Page 25 of Alien Huntsman (Alien Wolf Tales #2)

EPILOGUE

T wo weeks later…

Tessa stood in front of the small, cracked mirror, barely recognizing the woman who stared back at her. The pale blue dress flowed around her like water, catching the late afternoon light filling the tent erected for the ceremony. Her fingers traced the delicate gold necklace at her throat—the same one Lenora had tried to bribe Korrin with.

“Stop fidgeting,” Agatha scolded, though her eyes were warm with affection. “You’ll wrinkle the fabric.”

“I can’t help it.” Her hands dropped to smooth the skirt for the dozenth time. “I’ve never worn anything this beautiful.”

The bracelet on her wrist caught the light as she moved—her mother’s bracelet, simple silver links that had somehow survived all these years in a small box hidden beneath the floorboards of her childhood home. She’d found it last week when clearing out the last of her belongings.

“You look stunning,” Scarlett said, adjusting a strand of Tessa’s dark hair that had escaped its arrangement. “Korrin won’t know what hit him.”

Heat rushed to her cheeks. “Do you really think so?”

“I know so.” Scarlett winked at her. “Trust me, I remember how Finnar looked at me on our mating day.”

“The boy won’t be able to form a coherent sentence,” Agatha added with a snort. “Not that he’s exactly verbose at the best of times.”

She laughed, some of her nervousness melting away. “He’s not that bad.”

“No,” Agatha agreed, her expression softening. “He’s not. Especially when he’s with you.”

Tessa turned back to the mirror, studying her reflection once more. The weeks since confronting Lenora had passed in a whirlwind of happiness. The village had embraced her return, the bakery was thriving under her part-time care, and both of her assistants were working out well. But her greatest joy was returning each day to the cabin in the woods, to Korrin and their family of mischievous pups.

“Do you think…” She hesitated, meeting Scarlett’s eyes in the mirror. “Do you think my father would have approved?”

Scarlett squeezed her shoulder. “He would have adored Korrin. Not right away, mind you—he’d have made him work for it. But he would have seen how happy you are.”

“Both your parents would be proud,” Agatha said firmly. “Now, are you ready? We can’t keep everyone waiting all day.”

She took a deep breath and nodded. “I’m ready.”

“The final touch,” Scarlett murmured, adjusting the small crown of flowers that Elli had sent on her dark curls.

Her friend wasn’t attending—her aunt had insisted that the girl was too shy to enjoy such social situations. She didn’t like it, but she couldn’t argue about Elli’s shyness. The flower crown was the perfect finishing touch to her outfit, composed of the same blossoms she’d admired that day in the market..

Her heart skipped a beat as Scarlett went to open the tent flaps. She still couldn’t believe Korrin had proposed a public bonding ceremony—a ceremony combining human and Vultor traditions. The fierce, private man who’d once kidnapped her now wanted to declare their bond before both their peoples.

“A public ceremony?” she’d asked when he first suggested it, certain she’d misheard.

His amber eyes had held hers steadily. “I want everyone to know you’re mine. And I’m yours. No secrets, no hiding.”

She understood what he was trying to accomplish beyond their personal happiness. Their union was another bridge between humans and Vultor. Seren had immediately given his blessing, and Mayor Jacobson had followed suit. The two of them were still working on a trade agreement and they were both looking at ways to ease the old tensions between their species.

Despite the mayor’s cooperation, she still had her doubts about the woman. Something about the woman’s practiced smiles and calculating eyes bothered her. But that was a concern for another day.

“Ready?” Scarlett asked, breaking into her thoughts.

She nodded, taking a deep breath. Outside, she could hear the murmur of voices—villagers she’d known all her life mingling with Vultor who were still mostly strangers. Two worlds coming together because of love.

“I’m ready,” she whispered, smoothing her dress one final time.

As she stepped out of the tent, the late afternoon sun bathed everything in golden light. At the far end of the clearing, she spotted Korrin standing tall and proud, more handsome than she’d ever seen him in formal Vultor attire. His eyes found hers instantly, and the naked adoration in them made her breath catch.

For a moment, everything else faded away—the guests, the decorations, the significance of what they were doing for their communities. All that mattered was that she would be joined with the male she loved, the male who had changed her life in ways she never could have imagined when he’d first carried her away from everything she knew.

“Ready, my dear?”

Willem came to her side and offered her his arm. The kind old man had been one of her father’s closest friends and it seemed only fitting that he escort her down the aisle.

She nodded, her throat too tight for words, and took his arm, clutching it more tightly as they approached the flower-lined path. Willem patted her hand reassuringly.

“Your father would be proud,” he whispered, and tears pricked her eyes.

The clearing looked magical as sunset approached. Lanterns hung from tree branches, already casting a warm glow over the gathered guests. Someone had woven wildflowers into delicate arches marking the path. On one side stood the villagers in their finest clothes, on the other the Vultor, tall and imposing yet oddly respectful in their ceremonial attire.

But she barely registered any of it—all she could see was Korrin.

He stood waiting for her, his powerful frame draped in traditional Vultor garments—dark fabrics with intricate silver embroidery that caught the fading light. His black hair was pulled back, revealing the sharp angles of his face. The face that had once terrified her now represented everything she loved in this world.

Gold flames glowed in his eyes as he watched her walk towards him, filled with such naked longing that her breath caught. The rest of the world fell away—the murmuring crowd, the rustling leaves, even Willem’s steady presence beside her. There was only Korrin, her fierce protector, her passionate lover, her future.

His claws extended and retracted at his sides, a sure sign he was fighting for control. She smiled at him, feeling a rush of excitement at the knowledge that she affected him so deeply. The man who had once kidnapped her now looked at her as though she were his salvation.

As Willem guided her forward, she felt a curious lightness. The path she walked wasn’t just toward Korrin, but toward a future neither of them could have imagined. A human baker and a Vultor warrior, another couple helping to bridge two worlds that had been separated by fear and misunderstanding for generations.

When they reached the end of the aisle, Willem placed her hand in Korrin’s much larger one. She trembled as Korrin’s warm fingers closed around hers. The rough calluses on his palms reminded her of everything they’d been through—his protection, his strength, his unwavering devotion. When Willem stepped back, leaving them alone before the gathered witnesses, her heart raced with anticipation.

Seren stepped forward first, his presence commanding respect from both sides of the gathering. As the alpha of the Vultor pack, he would perform that portion of the ceremony.

“Today we witness the joining of two souls,” Seren’s deep voice carried across the clearing. “In our tradition, a mating is sacred and eternal. It binds not just bodies, but spirits.”

She heard what he was saying but all she really cared about was the male holding her hand so tightly. Seren spoke of loyalty, protection, and the sacred bond of mates, and then Mayor Jacobson stepped forward, speaking of partnership and shared lives.

“Korrin,” Seren prompted, “speak your vow to your mate.”

Korrin’s eyes glowed as he held her gaze. His voice, usually so controlled, wavered slightly with emotion.

“Tessa Fairwind, I claim you as mine to protect, to cherish, to honor. My strength is yours. My life is yours.” His thumb brushed across her knuckles. “Before I found you, I was lost in darkness. You brought light where there was none. I vow that no harm will come to you while I draw breath. I vow to stand beside you through all the seasons of our lives.”

The raw honesty in his words made her eyes sting with tears. This wasn’t just a ceremony—it was the truth, spoken from the depths of his soul.

When her turn came, her voice emerged clear and steady despite her racing heart.

“Korrin Dain, I choose you as my partner, my protector, my love. I vow to stand with you against whatever challenges we face. I vow to make a home with you that bridges both our worlds.” She squeezed his hands. “You found me when I was alone, and showed me what it means to be truly seen. My heart is yours, now and always.”

The rest of the ceremony passed in a blur of happiness. The exchange of rings in human tradition, followed by the Vultor custom where Korrin gently tilted her head to expose her mating bite. He’d told her that in previous times, the male would have claimed his mate in front of the pack. All he did now was to graze his fangs across the sensitive mark—sending a shiver of pleasure down her spine.

The rest of the celebration unfolded around them, but all that really mattered was the male holding her hand, gripping it as if he too couldn’t believe that it was all real.

The clearing had been transformed into a feast hall under the stars, with long tables laden with food—contributions from both the village and the Vultor enclave. A central area had been cleared for dancing and to her surprise, Korrin proved to be an excellent dancer.

After several energetic dances that left her breathless, she sank onto a bench at the edge of the celebration. Her cheeks flushed with exertion, she fanned herself with her hand and watched Korrin as he spoke with Finnar. Even now, her heart skipped when she looked at him—her husband, her mate.

“I think this is the first time I’ve seen you stop moving all night,” Scarlett said, sliding onto the bench beside her. “Happy?”

“More than I ever thought possible,” she admitted, leaning against her friend’s shoulder. “Thank you for helping with everything.”

Scarlett smiled. “What are friends for? Besides, I’m just glad to see you both so content. It suits you.”

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the dancers. Scarlett suddenly nudged her. “Have you noticed who Seren’s been dancing with all night?”

She followed her friend’s gaze to where Seren moved gracefully with a woman in a stunning emerald gown. His usual stern expression had softened, his eyes never leaving his partner’s face.

“No, who is she?” She squinted, trying to get a better look. There was something familiar about the woman’s elegant posture, the way she carried herself with quiet dignity, but she was wearing a light sparkling veil that concealed just enough of her features to make it difficult to determine her identity. “I feel like I should know her, but I can’t place her.”

“Neither can I,” Scarlett confessed. “She arrived just before the ceremony, and Seren hasn’t left her side since. I’ve never seen him look at anyone that way before.”

The woman laughed at something Seren said, the sound carrying across the clearing. When she turned slightly, the lantern light illuminated her profile, and she felt an even stronger tug of recognition.

“She’s beautiful,” she murmured, still trying to place the familiar stranger. “And Seren certainly seems captivated.”

She was still trying to identify the mysterious woman when a crash shattered the peaceful atmosphere. She turned to see two young Vultor males squaring off near the refreshment table, one of them bleeding from a split lip while the other bared his fangs. Several humans backed away nervously as dishes clattered to the ground.

Before Korrin could leave his conversation with Finnar, Seren was there. The Vultor alpha didn’t raise his voice, but power radiated from him like heat from a furnace.

“Enough.” The single word carried such authority that both young males immediately dropped their aggressive stances, heads bowing in submission.

She watched, fascinated. She’d heard about alpha power but had never witnessed it firsthand. The effect was immediate—not just on the two troublemakers, but on every Vultor present. Even Korrin had straightened slightly across the clearing, though he hadn’t been part of the confrontation.

“This is a celebration of unity,” Seren continued, his voice level but carrying to every corner of the clearing. “You dishonor us all with this display.”

The two young males mumbled apologies, looking thoroughly chastised. With a dismissive gesture, Seren sent them to opposite sides of the gathering with older Vultor to keep them in line.

Crisis averted, Seren turned back toward the dance floor—and froze. The spot where his elegant partner had stood moments before was empty. He scanned the crowd, his posture growing more rigid with each passing second.

When he realized she was truly gone, the controlled, diplomatic alpha vanished, replaced by something primal and wounded. The howl that tore from his throat made her skin prickle with goosebumps—it wasn’t anger but raw anguish that filled the sound.

The celebration ground to a halt. Humans exchanged worried glances while the Vultor shifted uncomfortably, some looking ready to flee, others glancing toward Korrin as if seeking guidance. The fragile peace that had been building all evening suddenly felt at risk of shattering.

She clutched Scarlett’s hand, her heart racing as Seren’s howl echoed through the trees. “What’s happening?” she whispered.

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen him like this.”

Seren stood alone in the middle of the now abandoned dance floor, scanning the treeline. His claws flexed as Korrin’s did when he was fighting for control. Several of his pack members approached him cautiously, only to back away when he growled.

Before she could respond, Korrin joined her, sliding his arm around her waist and pulling her close against him. His eyes were fixed on Seren, his face worried.

“I think it’s time we made our exit,” he murmured into her ear, his breath warm against her skin.

She looked up at him questioningly. “Already? But?—”

“The pups need feeding,” he said, his voice low enough that only she could hear. “We’ve been gone for hours.”

Since she knew perfectly well that they’d fed the pups generously before leaving them safely ensconced in their cabin, it was just an excuse to slip away from the growing tension. His protective instincts made her smile, but she was more than happy to be alone with her mate.

“Of course,” she agreed, rising to her feet. “We shouldn’t keep them waiting.”

The chaos behind them was growing—humans whispering nervously among themselves, Vultor moving in agitated patterns as Seren stalked towards the trees. Mayor Jacobson was attempting to restore order while casting anxious glances at the Vultor alpha.

None of it mattered. Not tonight.

Korrin swept her up into his arms without warning, cradling her against his chest as if she weighed nothing. The sudden movement made her laugh, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“Was that necessary?” she asked, though she wasn’t complaining.

His amber eyes gleamed in the darkness, a mixture of mischief and possessiveness that made her heart race. “Absolutely. It’s tradition to carry one’s mate away from the celebration.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Is this a Vultor tradition?”

“It is now,” he replied with a cocky grin that melted her heart.

As he carried her away from the clearing, the sounds of confusion faded behind them. She rested her head against his shoulder, breathing in his scent—her husband, her mate, her protector. Whatever storm was brewing with Seren and his mysterious dance partner would have to wait.

Tonight belonged to them alone.

Seren’s story is up next in Alien Charming!

A powerful alpha. An invisible female. One magical night.

What happens when midnight arrives?