My alphas stare at me.
“I am the author you are seeking. The thing is, Wolf and Cat are figments of my imagination. I thought about what my dream alpha would be, and I wrote it down.” Tears well in my eyes. “I wanted someone with inner strength and someone kind, so much so that even animals would love him. I wanted you to be together because I didn’t want you to be alone in the world. But in my story, you always found me in the end. You were just searching for your happy ever after. But I am Lynn, and it’s my fault you are hurting.”
My tears spill onto my cheeks, but I push them away.
“I would understand if you hated me. In truth, I’m not fond of how I’ve acted either. I can explain why I did it and why I hid it. I have a million reasons, but none of them are good enough. All I can do is make it right. I came here tonight expecting to tell you I cancelled the preorder and will be unpublishing the books,” I pause, staring at them, the tears spilling over, “except I can’t say that.”
I start to sob and cover my face, trying to regain control. I sniffle and look at them again because they deserve that much.
“I hope you can forgive me for lying to you. I really, really do because I love you so much.”
I lift my face and look at them. Steeling myself for the next part.
“I can’t give her up, please don’t ask me to. Lynn Marino is me; she’s the part of me I found by fire and forge. She’s my strength and everything I am proud of, and I love you, I really, really do. But I’m not prepared to destroy a part of myself that I am so in love with either. If you love me, you love all of me.” My lower lip wobbles. “Please. Please don’t make me choose. Don’t make me get rid of her to be with you.”
There’s a horrible, tense silence. One so deep that it already feels like it’s over.
“Cordie,” Fox says gently. He laughs softly as he closes the distance between us and cups my cheeks. “We knew.”
“You did?” Sebastian gasps.
“Yeah, you slipped up and said something that Bastian’s girlfriend said. It was too unique and, yeah, it all clicked.”
“What?” I say, staring at him, shocked, I’d practically talked myself out of them knowing. I don’t understand why they wouldn’t have said something.
“And I knew before that. Just a gut feeling,” Katsu says gently. “You don’t have to give up Lynn. We want you to write. You are passionate and strong, and this is part of who you are. It’s something you built for yourself, how could we take that away from you? I am so proud of you.”
“Yeah, all of that,” Fox agrees. “We did try to tell you, but the town seems set on making sure we didn’t get a chance. Apparently, someone overheard us and thought we would break up with you if we spoke before we got here, so they have been helping,” Fox shrugs and looks right at the camera. “Thank you, Sunshine Cove, it was fun, though.”
Katsu chuckles. “They have been singing your praises, not that we needed to know, but everyone has told us how wonderful you are over and over. All week, all we have heard is how good and kind of a person you are, how clever, how generous, how loyal and devoted. Cordelia, they didn’t need to convince us, but I’m glad they tried. They want you to be happy. This town loves you, and so do we.”
“So… does that mean you will stay? That we’re a match? Did my mother succeed again?” Sebastian gasps. “There will be no living with her!”
“Yes, that’s what it means,” Fox says with a grin. Sebastian pulls him in for a kiss that has my eyes filling with tears.
“But what about the fans?” I ask anxiously.
“We’ll hire security and charge for signings,” Katsu says, stalking towards me. “But we and Bas, Cat and Wolf, belong to Lynn Marino, for now and for always.”
I stay where I am, watching the massive alpha approach. My heart is trying to beat out of my chest, but I can’t look away.
“What about the books?“
“They are very good. I never said they weren’t. If it were anyone else writing about me, I’d be upset, but it’s you, Cordie. You dreamed us up before you ever met us. That’s just fate telling us we’re a match. I believe this was just destiny. Maybe it was written in the stars. But you knew us before you ever met us. And I have loved you all my life, even in fiction.”
He’s a foot away, and I’m shaking so hard I can’t move, not even if I wanted to. But Katsu reaches for me-
“Do the thing,” a voice says from the dark. “Hurry up so I can eat.”
“Clint?” Sebastian calls out.
“Shut up, you’ll summon the beast. Just do the thing and let’s get fed. Come on, I’m starving.”
I bite my lip, laughing, and then I remember what he’s talking about.
“CLINT!” Lorelei shrieks. “You’re ruining it!”
“I was never here,” Clint whispers and races off.
