Well, it's finally done! I hope I was able to create a satisfying ended, because it was not easy. I'm still not sure if I'm entirely happy with it, but this story needed to reach its conclusion. Thanks to all of the lovely reviewers, it was overwhelming how many this story got. I apologize that this got away from me. I do think it got confusing. Not sure if anyone would want to see more about Kenzi in the after, but I have been working on that one too.
Dalia's pack is far enough away from Pierce's so that the fish were no danger to anyone.
A hyena pack would be fun to do. I would definitely make them more primitive too. Wonder how a jackal and hyena couple would turn out? I feel inspired :P I also liked your idea on female alphas, that was a good read:)
Different packs have different views on things. But mostly they have skewed ideas on things.
You're spot on with Phoenix, while being unable to have pups, he was willing to take Dalia's pups in.
Splendor's birth was to help all jackal kind. He will help them to understand emotions and get a better place for females in society.
hybrids are usually looked down upon. Because they're not pure jackal blood.
Roux's growth is a tumor.
Single fathers in jackal culture are usually looked down upon. They aren't able to be completely trusted, especially alone with young pups.
Yes, jackals stay with their parents until they find mates, except for the alpha.
great intro for Ivy telling the future generations Kenzi's story! I imagine her as a wise elder someday!
Enjoy the last chapter lovelies!
Nova sat up with a gasp. His hand moved to his throat. What happened? He'd stopped breathing. He'd died. He'd left Creech and Riker behind. Right?
"Nova!" He heard an angelic voice call.
He look towards it. There she was. As young and as beautiful as the day he lost her. "Katrina?"
She grabbed him, burying her face against him, "oh Nova." She looked up at him, the scar on his mouth was gone. He was perfect. "All those years," she whispered, "I missed you so much."
"I missed you too." His voice cracking, he pulled her into a hug.
"Come on. There's some very special jackals you need to meet." She took him by the hand and led him to a small home. Inside, there was a small bed.
His ear swiveled when he heard the soft whines of newborn pups. He looked at Katrina, wide eyed.
She nudged him forward, "go ahead."
When he looked in, he saw six little bundles of black and white fur. It felt like all the air was sucked out of his lungs.
"You can pick one up."
Nova didn't need to be told twice. He picked up the closest pup and held him to his chest. "They're ours?" He asked breathlessly.
She nodded, tears brimming in her eyes. "They're ours. We can raise them together, as a family."
Nova didn't know who to thank, but he was so grateful. He didn't deserve this blessing.
Katrina gave him a long slow kiss. "I love you so much Nova," she said softly when she pulled back.
"I love you," he replied. They stood together, watching their pups with fondness and love. They were so perfect.
When Roux came back to his senses he felt a dull pain. Anahi had just finished the procedure. His head was still swimming though.
"How do you feel?" She asked with a warm smile.
"A little dizzy," he slurred. When he tried to sit up he felt her hand push him back.
"You need to rest Roux. You just had surgery." Brynn's voice carried firmly as she brought him some broth to drink. She was feeling more like her old self since having sessions with Splendor. Most all in the pack had. They were all healing.
He took the cup, "did you get it all Anahi?"
"Yes." She gathered up all the instruments, "unfortunately I did have to take out everything. You will not be able to father pups."
He swallowed, "I understand. Thank you."
She gave him a sympathetic look, "I'll get you some painkillers." She left the room, the curtain of beads swinging shut with a click.
Brynn gathered the tissue removed during the procedure to throw it away. "Did Anahi need your help?" Roux asked.
She knew he was embarrassed about her seeing him this way, but she had to tell the truth. She nodded.
"Oh." His ears went back, "thank you anyway."
"You're welcome Roux. Are you up for visitors? Asia and Sasha are here."
He nodded.
A smile, "I'll send them in."
"Anahi!" Splendor called as he entered the hut. The door slammed behind him. He had trouble realizing his own strength sometimes.
She shushed him, "Brynn is asleep."
"Sorry."
"It's ok." She went back to organizing the herb jars, "what can I do for you? It is rather late."
"It's about papa. He seemed upset today."
"Honey I think you know more about feelings than I do. You've been working with them for quite some time now."
"I know. But papa always shuts me out. I don't know how he does it, but I can feel him shutting himself off. He does it a lot. Do you have any ideas on how to help?"
"Your father had a rough childhood. He has a lot of trauma from it. I don't know exactly what happened, but his mother didn't want him. She abandoned him and his siblings. He was the only one who survived."
"That's awful. Why would she do that? Papa is a great man."
"I don't know. But he's been really hurt because of it."
"I'll try and talk to him. So I can help."
"That is very admirable of you. You've done so much good, I can tell the pack has a peace we haven't had in years. So thank you."
He beamed.
"But you know that you can't make anyone take your help. It's not your fault if your father shuts you out." She didn't want him to have a breakdown. He hadn't in a while, but sometimes he just got in hysterics. Especially after talking with people. Cujo and Haven especially. After the first session with them he'd had a bad one. But he insisted on still helping. He was indeed a valuable asset.
"I know. But I hope he'll let me."
When Splendor got back home, Miracle and Lori were already asleep. Creech was up. He was sitting in the rocking chair, just looking out the window at the stars. "Papa? Is everything ok?"
"Hm?" He looked up, "oh. You're back late."
"I had to stop by Anahi's for a minute."
"That's nice."
"You didn't answer the question," he said carefully.
"I don't have to answer your questions," he barked.
Splendor flinched. Just like that, his father was closing off again. He could feel it. His aura was the only one he couldn't decipher. It was always a jumbled mess of knots. The pain was always so obvious though. "I know," he said finally, "you just seem kind of sad."
"I'm fine Splendor. Don't worry about me."
"Are you sure? Maybe I can help."
"I don't think you can help with this Splendor."
"You've been holding onto it for a while haven't you?"
"I don't need to burden you with my problems. I'm supposed to take care of you. Not the other way around."
"It's not a burden."
"That's nice of you to say Splendor."
The black jackal studied him a minute. He tried to filter through all the emotions. It took a little longer, but he did it. "We're not going to leave you papa. We love you. Even though she left you."
A weight lifted from his chest. He gasped a sob. Splendor grabbed him in a hug. He welcomed every feeling his father was experiencing. It made his chest hurt. He kept quiet, just let him feel.
Creech calmed down. He squeezed Splendor's hand, "thank you. You do good work."
"You're welcome papa."
Rika followed her brothers down to the well. Now that they were older they were allowed to go by themselves sometimes.
Koda and Rail had gone ahead, as always. She sighed and adjusted her bag over her shoulder. Whatever. She was never in a hurry anyway.
As she walked, she heard movement along the rocks above her. Since their village was down in a hollow, the rocks lined along the ridge of sand. She stopped and looked up. She caught a glimpse of a fluffy tail darting out of sight. Someone was up there.
"Koda, Rail?" She called. But they were too far ahead. They didn't hear her. She set her jaw in determination. She'd just have to take care of it herself.
Setting down her bag, she started to climb up.
When she reached the top she saw it was a rogue. She swallowed. Maybe this was a bad idea.
When the male saw her he turned to leave. "Hey!" She shouted, "what do you think you're doing here?! My papa will beat you up!"
He stopped and turned to face her, "your papa?"
She froze. His right eye looked awful. "What happened to your face?" She gasped.
"You sure are rude," he snapped. "Did your parents not teach you any manners?"
"That looks like it hurts," she said carefully. She stepped a little closer and he drew back, giving her a warning growl. Rika stopped, "what's your name? My name is Rika."
"Riker," he replied.
"That's cool. We almost have the same name."
His voice softened, "we do."
"Rika!"
She looked down. Phoenix was at the bottom of the ridge. Koda and Rail had gone to get him. "Hi papa."
"Get away from him and climb back down."
Even though his tone was even, she could tell he was very serious. "Ok."
"Don't turn your back on him," he warned. "Move slow."
Riker kept quiet. He just watched as she carefully made her way to the edge of the ridge.
Her heart leapt into her throat. She backed up. "I can't papa, it's too high."
"You climbed up just fine."
"I know," she whimpered.
"Here," Riker said, "I'll help."
"Get away from her!" Phoenix climbed up after them. He pulled Rika to his side. "You need to leave," he snarled.
Riker showed his teeth in return.
"Don't start a fight papa," Rika begged. She didn't want him to get hurt.
He nudged her behind him, "I won't if I don't have to," he said firmly.
"I'm not interested in fighting you," Riker said with a touch of arrogance.
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm just passing through." He adjusted his bag, sliding his water bottle in it, "I stop here for water sometimes."
"You know that this well is for our village, not for rogues."
"Last I checked, you weren't the alpha here."
"You don't know the alpha."
"Darren didn't mind last time I was here."
Phoenix growled angrily. He didn't like this rogue.
Rika tugged Phoenix's tail, "papa, can we just go home? Riker wasn't hurting anything."
He bristled. Dalia had told him all about the father of her children. Thankfully Koda, Rail, and Rika didn't know about him. It made things easier. They thought Phoenix was their father. "You weren't supposed to come back." His voice was full of hatred.
"I told you I was only passing through. She's the one who climbed up here. I wasn't even looking to find any of them."
"It wasn't her fault. She's still a child." His hand softly smoothed her hair.
Riker's eye followed the motion. "You're lucky to have them." He said finally. His eye met Rika's, who ducked behind her father. "I'm sorry."
"Come on," Phoenix said to Rika, "let's go back to the village. Like he said, he's just passing through."
"Thank you."
Phoenix understood. He was also thanking him for taking care of his children. "You have regrets?" He asked.
"Yeah. But I can't change it now." Then he turned, bounding off into the desert with a slight limp in his step.
"Did you know him papa?" Rika asked.
"No. Not really."
"Did you know who he was?" Asked Rail. Curiosity was in his voice.
"Kind of."
"What was wrong with his eye?" Koda asked.
"He made some very bad choices. He hurt and deceived a lot of people. I assume he made the wrong person upset, and that was his payment."
All three pups looked at him, wide eyed.
"You can all learn something from this. Lies and selfishness hurt. You and the others in your life. I hope none of you ever follow in his footsteps."
"We won't," said Rail, "we wanna be like you."
Phoenix hugged them. "Come on, let's get back to your mother."
Riker sighed as he finally found a place with some shade to rest. He sat down and opened his canteen. He was shaking slightly as he took a few sips.
He was going to have to mark Dalia's village off his route. It would mean less water, but he wouldn't have to take a chance on seeing them. Because that hurt more than he thought it would.
He poured a little bit of water onto a cloth to wipe his face, careful of his now damaged eye. He'd challenged someone he thought he could take, and that ended badly for him.
He swallowed the emotional distress he felt rising. There was no place for that in his life. Even though he deserved it. He deserved to be hurt. To be hungry. To be alone. Sometimes he even wondered why he was even still alive.
With a sigh, he stood up. Enough thoughts for today. He had ground to cover. He'd chosen this life, so he was going to see it through.
"Zayne?" Lance asked as he approached, "where have you been?"
Zayne sat on the bench beside his older brother, "with Ivy."
"What were the two of you up to?"
"Not much, just watching the sunset." He sighed a little.
"Do you like her?"
"We're friends."
"That doesn't answer the question Zayne," he grinned in a teasing manner.
"I don't owe you an explanation for everything in my life."
"I know." He paused, "sorry."
"It's ok. To be honest Lance, Ivy is a really nice girl, but I just don't think I'm ready to have a mate yet."
"Me too. Mama always says we have our whole lives ahead of us."
Zayne leaned back, resting his weight on his palms, "we really do." The whole pack was at peace now. The threats to their future were gone, and Splendor was helping them all to heal. Things were good.
"You ok love?" Zayla asked as she climbed in bed beside her mate.
"I am fine. Just a little tired."
"It's been a while since we've had time together just the two of us."
A nod, "it is nice to have again."
She leaned over, giving him a soft kiss on the cheek. "I think things are finally calming down around here."
"Thankfully."
"Splendor's ability really has been a blessing. Especially for Cujo. He's really been able to work past all the things his mother did."
He squeezed her hand, "I think we all have."
She turned on her side, "do you have any regrets?"
"I wish I had been a better alpha. Things would have been easier. Less pain. Less lies. Less deceit."
"There will always be deceitful people Pierce. You did what you thought was best at the time. We can't go back and change our mistakes. We can only learn from them."
"You have been spending too much time with my mother."
A laugh, "but she's right."
"I know."
Cujo was standing outside their home. He looked over the pack. Everyone was getting ready for bed. A soft smile rested on his face. He really did feel better about what had happened. He was glad to understand things. Thanks to Splendor.
His mother had been a bitter and deceitful woman. Her life had ended horribly. She'd been alone, and he wasn't going to be like her. He would fight the hand he'd been dealt.
"Papa?" Ivy asked, "are you coming inside."
"I'm coming." He sent one last look at the pack. Things would be better. For all of them.