Page 76 of Feral

I probably should have askedfor better directions, but the small rural cemetery wasn’t so large that I couldn’t find what I needed with a bit of searching.

“Over here,” Darius called, Zena cradled in his arms. Honestly, he took my breath away as he stood there, the sun hitting his hair just right to make it more chestnut than its normal warm brown. His body had almost metamorphosed back to its original shape, and I knew there would be women in the world who’d hate him for the fact he had abs again four weeks after giving birth.

I drifted toward him, with Sunny in my arms. I could sense my Alphas converging toward us too. Darius leaned over and kissed my temple. “We’ll give you a minute. Want me to take the baby?”

I shook my head and listened to his steps as he quietly moved away. Squatting down next to the headstone, I read the rough-hewn words.

Here lies Leandra Adler.

A damn fine woman.

Too good for this world. May she rest in peace.

I laughed,because it sounded exactly like Ol’ Sam. I’d have to thank him, though I wasn’t in any way responsible for my mother. I shouldn’t have to thank someone for being a decent human being, but I would anyway.

I realized I wouldn’t have been much bigger than Sunny when I was left on the border of Packlands, and I would never know if she meant to save me or kill me, or why she did that instead of running. But I chose, for my own mental health, to assume that she knew Lorso was out there and that he’d rescue me in time.

“I grew up. I was happy. I think that's what you wanted, and I hope it helps you rest easier. You live on, in Sunny and her siblings, and in my future children, and I hope that's what you wanted too. I’m sorry that I never got to know you, that I’ll never understand your story, but at least mine has a happy ending.”

I sat in silence a little longer, contemplating how hard it would be to give up Sunny at this age. It must have been heartbreaking for my mother, unless she was a monster. I had to hold onto the belief that both of my parents hadn’t been evil.

Finally, a shadow blocked out the sun, and I looked up to see Beckett. “The other babies are getting fussy and it's still a long drive home. But we can stay if you need more time.”

My ass and my arms—because babies were heavy—were dead anyway. I offered up Sunny, and Beck took her easily. “No, I’m done here.”

With that, I climbed to my feet and walked to the car that was filled with the people I loved. The violence of my past might always be a mystery to me, but I knew in my soul that my future held nothing but love.