Page 44 of The Hunt

Epilogue

Fifteen Years Later

Calliope stood at the edge of the lake and stared down into the water.Since The Hunt, she had never gone near deep water again.She was not going to be sucked under by a mermaid, or eaten by a shark again.

Fifteen years.

She turned to see her mate, her husband, her everything come toward her.Of course, he was naked.He had just gone for his run for the full moon.Each moon, her parents would take their six children, and she would get to spend the night uninterrupted with him.They didn’t even have to say anything.

He walked up to her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and kissed her neck.She felt him.Over the years, their mating connection had gotten deeper.She sensed him coming near even before she saw him.

“I missed you,” he said.

“I missed you too.How was your run?”

“Fine, but I knew I was getting you at the end of the night.”

She laughed and spun around in his arms.“Are you not bored after all this time?”

“There’s no such thing as boredom.You, Calliope Crease, make everything an adventure.You even made our mating an adventure.”

They had come to laugh about their time during The Hunt.They were not the first couple to go through that, nor were they the last.She knew they felt sorry for everyone who came back from The Hunt.However, no one had died.Not a single person.It had only brought them closer.

She had once gone and visited the elder, even though he liked to talk in riddles.She got the sense no one was ever going to die in The Hunt.The choice of mates was not random.The Hunt made people find each other.That was all it was designed to do.

They had six children—four boys and two girls.Fifteen years of memories.Fifteen Christmases, New Years, and birthdays.Spending every special holiday with each other.Living their best life.

“Have I told you lately that I love you?”she asked.

“This morning.”

“Then I love you, Jaxson.I have loved you since I was a little girl, and I love you still.Now, kiss me, make love to me, and fuck me, because we only have tonight, and then we’re back to being parents.”

Not that she had a problem with that.Being a mother was everything to her.It was a dream come true.

Her life with Jaxson was better than she could have ever imagined.

She loved her life, she loved her children, and she loved her man.

The End