“Guys, he looks rough, stand aside and give him abreak!”
I was overwhelmed with all the new voices and faces. Everyone looked like kind and trustworthy people. And among them was someone I recognized. Igasped.
“Ken?”
The man in question smiled and came forward to greet me. Everyone else went quiet. We embraced quickly, then he looked me over. “Niko, it’s so good to see you again. It’s beensolong.”
Tears welled up in my eyes. Seeing Ken again seemed to energize and solidify my old memories that came up to the surface after Gunner’s brainwashing wore off. He looked the same as he always did, just older - and maybe happier? I noticed the omega next to him. By their proximity to each other, I assumed they were mates. There were other omegas, too - and they all had a strange kind offamiliarity.
“So, David, I see you found your mate,” Ken said with asmile.
“I did.” David squeezedmyhand.
“I’m so glad to see you,,” a young gruff alpha said before glancing at me. “Bothofyou.”
“Me too, Flint,” Davidreplied.
“Well?” An alpha with dirty blond hair and a big grin said. “Are you gonnaintroduceus?”
“You’re so impatient, Jericho,” Davidmuttered.
My mate put his hands on my shoulders. Everyone looked at me, but I didn’t feel on the spot or uncomfortable at all. I felt like I belonged among these people, even the ones I didn’tknowyet.
“Ken already knows, but for everyone else, this is my mate, Niko,” David said proudly. “He was taken from us long ago, but he’s finally home where hebelongs.”
“You look sort of familiar,” an omega with a gentle voice piped up. He was standing next to Flint, and must have been his mate. “Have we met somewherebefore?”
“I was held captive in Scarlet Ridge for a long time,” Iexplained.
“That’s Charlie,” David told me, gesturing to the omega who had just spoken. “He was the first to escape from Scarlet Ridge. Mason and Wesley are also omegas from ScarletRidge.”
All four of us shared a glance. There was more time for us to get to know each other, of course, but I already felt a bond with these omegas. I might have even met some of them in passing withoutrealizingit.
Everyone greeted me individually, then reunited with David. Once it was over, Davidspokeup.
“I want to apologize for how I left you guys in the dark,” he said. “When I heard Niko was still alive, that’s all I could think about. I didn’t realize at the time how it must have seemed like I was just joiningGunner’spack.”
“Nobody thought that,” Flint said, shakinghishead.
Jericho added, “Yeah, man. We all know you better than that. And we all have our own mates - we know it was the decision you hadtomake.”
“Don’t beat yourself up over it,” Ken said. “We’re just glad to have you back,David.”
He smiled wearily. “Thanks.”
“We should talk about the situation with Scarlet Ridge, including how you guys escaped,” Flint said. “But first, you two need to rest. We’ll escortyouhome.”
“Thanks,” David said. “By the way… How did you know wewerehere?”
Jericho nudged him in the side with his elbow. “Just a feeling. Wearestill packmates even though you weren’t here,youknow.”
“We all felt it. It was this overwhelming feeling that weneededto be here,” Kenagreed.
“Even the omegas felt it,” Charlie said. “Nobody knew why, just that it felt very important. Anditwas.”
David smiled, overwhelmed with emotion. “I guess that’s what a real pack is.” He turned to me. “Unlike Scarlet Ridge. I hope Virgil and Hector can accomplish whatever unfinished business they had backthere.”
“Hector!?” Charlie said, confused and shocked. A couple of the others were instantly on-edge at the mention of Hector’s name, and then I remembered they’d had some bad blood inthepast.
“Oh, right, nobody knows about that.” David sighed. “We have alotof things toexplain…”
