He crushed his lips to hers, and out of nowhere, an orgasm hit her. She rode every wave of the pleasure that cascaded throughout her whole body. It had been a long time coming, and she wanted to savor every moment of it. Her canine puma teeth jutted out, and she bit down on Hayden’s neck. Instinct had taken over. Hayden roared, and the sound reverberated around the cave. A few seconds later, he buried himself within her, and she felt him find his own climax. His own sharp dragon teeth must have descended, because she felt his sharp bite into her own skin.
They had marked each other as mates.
War may be raging around them, but they’d done their part.
All they had to do now was live happily ever after.
Forever.
A much better prospect than the first time around.
Epilogue
Selene stared down at the dragon bones in front of her. Ethern and Brayden were on either side of her, but Jessica had returned to the Glacial Blood mansion to check on the other members of the pack.
“This is what I was born to do? To control in a matter of seconds a power that took Hayden fifty-two years to learn.”
“Yes, it’s the reason I gave my soul to become a reaper. I knew you were the chosen one,” Ethern answered.
“A multi-shifter with the ability to control the power of the dragon.”
“Yes.” Ethern’s reply was short, and they all fell into silence again.
Brayden held Selene’s hand, and she could feel her unborn child moving inside her. He was as unsettled as his mother.
“Did you ever try to touch them?” Selene turned her head slightly to look at Ethern.
The multi-shifter who’d been her mentor until he’d died and been reborn as a reaper leaned down and picked up one of the bones.
“A number of times, but I knew it wasn’t my destiny. I’d done my part. I brought you to Brayden.”
Selene turned her head to the other side. “And how does Brayden fit into all of this?”
“I can answer that.” Kas’ voice came from behind them, and Selene turned around to face him.
Jane was at the alpha’s side, and Jessica stood a little way behind them. Selene instantly noticed the look of worry on Jane’s face.
“Mum?” Brayden let go of Selene’s hand and stepped toward his mother. “What’s going on?”
Kas took Jane’s hand, and Selene cocked her head in intrigue. The world seemed to have slowed down to her—it was as if she was witnessing it at a distance.
“It’s time for the truth, Brayden,” Kas explained.
“We’ll leave this part to you. Let us know what happens,” Ethern addressed Kas.
“I will,” the polar bear shifter replied.
Selene watched as Jessica and Ethern came together and disappeared into the ether.
“Kas, what’s going on?” Brayden asked.
“We’ve kept a secret from you for so long now, Brayden, but no more. You have to know so you and Selene can both make the decision for yourselves,” Kas spoke.
Selene flinched as Jane let out a whimper. “Please don’t.”
“You know I have to—it’s what he wanted.”
Jane placed her hand over her mouth, and tears started to fall down her cheeks. “I don’t think I can relive the memories.”
“You can because you’ve always been strong and are the reason Brayden is the man he is.”
“Enough,” Brayden snapped, and Selene jumped at the anger in her mate’s voice. “Stop with the riddles and private conversations. I’ve been lied to for most of my life about how my father died, and I won’t have any more lies added to the roster.”
“After this, Brayden, you won’t have anything kept from you,” Kas replied.
“What?” Brayden shook his head in confusion. Selene made her way from where she was standing by the bones and took Brayden’s hand. Her mate looked at her.
“I believe Kas is going to finally tell you the truth about your father,” Selene explained.
Brayden’s head spun to their alpha. “Why now, when Selene has this decision to make?” he questioned.
“Because it shows just how important all this is.” Jane sobbed next to Kas. “How important you are.”
“Tell me,” Brayden demanded as he pulled Selene closer to him. She reached out, and taking his hand, she placed it where their child grew in her womb. Together they would give him the comfort he needed.
“Your father died a hero in so many people’s eyes but not least in the eyes of the multi-shifters. They knew of Selene’s importance to our fight, but they also knew of yours. You saw earlier how Molly’s love helped Hayden control his powers as a dragon? Well, your love will do the same and so much more. Without you, Selene would not be able to touch the bones. Their power would kill her. The two of you together are the key, and your father, along with Jane and I, knew that.” Kas lowered his head. “So did my brother and grandfather. Fate is a cruel master sometimes. When you were a young boy, Nuka led you into a trap. There was nothing we could do to stop it. My grandfather was lying in wait.” Kas paused again, and Selene felt Brayden squeeze her tighter. “Your father had a split second to make his decision—the fate of the world or his life. He didn’t hesitate. As my grandfather attacked, your father protected you and saved your life. I arrived a few seconds later with other members of the pack, and we retaliated against my grandfather. He lost his life, and I took over as alpha that day. I mourned my best friend and vowed never to let anything happen to you. The memories were wiped from your mind to allow you grow into the man you are now, the one Selene needs. We made decisions for the future, and that is why we’ve never told you.”
The entire cave around them was eerily devoid of any emotion as Kas finished speaking. Brayden turned around and looked at the bones on the ground. He let go of Selene and stepped forward and picked one up.
“My father died for this?” Brayden finally spoke.
“Yes,” Kas replied solemnly.
“He died saving me because of a prophecy made by a seer a long time ago.” Brayden threw the bone down onto the floor, and Selene watched as it landed near to her. “Why do we have to live in a world of stories and fables? Why can’t we just live as the people we are? Have you ever thought that these stories might be the reason we now face annihilation at the hands of the humans?”
The anger was radiating off Brayden, and Selene felt the waves of emotion slamming into her. She placed her hand on her stomach and became lost in her thoughts as Brayden continued to rant in the background.
Protect your child. Sacrifice all. Selene’s thoughts cleared to the one true path in her life. She knelt down and reached out slowly for the dragon bone by her foot. The instant she touched it, she felt the change come over her. The power was so intense it knocked her backward onto the floor.
“What the fuck?” Brayden was at her side. “What have you done, Selene?”
“Saved our child, just like your father did,” Selene cried out as the first wave of powerful change came over her.
The world around her shrunk as she grew in size. Her body changed, sharp spikes appeared on her back, and her skin turned into black and white spotted scales. Teeth, horns, and a long tail—they all grew from her body as the power of the dragon magic took over her.