“Good, pass it over, thank you,” Oscar says. “Adam, dinner time! Then straight to bed, young man.” He plops the charcoal abomination in a tiny pet dish inside Adam’s cage and locks the door without a blip of remorse.
I have to bite my lip to hold back my laughter. I may have been worried before, but something tells me the two of us are going to get along famously after all.
A familiar face pops up from the crowd, scrambling to his feet and rushing over.
Bellamy blinks. “Am I hallucinating? What in the actual fuck is happening right now?”
Gage slams into him. “Bossman!” As he pulls back, he slaps his back in a bro hug. “Boy have I missed you. Roman's adick.Just barking orders day and night. It’s ridiculous and inhumane.”
Roman strolls up to us with a roll of his eyes at his partner’s dramatics. “You were there when we needed you the most. Now it’s our turn to return the favor.” He gestures at all of the people looking at Bellamy like he’s some legendary hero. “Safety in numbers. We weren’t going to let you go off into the world without backup.”
I watch Bellamy blink in shock, softening as he looks at the people he’s rescued over the years that came to support him, chest feeling suddenly tight.
“Oh!” Gage fishes a letter out of his back pocket. “Elder Naomi asked me to deliver this.”
My sweet Bellamy. I hope you’re doing well, and don’t hate me too much for how we parted ways. All I’ve ever wanted was to protect our family, and over the last few centuries, I’ll admit I’ve lost touch with how the world has changed, more focused on protecting mimics than worrying about how we could fit into a cruel world.
If the offer is still on the table after my terrible behavior, I'd really appreciate taking your bondmate up on his offer and purchasing some of those bracelets. And if not, I understand it was my fault for ruining a kind gesture. Regardless, please look after the people that followed you out there. Maybe one day I can come visit to your new home to see what makes Mercy Ridge so special. But know that you and your mates will always have a place here.
Love,
Grandma
As I blink back tears, Gage comes up to us. “Oh! Myles, right?” He nods. “This is for you; for the bracelets.” He plops a cinched bag into his hands. When he opens it? I’m not the only one gaping, seeing the obnoxious amount of gemstones nestled inside.
Myles stutters, “I... I didn't even agree yet.”
“But you will. You’re a solid dude, Myles, and we’re lucky to have you on our side.” Gage claps him on the back. “Welcome to the family.”
Chapter 33
Ever
EPILOGUE
A few months later
Ledger frowns anxiously out the windshield. “If I had known we were expecting so much snow, I would have picked a closer restaurant.”
But I don’t mind. It’s rare I get one-on-one time with my mates, so when Ledger insisted out of the blue he was taking me out, I wasn’t about to let a little bad weather get in my way.
“So we get home late, no big deal. Though I might need to get new tires if this is normal for winter around here.” I pat my dashboard. “But she can handle anything. This baby has taken a beating and then som-”
I really shouldn’t have tempted fate.
My SUV lurches to a sudden halt, Ledger’s hand flying out against my collar bone as I’m thrown against the seatbelt, but thankfully, whatever I hit wasn’t bad enough to set off the airbags.
Oh fuck. Not again.
I swear to all that is holy, if it was another mate, he’s getting kicked off the side of the mountain. I can’t handle any more testosterone in the house.
Ledger is already halfway out of the door. “Stay here.”
“Don’t need to tell me twice.”
From what I can see, there’s a sizable dent in the front of the car right next to the Arson-shaped one, but no one is lying in the road. Ledger looks around and scents the air, brow furrowed, and follows some tracks in the snow for a few feet before they just… disappear. At a loss, he returns empty handed.
“Whatever it was, it’s gone now. With how fast it took off despite being hit? I’m sure it’ll be fine. Now, scoot over, sunshine. I love you, but I’m driving the rest of the way home.”
