Page 196 of Drown My Sorrow

I’m lifted on another wave, and I see something bronze. A flash of colour and then, to my surprise, arms are around me.

“Ezy?”

“I found you. Oh, god, I fucking found you,” Ezy says into my ear. He smacks a kiss to my temple and then starts maneuvering me so I’m lying on my back, pressed to his chest.

I whip my head around so I can stare at him. “You’re alive. You’re really here and alive. Ezy,” I whisper his name over and over.

He grabs me securely and pulls a life jacket over my head before pulling me against his chest again and leaning back. To my surprise, he lifts a gun in the air and fires it. Into the pouring rain, a bright red flare blooms into the air above us.

“We’re going to be okay,” Ezy says confidently.

I hold onto his arm that he has wrapped around my chest. I hear a sound, and when I lift my head, Kelly is there, standing in the little inflatable boat, peering down at us. He looks like a golden god. His expression is fierce, and his wet shirt and hair whip around him. He’s alive.

I mouth his name, unable to even speak.

Ezy moves instantly, rolling me up and into the boat before he, too, climbs up.

“Where’s Gael?” I shout over the roar of the engine, the ocean, and the rain. He’s going to be okay. I know he is. But he was bleeding, and he saved me.

“I don’t know!” Kelly shouts.

But then Gael launches up from the water, rolling into the bottom of the boat, breathing hard. I pull free of Ezy’ hold and slam my hands down on his thigh, trying to stem the bleeding.

I stare at his face. My beautiful alpha. “You saved me. You all did.”

“Get us on shore, Kelly,” he heaves out.

Kelly turns the boat and drives us back to shore. He doesn’t even slow down, just runs us up on the sand. I’m hoisted out of the boat by Ezy and moved several feet up the beach away from the water. I collapse on my knees and vomit up sea water.

“Cher!”

Beau lifts me up, pulling me into a hug that has me weeping. I’m safe. I’m safe.

I wrap myself around him but open my eyes to look for the others.

Keagan is frozen, staring at the water. I twist around and, to my absolute disgust, see Typhor climbing out of the ocean. On the shore, the six people he brought with him are unconscious or dead. I don’t even care.

“How many lives does this prick have?” Keagan snarls.

“I’ve had enough,” Kelly says.

Typhor stumbles towards us. “Take me home now. You win. I’ll leave you alone. I’ll even give you part of Alpha Labels.”

The demand leaves me breathless. Does he really think that’s going to happen?

“Kelly, take Ezy, Gael, and Aspyn.”

Shale steps up to me, his fingers brushing mine in a calm, reassuring touch.

No one will hurt me and live. Ever. That’s what they promised.

They are alive. We are all alive.

Kelly grabs me and swings me up into his arms.

“Where are you going? I made you! I created you! You would have nothing if it wasn’t for me! You owe me!”

Kelly doesn’t turn around, and I wonder if he does feel some semblance of guilt.

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