“Where are they?” I shriek.
I rush to the door and yank it open, rushing out, only to stumble backwards as Devon stalks back in, followed by Mack and Elijah.
They look different than I’ve ever seen them.
Devon grabs me by the nape and drags me up against his chest, kissing me hard. I melt into him, using him to keep myself upright.
“I forgot to do this.”
I pant against him. Relief makes me tremble. “I’m confused, don’t you hate me now?”
“You think for one second I would ever be disgusted or disappointed in you?” Devon growls out. He sounds feral. “Do you think after all these years I don’t know you inside and out? Do you think I could hate you for stealing a car and a dog? Or getting suckered by some idiot alphas? I want to kill them. They won’t touch you,” Devon promises in a savage growl.
I stare up at him.
He kisses me hard and then shoves me at Mack.
“Foolish omega. No one would punish you for surviving.” He is so infinitely gentle when he rubs his thumb over my cheekbone. “Don’t you know how much we love you? Shhh, what are you crying for?”
“I wasn’t sure…I didn’t know.”
Elijah takes his place and wraps his arms around me, holding me tight. “We were waiting here for you, and we would have waited for a lifetime. I might be your summer days, but you are Sunshine. This place isn’t home without you, Sofia. We could never hate you.”
I bury my face in his shoulder, and he holds me tight while I cry.
“I know you were scared, and it was lonely. But you’re here now, and we’re not leaving you. You have a pack, and we’re right here. Look at us.”
I lift my head, taking in his soft smile, Mack’s intense gaze, Devon’s electric aura, and then gradually, I take in the rest of the people in the room. Pack goes beyond just the one you're bonded to. I’ve heard that, but I’ve only ever seen it true in Sunshine. The Pack Makers and my grandparents stand with mum. My siblings, those born into this familyand those chosen to join, stand together. But it spreads out further; we are a network, everyone connected. This town is more than just a town.
It’s a family.
It’s pack.
“They want to take you back?” My mum finally finds her voice. The thunder in it makes everyone who has lived with her flinch. “They think they can force my baby to go back to suffer after they hurt her?”
Elijah slides his hand down my arm and laces our fingers together.
“We’re not running,” he says. “Bring Danger. It’s time to drive this pack out of town.”
My head is spinning, but did I hear that right?
“What?” I choke out.
“We’re going to face this together,” Devon says firmly. “That pack doesn’t deserve to even look at you.”
Asher takes my free hand, while the others gather close around as we step back out onto the street.
There are red and pink hearts everywhere, and Mum's Valentine’s Day banner flaps in the wind. But Sunshine is stepping out, ready to go to war. For me!
The pack are scowling in our direction. They look exactly the same as the last time I saw them, but it feels like it was a lifetime ago. How did I even think I could be happy with them?
“Don’t worry, Rebel. Everything is going to be fine,” Devon says with a wink that makes my heart lurch.
They believed me. They listened. No one cares what I had to do. No one is trying to force me to give Danger back. I don’t have to run. I can stay here.
My head spins wildly, but I walk out into the middle of the street, ignoring the stares of everyone from Sunshine.
“I’m not your omega. I’m a Sunshine omega.” I say loud and clear, declaring myself to everyone who can hear, and they will all know exactly what that means.
