Page 83 of Drown My Sorrow

On the ground, I spot a handprint in the mud, and as much as I’m relieved, I can’t believe we fucked up like this.

“All right, how are we going in?” Beau asks.

I pay attention to the odd question.

Shale inhales, and I follow, catching the burnt scent of terror in the air.

“Arrogant and calm.”

“You got it, Alpha,” Keagan purrs and struts into the cave. “Princess, oh, my lovely princess, come out and play.”

The concern is gone, and now the Daane are confident, calm, and playful. The transformation is wild.

I follow Pack Daane into the cave. I can’t see anything, but I can feel the cold and smell the dampness. It’s creepy, and the temperature drop is alarming.

“Cher, we’re done playing hide and seek. Come and kiss me hello.”

I edge past them, and that’s when I notice the tiniest flash of colour in the dark.

I close my eyes, praying for forgiveness. “Come out, Omega. Your alphas are waiting.”

Shale puts his hand on the back of my neck and squeezes. I stay still, and when he passes close, I do something I have never, ever willingly done for another alpha.

I lower my head.

His grip loosens, and he lets go in a slow caress as he moves past me.

She explodes up, and when I think she will run, she doesn’t. She throws herself at Shale.

He catches her and draws her into him. Keagan and Beau surround them, touching everywhere, murmuring, whispering.

I stare at it, feeling raw and broken.

They aren’t the monsters I’ve been making them out to be. Worse still, I completely set her aside in my head so I could focus on my rivalry with them. They have never seen us as rivals. All they have ever done is care for her.

We don’t deserve her.

But I want what I’m seeing in front of me. I never knew I wanted it so bad.

She’s sobbing now, the harsh sounds drowning out their words. It’s ripping me to pieces.

What have we done?

Shale lifts his head and stares at us in the dark. I can feel it and just make out his outline.

“You have a chance to change it. You can fix this. It’s not over, Raines. Step up and be the alpha I know you can be. I told you, you just need to stop fighting, and you can find home.”

Mercy has come from a corner, I never expected to see it. I’m not fit to be the alpha of the pack. I’m not fit for anything.

I sense Gael’s horror and grief through the bonds. The shame and regret from Ezy. We are united in our mutual destruction. We cling on the edge of what was. Teeter. Let it all go.

“I love you,” the whispered sound. The tortured admission sends the three of us careening into a chasm that rips us apart.

My entire world rocks and shakes and finally falls and is rebuilt with one reason for existing. Shame drives me to my knees, Ezy and Gael following suit. The three of us finally accepting our place. Our reason.

We are Pack Daane, and that is our omega.

Chapter twenty

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