A/N: Here it is, peeps, the last chapter. Thanks to everyone who's stayed with this from the beginning. Thanks for leaving feedback, comments and putting this on alert and favorite on ffnet. Special thanks to: candy_belle for all the support and for loving the pack as much as I do.
Alex walked through the woods, heading toward the graveyard. The ceremony to bury Punk had been last night, and he knew Chris would want to say his goodbyes privately.
He was about halfway there when he heard someone coming up behind him. Alex paused when he recognized Evan coming through the trees toward him.
"Hey, thanks for waiting," Evan told him, a sheepish smile on his face. "I wanted to talk to you."
Alex sighed inwardly, but put on a polite smile; he really didn't want to get into it with Evan today. He made sure to keep it from Chris; the last thing he wanted was for Chris to feel him get upset.
"So, what's up?" Alex asked, resuming his walk toward his mate.
"Nothing," Evan answered, looking at the other vampire for a second before glancing away. "I wanted to apologize to you.
"I shouldn't have called a monster; you don't deserve it. Not any of it, but especially that. As soon as I saw Wade again, I knew it."
Alex stopped and stared, clearly surprised. If he was being honest with himself, he had never expected Evan to apologize. Hell, he had never expected Evan to admit he was wrong; the most Alex had thought would happen would be a ceasing of outright hostility.
What's going on, 'Lex? Chris asked, his concern evident. If Alex concentrated on it, he could feel the ground Chris was sitting on, see the gravestone where Punk's name had been added under Colt's.
Philip Jack Brooks and Scott Colton. Alex felt a kind of rightness now that they were together again and he knew he wasn't the only one.
He dragged his mind back to the conversation when he felt Chris's growing agitation at his silence.
Nothing's wrong, babe, Alex soothed, knowing his mate was on edge from the past few days. Evan just apologized to me, that's all; it took me by surprise.
There was a pause as Chris processed this; Alex could picture the way he would be tapping his fingers on the ground, his head tilted to the side as he thought his way through it.
Does he mean it? Chris asked finally, a note of warning to his voice. Alex knew it was for the other vampire, not him, and for a brief second he was extremely glad he had never had Chris that angry with him before.
Yeah, I think he does, Alex assured him as he started walking again, Evan falling into step next to him automatically.
It's about time, Chris snorted, his disdain obvious.
I'll be there soon, Alex told him, smiling fondly at Chris's words. If there was one thing he could always count on it was the fact that Chris would always have his back.
"Thanks," Alex finally said out loud. "I appreciate it," he added, his voice soft.
"You deserved it," Evan said, shrugging. He bit his lip before he went on. "I don't know why I freaked out like that; I just..."
Evan trailed off and shook his head. "It doesn't matter; I was wrong. End of story."
"It's OK," Alex told him. He looked at the trees and smiled, but there was no humor in it. "I would have deserved it when I was first Turned."
Sometimes I think I still do, Alex added silently, his self disgust clear.
'Lex, Chris said warningly. You know better. You're not that person any more. If I have to throw you to the ground and remind you of that, I've got no problem doing it.
I know you don't, Alex said and he couldn't help the slight shudder that went through him at his mate's words.
"Hey, can I ask you something?" Evan questioned hesitatingly, his nervousness apparent to the other vampire.
"Sure," Alex answered, forcing his mind away from Chris's words and the knowing chuckle that was filling his head. "What's up?"
"I was wondering if you would tell me what it was like for you before Chris," Evan said, his words rushing together.
Alex sighed and nodded slowly. "Yeah, I'll tell you -if you're sure you really want to know. But not right now," he went on at Evan's nod. "Have John drop you off next week some time."
Evan nodded again just as they broke through the trees to the graveyard. They paused for a second, taking in the surroundings before Alex headed to a corner of the small clearing.
"I always expect this place to be bigger," Evan commented, his voice quiet.
"Wolves live a long time," Alex offered as an explanation, his eyes fixed on the spot where his mate was leaning back on his hands, a smile on his face as he talked softly. "And some times, a wolf will leave when they're close to dying."
Evan digested that news, unable to deny the relief he felt at the thought. Even though they hadn't been mated for long, the idea of being without John made his heart hurt.
"Wait, how long do vampires live for?"
"Until they decide they don't want to any more," Alex said simply, looking at the younger vampire. "A vampire's life is infinite -unless you want to meet the true death, you'll live forever."
Evan relaxed a little, frowning as they got closer to Chris and he could hear Chris talking.
"Hey, babe," Chris greeted him as soon as they were within touching distance. He got his feet, rubbing his hand over the top of Punk and Colt's gravestone before he turned to his mate and Evan.
He raised an eyebrow at the nervous look Evan gave him, but other wise ignored him.
"Ready for this 'special' meeting?" He asked as he threw an arm around Alex's shoulders and they started walking away.
Evan stood there, chewing on his bottom lip, undecided if he should follow them or "call" for John to come meet him. He was just about to give in and let John know to meet him, when Chris stopped.
"You coming, Evan, or are you going to stand there and look pretty?" Chris asked over his shoulder.
It was a peace offer of sorts and Evan smiled in relief as he hurried to catch up to them. Maybe he hadn't burned his bridges completely after all.
Randy stood in the middle of the pack's meeting place, looking over his people as they came in to the clearing in twos and threes. Glancing behind him, he smiled at the sight of Justin sitting next to Cody, their heads bent together as they laughed over something.
Ted had one hand tangled in Cody's hair as he argued with Jay over something, while Jay just looked amused and shook his head.
Adam was talking to John, his hand rubbing up and down Jay's back while John petted the top of Evan's head, Evan's eyes closed in contentment as he leaned against his mate's legs.
Sabin and Alex were almost in hysterics at something Shelley and Mike were saying to them. Despite the past couple days, Randy felt better then he had in months.
"This isn't our normal meeting time," Randy started once everyone had settled down and were looking at him expectantly.
"But in light of what happened yesterday," Randy paused while everyone lowered their heads and said Punk's name respectfully; Punk died protecting the pack, and there was no greater honor as far as wolves were concerned.
"I called us together to remind us all that even if though we lost a pack-mate, we still have reasons to celebrate; there are two new members of the pack that need to be greeted."
Kelly walked out from behind the trees, a baby in each arm and a grinning, smug Chris waking next to him.
"Motherfucker," Mike whispered, glaring at Shelley when he grinned and elbowed the wolf. Randy felt his lips twitch and had to swallow the grin that wanted to escape.
"Ash Christopher and Sierra Cheyenne, welcome to the pack. May you always find safety and happiness with us."