“Yup, and it never rested after that.” He chuckled as my face burned. I knew what he meant by that.
“Oh Goddess, your mouth!” I playfully snapped at him.
“My mouth too kept working overtime.” He gave me a wink as I heard them both chuckle at his words.
“Goddess, these men! I will leave you two alone to enjoy your balls.” I playfully rolled my eyes before rising on my toes and kissing Riley’s lip before turning around, taking Zach with me as I moved to the other side of the ballroom, where my females were waiting for me.
RILEY.
I watched in awe as Nadia walked away with Zach in her arms.
She was the epitome of beauty and love. Everywhere she went, she left a sparkle that even a bad day could never take away. She was my very own sunshine. Someone I never thought I deserved, but definitely someone I would never let go of. I knew I would keep her for as long as my heart was beating.
“Exquisite, isn’t she?” Dominic’s voice snapped me from ogling my mate.
“If I weren’t aware of how smitten you are with your own Luna, I would be choking you now.”
“You need to control your temper, Riley. Sebastian is not as patient as I am. He might just tolerate your outburst and watch you slaughter people.”
“Yes, I will surely do that. Maybe even join him.” Sebastian chuckled as he stood at my other side before handing me a glass of whiskey and another one to Dominic. “I will fucking miss you, man.”
“Me too. But I’m just thirty minutes away.” Dominic replied.
“Thirty minutes is fucking too far compared to a few steps,” Sebastian added, but I knew, despite the sadness in his eyes, he was happy for Dominic, as I was.
My heart was bursting with pride. These men beside me—we all grew up together. We came from different mothers, but they were the brothers I never had. And I will always be thankful that they didn’t give up on me during my darkest days.
“Take care of the big Alpha here.” Dominic’s arm snaked around my shoulders as he patted them. “But maybe I don’t have to say that. He had grown up over the last months. It made me proud.”
“I agree. Glad to see the real Riley shining through, right? Gone was the miserable Riley we both wanted to strangle to snap him back to his senses.”
“You fuckers know I’m standing beside you, right?” I reprimanded them.
“We do.” They chuckled as I shook my head, but I was far from irritated. In fact, I felt good having them beside me.
With Dominic transitioning and moving to his new pack, times like this would be rare. But I knew that, if anything, my former Beta deserved to have a pack of his own.
He had the heart of an Alpha.
“And you should know that wherever life takes us, I will always stand beside you. And I know Sebastian will do the same.” Dominic added.
I raised my glass to them. “To us, because no matter how fucking irritating you both are,” I added, “I’m glad you were there. The brothers who carried me through my rough days. And I hope you both know that I would do the same for you.”
“Cheers to Alpha Riley and Alpha Dominic! Best Alphas!” Sebastian raised his glass.
“And to the best Betas around!” Dominic added, pointing to Sebastian. “That’s you and me, brother.”
“And the best friends anyone could ever have…” I added words directly from my heart. “I, thank you, Dominic, Sebastian.”
“Cheers!” We clinked our glasses before downing the rest of our drinks.
We still had many days and challenges ahead of us, but Dominic was correct: no matter where life takes us, no matter the distance, I knew we would always have one another.
Chapter 111
EIGHT YEARS LATER.
RILEY.
