Page 287 of Heart of Frost and Scars

When I reach him, we fall into each other’s arms. The instant I feel his strong body against mine, I know I’m never letting go.

It’s not just an embrace. It’s everything we’ve lost, everything we’ve found, wrapped up in a hug. I hold him tight, my hands fisting in the back of his shirt. I feel him shaking, feel the emotion rolling off him.

Frankie’s sobs shudder through the room, but I can’t focus on anything other than my son, this miracle in my arms.

No words are needed. We just hold each other, father and son, united after so much pain, so much time lost.

My eyes burn with tears, hot and unstoppable.

When we finally pull back, I drag a knuckle across my wet cheeks.

I can’t believe this is real. I can’t believe he’s here.

Before I can process it, Leo and Kody crash into us, their arms wrapping around Wolf, lifting him off his feet in a tangle of limbs and laughter and grunts of deep emotion. It’s pure chaos, pure joy, and I can’t stop the tears from falling as I watch them—my son, my brothers, my family—together again.

My gaze finds Frankie, and I crook my finger.

She rushes forward, her hands framing my face as she pulls me down for another kiss, this one slow and sweet, filled with all the love I’ve been holding onto for her.

“I love you,” she whispers against my lips. “I love you so much, Monty.”

“Love you more.” I deepen the kiss, fisting my hands in her hair, gripping hard. “I’m sorry. I didn’t protect you. I didn’t—”

“I’m okay. We’re all okay. We survived.” She glances at the corpses sitting at the table and grimaces. “We have some fucked-up trauma to unfuck. Lots of therapy. All the therapy. But we’ll sort it out. We’re going to have the happiest life together.”

She leans back, her eyes glimmering with tears and glowing with a smile.

A hand smacks the back of my head, snapping my attention to Kody.

His lips curl back, flashing a chilling smile as he holds my gaze. “It’s time to hunt.”

67

Kodiak

—

In the armory, surrounded by tools of destruction, I feel the predator in me rising, taking over.

Tonight, we’re not hunting to survive.

We’re hunting to avenge.

Consuming rancor has eaten away my last shred of humanity. This thing inside me was born when Denver tore away my innocence. It grew with every lash he welted across my back.

It sucks on my bones, feeds on every thudding beat of my heart, and sets fire to the breath rasping through my lungs.

It’s primal, animalistic, and it wants blood.

Tonight, I’m going to let it out.

Tonight, I’m going to unleash hell.

I pull weapons from the walls, my hands moving with deadly purpose. My favorite crossbow remains in Sitka, but there are a few spares here. I grab a quiver loaded with bolts designed to puncture through bone and sinew. Knives, sharp and wicked, each a promise of the pain I’ll inflict. Ammo, gear, everything we need to turn this hunt into a slaughter.

Leo, Wolf, Monty, and Frankie are doing the same, their faces stony, determined, darkened with the same violent hunger that drives me.

Suddenly, Oliver appears in the room without sound, making Frankie jump.

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