy with the idea of leaving their spouses and their children alone ever again!

The wedding between Gwen, Mitch, and Jordan had been a modest one, with the squad fully in attendance, as well as their respective families. Which meant, thanks to Gwen’s family, that it had actually been a pretty big party!

They’d settled into a little house not far from Jerome’s, the squad apparently preferring to keep close together, and that was fine with Gwen as well. She felt much closer to the wives of the squad than she’d ever felt with anyone who weren’t her squad mates or her husbands, of course. Everything was looking up and going exactly how it was supposed to.

“Do you intend on putting me down? I think one of your sons is trying to rally the rest of the Shifter Squad Six Mini into some sort of revolt over not having enough juice boxes,” Gwen asked Mitch, nodding her head toward Duncan and Dawson, arms crossed over their chests, looking every bit the serious little troop leaders they’d probably one day grow into.

“Naw, let them lead and conquer. I’m sure they’ll get on without us for a while,” Jordan said with a devilish smile, Gwen catching the exact moment when Mitch and Jordan looked at one another and decided to play things their way, not the right way.

She yelped as she was thrown over Mitch’s shoulder unceremoniously and he lugged her up the stairs and toward their bedroom, Jordan in tow, smirking. No one would notice if they weren’t gone for too long, right?!