Epilogue Part One- Auðr

Six months sounds like a long time on paper. When you’re living it, however, it’s a different story. It felt like I blinked, and time was nearly up. Retiring Immortal Eclipse took me two months, including finishing our tour. I’m an old hat at this, so the transition was smooth. I’d spoken to Albert. He knew this was coming, not the Sage part. That was a shock to him.

Albert had figured we were hitting that limit of being in public without all the speculation about our immortality. As such, the label already had everything ready. They did all the media release that Immortal Eclipse has retired, and band members thank their fans for all their years of being fans and hope they will respect their privacy as they transition to civilian life. This time was going to be different from past decades. I wasn’t going to return to music as a profession.

I wasn’t the only one retiring permanently. As much as the rest of the Darby family wanted Léonel to return to les Ombres Sanctifiées, he wouldn’t budge. Leo was in Bloodmoon, and that’s where he wanted to be. Logan allowed him and Rhapsody to join the pack. They’re building a place in some subdivision, Kav-something Glen. Léonel wanted to ensure all the windows were specially made so Rhapsody would be safe even if the sun were out and she went past a window. So, they’re renting an apartment in the pack and spending time with Leo and River.

The boys are still undecided on what they’ll do in the long run. For now, Rune, Zeke, and Zeidan have set off to travel the world. They still call me almost nightly. They are always checking up on me, or that’s what they claim. I don’t think their calls are about making sure I’m okay. It’s more them wanting to know I’ll always answer. Outside of the few times that their calls overlapped with Sage and I fucking I’ve answered. I called them back after. The whole band will be together in Steelcrest tomorrow for Sage and my official ceremony.

Sage has come a long way in the last six months. That’s not me saying they couldn’t pull off being an Alpha. That’s me saying having these past months to study under Logan and his crew has improved Sage’s confidence in their ability ten-fold. It also helped I added a condition a month in that the Steelcrest heirs be sent to Bloodmoon. The elders weren’t thrilled about that idea. I told them I didn’t give a fuck if they liked the idea because it’s what was going to happen.

There was no way Sage could walk in and run shit with middle-aged wolves set in their way as their core subordinates. Sage also couldn’t walk in and run things with the young bloods trained by their dads and without any rapport with Sage. I wasn’t letting Sage walk into the deck stacked against them. So begrudgingly, the heirs were sent to Bloodmoon to learn under the Bloodmoon leaders alongside Sage.

The Beta Heir, Christian Isaksen, is a twenty-year-old brunette boy with a gentle personality. The Gamma Heir, Elton Almstedt II, is an eighteen-year-old blonde jokester of the trio. The Delta Heir, Otto Akselsen, is a nineteen-year-old broody raven-haired boy. They’d been apprehensive about us, especially me, when we first met them. It took a few days to dispel preconceived notions based on what their fathers and most grandfathers told them about us and Bloodmoon. Despite their different personalities, it was good to see them start to bond with Sage over the months.

Christian took to shadowing John with ease. That was an easy pairing, for sure. Charles had his hands full with Elton as his shadow, but as Charles could handle Silvercloud, he knew how to deal with Elton. I think Otto had the hardest time because Silvercloud is… well, I’m a hundred twenty-eight years old, and I can’t say I’ve met anyone like him. I’m sure Silvercloud actively sought to break Otto’s grumpy exterior like he broke Logan’s. I’ve seen how grumpy Logan can appear and how different he acts with people close to him, including Silvercloud.

Of course, none of the heirs have mates, so I’ll be running solo with backup from the boys’ mothers till they are mated. I haven’t met these ladies yet. I’m supposed to meet them tonight at the dinner, welcoming us to Steelcrest. I wonder how they’ll feel taking instructions from a vampire. Months of studying being a ranked vampire of a werewolf pack with Dani has shown me there will always be someone who looks down on you because of your species. Dani thinks I’ll experience it less as Aleph, but I won’t be surprised when I face a lot of similar pushback simply for being a vampire.

Everyone traveling from Bloodmoon arrived late last night. There weren’t any meet and greets as jet lag may be a bitch on most it’s worse on vampires when we go from the West to the East Coast. We got to Bird Island, a small island in Malpeque Bay, where the Steelcrest pack is the only residence, a couple of hours before sunrise. We were all spent and eager to rest after all the traveling. I don’t remember much about the room we were shown to. All that mattered was the blackout blinds were drawn, and there was a bed to collapse on.

“Wake up.” Sage nudged me.

I grunted, rolling away in response.

“Auðr… Doudou…” Sage sweetly called to me, kissing my shoulder.

I regret bringing him to the Darby plantation. Sage heard one of the little ones call their tedding their doudou, and once they found out it meant cuddly toy, it was like a slight switch in their brain. I’ve been called Doudou for the last four months, mostly when Sage wants something and thinks they can sweet-talk me into giving in. It only works some of the time. Now isn’t such a time.

“It’s our mating night. The sun has set, and in like four hours, the blood moon eclipse will begin.” Sage said.

“Mmm… then wake me in four hours,” I grumbled.

“Nope.” Sage popped the p.

Yeah, they spent too much time around Logan, so they picked up some of his dialect inflections. It’s annoying when Logan does it, but it’s cute when Sage does it. I sighed and rolled to look at Sage.

“Why not?” I asked.

“Because we have the big pack meet and greet. Everyone else is already getting ready, and the pack has set up the big hall for a dinner welcoming us. And plenty of blood will be on hand for you and the guys.” Sage smiled.

I sighed, sitting up, and noticed Sage was dressed. They opted to re-wear their outfit from their parents’ wedding in October. Sage still looked hot and gender confusing to strangers in the layered black brocade and lace asymmetrical skirt, high neck white lace puffed sleeve blouse accented by their black and amethyst brocade corset vets. My outfit was hanging on the door. It was the same except I would be wearing pants and a men’s white dress shirt. I’m already a gay vampire. I’m not playing into the bad Hollywood view of vampires as sparkly-skinned or wearing puffy sleeves.

“Fine. Let me shower and get dressed. No better expect me to be social and perky before I’ve had at least one blood bag.” I grumbled, throwing back the covers.

“Perish the thought.” Sage giggled, turning the light on.

I narrowed my eyes as I looked around the bedroom, wrinkling my nose at the blue walls, the mural that wrapped around the room between the wall and the recessed ceiling, the lattice on the walls by the patio doors, and the gold naked-ish woman chandelier. I know it’s impolite to speak ill of the dead—oh, I hope whoever designed this place’s interior is dead—but wow, this is the first thing I’m changing. I didn’t say anything. I just got out of bed and found my way to the bathroom, only to shout in surprise to see an under-the-sea mural in our bathroom.

“Are you okay?” Sage asked.

“Yeah. Just… whoever decorated this place is all kinds of wrong.” I shuddered.

“Awe, I like it. It’s cute.” Sage smiled.

“I love you and accept that you have weird tastes. But this…” I pointed at the mural in the bathroom and the bedroom. “Isn’t staying if I am.”

“Fine. Now hurry up. I don’t wanna miss our party.” Sage rolled their eyes, leaving to let me shower and get ready.

It wasn’t long before we were escorted to the first floor, where the party was being held in a large banquet hall whose decor was like our bedroom, an acquired taste. There are many stained glass windows of nature scenes, mostly featuring wolves. Some stained glass featured a woman in the sky, so I assume it was their depiction of their Goddess. So, I won’t knock the stained glass. The hall otherwise, I had to say I was impressed. Based on our bedroom and bathroom decor, I’d been worried about what kind of party these wolves would throw.

At least ninety tables were draped in dark purple and gold tablecloths, with low bouquets of white and purple flowers as the centerpieces. The walls were draped with the same dark purple fabric with gold accents between the stained glass windows and doors to the terraces. Hanging from the ceiling were gold lights shaped like stars, and a large full moonlight was in the center. The whole room had a very fantasy world vibe, as if they were planning to host their Goddess herself rather than their new Alpha and Aleph.

“Whoa. This is gorgeous.” Sage softly gasped as they looked around.

“Someone apparently has taste and didn’t decorate the rest of the house,” I whispered.

“That would be my mom.” Christian smiled as he snuck up on us, carrying two glasses.

“She lives to throw a party, and when I was asked what colors you like…” He shrugged, offering me the glass of what I knew was blood by smell alone. “Some liquid life for my Alpeh and liquid courage for my Alpha.” He smiled, offering Sage a glass of regular wine.

I eagerly took the glass. I needed some blood asap if I was going to get through this party. Sage just as eagerly took their glass of wine and took a tentative sip before smiling brightly.

“Is this… black currant wine?” Sage blinked.

“Elton may have mentioned to his mom that you said it’s what your mate smells like to you. She was in charge of food and refreshments.” Christian said.

“How hospitable,” I muttered before downing the rest of my glass. “I’m going to find some more blood and my guests. Can’t have Rune starting fights too early on into the party.”

“The vampires are at the bar where we’re keeping the blood stocked.” Christian pointed in the direction.

“Thanks.” I nodded. “I’ll be back,” I assured Sage and kissed them before going in search of blood.

I may not fully trust being in Steelcrest yet. I doubt everyone here will be thrilled at the change of leadership. However, Sage can handle themselves. Christian, while a native Steelcrest wolf, has shown himself loyal to Sage’s claim to the title. He won’t let anyone mess with my mate in my absence.