Wolf’s Fox by Juniper Hart

Epilogue

The moving truck pulled away from the curb, leaving Ruthie and Nicholas to stare at the belongings in the foyer of their new home.

“I can’t believe that you had this much stuff in your house,” Ruthie muttered again, shaking her head.

“Neither can I,” he laughed, looking around. “I can’t even blame this on you.” He winked disarmingly, and Ruthie tittered.

“You can try, but it won’t be much use.”

Nicholas snaked an arm around her waist and drew her back against his body, inhaling the sweet smell of her platinum hair. It didn’t matter how much time went by, he always found the scent of her intoxicating.

“Is it too late to move back into your old place?” Ruthie asked, sinking against him. “This suddenly feels like a lot.”

Nicholas sighed and spun her around.

“I think you’re just saying that because of where this house came from,” he said quietly. “And I don’t blame you in the least.”

Ruthie cocked her head back, a wry smile forming on her lips.

“Am I that transparent?” she asked.

“No. Your concerns are the same as mine. Anything that comes from Catherine Konrad generally has strings attached to it. No one knows that better than I do.”

“But…?” Ruthie pressed, sensing that there was more.

“But I don’t think there’s a quid pro quo in this case. She’s genuinely trying to make amends for what she did.” Though Ruthie lowered her gaze, Nicholas could read her thoughts clearly. “And I agree that a house is a nice gesture but hardly more than just a gesture.”

Before leaving the state, Catherine had bequeathed the three-story mansion to the pair, not hearing any of her son’s objections.

“You don’t have to move into it if you don’t want,” she had said. “Sell it and use the money for whatever you want.”

There had been other arguments, but in the end, the deed to the house had been put both in Ruthie’s and his names for them to decide what should be done with the extravagant gift. Upon discussion, the two had determined that there were too many strange memories associated with Nicholas’ house. Even knowing that Luthor wasn’t a threat any longer, the thought of the troll who had come for her was still heavy on Ruthie’s mind. Nicholas wasn’t opposed to the change of scenery.

Ruthie again raised her head. “Do you think she’s changed in any meaningful way?”

The question surprised him slightly, but he wasn’t sure if he had a proper answer for her. He wanted to believe that Catherine was capable of redemption, though his experience told him otherwise. Still, he could see that Ruthie wanted to believe the best in his mother, just as she did everyone else.

“I think Luthor scarred her badly—if not physically, then certainly her ego. He could have killed her and probably would have if I hadn’t been there.”

Nicholas didn’t add that he sometimes wondered why he hadn’t just let the dragon do his mother in.

Because she’s still my mother, like it or not.

The past few months had been peaceful, Catherine having moved the Ministry to North Dakota in search of new blood. Nicholas knew she was coming back eventually and relished the silence while he could.

“I know your mother is not a good woman,” Ruthie said falteringly. “But I’m glad Luthor didn’t harm her. I don’t think I could have dealt with the aftermath of that.”

The mates walked outside to taken in some fresh air before they began unpacking.

Nicholas opened his mouth to answer that he felt the same when he was stopped by the sight of a stretch limousine pulling down the country road. Instantly, the couple tensed in unison. Nothing good could come of such a sight.

“That has to be Catherine, doesn’t it?” Ruthie murmured, echoing his thoughts. “Isn’t she in North Dakota?”

Again, Nicholas had no answer for her and could only stand back to watch as his mother’s driver stopped at the road. The chauffeur leapt out of the vehicle like he was on fire and rushed to open the back door for Catherine. A mixture of disappointment and relief fused through Nicholas.

“Oh, dear,” Catherine sighed, ambling toward them in her too-high heels. She carried herself with the same grace she had always worn, but there was true concern on her face. “Are you still moving?”

“Still? The movers literally just left,” Nicholas said.

“If I’d known, I would have had Saul or one of the others come to help you.” She ambled up the long driveway, pausing to give her son a prefectural kiss on the cheek before turning toward Ruthie. “Hello, dear. You look lovely. That haircut becomes you.”

Ruthie smiled tightly and thanked Catherine.

“We didn’t realize you were back in Minnesota,” she said. “How was your trip?”

Catherine clucked. “Fruitful,” she replied. “More so than I ever expected.”

“You found more minions for your ministry, did you?” Nicholas said dryly, unable to keep the sarcasm from his voice.

“No, Nicholas, not exactly.”

He moved to help Ruthie with a box, but Catherine called out to them. “I have a confession to make. I didn’t go to North Dakota for the Ministry.”

Nicholas barely looked up, but Ruthie cast Catherine a curious look.

“No? What did you go for?”

Catherine inched closer and glanced over her shoulder toward the waiting limo.

“I went on a hunch,” she said. “One that paid off.”

“Sounds fun, Mother. Look, we have a lot of work to do here, so forgive us if we don’t sit and chat,” Nicholas grunted. “You’re more than welcome to come inside if you want, but I have no idea if there’s anything to make you a coffee or whatever.”

“I didn’t come to drink coffee with you. I came to deliver a housewarming present.”

Nicholas grunted again, but his mother had his mate’s full attention.

“Catherine, you bought us a house,” she reminded the older shifter. “I think a housewarming gift is overkill.”

“You might change your mind when you see what I brought,” Catherine insisted. Ruthie shot Nicholas a quick look, and he sighed, dropping the box.

“Mom, I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but it’s already been a long day, and we still have hours to go. Can we make this quick?”

Catherine cleared her throat and nodded.

“I realize that my timing isn’t great,” she said in a tone that was as close to apologetic as Nicholas had ever heard. “And if I’d known that you were moving today, I would have arranged it better, but…”

“You could come back tomorrow,” Nicholas offered.

Catherine exhaled. “I’m afraid it won’t keep,” she muttered, again looking toward the limo.

“Now you have me intrigued,” Ruthie said softly. “What is it?”

Catherine smiled.

“Come back to the car with me,” she said, waving a perfectly manicured hand back down the driveway. As she moved out of earshot, Nicholas growled.

“Her narcissism knows no bounds,” he snapped, but Ruthie instantly calmed him down by slipping a hand into his.

“She’s trying to make things right,” she murmured. “And I’m sure it won’t take long.”

The couple started down the driveway toward where Catherine waited, the backseat of the limo opened. Suddenly, a man and woman appeared, startling the pair.

Nicholas stopped, pulling Ruthie with him.

“Mother, what is this?” he growled, not recognizing the couple. But no one was looking at Nicholas. Catherine was watching Ruthie, and she was staring intently at the couple.

“Catherine!” Nicholas barked. “We’re really not in a place to entertain company right now.”

“D-do I know you?” Ruthie asked, her voice a small squeak. The woman pushed her way forward, light blue eyes shining as she did.

“Ruthie…?” she whispered, her white-blonde mane billowing around her. “Is that really you?”

“Oh, gods!” the man cried out, hurrying to join the woman. “Ella, it’s really her! After all these years!” His own crystalline eyes raked over Ruthie, and the trio closed the space between them, studying one another closely.

“W-who are you?” Ruthie asked nervously. “You look so familiar…”

“They’re your parents, Ruthie,” Catherine said, apparently over the suspense of it already. “I tracked them down in North Dakota.”

Nicholas gaped at his mother. “You what?” he demanded. “How?”

“Saul found her up in North Dakota when she ran off. I thought there had to be a reason she went in that direction and stayed there,” his mother explained. “Instinctively, she knew where home was, I suppose.”

“Is this true?” Ruthie demanded in disbelief. She stopped and looked back at Nicholas, her uncertainty tangible.

“Yes, Ruthie, it’s true,” Ella whispered, hands extended to touch her face. “I would have known you anywhere, my little kit.”

Ruthie stepped back, and Nicholas embraced her, pulling her out of reach of the couple. Yet as he neared, he saw the uncanny resemblance between his mate and the others. Ella’s smile faded, and she dropped her hand, shaking her head.

“I-I’m sorry. Jerome…” She inhaled and looked toward her own mate.

“I know this is a lot to take in, Ruthie, but we never stopped looking for you,” Jerome said softly, his face alight with love. “We never gave up hope that you were out there, somewhere.”

Ruthie’s jaw dropped.

“You gave me up!” she cried. “To a ruthless, despicable dragon!”

Both Ella and Jerome drew back in shock.

“Gave you up?” Ella choked. “Never! Never in a million years, Ruthie. You were stolen from your crib two days before your six-month milestone. Who told you that you were given up?”

Ruthie’s eyes filled with tears, her breaths beginning to escape in shorter, harder rasps.

“You didn’t sacrifice me?” she demanded. “They told me—”

“They lied to you, child,” Catherine sighed. “That shouldn’t surprise you.”

Ruthie pursed her lips together and allowed the tears to fall freely from her eyes.

“Oh, my sweet girl,” Ella sobbed, again reaching out for her. This time, Ruthie didn’t resist her mother’s embrace, and soon, her slender frame was swallowed in the arms of her parents.

Nicholas watched from a safe distance, his mother falling into step beside him.

“Are those really her parents?” he asked in a low voice. “Or is this another one of your games, Mother?”

To her credit, Catherine looked properly shamed.

“I know I deserve that,” she said softly, also taking in the tearful reunion between Ruthie and the couple. “But Ella and Jerome Edwards are really her parents. She was taken by Luthor’s people at infancy, and he never really had proper claim to her. No wonder he was so adamant about keeping her hidden. If he’d survived, he’d be in a hell of a lot of trouble with his pack.”

Nicholas eyed her through his peripheral vision, not wanting to let his guard down. Yet he couldn’t help but wonder if change wasn’t on the horizon for Catherine Konrad after all.

“Why?” he asked bluntly.

“Why what?”

“Why did you find them? What do you want for this?”

Catherine turned and looked at him fully, blocking out his view of Ruthie and her parents entirely.

“Forgiveness,” she replied. “I want you to forgive me.”

Nicholas almost laughed, but when he saw the deep sorrow in his mother’s eyes, he held back his scorn.

“It’s a start,” he muttered, turning away. He wasn’t sure if he would ever be able to trust Catherine, not when he knew all he did about her. But he couldn’t deny that she had done a selfless thing, bringing the Edwards to their long-lost daughter.

Ruthie slipped back into his arms, an almost delirious smile on her face.

“I can’t believe this,” she whispered, squeezing him. “My parents…they’re really here.”

Nicholas nodded and held her close.

“I’m happy for you, darling,” he told her. “You have a lot of catching up to do.”

Ruthie threw her head back and peered up into his face.

“Yes,” she agreed. “And my answer is yes, too, by the way.”

Nicholas stared at her blankly. “Your answer?”

“To the question you asked me a few months ago.”

He was still at a loss.

“I’m not sure—” he started to say, his brow folded in concentration.

“I want to have your little wolf babies, Nicholas Konrad. Let’s give these beings a grandbaby.”

* * *

Read the Whole Series!

Wolf’s Dark Past: Konrad Wolves Book 1

Wolf Boss: Konrad Wolves Book 2

Wolf’s Fox: Konrad Wolves Book 3

Wolf’s Love Triangle: Konrad Wolves Book 4

Wolf’s Forbidden Romance: Konrad Wolves Book 5