For always.
***
I open a door that’s been calling me. Dark, thick magic rises in my blood, and I know there are things looking at me. This world feels darker and more dangerous, but it calls to me like home, too.
Things that shouldn’t exist hide in the shadows of this world.
“Where does that go?” Lirin asks, and I can feel the part of me that is in him rise to the danger.
“I’m not sure.”
“We really shouldn’t,” Brio says but ruins it by laughing. “Who am I kidding? Let’s go.”
“Hmmm, looks fun,” Leaf says and strokes my back in a sultry invitation.
Canto puts a finger under my chin and tilts my head up to kiss me hard. “Let’s go, then.”
Reed strokes four fingers up my arm. “Shall we play, Strega?”
I turn my head to Ronit.
“Alpha,” I murmur.
His pleasure unfurls through the bond, liquid and sensual. “Okay, my omega, let’s go explore this new world.”
My blood tingles as I step towards the whispers.
Somewhere new for us to play, how fortuitous.
And my monster…well, he starts to sing my song, in dark warning to those who see us coming that I should be feared because I’m never alone, and we are hunting.
Chapter 49
Mei
10 Years later
10 years later
We walk out of the ocean, and Becky throws herself into my arms, like she has done a hundred times before. A second later, Isla join us.
“I’ve missed you!” Becky squeals in my ear.
“Missed you more!” Isla says.
The beach is packed with people. I can hear them, smell them, all the omegas and all the packs. Everyone we’ve helped, those warrior sisters and brothers, and the alphas who make our lives incredible. All the omegas Diablos has saved. All the packs he has helped forge.
This is the first time we’ve all been together like this.
Diablos arrives with Hartley and his nine full-grown cats that are Kit’s offspring. They meow adoringly up at the demon who smacks his lips and pulls out a handful of fish.
Puppy stands close to the water, fixated on the ocean, growling at it. I’ve spent enough time over the years with the pack to knowthat anytime the ocean is in sight, Puppy sees it as a threat. It’s an obsession with him. I have made the Sirens and Leaf agree on no more pranks today, it’s too special an occasion. Last time, they encouraged some spider crabs to chase the Grim up and down the beach, and Becky and I just stood helplessly and discussed adopting them out. In the end, we decided to keep them, but our catch-ups needed to be better planned in order to prevent bloodshed.
“What is he looking at?” I ask Becky.
She turns towards the ocean and gasps.
“There are orcas, sharks, and dolphins. Wow.” Becky lets out a harsh sound that is a darker version of a growl.
