Page 48 of Blood, Shadow & Claw

"Hey, there’s our hero," Ajax's firm voice cut in, his hand finding mine and reassuringly squeezing it. "She's tough. Aren't you, kid?"

"Like an umbra," Kayla quipped weakly, drawing a soft chuckle out of us despite the situation's difficulty.

"Exactly like an umbra," I echoed, allowing a sliver of pride to mix with my swirling emotions. In this room, surrounded by those who mattered most, I realized how deeply these ties had rooted within me. It wasn't just about finding love or belonging anymore; it was about being part of something that made us all stronger—something worth protecting, no matter the cost.

“I’d meant to ask you…” Ajax started as I blurted out.

"Can she stay with us?" The question poured from some untouched well within me, my voice softer than intended but no less committed.

"Of course." His response was immediate and unequivocal: "I wouldn't have it any other way." There was no doubt in his tone, no hesitation—just the simple truth of his word, as steady as the earth beneath our feet.

“Really?” Kayla's expression lit up, and she whooped with joy. “That’s what I wanted. I prayed to the Moon Goddess, and she answered my prayers. Thank you!”

"Be careful," Kyle warned, his voice laced with humor as he gently wrangled Kayla by her shoulders. “You might get more than you bargained for with these two. I heard the alpha snores like a grizzly umbra.”

They could hear Kayla’s laughter as she went down the hallway.

I looked into his eyes, the man I loved more than life itself. “Thank you, from the both of us.”

“You don’t need to thank me, Mazie. I feel like life hadn’t evenstarted until you came into mine. You are the reason I want to be a better man, a better alpha, and a better father.”

Heat stained my cheeks as I asked, “Do you want more kids?”

“I’m hoping we have one or two on the way.”

With eyes full of laughter, he kissed my surprised expression from my face and swept me away to the place where our hearts were always united as one.

EPILOGUE

AJAX

The door to the pack house burst open with a crash that echoed through the timbered hall like a gunshot. I sucked in a sharp breath, my heart pounding against my ribs as if trying to keep pace with my thundering thoughts. My cousin Eva was framed in the doorway, her wild curls more untamed than usual, and her eyes—a vibrant green that always seemed to hold a spark of laughter—now blazed with an alarm that sent a chill skittering down my spine.

"The hunters are back, Ajax," she gasped, chest heaving as if she'd run miles without rest. "Hunters are targeting shifters... exclusively."

Every muscle in my body tensed. I felt guilty for not attending the Lycan Shifter Leadership Council, which comprised the Umbra alpha, the Lion alpha, and the Werewolf Alpha. The weight of leadership, always present, now felt as heavy as the mountains surrounding our territory. My gaze instantly flickered to the corner where Mazie sat, cradling our newborn, Lilly. The vulnerability etched into the scene before me twisted something fierce inside my chest.

"Did they send any suggestions, Eva?" My voice came out gruff, emotion threading through the question. "What did the lion pride say? The wolf liaison?"

Her breathing slowed but remained labored. "They're scrambling just like us. The pride has lost even more than we have. There's talk of putting in safe houses, maybe some joint patrols..."

I barely heard her beyond the word 'safe.' That was what mattered most. Keeping Mazie and Lilly secure was a need that roared within me, louder than any umbra's growl. The thought of anyone laying a finger on them ignited a primal fury, a protective instinct that demanded I do whatever it took to shield my family.

"Alright," I said, nodding, though my mind was already racing through strategies and contingencies. "We'll discuss this with the pack leadership."

Eva nodded back, her expression softening as she caught sight of Mazie smiling tenderly at our daughter. We both knew what was at stake. Every decision we made from here on out had to be for our pack's safety and our kind's future. As their leader, every choice rested heavily on my shoulders.

"Lincoln Cade has offered for me to stay at his place as a sanctuary while I am representing the umbra shifters," Eva finally spilled out, the words tumbling in a rush. She avoided my gaze, her fingers twisting a stray curl around her knuckle. There was a telling blush creeping up her neck, betraying her unease. "But it's... complicated."

"Complicated how?" I prodded gently, though my mind was already guessing the myriad of reasons she might find living with the pride king unsettling. “Perhaps I should just go?”

"No, your mate just had a cub. I’m a grown-ass woman. I can handle this. It's just..." She hesitated, her eyes darting to mine before flitting away. "Being under the same roof with him, that's stepping into his domain. His pride can be overwhelming. He can be overwhelming. He’s... a lot." The word hung in the air, heavy with unspoken fears and the vulnerability of being close to someone as imposing as Lincoln McCoy.

I nodded slowly. “He can be very intimidating. Just remember that you’re one of our best fighters. I know you could hold your own with him, and only a fool would try to take you on while you were offered sanctuary. You don’t think Lincoln would hurt you. Do you?”

Eva’s face flamed with embarrassment, and my eyes widened. “Eva?” I prodded.

“No,” she said emphatically. “Nothing like that. I promise you.”

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