The suspicion that someone tampered with his brakes had just crossed his mind when something large and furry darted out into the road in front of him. Thinking it was a deer, he instinctively jerked hard on the wheel to avoid hitting it. The last thought to cross his mind right before the world went topsy-turvy was, ‘that was the biggest damn wolf I've ever seen.'
Because he'd been heading into a sharp curve at the time, his action caused the van to overbalance and flip. His seatbelt popped lose as the van flipped several times before slamming into the trunk of a huge oak tree. The impact of the crash caused the van to crumple like an accordion.
Deputy Harris, who was several feet behind him when the accident occurred, slowed the police cruiser before coming to a stop beside the wolf sitting on his haunches in the middle of the road. As he opened the door and got out, the wolf shape-shifted to reveal Deputy Wilson standing there in all his naked glory. He casually walked over to the cruiser to collect his clothes from the passenger side of the car while Deputy Harris went to check on the accident victim.
After looking things over carefully, he radioed back to headquarters. “Boss, you'd better send the coroner. Mr. Remington done had himself an accident. Seems he was driving too fast down the mountain and swerved to avoid the local wildlife. Saw the whole thing with my own eyes."
"Some people just don't listen. I warned him to be careful, drive slow and watch out for the wildlife. Oh well, I'll wait until morning to inform the next of kin. No sense waking up any more people than we have to at this hour of the night.” Rome signed off the radio with a smile of satisfaction on his face. Yes, siree, some folks just don't listen.
Hugh told Mary Elizabeth about Charles's death late the next morning, when she finally awakened. She thought it highly suspicious but inside was deeply relieved that the threat of Charles was effectively removed from her life. It was poetic justice, Charles dying in a manner similar to the method he used to take Babs’ life. She decided to wait before calling her parents to give them the bad news. She was cowardly hoping that someone else would tell them first.
Somewhere in between all the loving, she and Hugh had talked, working out all the kinks in their relationship and making plans for their future together. They'd held nothing back, each of them secure in the strength of their bond and growing love for one another.
It was going to take some time before she adjusted to being loved by Hugh. Hugh said he was okay with that. To him it just meant that she'd never take his love for her for granted. He also said he'd be thanking the Creator every day of his life for blessing him by giving him Mary Elizabeth for a mate. And, she thought to herself, she really couldn't ask for more than that. Life, after all this time, was finally good.
Epilogue
Nikolai Taranosky stood at the edge of the ridge overlooking the river, his dark hair blowing in the wind, the light of a half-moon shining down around him. In a few more days, the moon would be full, and then it would be time to claim his mate. He'd been unable to get close to her since the night of their initial blood exchange. Soon, he wouldn't have to sneak into her dwelling at night. She would come to him. He had a few more days to prepare. Then nothing, and no one would stand in his way.