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The door opens and in steps Trinity.

“Oh, thank the gods you’re okay!” she says, throwing her arms up in the air. She comes around the other side of the bed and lays herself on top of Raewyn gently to give her a hug. “I was going crazy. I didn’t know what to do. I’m so sorry, Rae. I can’t believe that happened, and it’s all my fault—”

“It’s not your fault,” Raewyn says. “You did nothing wrong. In fact, you did the right thing by calling Forge and Pierce.”

She nods against her, then pulls back.

“Are you okay? Are you in pain?”

She laughs. “Why does everyone keep asking me that?”

“Because we’re worried about you,” we all say, which makes all of us laugh.

“I was just going to help her eat some apple sauce,” I say.

“No, I was going to do that.” Forge grabs the small container from my hand. I roll my eyes and let him keep the container. If it’ll make him feel better to help her, then he can help her.

“Thanks, but I think I can do it myself.” She offers out her hand, the one I’m not holding. Begrudgingly, Forge puts the container into her hand. “Spoon, please.”

I offer it up, because it was resting on my lap.

“If you need help—” Forge begins.

“I know how to eat, Forge,” Raewyn says, glaring at him.

We let her be to eat her apple sauce in peace, so she doesn’t snap at us again. We don’t go anywhere though. In fact, Forge scoots his chair a little closer every minute or so.

Trinity stays for a while, eventually pulling a bag of pastries out of her large purse and handing it to us.

“The pumpkin muffin is for Raewyn. You two can help yourself to anything else.”

Raewyn smiles. “Thank you, Trina.”

“I’ll see you soon, honey. Call me when you get home and settled so we can make plans.”

She promises that she will. Trinity leaves, and it’s just the three of us.

Raewyn wants more information on the case and what happened to the other men involved. We explain that we got really lucky, because the Rangers showed up just as Mendes other guys came out of the woods. Most of them retreated, realizing they were screwed, but all of them were caught and arrested. They gave up each other so fast that it’s pathetic.

Gavin Xavier, the man Forge knocked out, is still alive and sitting in prison awaiting his trial. They found enough evidence on him to keep him in prison for life, too.

It’s really over, and for the first time since finding her, I feel like we can move forward and plan our future.

Epilogue

Raewyn

Ten months later…

The wind blows, rustling my hair. I tuck the strands that have come loose from my braid behind my ear and stare down at Tiger’s gravestone. Forge is on my left; Pierce on my right. Each of them are holding my hand. None of us are saying a word.

I told them I wanted to visit Tiger’s grave on the anniversary of his death. It was the start of something much bigger than I ever could have imagined.

This isn’t the first time I’ve come here though. The small cemetery that the village uses isn’t far from the cabins, and I visit about once a month. Each time, I come to Tiger’s grave to say hello, just like I do to all the others in the village. Just because he died doesn’t mean he’s no longer one of us. And just because I no longer live here doesn’t mean I’m no longer one of them. They say I’m always welcome, and I can’t begin to explain how happy that makes me.

The trees rustle above us, and I look up at the leaves bouncing against the wind. It’ll start to get cold soon, same as it does every year around this time.

“I’m ready,” I say, looking up at Forge.