Epilogue
“HEY,mister! Can you pass me our ball?”
Connor laughed as the soccer ball rolled before his feet. A couple of young lynx shifters had started a game of soccer on the resort lawn, but they were having trouble keeping the ball on the grass. “Sure thing.” He took aim and gently kicked the ball in their direction.
“Whoa! You’re good. You want to play?”
“Next game, I’m there. Right now, I need to find myself a lady.”
The boys made kissy noises. “Ooh. A lady.”
“One day you’ll understand.” Smiling, his hand in his pockets, he continued on the path through the resort. He’d made plans to meet Elaine and the kids after his shift and had promised to teach the munchkins how to fish. They were already waiting for him at the dock, and he didn’t want to keep them waiting any longer than he had to.
He and Elaine hadn’t wasted any time since they got back to Gemini Island. The four of them had promptly moved back into Cabin 14, despite Ryland’s generous offer of a larger cabin. The kids loved their home, and he loved it there, too.
Sure, there were still lots of memories of Lloyd. There always would be, but the good memories had started to crowd out the bad ones. Connor no longer felt like a fifth wheel. He was man of his house, and he was home with his lady. That was all that mattered in the end. The four walls that housed them were of little consequence as long as they were together.
Layla and Andy had rolled right into their new routine. They’d even stopped calling him “Uncle Connor.” To them, he was just Connor now. Maybe one day soon, he’d be “Dad,” but he wasn’t about to force the issue. It would happen when they were ready.
As Connor hung a right on the path, he was almost mowed down by a group of teen shifters jogging. Killian and Nina, their mentors, jogged along behind them, shouting encouragement.
“Group!” Killian directed the teens to another path. “Circle back to the lodge. Last one there does fifty pushups.”
The teens raced toward the lodge, hooting and trash talking each other.
“You are one harsh task master,” joked Connor.
“Oh, please. Once those kids go home, they can resume their sedentary lives. At the Ursa, we make them move.” When Nina stopped to tie her shoe, Killian called out to her, a shit-eating grin on his face. “Woman, would you like a rest? I know this is strenuous.”
Nina straightened and put her hands on her hips.
“Watch out, Killian.” Connor made a face. “I think you’re in trouble now.”
“Maybe but she’s my favorite kind of trouble.”
Nina sprinted past them. “Strenuous? I’ll show you strenuous.” Within seconds, she’d disappeared between the towering maples on either side of the path.
Connor gave Killian a high-five. “Go get her, dude.”
With a competitive chuckle, Killian chased after his mate.
Connor headed in a separate direction. It wasn’t long before he ran into Charlotte and Bart with baby Lloyd. The young family was seated on the ground at one of the picnic areas, a blanket underneath them. Bart and Charlotte took turns feeding little Lloyd his rice cereal. The baby’s face grew animated every time food came in sight. In his bouncy chair, he kicked his feet and held out his hands.
He approached them and clapped a hand on Bart’s back. “Chip off the old block, eh?”
Charlotte rolled her eyes. “Connor, you don’t know the half of it. Between these two, I won’t be able to keep food in the house. It’ll disappear the minute it hits the kitchen.”
Bart patted his non-existent belly. “Wolf men have great appetites.” He winked at his mate. “You must know that by now.”
“Believe me, I’m well acquainted with yourappetites.” She spooned another helping of cereal into Lloyd’s mouth. Lloyd swallowed, smacked his gums, and opened his mouth in anticipation of more food.
“That’s my boy.” Grinning from ear to ear, Bart offered the baby another spoonful. “Connor, does Elaine complain about your eating patterns?”
“No, can’t say she does. I swear that woman eats more than I do sometimes.”
“Well, I think I got a defective mate.” Bart aimed his thumb at Charlotte. “This one doesn’t seem to care about satisfying her man.”
Charlotte lobbed a rolled-up napkin at him. “Keep that up, Bartholomew, and you’ll besatisfyingyourself.”
