Daïna put us all up in her house in Barrie. A fucking huge seven bed place. And all in use. Apparently the packs under her care rotated through staying at the house. A fact that caused some tension with my presence, but her word was law. She always made a point of listening fully to every complaint before politely telling them to accept me or leave. But after the awkward disaster that was Christmas dinner, I was eager to get back home. Daïna was apologetic, despite assurances from the rest of us that it was fine. She said she wasn’t put out defending me, but goddamn I still felt bad that she was having to crack the whip on my behalf, appreciated as it was. 

—*—

The new year saw us crossing the border back into the states. Dawn and Daïna by regular means. Tess and I by midnight river bottom walk. No less chilling than our first crossing. 

“Fuck. Thanks,” I said, taking the towel from Dawn, as I slipped into the backseat of her jeep. 

“Cold?” Dawn asked. 

“Not gonna die of hypothermia, but it's still fucking miserable.” I shuffled out of my sopping clothes as best I could, and rubbed the towel vigorously trying to warm up through friction. 

Daïna turned up the heat from half to full.

“Thanks,” I told her. 

“Reconsidering Juliet's idea to clear your name?” Dawn asked. 

“Fuck yes,” I said, voice muffled by the towel. “‘Specially if it means never doing that again. If we're going to be visiting the great white north from time to time, I want to do it high and dry.”

“You are planning to visit?” Daïna asked. 

“Just wait until you see the shit hole I live in. Compared to your place? Night and day.”

“Even so. I am surprised you would be willing to return after your manner of treatment there.”

I finished buttoning the dry shirt Dawn had passed back, “can't pick your family, and I figure a pack is the same.”

“I am glad. I was worried that that may have stained your perception of me.”

I buckled up as Dawn accelerated, and merged back onto the highway. I shrugged, “wasn't you that called me a blood sucking bitch.”

—*—

I had forgotten that we had cannibalized the cot for parts when Dawn had broken her leg, so Daïna had to make due with a camping mat on the floor. I apologized, but she assured me it was fine. Loup-garou were used to sleeping rough. Dawn offered her apartment as a backup in case the floor got too much. First days back were spent settling in. Dismantling the cage that once held the now detoxed thrall, Henry. Even odds he'd go back to a vamp, but Tim was out of the picture, and he sure as fuck wasn't getting any blood from me. Assuming he could find a source from the slammer. Greg had connected with Jules to get him back in custody. Guy was still an accessory to the Renfrue murder. 

Dawn and I had been worried about coming back to a shit show with Greg and the other hunters, but Daisy was an angel with words. Greg said she pulled everyone aside individually, and talked their ears off until they came around to my side. It felt— weird. Fucked up that I had so many people going to bat for me. Daïna with her pack. Daisy with the hunters. Couldn't fathom what I ever did to deserve such staunch support. Tess said it was because I had a good heart, but I couldn't see it. Either way, wasn't about to go around telling people not to back me up. 

For the first time since— shit? Had it already been half a year? Goddamn. Felt longer. For the first time since Tess and I died, we were able to just sit and process everything that happened to us. We still had each other, but we had both still lost so much. Dawn and Daïna were gracious, and let us grieve alone. When we emerged from our funk, Dawn had a gift prepared. A small pink box with a red ribbon sealing the lid.

“It's not a ring, is it?”

“No,” Dawn said, “but that's a good idea.”

I opened the box. Inside was a folded paper. I recognized the Illinois state seal on it. I unfolded the paper. “A business license?” I asked. 

Dawn nodded, “legally, I'm the business owner, since you're still wanted. But it's a way you can get back on your feet, doing what you love.” She grinned, “I'll kick back and let you do all the leg work!”

I smiled, and pulled her into a hug, “not getting off that easy. Day shift.”

“Ah, damn, didn't figure that.”

“Thanks, Dawn. This means a lot. Really.”

Dawn waved a dismissive hand, “don't mention it.” She snapped her fingers, as though remembering something important, “oh! Before I forget, Tess and I have been talking with Daïna. She has something for you, too. Well mostly from her. I contributed a piece.”

I quirked an eyebrow at Tess, then at Dawn, before turning to Daïna. 

She held out a length of leather to me. 

“What's this?” I asked. 

“A collar.” She pressed a finger under my chin, and applied light pressure “for my pup.” 

“What the fuck?”

“A collar for—”

“I heard you. I'm not wearing a fucking collar.” 

She pouted. God, could she ever pout when she wanted something. Truly an unfair advantage for Loup-garou to be able to pull off puppy eyes like that. 

“Fine. Fuck.” I cinched the collar around my arm above my bicep, “fair compromise?” I asked.

She leaned forward and planted a kiss on my forehead, “fair compromise, little pup,” she said.

The two silver rings on the collar's loop clinked against the one on my hand as I held it. 

——————

Author's note: thanks for reading, everyone. This marks the end of the book. Or the first draft, at least. I don't outline from the start, so I have some pretty heavy revisions planned, alongside the regular editing any book needs. 

The future will, hopefully, see the final draft properly published. This is the first time I've managed to write a whole novel. Short stories have always been my medium of choice, so I'm pretty proud of this, and thanks again for sharing in this adventure! 

~ Sammi