Page 119 of Drown My Sorrow

“Well, as far as I can see it. We can sit here and wait for him to bring the fight to us or we can go and set his world on fire,” Keagan says.

“I vote fire.”

I’m more hesitant. They don’t understand what that world is like. But, in saying that, we do. Gael, Ezy, and I can navigate that world and keep us safe while they take him down.

I exhale. “We should tell Aspyn.”

“Yes, we should talk to her this time, especially if we’re going back. It’s her decision, too,” Gael murmurs. “The city is going to hold a lot of unpleasant memories for her. She might not want to go back.”

I sit down, staring out at the ocean.

Shale sits beside me, quietly observing me. “Okay, we’ll ask her. But we do need to deal with him and soon. Mael is going to get me information on who Nat is dating. As soon as we know who he is, we can deal with him.”

“Mael?”

“My cousin.”

The other alphas sit beside us. Just the five of us sitting on a beach alone until Ezy brings her out to join us. Shale pulls her down into his lap and rubs his chin on her shoulder.

She’s so comfortable with his touch that she doesn’t react.

“I’m going to forgive you,” Aspyn says.

I exhale roughly, hating my life. “Don’t just yet. Listen first. I need to tell you a story.”

“Aspyn?Myflower?Areyou still with us?” Shale murmurs and nudges her. “Do I need to tickle you into a scream?”

Aspyn hisses her displeasure, and then, to my utter and complete surprise, she crawls into my lap. I pull her towards me, unable to resist the siren call of the intoxicating omega.

“You should try telling people instead of working as an island of one.”

I catch the reprimand and have to try to hide my smile. That scent of jasmine blooming in the night pulls me deeper under her spell. It’s for nights like this that I’ve been yearning. My pack and my omega. The ocean, the sand, the stars.

This is a dream I’ve had forever. Shale lays down beside me, and I look over at him, watching him watch me.

Something wants me to give up everything to this alpha. To trust him to take care of us.

It’s hard to let go. I’ve always had the responsibility of taking care of everyone, of always making the choices. Can I give that to someone else?

But I make the choice, and I let go. I give it up.

To him.

Because he’s already proved that he’s a far better alpha than I am.

He reaches out and pulls me back by the collar so I’m lying beside him, Aspyn cradled carefully in my arms.

Beau pulls Ezy and Gael up, and the three of them end up in the ocean, splashing around.

It’s the most peaceful moment of my life.

“I don’t want my life back there, but I think I have to go back and take it, anyway. It’s not fair to ask you to come with me. This is your home.”

“You’re our alpha,” Shale says simply. “You are pack. It's us against everyone else. That is the way the Daane roll, and if anyone is a threat to the Daane. Well, we simply eliminate them.”

Aspyn laughs softly. “You sound so dark and scary, Shale.”

“I am dark and scary!”

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