Page 24 of Wicked Fate

Mine,he linked, resting his head against my shoulder. His arms wrapped around me, holding me so tightly I could barely breathe. Hearing his words in my head meant so damn much to me.

Yours,I agreed, my fingers tracing the fresh mark I'd left on his neck.Always and forever.

As the haze wore off, three new links warmed in my chest at an even level, indicating they were fellow pack mates, and Briar’s cooled marginally back to the fellow-pack-mate level.

Softer. Steady. Familiar.

After so long with almost nothing but cold after losing my entire pack apart from Briar, the sensation nearly undid me.

My eyes fluttered shut as I curled tighter against Ryker, my forehead resting against the damp skin of his chest as the water sprayed us. For the first time in what felt like forever, I didn’t feel hollow.

Ryker was our alpha. That truth settled inside me like a balm, like something my soul had always known but hadn’t let itself believe until now.

I hadn’t wanted to lead. All I’d ever intended to be was a beta or an alpha’s mate.

I just wanted this.

Him.

The sudden shift of the water temperature jolted me, pulling me from the daze. Cold droplets replaced steam, and my breath caught.

Ryker grunted and adjusted himself beneath me. “Water’s cold.”

“Mm.” I didn’t want to move, but the chill started to bite.

With a sigh, he eased us upright. Muscles trembled as the final shivers of magic and release worked themselves out. He brushed his lips over my temple before reaching for the knob and twisting the water off.

We stepped from the shower, the air hitting like a cold blanket. Goosebumps covered my body, and I shivered.

Ryker grabbed a towel from the hook and wrapped it around me before taking another for himself. I leaned into the gesture and the solid weight of him beside me.

Conflicting emotions surged through me. I’d never been so content or happy, but my parents weren’t here to celebrate Ryker’s and my union.

Ryker stilled.What’s wrong?He lowered his hands, the brown returning to his irises.Do you regret—

No.I cut him off and tried like hell to hold back a sob.I… I just wish my parents were alive to celebrate our bond.

His expression softened, and he dropped the towel and pulled me flush against him. He wrapped his arms around me and placed his chin on my shoulder.

I know.He kissed the mark he’d made that claimed me as his.I want mine here too.They would’ve loved you.

His pain mixed with mine, and once again, the sensation of drowning hung over me.

We stood there, water dripping from our bodies and puddling at our feet, but I didn’t care. His touch was enough to keep me together when the pain threatened to splinter us apart.

“I can’t bring them back to us,” he vowed. “But Iwillget justice for them. Every vampire who laid a hand on our packs will pay for what they did. I swear it, Ember. I won’t stop until they bleed and I’ve taken their lives with my own hands.”

Tears finally fell, hot against my chilled skin. His words released the grief I’d been suppressing for too long. Somehow, this time, it didn’t feel like it would kill me.

“No,we’llmake them pay.” I didn’t want to be left out. They’d tried to kill my entire pack, and only Briar and I had gotten away. “For every name, every howl cut short, for every mother, father, pup—”

He placed his hands on my cheeks. “We’ll do ittogether. Like we will from here on out. Side by side.”

Promise,I linked, afraid of how the word would sound if I spoke it out loud.

Lil rebel, your wants and needs are the most important thing to me. Above everything and everyone else. I don’t give a damn if that’s wrong for an alpha because you are now my entire world. I revolve around you, and if you need a hand killing those who did you wrong, then I’ll be there with a smile.

A few weeks ago, that would’ve scared me, but not anymore. I finally understood Ryker. He’d gotten the spell cast on him to avenge his family and pack. Everything he’d done had been to ensure he didn’t hurt those who didn’t deserve it.

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