Thank you for reading and reviewing.
Epilogue
Bran welcomed Sage back and while it is never pleasant she could feel the bond envelop her as she rejoined the pack.
The welcome back party was well attended and this evening they were out for a run on the Marrock's lands. All the weres had changed in the large Quonset on site and were now running through the snow. There were couples playing together and friends trying to out race each other. Some were tracking game but others were just out for a good run.
Bran looked around. He could feel the happiness in his pack and smiled.
He was trying to keep track of all his children. Anna had jumped on Charles and they were wrestling in the snow. Charles carefully tripped her and as she plowed into a snowbank, he lay on her. Her head rubbed his neck and she positioned her nose under his chin and sighed.
Tag and a couple more senior wolves were keeping an eye on some of the newer wolves trying to keep them calm and not resorting to fang and claw on such a happy occasion.
Leah was skulking around close to Bran but far enough away so he could keep his attention over his pack.
He spied Asil and Sage running together, then stopping near a small grove of trees. He watched as they touched noses, then she put her nose behind his right ear. He narrowed his eyes as he was sure she bit him gently with her teeth. Asil opened his mouth and closed it over her nose shaking it gently. They trotted in the opposite direction back to town.
Bran sighed.
Kids.
He turned away and lifted his head into the air, sending out a howl. He nodded as the sky was filled with happy voices.
()()()()
Charles would be heading to Santa Fe in a few days.
Both Bran and Charles separately promised Sage that he was on an information visit only and would have Nestor phone after the meeting. Normally either of them would have put her in her place and admonished her for meddling in upper echelon affairs, but her tearful pleading had tugged at their feelings enough that they had overlooked the transgression. Enjoying coffee by the fireplace they had discussed that she may have tricked them with her tears.
Bran had heard from a wolf in Mexico. He was fairly confident they had found where Tristan had gone to ground. He'd been spotted in a bar causing trouble.
Mexico had lots of open space; space to get rid of a body.
()()()()
Asil was in the spare bedroom. He stood by the table that held Sari's possessions. He picked each of them up and caressed them thinking of his mate from oh so long ago. He could almost feel her give him a kiss on his cheek as she drifted away. He wanted to believe that she was giving him permission.
Taking the now closed box down the stairs he could hear Sage puttering around in the kitchen. She was softly humming to herself and he smiled.
A/N – thank you for reading and reviewing. Writing is a labor of love and we certainly make no money from this. I'd like to thank my beta for her help and thoughtful suggestions. She is a writer on this fandom and wanted to stay anonymous but thank you anyway.