Epilogue - Leo Part 1

The last couple of weeks have been the busiest, most chaotic, and yet blissful days of my life. After Tucker was arrested, I rode Lunar to the Everclaw pack house. David contacted federal agents looking for Tucker, who picked him up within a few hours. I had to give my statement to them, and then everyone else from Silvermane had to provide comments.

They all took the path of least resistance, meaning they blamed Tucker. They all said that Tucker had various forms of blackmail, making them complacent in his hunt for me. Ryan stated that he only was there to try and provide inside information to David to ensure my safety. So, in the end, only my dad and Tucker were arrested.

The rest of the Silverman wolves were sent back home by Alpha Jackson. We had to sit on a video conference call between Alpha Jackson of Everclaw, Alpha Irwin of Silvermane, and Alpha Logan of Bloodmoon. I wasn’t sure what to expect when virtually being introduced to the Bloodmoon Alpha. I know he’s not very tall, only a little taller than me, from what River said, but even on camera, he has an intimidating demeanor.

During the meeting, my pack status was brought up, and I formally renounced the Silvermane pack and was unofficially welcomed as part of Bloodmoon, given my status as River’s mate. And the call ended with a warning from Alpha Logan to Alpha Irwin. He told Irwin that any interference in the investigation and trial against Tucker or my dad by Silvermane would be taken as an act of war by Bloodmoon. As Alpha Logan so colorfully put it, he would have Irwin’s head mounted on a wall.

He added that if any future incidents of forced mating occur, Alpha Logan would be making an in-person visit to challenge Irwin and take his pack permanently. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Alpha Irwin turn so pale. I thought he would black out when the threat of being challenged was made. It was kind of funny to witness. Almost as amusing as watching how the three Bloodmoon wolves reacted to their Alpha’s words. Hale remained serious and stoic. David smirked a gleam of mischief like he hoped Irwin would screw up in his eyes. I had to hush River because he started to whistle and cheer.

That was all just the beginning of the whirlwind that my life had become. I was brought to Bloodmoon with River, and the minute I crossed the threshold to the house, Erin pulled me into a tight hug. She was crying. I think they were happy tears, maybe some sad ones, because she knows what I’ve been through. Either way, I was grateful for the embrace. I’ve missed her and her unconditional love and support. I wish my mom were like her.

As soon as Erin let me go, Sage hugged me while River growled about everyone embracing me when I was theirs. River continued growling when their stepbrother decided to pick me up in greeting, calling me his new baby rainbow sibling with a kiss on my cheek. Austin is mated, and the kiss was utterly platonic and family in nature. River still growled and pulled me back to them, telling their family to stop touching me. It was cute yet annoying, and I had to remind them that this was my family, too, so they were allowed to hug me.

Hale and Erin were kind enough to let me stay in the basement, which had been used as Hale’s home office and Erin’s craft room. I didn’t dare ask why there was already a daybed down there. I feel that if I asked, the answer would probably traumatize me, and I wouldn’t be able to sleep in that bed. River, of course, had wanted me in their room. But as they share a room with Sage, I said that wouldn’t be fair, nor would it be fair to make Sage stay in the basement. Of course, that didn’t stop River from ending up in the basement with me, even if they went to bed in their room.

The paperwork for my emancipation from my parents was fast-tracked, given why my dad was in jail awaiting trial. Mom didn’t fight it. I don’t know if it’s because she genuinely didn’t care or because Alpha Irwin told her to let it go for the pack’s safety. Either way, I’m grateful. I didn’t want her to intervene. I want nothing to do with them or Silvermane ever again.

Until three days ago, I hadn’t even seen my family. Everything in the trial had moved quickly. Mom and Oscar glared at me the whole time. Then again, so did dad, as I had to give my testimony. I explained how I was always poorly treated in my family and even worse when I came out as nonbinary and said I wanted to be known as Leo.

Then I explained how I overheard dad and Tucker talking about how Tucker was going to take me to be his and that I would learn one way or the other to be an obedient wife. And because of that conversation, I chose to run away. I cried as I told them how my dad, the man who should have loved and protected me from such horrors, was signing me up for it. It was very emotional. I hated that I cried, but I did.

At that moment, my dad stood up and shocked the whole courtroom when he shouted that I wasn’t even his daughter, so why should he give a damn what happened to the product of his wife’s whore past. I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t want to consider it. But one look at my mom and her guilty as fuck face and I realized it’s true. This was the source of all my pain and suffering. She cheated, and I was the living proof. No wonder they hated me and thought Oscar was so much better.

I cried that whole night as River held me. As much as my family hurt me, finding out the reason is that I’m a bastard cut deeper than any razor I’ve tried to hurt myself with. David offered to investigate who my real father was if I wanted to know. I still haven’t decided, but it’s so sweet that he offered to leverage his position as a cop and in the pack to track down my real father.

Dad, or I should say Theodore, and Tucker were sentenced to life in prison for human sex trafficking with the possibility of parole after a minimum of ten years of upstanding behavior. As I left the courthouse after the verdict was like a weight was lifted off me. I was truly free of my family and the Silvermane pack. And after generations of abuse being forced on she-wolves, I got justice. No one else will have to suffer forced mating again; if they do, Alpha Logan will know and make Irwin pay.

And while I still have much to unpack about everything that happened, none of that is important tonight. The only important thing right now is that my wolf is finally ready to come forward. At long last, it is the full moon and not only a night I’ll receive my wolf but when I can take my oath to Bloodmoon and more the night I can… if I’m inclined to mate with River.

I’m standing in a clearing with other young werewolves from Bloodmoon who, like me, will be shifting for the first time tonight. About a dozen of us were standing here with our families as Alpha Logan and Luna Aurelia addressed us, outlining what would happen from the shift to the run to a location where some food and drinks would be waiting to welcome the year’s first new werewolves.

“You’ll do great, Bunno.” River encouraged, squeezing my hand. “I’ll be at your side, and our wolves can run together.”

I smiled, nodding. A part of me was sad my family wasn’t here, but the other part reminded me that this is my family because blood doesn’t make a family. Looking at Hale, Erin, Sage, Austin, and Suzie, who had come out to be here for me through this, I knew that was true. In two weeks living with them has given me more love and support than a lifetime with the Hanley. And beyond having them here, I have River, my mate, at my side.

I could feel my wolf waking up, my body tingling with their presence as I looked up at the full moon, which was now directly over the clearing. There wasn’t time to be embarrassed or shy about nudity or that River would be staring at my naked body. I removed the robe I’d been wearing and did what came naturally.

I pictured the space in my mind where my wolf and I would share and blinked as I saw them. They were beautiful! A light-weight wolf with grayish-brown mixed with cinnamon and creme fur and expressive pale green eyes. They didn’t look like my mom’s wolf, like how I didn’t look much like her. Knowing what I do now, it all makes sense.

‘Don’t give those horrid people a second of your time, Leo. If I could have awakened sooner and ripped them apart to protect you, I would have.’ That low sultry voice greeted me as they walked toward me.

‘Oh. Um, thanks. I don’t blame you, of course. Um… what do I call you?” I was not sure how this interaction should go.

‘I am Storm. My name will be clear after we shift. Now let me come forward so we may run with our mate. I am eager to meet Lunar after seeing him from a distance.’ They nodded, walking past me in the room.

‘Right, so this might be rude. You know I’m non-binary. But what about you?’ I had to ask so that I would know what to call them.

‘I am female, but I know and respect that you are non-binary and would never impose my gender on you. I am a wolf and therefore see myself based on the sex organs I have. As long as you have no issues with having a sex life with our mate and being the one that carries children, we’ll get along fine.’ Storm informed me.

‘I… yeah, I can be okay with that. I know that even if I am non-binary, I still have urges and only so many ways those could be fulfilled.’ I agreed

‘Good, now it is my time to take control.’ She stated as I let go of my last grip on my body and the shift was complete.