Page 67 of The Careless Alpha

Jackson's smile was genuine. "Good to have you back, Alpha."

"It's good to be back," I said.

Later that night, I found myself standing in the doorway between the Alpha and Luna suites, watching Annalise putFenrir down for the night in his bassinet. She moved with a quiet grace, her obvious love for our son so profound it took my breath away.

"Thank you," I said softly.

She looked up, her expression tired but content. "For what?"

"For giving me this," I said, my voice thick with an emotion I couldn't name. "For coming home. For being willing to build something new with me."

She finished tucking Fenrir's blanket around him before turning to face me fully. "I'm not doing this for you, Marshall. I'm doing this for us. For Fenrir, for the pack. I'm doing this because I believe we can create a future that is better than our past."

"I know," I said. "And I'll spend every day proving you were right to believe that."

"I hope so," she said, a small, weary smile touching her lips. "Because I meant what I said. I'm not the same girl who would have forgiven you anything just to have you. I've learned my worth."

"I know you have," I said, my heart aching with pride for her. "And your worth is immeasurable."

She studied my face for a long moment, and I could see her weighing my words, testing their sincerity. Finally, she gave a small nod.

"Marshall," she said. "I’m proud of the changes you've made. I see the man you're becoming, and... I like what I see."

Hope and gratitude and a love so fierce it almost buckled my knees hit me. It wasn't a declaration of love, not yet. But it was acceptance. It was a foundation.

"Thank you," I said, my voice hoarse. "I won't let you down."

"I know," she said, and for the first time since this new beginning, her smile was completely genuine, reaching hereyes. "I wouldn't be here if I thought you would. Goodnight, Marshall."

She quietly closed the door to her suite, leaving me standing alone in the hallway. I didn't feel shut out. I felt respected. She had set a boundary, and I would honor it.

Back in my room, I stood by the window, looking out at the moonlit territory. We had come a long way, but we still had a way to go.

We're home,Ranger said, his voice a contented rumble.Our mate, our pup, our pack. We're finally home.

"We are," I agreed, a smile touching my lips. "And we're going to make it everything it should have been from the beginning."

The new beginning had started. Now it was time to make it last.

Epilogue

Annalise - Five Years Later

The sound of children's laughter echoed across the pack grounds as five-year-old Fenrir chased his two-year-old sister Freya through the gardens, her delighted squeals mixing with his patient explanations of the "very important game" they were playing. I watched from the porch of the Alpha house, one hand resting on my swollen belly where our third child grew strong and active, the other holding a glass of Luna Etta's famous iced tea.

"Mama, watch!" Fenrir called out, his amber eyes bright with excitement as he demonstrated how to properly stalk through the rose bushes. Even at five, his natural Alpha instincts were evident—protective of his little sister, confident in his abilities, but gentle enough to let her "catch" him when the game required it.

"Very impressive, sweetheart," I called back, smiling as Freya toddled after him with the determined concentration that marked all of her pursuits. She had Marshall's dark hair but my green eyes, and a stubborn streak that promised interesting teenage years ahead.

"The Maine crew should be here any minute," Marshall said, settling into the chair beside me with his glass of tea. At twenty-eight, he'd grown into his role as Alpha with a confidence that no longer needed to prove itself through dominance. Gray touched his temples already—a consequence of leading a pack of wolves and chasing after two energetic pups—but his amber eyes still held the same warmth they'd gained the day Fenrir was born.

I watched as he sent a pack-wide message—the same reminder he sent before every visit from our human friends.Pack reminder: Our Maine family arrives in 15 minutes. Standard protocols in effect—no shifting, no supernatural references, careful with strength displays. Let's show them the warm welcome they deserve while keeping our nature private.

"Rita's going to spoil the children rotten," I said, though I was looking forward to it as much as they were. "She's been knitting blankets for this baby since I told her I was pregnant."

"And Tom's bringing that wooden rocking horse he's been working on for Freya." Marshall reached over to place his hand on my belly, smiling when our unborn daughter responded with a strong kick. "This little one's going to be just as energetic as her siblings."

The sound of car engines interrupted my thoughts, and I smiled as I recognized Tom's truck. But there was a second car—Dr. Harrison's SUV—which was unusual since he typically rode with the others.