Epilogue Part Five- Auðr

As we entered the hall, I locked eyes with the various members of our family, and my vampire bandmates posted up around the room. Someone I knew was truly loyal to us was watching all the exits, which made me feel safer. The elders and their sons were already waiting on the stage. Christian, Elton, and Otto spotted us and hurried over with concerned expressions.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, skipping any small talk.

“Something feels… off,” Christian whispered, beckoning us to an alcove away from others.

“Define off,” Sage said.

“Beyond that, your families and the vampires are on high alert and watching all the exits?” Otto folded his arms.

“They were weird all day. What’s up with that?” Elton asked.

“Back to what’s off.” I nodded my chin to Christian.

“Our dads and grandads. They... I can’t place it, but they’ve been acting weird the closer we’ve gotten to the ceremony.” Christian whispered.

“Spit it out, kid.” I hissed.

“Auðr.” Sage elbowed me. “I’m gonna need you to elaborate. As far as I’m concerned, they’ve been weird since I met them.”

“Cagey,” Elton said.

“They’ve been keeping many things about the oath ceremony to themselves.” Otto

“And I only saw my gramps bring the chalice out of my dad’s office ten minutes ago, and he’s been super protective of it. Holding it with gloves only and won’t let me touch it.” Christian explained.

“Well, that answers that question.” I scoffed.

“What question?” Christian asked.

“How they planned to kill Sage and likely me as well.” I sighed.

“Wh…” Elton started to exclaim, but Otto covered his mouth before he could draw attention to us.

“It’s hard to explain, but I’m not the first Blackburn with an eclipse wolf. Christian’s ancestor from the 1920s killed my ancestor to prevent the prophecy. Now it looks like that’s the plan again, but this time, there’s not anyone of alpha blood to take power, so…” Sage frowned.

“The title would go to my dad if I hadn’t been sworn in.” Christian went pale as the realization hit him.

“What’s the plan then? You can’t touch that cup, let alone drink from it, but you have to be sworn in.” Otto asked.

“We call in Evalyn,” I said, looking around until I found her. I nodded to her to come over.

“Who’s Evalyn?” Elton asked.

“I am,” Evalyn said. “What can I help with, Uncle Auðr?”

“Uncle Auðr?” The boys spoke in unison.

I ignored them and focused on my great-great-great niece. She has a rare power that occurs only once every other generation in her mother’s family—a power that will be very helpful.

“The boys have just confirmed my suspicions about their fathers and grandfathers. The chalice for the ceremony is tainted. I need you to do what you do best and cleanse it.” I explained, glancing toward the stage where Joar had held the chalice in his gloved hands.

“I’ll have to get it from the old man. What kind of cover can you give me?” Evalyn asked.

“I can create a mist.” I offered.

“I’ll black out the room. Stay close to me, Evalyn, because you won’t be able to see while I can.” Sage said.

“Just don’t touch the chalice yourself, Sage. Evalyn has to be the one.” I insisted.

“I’ve got this, doudou.” Sage winked, kissing me before they linked arms with Evalyn.

With that, Sage’s eyes went purple, and the room fell into a thick darkness that no one could see. I heard some shouts of surprise erupting around the room. I closed my eyes and focused on Sage. I couldn’t see them, but I could feel them, and through our bond, I knew their every movement. I knew when they reached Joar because the darkness faded.

A shrill scream filled the air, and everyone looked to the stage. Joar was holding the chalice but ungloved and looking horrified at the realization. Sage and Evalyn stood a few feet away. We all watched most of the room in surprise as Joar fell to the ground dead. The chalice rolled toward the other elders who ran from it, knowing what would happen if they touched it.

“YOU KILLED MY FATHER!” Sten shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Sage.

“Your father killed himself.” Evalyn scoffed as she daintily picked up the cup.

“Don’t it’ll…” Elton Sr shouted but didn’t get it out in time.

“It’ll kill me? Please. I’m Evalyn Darby, Renée Lavigne’s daughter and Baptiste Lavigne’s granddaughter. Poisons cannot harm me, and now...” She smiled, running her hand over the cup.

“It won’t harm anyone. Did you seriously think our family would let you scum hurt our Uncle Auðr or his mate Sage?” She scoffed, offering the cleansed cup to Sage. “All yours, Alpha Sage.”

“Thanks, Evalyn.” Sage smiled, taking the cup.

As Sage’s hand touched the cup, I saw the expectant looks of the remaining elders and their sons. Their faces fell when they realized Evalyn spoke the truth. Their plan failed. I was already hurrying onto the stage, Christian, Elton, and Otto on my heels. They grabbed their fathers roughly while I prevented Elton Sr and Svein from getting far.

“What do you want us to do with them, Alpha?” Christian asked, roughly pulling his father’s arms behind his back.

“For attempted murder?” Sage tapped their chin. “Is there a dungeon to put them in for now? I want to sleep on it and decide later.”

“Yes, we do. It hasn’t been used long, but we can escort them to the cells.” Otto smiled.

I think he was enjoying getting to lock up his dad and grandfather.

“We’ll escort these two for you, Uncle Auðr.” Ruben and Daxton offered.

“Thank you. Follow the boys. They know where they’re going.” I nodded.

“We should address the pack.” I nodded to the crowd.

The pack watched in confusion and fear as their elders and current-ranked wolves were escorted to the dungeons, and another elder died on the ground. Sage turned to the crowd, gripping the cup tightly as they realized we would need to address everyone. I gently took the cup out of Sage’s hand to hold their hand instead. Sage sighed, the bond doing what I wanted it to—relaxing them.

“We apologize for what you’ve just witnessed,” Sage said, their voice initially soft but growing louder.

“Tonight is meant to be a joyful occasion for us all. Auðr and I had reason to believe something nefarious was afoot. Joar, Elton Sr, Svein, Sten, Elton II, and Jöran plotted against us and this pack. Tonight was meant to bring the pack together and restore harmony after Dane and, more importantly, Vilma Solberg’s deaths. Instead of wanting that for all of you, they only thought of themselves and the power they could claim as their own with us out of the way.” Sage spoke clearly and with such poise.

It looks like the months of training in Bloodmoon were paying off. Their public speaking was much better, though I’m betting that was learned from John more than Logan.

“Joar paid with his life. I will discuss what will happen to the others and decide their fate tomorrow, but no matter what the decision is, the outcome will be the same. When Christian, Elton II, and Otto return, we shall take our oaths, and we will continue with the celebration as Steelcrest once more has an Alpha.” Sage declared.

The crowd was still uneasy, but Sage’s words reassured them. We had the medical staff remove Joar’s body. His widow, as well as the mates of the others, were taken away as well. It wasn’t likely Joar’s mate would live much longer now that he was gone. The other mates would be questioned to understand if they were in on the plans. If they were, they’d face the consequences. If they weren’t, well, they might be given the choice to leave their mates and escape tying their fate to them.

We proceeded with the ceremony once the boys returned to the hall. I was still adjusting to being able to communicate with Sage and their family telepathically, and now I have a whole fucking pack of wolves in my head. By the night’s end, I could at least keep everyone but Sage’s thoughts out of my head. I’m perfectly happy to let Sage in my head and to hear their thoughts.

I wasn’t in the meetings and interrogations the following day, but I was there when Sage made their decision. The two elders were put to death while the sons were going to remain in the dungeon for ten years, and then we’d revisit the situation. They weren’t happy about it, but I felt it was fair. In my opinion, they should’ve died too. Sage was kind because they believed the three idiots were influenced by their fathers more than they were in it for themselves.

I didn’t push. Sage is a good judge of character. Sage trusted Christian, Elton III, and Otto, which worked in our favor as they more than proved themselves the night of oath-taking. Our place in Steelcrest was secured that night, or at least it began that night. Miles was right that we’d need to secure our line. However, he was wrong that it was impossible.

It was a topic discussed on and off for a couple of years. We’d initially thought we’d just be able to hand the title to a child River and Leo could someday have, but the pack was adamant that they’d feel more secure if it was Sage’s heir, not their twin’s. Surrogacy worked for Madonie’s Alpha André and Aleph Darren.

Finding a surrogate was the easy part. I had zero interest in being a biological father to a vampire-werewolf hybrid, but Sage wanted my genetics. Evalyn volunteered to be the egg donor and surrogate. Sage agreed since she was a Darby, and the pack approved because the heir would be a pure-blooded werewolf. It was a win-win for everyone.

Before you start questioning how Evalyn’s mate felt, she hasn’t found one yet. Plus, Evalyn is a lesbian. So, I don’t think she would be too up in arms about it if she had her mate. So, with successful IVF, Evalyn carried our heir to full term. At 11:59 pm on Halloween, three years after we’d become Alpha and Aleph, we welcomed Salem Miles Carlisle. He’s the first grandchild born in Sage’s family, but being on the opposite side of the country, he won’t be spoiled by Hale and Erin.