Page 57

Epilogue

XANDER

X ander stood in the CO’s ready room of the Sombra , arms crossed as the encrypted comm-link flared to life.

Miral perched beside him on the edge of his desk, her posture relaxed.

The holo feed solidified, and Kainan Sable’s chiseled face filled the screen.

His gold-flamed eyes were threaded with the weariness of a meta warrior always on duty.

They also belonged to a sleepless father of three children, and the general commander of a galaxy-wide military army.

Kainan’s gaze scanned both of them before his expression softened. ‘Glad you’re still breathing.’

Xander jerked his chin at his cousin. ‘ Sante , Riders, for the backup, the intel drops, and the support. As far as we know, we’ve purged the Wildlight of the crats.’

He hesitated, and then added with a murmur. ‘I was a jackass, primo , about a hella lot of shit I didn’t understand about your story, your journey to Pegasi. Now I do. My sincere apologies.’

Kainan’s grin widened. ‘ De nada , brother. Anything for family, ay?’

Miral rolled her eyes. ‘Well, now that we’ve all hugged it out virtually, you’d better hear the rest.’

Kainan’s tone shifted. ‘We’ve got a situation. Word’s out. Your flotilla’s journey to Pegasi isn’t subtle, and it’s caught the attention of the entire galaxy. Some of it is bad.’

Xander’s jaw clenched. ‘How severe?’

Kainan folded his arms. ‘You’ve got rogue factions sniffing around, trying to decide if you’re ripe for the picking. A handful of Pegasi planetary governments, most lawless regimes like Falasia and Alloria, aren’t too keen on a new player shifting the balance of power out here.’

Mirage added, ‘They’re scared, Xander. You’ve got reach, numbers, and a growing fleet with discipline. They have no idea when you arrive if you’ll want to trade, capitulate, or conquer.’

‘Let them quake in their knees,’ Miral muttered.

‘They are,’ Kainan rasped. ‘Which is why we believe that they’re funding a cabal of space pirates to knock your teeth out before you get to Pegasi. Some are lurking within your armada, others are racing your way from our galaxy.’

Xander dragged a hand over his face and snarled. ‘ Fokk . I thought my only problem was with mob bosses, alien demagogues, and rogue cartels.’

Kainan nodded once. ‘Regardless, you’ll need to fight fire with a fokkin ’ inferno. As Chief of the United Pegasi Galactic Forces, I’ve pulled a salvo and I’m handing you a lifeline, off the record.’

Xander’s forehead furrowed, and he leaned forward, his curiosity stirring. ‘Explain.’

‘I’ve issued you a private marque.’

Xander raised an eyebrow. ‘Why?’

‘Tis a seizure order,’ Kainan said. ‘A legal writ. One that sanctions Signet to intercept and seize pirate vessels operating against you, either in the Wildlight or within Pegasi zones. That makes you a privateer now, not just a merc or security mainstay.’

Mirage smirked. ‘Congrats, Corsair.’

Xander let out a whistle. ‘So we’re allowed to hunt anyone who comes after us.’

Kainan’s voice dropped, grating with implication. ‘Not just permitted. Encouraged. Your first likely target is an infamous freebootin’ gang, the Red Skulls.

Xander’s eyes narrowed. ‘ Fokk . I know the kinais .’

‘We’ve picked up chatter,’ Kainan continued. ‘Your name’s already in their blood logs.’

Miral folded her arms with an exhale. ‘Of course it is.’

Xander leaned closer to the screen. ‘Not surprised. The head of the Red Skulls is sitting in the Sombra’s isolation wing as we speak.

Calls himself Varnok Gage, the Butcher of Vael’Na’ra.

The man who glassed three moons during the Thren Border Riots just to make a point.

No survivors, just smoke, ash, and the Red Skulls’ sigil carved into orbital satellites. ’

Miral’s jaw clenched. ‘He’s also the one who sold our Signet ship schematics to the Kaas Marauders, right?’

‘Among other things,’ Xander muttered. ‘Santiago and I arrested him five years ago when he walked into the Spiral Rift unaided, dragged him out by his dirt-laden scarlet braids.’

A memory flashed of Varnok’s barque, the Claret Picaroon , listing near a collapsed star, its hold packed with stolen relics and human cargo. Xander had lost three men. Varnok hadn’t even blinked.

‘He’s charged with thirty-nine counts of orbital terrorism, conspiracy trafficking, forced cybernetic modification of prisoners, and high treason against the Accord,’ Xander continued.

‘He’s in solitary on my ship now, locked in a floating brig served only by autobots.

He hasn’t seen a mortal since, nor spoken to one. ’

Kainan grimaced. ‘Well, his lieutenants are active and loud.’

Miral frowned. ‘They’re rallying now?’

Kainan exhaled. ‘That’s the concern. This doesn’t feel like posturing.

They’re calling in old debts, regrouping and readying to swarm and attack Signet.

We believe the Falasian government might have paid them to bring you down.

Their comms offer the impression they view the opportunity as a chance to break their boss from prison. ’

Xander’s hands curled into fists. ‘So they’re coming for us.’

‘They’ll give it a red hot go, pardon the pun,’ Kainan drawled. ‘Your job is to ensure they don’t cross into Pegasi airspace. If any come from our way, make sure they don’t cross back.’

He paused. ‘Burn them down to the last hull.’

Xander jerked his chin. ‘How’d you find out?’

‘We intercepted a Falasian official’s chat log,’ Kainan replied. ‘We’ve got ears everywhere. Or at least, Mirage does.’

Xander mulled the matter for a beat before raising his gaze to Kainan. ‘ Sante primo , for the heads up, and the marque.’

Kainan gave him a wry smile. ‘Anything for family. That’s why I called. You’re not just building a fleet, cousin. You’re establishing a legacy I’d like to uphold when you arrive. We good?’

Xander bestowed a nod of steel. ‘We are. Consider us conscripted. When they come, we’ll be ready.’

‘Ensure that you are,’ Kainan said, his gaze cool. ‘You’ve got allies, Xander, but influence attracts enemies. Don’t let your star wolves get caught unprepared.’

Mirage leaned in with a smirk. ‘Also, keep your woman close. According to what Miral shared, Savvine’s a smart operator.’

Xander chuckled. ‘She’s got command of our air force.’

‘ Fokk yeah,’ Kainan rasped. ‘Then all that’s left to look forward to are the stars over Pegasi. Can’t wait to welcome you, cousin.’

The link cut with a soft pulse.

Xander turned to Miral, who was already tapping new data into the comms.

He exhaled once, eyes narrowed.

‘Prep the star wolves,’ he growled. ‘We’ve got Red Skulls to hunt.’

THE SIGNET WOLVES SAGA

continues with …

‘STAR MARKED OMEGA’

Santiago and Soleil’s Wild, Grovel-Ridden Betrayal and Redemption-Soaked Romance

Never. Ever. Be. Marked. By. A. Wolf.

Not one you intend to destroy.

Not if you’re born into a pack that rules with fear, secrets, and blood-stained power.

Soleil Gage was raised behind a veil of violence, shaped into a queen and primed to inherit the Red Skull’s crown.

When she steps into Santiago Alvarro’s lakeside cabin, mop in hand and heart locked tight, his spectral wolf sees her, marks her, and reaches to claim her.

She shouldn’t let his presence draw her in, but she does.

His spirit wraps around her before touching her, awakening a deep longing. He doesn’t know she was sent to deceive him, as each breath, whisper, and stolen touch brings her closer to betrayal.

Still, Soleil stays and falls. For the first time, she feels safe, wanted, and seen.

But she is the Alpha daughter of the Mad Wolf King. A Judas queen in disguise. A weapon with a beating heart. Her orders are simple: infiltrate, wait, and strike.

When the truth comes out, Santiago may never look at her the same way again.

Yet his growl undoes her. His spirit shields her. Even if she burns everything down, she might do it all again to be his. Will he destroy her, or will the wolf who marked her fight to forgive her and call her his own?