Epilogue

Two days had passed since the fight. Smith sent most of his men back home, but kept a couple around to help with the clean up. The bodies were buried or burned.

Finally, everyone could relax and sit down. They were all gathered out on the back porch, steaks cooking on the grill and conversations all around. Trent was sitting in the corner, his mind racing.

Today was the day that Riven would deal out his punishment. Trent had no idea what it would be, but he had a question of his own. "Riven," Trent said, interrupting him. Riven turned to look at Trent and the porch grew quiet. "Can I talk to you? Alone."

Riven apologized to Smith and then climbed to his feet. Trent stepped around the chairs and people sitting in them. He kept his eyes averted, not meeting anyone's eyes.

When they were far enough away that no one could hear them, Riven stopped walking and Trent followed suit. "What is it?" Riven asked, sounding tired. No one had gotten much sleep these past few days. So many things had happened.

"I wanted to ask if I could have a say in my punishment," Trent stated.

"What do you mean?" Riven asked, sounding confused.

"I want to go live with Smith in his pack," Trent said in a rush. He waited for Riven to speak. "I wouldn't be allowed back until Smith and you thought I was ready to be worthy of being a pack member. I can't stay around my family, knowing what I've done. It's too hard."

Riven was quiet. He didn't know what to say. "I'd have to discuss this with Smith."

"That's fine," Trent replied, hope blooming in his chest.

Riven and Trent walked back and joined the pack. Everyone stopped talking until Riven motioned for them to continue. He went and sat by Smith. He leaned forward and started talking to him in hushed tones. Smith glanced at Trent and he felt suddenly nervous. He sat in his previous seat and watched the two alphas. Smith seemed angry at one point, but Riven calmed him down. Toward the end, Trent saw Smith nod.

"Listen up," Riven said, standing up and stopping all other conversation. "I have decided Trent's punishment for betraying the pack."

Everyone turned to look at Trent and he flushed under the scrutiny. He saw his mother hold her breath and look worriedly at Riven. "Trent will be leaving the pack."

"What? Riven, you can't do that," Barbara said, her tone frantic. "Please reconsider."

"He's not banished and not going to be a rogue. He will be joining Smith's pack. He leaves tonight." Riven sat down, discussing no more on the subject.

Braiden was restless. The doctor told him that he couldn't move his leg until the swelling had gone down. Smith's pack doctor had been taking care of Braiden ever since he attained the injury. It had taken four men just to get the tree off of Braiden and pull him out. He had been forced to shift, his energy long gone.

When he woke up he was laying in his bed, his mother sitting in a chair by his bed asleep. He called her name and woke her up. As soon as she saw him she started crying.

"What's wrong?" Braiden had asked her. She just shook her head and called for the doctor.

"How are you feeling?" the doctor asked him. Braiden shrugged.

"I've been better," he said. The doctor's eyebrows rose, but he didn't comment.

"I'm afraid I have some bad news son. Every bone in your leg was broken or shattered." The doctor looked at Barbara and she nodded. "Son, you may not be able to shift. Once your leg heals, it would be too dangerous to shift. If you were to do so, it could damage your leg even more severely. You will also walk with a limp. I'm sorry."

Ever since then Braiden was going crazy. He wanted to be out there with the pack. He didn't regret his decision to save his brother, but he wished that the accident never happened.

The doctor had to be wrong though. A werewolf not able to shift? He'd never heard of that before. He had to shift. His wolf would drive him crazy. But could he risk the damage?

He had already told his mom to leave him alone. He couldn't stand the pity in her eyes. Michael felt awful. He blamed himself and had been reserved and quiet lately. Braiden kept telling him it wasn't his fault, but he ignored him.

"This sucks," Braiden said, cursing his luck.

Lucy smiled at Raice. His hand was rubbing her thigh under the table. She stuck her tongue out at him and kicked his shin. "Ouch," he yelled.

"That's what you get." Lucy smiled smugly and continued to eat the steak on her plate.

"So what do you think about Trent leaving?" Raice asked Michael and Logan. The brothers looked at each other.

"I'm happy about it. He doesn't deserve to be a part of this pack," Logan snapped, stabbing his steak with his fork. He looked angry.

"Logan, he apologized and he's sorry for what he's done. Don't be so hard on him," Michael growled.

"He betrayed his family," Logan argued.

"It's going to break mom's heart," Michael said sadly.

"At least he can come back," Lucy said, trying to think positive. She felt bad for Trent and for his family. Trent shouldn't have done what he did, but he was sorry for it. Lucy felt that, given time, his family would forgive him.

Trent looked back only once as he and Smith started walking away from the only home he'd ever known. He would forever remember the looks on his family's face and his pack. Some had been sad he was leaving while others were uncaring. His older brother, Logan looked happy, and it pierced his heart. He looked at Drew who was staring off into space. He had been doing that a lot lately; since they found him bloody and barely alive.

Trent pushed everything to the back of his mind and took a deep calming breath. They had walked for hours, but finally they were at Smith's pack house. Smith had already gone inside, but Trent hesitantly held back. He waited as Smith explained what was going on, then came back to find Trent.

"Are you coming?" Smith asked.

"Um…" Trent trailed off and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Don't worry, we're friendly," Smith teased. He patted the kid on the back and then pushed him toward the door. Trent sighed and then walked into the house. He could hear voices coming from a room at the end of the hall. Smith cleared his throat and Trent realized he had stopped walking. He flushed and continued walking.

No one here knows what you did, except Smith. Everything will be fine. Relax. Trent told himself. He straightened his shoulders and stepped into the room.

Trent scanned the faces as the noise immediately stopped. Everyone swung around to look at him. There was one female in the room and she was sitting between two older males. They nodded at Trent and he returned it. The female smiled coyly at him.

"Hi," the female said. "My name is Abeline."

"I'm Trent," he introduced himself.

"We know." Abeline pushed the man to her left over and then patted the seat next to her. Smith growled, but Abeline just smiled at him. Trent looked between the two, not sure what to do.

"Papa, you're back," a female voice called from another room. Trent froze. That voice… He looked at the door and watched it open. A female walked into the room and Trent's heart stopped. The girl opened her mouth to say something, but she stopped moving as soon as she saw Trent. She dropped the tray in her hands and glass shattered. Her hands moved to her mouth and she stared at Trent in shock.

"Mate," Trent growled.

The End

A/N

It's over guys! I couldn't have done this without your reviews and my amazing beta, penquin53. She's the best, so tell her thanks!

What did you think? Was this the ending you were expecting/wanting? Trent has found his mate! I'm so excited to start Trent's story, but I will warn you that I don't plan on posting anything until at least the end of February! That gives me almost two months to take a break! I've started the first chapter, but I need a time out! Maybe if i get some reviews and more favorites, then I'll post faster ;)

Trent's story is going to be a shaky ride of heart break and forgiveness. It's going to be even better than this story! (at least in my opinion lol)

Well tell me your thoughts! Leave me some reviews!

Thanks for all of you that stuck with me!

Midnight Writer2012

OK, I'LL MAKE YOU A DEAL. IF I GET TWENTY REVIEWS ON THIS CHAPTER, I'LL POST THE FIRST CHAPTER OF TRENT'S STORY ONLINE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH!