Epilogue

Almost a week ago, Zeke and Boe carried an unconscious and battered Fred out of the woods and into the cabin. It had taken a day and a half for the old man to wake, and with the threat of a serious concussion, I sat on pins and needles the whole time. But he eventually did, and after days upon days of helping him, he was finally well enough to leave.

A question had burned in my mind since the day Drake left this Earth, but despite all the opportunities I'd had to do so, I still hadn't asked it.

It was over. Drake was gone.

But what would the club do?

Bard killed their leader, and for as much of a dick Drake was, retribution would need to be made. An attack on Drake was an attack on The Onyx Eagles.

Fred never brought it up, and neither did Bard. The two men had kept a respectful distance. Zeke and Boe had left soon after they'd brought Fred in. I didn't know what they'd gone to do, but could imagine it had to do with disposing of certain... things. When they didn't come back, however, I'd asked Bard.

"I told them to head back to the shop in case anyone shows up there," he'd said, his eyes cutting over to the old man, who at the time, was still unconscious on the living room sofa.

The fact that Bard didn't trust Fred was no secret. He'd made it clear since the moment they'd brought the man inside, but he tolerated it. For me. He kept his eyes peeled. His muscles tensed. He looked ready to take the old man out if he so much as sneezed, and I couldn't blame him.

Uncle Fred noticed, but it didn't seem to bother him. If anything, he looked pleased. He'd meet my eyes, and I swear I'd see admiration there. He respected him.

That would go a long way.

The sun was just starting to rise on the morning he'd set to leave. I woke up early, needing to get it out. I needed to see him off and find out where it all stood. If he planned to give us up, alert the club, I didn't know what I'd do. He was like family to me.

I looked in the bathroom mirror and took note of my drawn and tired face. I hadn't slept. My nerves kept me up like an incessant tapping in my skull, and dread about what would happen made my chest tight.

Once Fred left, the club could find out, and his failure to bring it up made me even more reluctant about the situation.

I heard the front door swing shut and hurried to catch up to him.

I found him standing on the front porch. "I wondered if you'd say goodbye," he said, turning a small smile towards me.

I grinned in return. "Of course, I would." I stared at him, his white hair and matching beard, the laugh lines around his eyes. So familiar. Uncle Fred was the only good memory I had of the club. He'd always been good to me. He'd done what he could, taken the time to teach me things, like how to flick a bottle cap. My smile widened at the thought. How to handle a tense situation. How to be strong. I doubt I would have survived the years with Drake if it hadn't been for him.

"Jessie." Fred laid a hand onto my shoulder. "If I'd ever had a daughter, I can imagine she'd be a lot like you. If she was, I can imagine I'd be real proud of her."

My throat constricted. I couldn't speak. This was the last time I'd ever see him. I knew that with every fiber of my being, and it bothered me more than it should have.

Fred was family.

"What's gonna happen, now?" I asked, my voice barely audible. This was it, the moment of truth.

Fred knew what I meant, and his eyes softened. "As Vice President, the club falls to me, now."

I nodded and waited, breath held, heart pounding.

"It's a shame about Drake." He met my gaze and gave a slow nod. "Bears are dangerous animals."

My brows shot up towards my hairline.

Bears... A bear killed Drake...

"These are good people here, Jessie girl. You take care of yourself." His arms engulfed me in a tight hug, careful of my back even though the wounds had already scabbed over. "I'm gonna miss you, but I'd be lying if I said I hope I ever see you again. You've never belonged in my world. You belong here." He leaned back and looked at me. "Be happy, and I'll be happy knowing that you are."

I couldn't hold back the tears that rolled down my cheeks. "Dammit, Fred! You're gonna make me cry!"

He laughed, pulled me in for one last hug, then turned and started across the yard. "I swear, I won't tell a soul!" he called back to me, still smiling. "You be good, kid."

"Uncle Fred?"

His looked over at me.

"I think if I'd ever had a dad, he would be just like you." I paused. "I... I think I'd be proud, too."

He waved me off, but I saw it, a moisture in his eyes. He shook his head and climbed onto his Harley. "Well, you always had strange opinions about things." That was the last thing he said to me. He revved the bike and took off, leaving a group of others behind for us to do god knows what with.

The roar of his engine ended any more goodbyes that could have been spoken, and it wasn't long after he disappeared from view completely.

It was over. The club wasn't coming. Drake was gone.

I was free.

I turned on my heals, eager to find Bard and tell him, to hug him and press my lips to his, to celebrate.

He'd been gone this morning when I'd woken up, off working on one thing or another. I'd never questioned him on it, figuring it must be hard for him to deal with a club member being in his house. I understood, and loved him even more for being so understanding.

When I made it through the door, however, I froze. A wild flower laid on the floor, and in my hurry to find him, I'd almost stepped on it.

My eyes travelled, finding more. They created a path towards the kitchen, and I followed, continuing out the back door as I trailed them.

When I stepped out, they continued, ending at the training area where Bard stood with a serious expression.

"What's this?" I asked with a smile.

The very corner of his lip twitched, but it was so small, anyone else but me wouldn't have noticed at all. "I've got a bet for you," he said, his voice deep and smooth. It echoed across the yard and met my ears like a caress.

"Oh yeah? And what would that be?"

Bard motioned around him. "A fight. If you win, I'll do whatever you want."

"Really?" I laughed. "Is that so? What if I want you to wear a dress, and sing I'm a little teapot?"

He grimaced. "That's evil, Jessie."

"Well, that's the deal. You want to bet, that's it."

His lip twitched again. "Fine."

I walked over and stood in front of him. "You still haven't told me what you get if you win."

Bard stepped closer, placed a hand against my hip and pulled me into him. His breath tickled the hair on the top of my head, his voice gruff when he finally spoke, "If I win, I get you."

I smirked. "You already have me, Bard."

"I don't... Not until I marry you."

My heart clenched, and I jerked my eyes up to his. "Marry?"

Bard swallowed hard. His eyes sharpened and cut, just like they always did, searching, probing. "If I win, I get to have you be my wife. You'll have to stay with me forever... and eventually give me little baby girls that are just like you."

Warmth filled my chest to the point it could split open. I'd found my life. A normal life, and I was looking at him. "Deal."

We each got into stance, and Bard looked more determined than I'd ever seen him. When he lunged forward, I threw my hands up and let him take me with him to the ground. He twisted just in time to protect my back from the impact, and landed with me pressed against his chest.

"You win." I stared down into those intense eyes of his and laughed.

Bard smiled, that blinding smile that lit my whole world. He cupped the back of my head, and pulled my lips to his, kissed me with enough emotion to make my eyes well up with tears. "I sure did," he murmured against my mouth.

And as we laid there, loving each other, making promises of a future neither one of us thought we'd ever have...

Karma smiled at us.

The end.

Hope you enjoyed the story! Drop it some love! Let it know how you feel! Bard is listening 😏😏😉

If you enjoyed The North Star, you'll LOVE Robbing the Alpha! Launching March 26th! Be sure to add it to your library to get the alert 🚨 and as always, I adore all of you! (Description for Robbing the Alpha below 😘)

Bury your wolf. Lie when you must. Don't let them see you slip. Destined to be luna since before her birth, Brooke's whole life has been dedicated to one purpose-securing her family's bloodline. But when the day finally arrives to join Alpha Titan atop the mountain, they're intercepted by a pack of thieving valley wolves. Fated mates are rare, and being fated to a valley wolf would ruin her forever, but the second she locks eyes with the brutally handsome Huck, Brooke's wolf claws to be released. She has no choice but to reject him. He's dirty, scarred, and everything she was taught to loathe, but she soon learns nothing is as it seems. Shadows fill the castle, someone wants her dead, and Huck is like a ghost who won't stop haunting. Can Brooke assume her role and preserve her family, or is her destiny much larger than she realized?