Page 216 of Drown My Sorrow

They’re angels. All angels that have fallen. My demons. It doesn’t matter to me, just that their beauty is painfully poignant. What a last view to see.

I go under and manage to kick back up, breaking the surface. I’m going to drown. But the inside me is tired. I hurt body and soul. I’m just so damn tired all the time. Maybe I will drown my sorrow. Maybe I’ll float away.

I let out a cry, part fear, part defiance.

A hand captures my upper arm and tows me into a body much bigger and stronger than mine. I look up and up. The relief of having something solid to cling to as the ocean tries to suck me out has me trembling.

The universe comes to a standstill the minute I lay eyes on him. All the fear and hope and everything that broke me all those years ago comes back. This time, there’s no sick smile, no laughter, there is only terror on his face.

He’s coming for me.

My scent match.

Kelly Raines.

He’s here.

Finally.

Am I ready for this?

PresentDay

I finish putting the final touches on the drawing and wonder what the two male hands are with matching scars, but I don’t let my mind wander too much. The answer will come or it won’t.

I set the cards aside.

Eben left two days ago. The tense reconciliation with the pack and his brother Shale took all of my skills of negotiation and bribery to smooth things over.

Which means we are now on good terms with all the family. He was the last bump on the road.

I exhale and strip off my clothes, pausing only to pull on the new outfit I bought. It’s white with huge yellow and white frangipani flowers printed on it.

It’s also a bathing suit.

A few weeks ago, I sat with Shale in the rain, trying to ignore the fear that kept jumping at me. I’ve decided I don’t want to be afraid anymore. So, today, I’m going to step past my fear.

“Are you ready for this?”

“Can I say no?”

“You can always say no or stop. Your safe word is Daane,” Gael says, winking at me.

I growl at him but let him guide me down to the beach.

“Seriously, are you sure you want to do this?”

“Yes!” I say firmly.

He holds my hand while we get into the water. It laps and pulls lightly on my ankles. When I’m knee deep, Beau runs over, splashing and laughing and kisses me hard, making me forget where we are.

Gael runs back to the beach but returns with two surfboards, one of which he hands to Beau.

I keep walking, ignoring the fear and concentrating on the cold and the waves.

Keagan and Ezy paddle over to me on their boards, circling around us, but it’s when Kelly and Shale come in close that the nerves hit me.

“Ready?” Shale asks.

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