Page 27

She glanced back at him, and the smallest smile touched her lips. I know. My anchor across time.

Beatrice followed his gaze, her hands still busy with her potions. "She's remarkable, isn't she?"

"Always has been." The simple truth of it settled in his chest, warm despite everything. "Even when she was a deadline wolf who couldn't shift. Especially then."

Beatrice pulled three more vials from her bag, these filled with a swirling, smoke-like substance that shifted between crimson and black. She wrapped them carefully in cloth before tucking them into an inner pocket of her jacket.

Jim raised an eyebrow. "New recipe?"

"Highly experimental." Beatrice adjusted her glasses, a nervous habit she'd had as long as Jim had known her. "But effective against vampire-wolf hybrids. Theoretically."

"Theoretically?"

"Well, I haven't exactly had the opportunity to test it." She patted the pocket. "But the principle is sound. Vampire blood responds to certain triggers—silver, sunlight, specific herbs. Combine that with wolf vulnerabilities..."

"And you get a potion that targets the hybrid weakness," Jim finished, impressed despite the situation.

"If it works." Beatrice's expression turned serious. "Jim, what Matthews is doing—it's unnatural. Dangerous beyond the obvious. Vampire blood doesn't just enhance werewolves; it changes them on a fundamental level."

"Into something like him." Jim remembered the fangs, the unnatural speed, the cold calculation in Matthews' eyes.

"Into something worse." Beatrice glanced around, lowering her voice further.

"The old texts in Jasmine's collection—they mention similar experiments centuries ago.

Vampire lords trying to create daywalking servants.

Wolf alphas seeking vampire immortality.

" She shuddered. "It never ended well. For anyone. "

Across the room, the Council members began to arrive—five elders representing the major bloodlines of Wolf Valley.

Bertram returned, now wearing the distinctive midnight blue jacket that marked him as an Enforcement liaison.

Jasmine appeared moments later, her former Supernatural Law Enforcement credentials hanging around her neck.

Mia caught Jim's eye from across the room, a silent question in her gaze. Can you stand? I need you with me for this.

He straightened, ignoring the protest from his battered body, and nodded. Whatever came next, they would face it together.

The main doors burst open, admitting a group of soaking wet wolves. Tanner, at their head, carried something wrapped in a bloodied cloak. The room fell silent as they entered, water pooling beneath their feet on the wooden floor.

"We found him by the old oak," Tanner said, his young voice breaking. "Matthews was gone."

As they laid their burden gently on the long table, the edge of the cloak fell back, revealing Reyes' face—peaceful despite the violence evident in the wounds that had taken his life.

Mia moved forward, and Jim followed, their hands finding each other instinctively. She placed her free hand on Reyes' cold forehead.

"He died protecting our pack," she said, her voice carrying to every corner of the suddenly silent room. "He died with honor." She paused, her fingers gentle against Reyes' skin. "He died believing in something greater than himself. In love that transcends death. In the future we all deserve."

The traditional words of mourning hung in the air for a moment before Mia continued, her voice hardening. "And his death will not be in vain."

She turned to face the gathered wolves, her eyes glinting with the promise of retribution.

"Matthews has violated our most sacred laws.

He has brought vampire corruption into our territory.

He has killed one of our own." Her gaze swept over the Council members, who stood in solemn attention. "Tonight, we hunt."

The room erupted in growls of agreement, wolves responding instinctively to their Alpha's call.

Jim squeezed Mia's hand, and she squeezed back—a private communication amid the public declaration. Through their bond, he felt her draw strength from his presence, just as he drew from hers.

"You need to rest," she said softly when the noise died down, turning to him with concern momentarily replacing the Alpha authority in her eyes.

"So do you." He reached up with his free hand, thumb ghosting over the bruises forming on her throat where Matthews had grabbed her. "But we both know that's not happening."

"No," she agreed. "Not until this is finished." Her eyes searched his. "I almost lost you today. Twice. I won't—I can't go through that again."

"You won't," he promised. "Reyes was right, you know. About the moon being jealous. Because what we have?" He brought their joined hands to his lips, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "It's worth fighting for. Worth dying for. Worth living for."

"Living," she repeated firmly. "We're both going to live through this, Jim Miracles. That's an alpha command."

"Yes, ma'am," he said with a ghost of his usual smile.

She squared her shoulders, the mantle of leadership settling firmly in place once more. "Right now, I need you with me. My mate. My equal. My forever."

"Always." The promise came easily, standing beside Mia as her equal, her partner, ready to face whatever came next.

The storm raged outside, lightning illuminating the pack house in harsh flashes through the windows. Somewhere in that storm, Matthews waited, the vampire blood in his veins making him more dangerous than any enemy they'd faced before.

But for the first time since this all began, Mia and Jim stood together, surrounded by the strength of a united pack.