The bed next to the quarreling—now embracing—couple was empty, which Sabrina guessed must have been reserved for Ransom. As soon as they arrived, Dr. Blake had him brought to the operating room to check on his injuries. Duncan explained that Lycans healed much faster than humans did, but it wasn’t instant, and things like broken bones had to be taken care of right away, or else they might heal over wrong, and then they’d have to be re-broken and reset properly. Also, if the dagger had some magical properties, it might even slow down the healing.

  Finally, at around two in the morning, Cross came back. Jonathan had fallen asleep, and Sabrina was curled up on the couch in the waiting room. “Everything okay?” she asked as he walked toward her.

  “Yes. We’re doing a debrief in the morning, but for now, the Alpha told everyone to go home and rest.”

  “Oh.” She swung her legs off the couch and sat up. “I suppose I could go back to my loft. It would be nice to start wearing my own clothes again. What’s the matter?” she asked when his brows drew together in a frown.

  “I’ll take you home, but do you mind if we stop by somewhere first?”

  “Not at all.” She got up and slipped an arm through his. “Where’d you have in mind?”

  “I need to go see Gunnar.”

  “Let’s go then.”

  In seconds, they reappeared in the darkened cabin. “Gunnar?” he called.

  “I’m here.” A lamp in the corner turned on, revealing Gunnar, sitting on the leather recliner. “Dad called and told me everything that happened. I figured you might drop by.” He gestured to the couch, where a pot of tea and cups were already waiting. “Have a seat.”

  Cross led her to the couch, and they sat down. “Did you know?” Cross asked. “About what the ceremony was for?”

  He shook his head. “Not really. Everything just kind of … all melded together. Like hitting the fast-forward button while watching a movie.”

  Cross leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. “Everything happened as you saw it, including the people who were there. But that ceremony wasn’t their end game. It was just to break the bond the ring had on Sabrina.”

  “I realize that now.” His face drew into a grave expression.

  Cross tensed. “What now?”

  “I … Cross, I had another vision before you arrived.”

  “Of the future?”

  “No, this was the past again.” Gunnar’s eyes glassed over. “Far in the past. I don’t know why, it just feels so far back. There’s a man in a white robe, surrounded by others in red robes. They were in some kind of ancient temple, though everything looked brand new. He’s on top of a tall platform, and there’s a white marble altar in front of him.”

  “Then what happened?”

  “Outside the temple, it’s thundering. No.” He raked his hands through his hair. “People running. Lycans running, their paws pounding on the ground. Then the man in the white robe raises his hand over the altar. There’s a ring, a dagger, and a necklace. He cuts his palm and drizzles his blood over the artifacts, then puts on the ring. The men around him are chanting, and then he says something. I think he says, ‘I will rise again.’ Then … that’s it.”

  The silence that hung in the air was deafening. Sabrina reached over and took Cross’s hand in hers.

  “I think I know,” Cross began. “I know what they want the artifacts for.”

  Gunnar turned to him, his face pale, and whiskey-brown eyes filled with fear. “They’re bringing him back.”

  “Death and life,” Cross said. “Magus Aurelius’s enemies—the humans and Lycans—must have been on the verge of storming his temple. He used the ring to kill himself.”

  “So that they could revive him,” Sabrina finished. A shudder ran down her spine, and she suddenly felt tainted, carrying the ring around. “That’s why its power was so literal. Death and life. Kill something, then bring them back to life.”

  Cross’s jaw hardened. “Krogan said something about Magus Aurelius’s manuscripts. That’s how they found out about the artifacts and his final intentions. That could be what he was talking about.”

  “In that case, we’ve only slowed them down.” Gunnar ran his fingers through his hair in frustration and buried his face in his hands. “Now they’ve got the ring back and they can bring him back.”

  “Wait.” Cross shot to his feet and scratched his jaw. “When Sabrina used the ring, she was able to revive the plants and the mare right away. Why couldn’t they have done it as soon as they got the ring? Or why haven’t they done it by now? It’s been hours since they escaped.”

  “I had my dead plants, and Georgie was right there,” she reminded him. “If this Magus guy has been dead for thousands of years, there’s nothing really left to revive.”

  Cross’s brows snapped together before they lifted, his eyes widening. “Unless they had something else very powerful to increase the artifacts’ powers.”

  “Double Alpha blood,” Gunnar concluded. “We thought they were just using it to enhance the artifacts. I mean, obviously, that was just a side effect. It could be that was all they thought the blood could do.”

  “They didn’t finish translating everything until recently,” Cross said. “It makes sense Magus Aurelius only wrote down his plans at the end, when he was about to be defeated.”

  “We won’t know for sure unless we read the manuscript ourselves,” Gunnar pointed out.

  “But it could be a working theory.” Cross walked over to his brother. “I need to go and tell Dad and the Alpha.”

  Gunnar stood up. “Safe travels.”

  Sabrina, too, strode over to him. “We’ll see you soon,” she said before enveloping him in a hug. “And thank you. I figured out what it meant. The words you said to me before we left the last time, but tell me something.”

  “What is it?”

  She looked him straight in the eyes. “Why the riddles? Why couldn’t you just tell me the truth of what will happen?”

  A dark cloud seemed to pass over him. “I’ve meddled with the future before,” he said in a quiet voice. “And the consequences have been … devastating. When I asked my grandmother, what was I supposed to do when I see these horrible things and can’t stop them, she told me, ‘Gunnar, the best way to use your gift is to advise people, not try to change who they are or change their minds. You must guide them, but ultimately, the only way to be truthful to fate is to let them make their own decisions.’”

  Her eyes widened. “That’s why your vision changed, isn’t it? Why there wasn’t an end. The future isn’t set.” The realization dawned on her. “I had a choice. To stay in Zhobghadi, or come back here. I made the choice.”

  Gunnar’s mouth slowly turned up into a smile. “I guess we’ll never know, really.” He kissed her on the cheek and then clapped his brother on the back. “I’ll see you soon.”

  They watched Gunnar retreat back into his room, both of them dumbfounded. “Am I right?” she asked Cross. “Was it that choice?”

  He wrapped an arm around her. “When you think about it, he could mean any of the choices you or I made. Like when you decided not to take a second dose of the potion. Or when I decided to bring Ransom to New York. Or maybe it was when you chose to come into Wicked Brew that morning I ran into you.”

  “Ugh.” Her fingers massaged at her temples. “I’m getting a headache just thinking about it. Is there any way you can skip meeting your father, and we can just go home?”

  He flashed her a brilliant smile. “I’ll leave him a voice message now, then we can go.”

  A short while later, they were in her loft apartment. “I still can’t believe I’m back,” she said. “And I can finally shower and wear my own clothes!”

  He slipped his arms around her and pulled her close. “How about we save the clothes for later?”

  Desire hummed deep in her. “Okay.”

  “Good, because I can’t wait.” He lowered his head and gave her the most passionate, bone-melting kiss she’d ever experienced in her whole life. In a split second, she found herself under him, on top of the bed, her clothes completely gone. I guess there are some benefits of having a magical boyfriend, she thought with a laugh.

  He didn’t kiss her as much as he devoured her—as if he had never tasted her lips before. She could feel the urgency in his kisses and his hands as they roamed her body. When he finally made love to her, she was moaning his name and clutching at him, her body moving in rhythm with him as they sought their release together. Her body exploded in pleasure and she moaned his name over and over again.

  Afterwards, as they lay together in a sweaty, satisfied heap, he gathered her to his side and kissed her temple. “I’m not sure which choice led us to this path,” he said. “Or maybe this was always where we were meant to be. I think that’s what Gunnar was trying to say. We should let fate run its course. He didn’t tell me you’re my mate because he wanted to warn me to stay away. He always knew I would make my way to you.”

  “Hmmm … maybe.”

  “I am glad about one choice I made.”

  Though she was sleepy and bone-tired, she made an effort to look up at him and gaze into those gorgeous azure eyes. “What’s that?”

  “When I decided to make you fall in love with me again.”

  She paused, letting his words sink in, then chuckled. “Oh, Cross.”

  “Why are you laughing?”

  Reaching up, she brushed his cheek, feeling the warmth of her emotion for him, and for the child she now carried, burning in her chest. “I never stopped.”

  Epilogue

  Despite the excitement of yesterday, Sabrina managed to wake up before Cross. Though he dragged her back to bed, thoroughly intending to make love to her all morning, she insisted on getting up and going to see her father. While he wanted to make up for all the time they’d wasted during the last three years, he couldn’t begrudge her, not after what she had been through and finding out the truth about her mother. And to be honest, he wanted to make sure Ransom was recovering as well, since it was his fault the Lone Wolf was injured and dragged into this mess.

  They dressed and got ready, then as soon as she finished the massive breakfast he brought for her, they went straight to the medical wing of The Enclave.

  “You’ve spoiled me,” she said when they appeared in the waiting room. “I don’t know how I’m ever going to travel like a normal person again.”

  He chuckled and kissed her temple. “I’m sure you’ll manage. You did find a way to get back here from Zhobghadi.”

  “Well, that was a private jet,” she said. “So, I’m not sure if that counts as normal travel either.”

  Cross reminded himself to thank Deedee and Karim, and maybe, see if they could drop by for dinner sometime next week. For now, they walked into the recovery ward together.

  Jonathan was already dressed and ready to go, seeing as Dr. Blake had given him a clean bill of health. “I’ll go wait outside if you want to visit your friends first,” he said, before leaving the ward.

  “I want to go home too,” Julianna whined. “I need a shower. And a cheeseburger.”

  “Dinna fash, darlin’,” Duncan cooed. “Everything’ll be fine and you’ll leave when you’re ready. And I have a surprise coming for you.” He glanced over at the third bed, where Ransom was lying, still asleep. “Your friend’s doin’ fine,” he said to Cross. “Looks like a nasty wound, but he’s been sleepin’ all this time, so he should be doin’ some good healin’.”

  Cross and Sabrina made their way over to Ransom’s bed at the far side of the ward. A blanket covered his legs, and he was naked from the waist up, the wolf tattoo above his hip. Bandages wrapped over his left shoulder and around his chest, and his skin was still ashen. But his breathing was normal, and he looked serene as he slept. “You really took one for the team,” Cross mused. “I didn’t think he’d do something like that.”

  “Maybe there’s more to him than we think,” Sabrina said, nudging his arm. “Bringing him along was a good idea.”

  “Och, now, here’s my surprise,” Duncan announced.

  “Jules!” Isabelle had burst through the door and now dashed toward her sister. “Oh, my God, Jules,” she cried. “Duncan told me what happened, are you all right?” She hugged Julianna. “I thought—”

  “Oh, for crying out loud,” Julianna mumbled. “I’m fine. I’m a Lycan, remember? I may not have True Mate healing powers, but I’ll be fine in a couple of days.”

  “The fireball burned a chuck of flesh off her left arm,” Duncan said through gritted teeth. “She fainted from the pain.”

  “And they patched me up, but this thing”—she nodded at the bandage on her arm—“itches like the dickens. And don’t even get me started on what generating new skin feels like.”

  “Thanks for watching over Kier,” Duncan said to Isabelle, mentioning their infant son.

  “Oh, no worries, he’s fine. Whenever he cries, I just give him some food and he’s good to go.” She chuckled. “No wonder he’s so chubby.”

  “He’s not chubby,” Duncan said indignantly. “He’s—”

  “Husky,” Julianna and Isabelle quipped at the same, then they both burst out into giggles. “Anyway,” Isabelle continued. “He and Evan are with Sofia now since I wanted to come see you. Oh, hey, Sabrina! Cross!” She greeted when she realized they were there. “Are you guys okay? Were you injured too?”

  “No, we’re good,” Sabrina said. “But my dad was here, and we’re taking him home.”

  “Oh?” She walked closer toward them. Her gaze dropped down to Ransom. “Is that your—” She stopped short, the smile from her face evaporated as she went visibly pale.

  “Isabelle?” Sabrina cocked her head to the side. “Are you all right?”

  Seemingly jolted out of her trance, she started. “I’m … fine!” she said nervously, her hands waving in the air. “I just remembered something I have to—”

  Ransom began to stir, his fingers twitching at his sides. His mouth opened, and he let out a low moan. “No …”

  If it were possible, Isabelle went even paler. “I should go see to Evan.” Turning on her heel, she sprinted out of the ward.

  “What’s the matter with her?” Julianna asked. “She didn’t even say goodbye.”

  Duncan shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe she ate something bad.”

  Cross looked down at Sabrina. Her face was scrunched up and eyes narrowed, as if she were concentrating. “What’s wrong?”

  “I …” She worried her lip with her teeth. “Nothing. I mean, I’ll tell you later. Let’s go bring my dad home first.”

  They met Jonathan outside, who insisted they take a cab home instead of having Cross bring them back to his penthouse. And so, they did, though Sabrina complained about the traffic, mumbling to herself that they could have avoided this if her dad wasn’t such a curmudgeon. Finally, they arrived at his apartment, and after getting him settled in, she and Cross strode out to the terrace.

  “Where should we go?” he asked her. “Do you want to go home? Or maybe we could go to Paris or London?”

  She chuckled. “I’ll let you choose.”

  “I was hoping you’d say that.” He threaded his fingers through hers and closed his eyes. “Oh, wait.” Waving his hand over her, he created a warm, silk cloak that wrapped around her shoulders. “Now you’re ready.”

  “Ready?” she asked, brows furrowing together. “Ready for—what?” She sucked in a breath as they arrived at their destination in a split second. “Oh. My. God.”

  They stood near the edge of a cliff, overlooking a fjord, its clear blue waters winding down between massive cliffs of chiseled limestone. The valley ahead had dots of green and yellow, signaling that the long slumber of winter was over, and nature was waking up again. A new beginning, he thought.

  “Cross … this is amazing,” she sighed. “I’ve only seen pictures of this place.”

  “Now you can paint it for real.” He turned to face her. “When all this is done, how about we build a cottage, right here?” Bringing her hands up to his face, he kissed each of her palms. “You can paint and I—”

  “Can watch over our baby?” she finished.

  Everything had happened so quickly, he barely had time to remember that she was, indeed, carrying his pup now. The realization floored him, and he had to steady himself at the thought. I’m going to be a father.

  “Cross?” Clear violet eyes looked up at him, and the smile on her face warmed every corner of his soul.

  “You’re my fate, Sabrina. You and our child.” Slipping his hand into the pocket of his jacket, he took out a ring and held it up to her surprised gaze. The stone in the middle was a large amethyst, surrounded by sparkling diamonds. “Will you marry me?”

  “Yes,” she cried without hesitation. “I will.”

  With shaking hands, he put the ring on her finger. “I love you, Sabrina.”

  “And I love you.”

  Her hands slid up behind his neck to bring him down for a kiss. Sweetness burst on his lips as the scent of apple cider and fresh snow surrounded him, permeating the air around him until he could only think, smell, feel, and taste her. For the last three years, he hadn’t allowed himself to think of moments like this, couldn’t even allow himself to dream of it because knowing that he could never have her had been pure torture. But now, he could not only dream it, but also live it. His beautiful dream come true.

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you so much for your support!

  I know you’ve been waiting for Cross’s story for a long time, I only hope I did it justice.

  You thought I would have saved him for last, right?

  Nope!

  One more story in this series and it’s going to be BIG.

  Do we get to find out who Isabelle’s mate?

  Maybe.

  All I can say is EVERYTHING COMES FULL CIRCLE.

  And you’ll find out in the last book

 

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