Page 166 of Cost of Courting

Auggie laughs. “We’ve scared you. It’s okay, you’ll get used to it. But, Selene, we just want you to know we consider you family, and we’d be honoured if you’d do the same.”

I bob my head, floored by their offer.

“We’re going to head off and let you young ones play.”

I watch as they leave. It makes me think about my family. Or lack thereof. Luna is bonded and married. To Jo. She’s got a little baby, too, my niece. I haven’t seen them, and I’m not sure when or if I will be allowed to.

She called her daughter Callisto, following the tradition of moon names for her daughter. It makes me think she hasn’t quite given up on me yet.

Every time I think about it, it puts an ache in my chest that I can’t erase, but there is always hope. So, I will wait and be ready to welcome her home with open arms.

Bethany comes and sits beside me just as the rain starts.

“We’re a strange family.”

“You’re the best family.”

She grins, and I watch as her alphas, Saint, Hunter, and Crow, strip off and go running off down the beach. They are closest to Pack Bradley and The Mirakills.

I haven’t had much to do with them, but like recognises like. Childhood trauma leaves scars.

I like Bethany. She’s quiet and down to Earth. Bailey explained what happened with the family, and, whilst I can understand why people are upset, I can see why she did it, too.

She helps run a wildly successful club with her alphas. Dynasty, I’m dying to go and have a girls night that we have scheduled in a couple of weeks.

We talk for a while, but she ends up going to find her alphas. I watch as they go and start playing in the ocean. Jumping waves until, at last, they get out and disappear hand-in-hand, back in the direction of their bungalow.

A short time later, I find myself standing under the porch watching the rain pour in torrents. I’m being so careful, and I’m ready to kill anything that makes this omega even flinch. Aspyn is beside me, shivering, but though she’s got my hand in a death grip, she isn’t running.

Aspyn and I hit it off the second we saw each other. I have never met anyone that felt so completely like family until I laid eyes on her.

As soon as we got back to the set of bungalows their pack own, she’d dragged me over to meet Ryann. The auburn-haired beta and I had hit it off almost as fast.

I feel like I’ve met my people.

It’s just too bad that Aspyn lives on this island miles away from my home, and Ryann makes her home with her Demons Hockey team. She and Wren started up a kids’ team, and that snowballed, so now they have several grades. Raider is one of the assistant coaches now for the pro team, while Kit is storming the world with his fashion label. I asked Ryann if Callan felt left behind, but she shook her head and said no, that’s not who he is. Their success is Callan’s success, and he’s happy that way.

I kinda fell into a platonic love pool for my friend’s alphas. Not to be outdone by the sheer devotion from the Daane pack. These alphas are so enmeshed with each other and devoted to only one thing: Aspyn. It is something I have never seen before. That level of sacrifice, protection, and love. Their co-dependence is almost scary.

Ryann climbs up on the railing and drapes herself across it. “I mean, I’m loving this place, but I thought paradise was meant to be like sun, surf, and a sexy tan. I did not expect all the rain.”

Aspyn gives her a tight-lipped smile. “The storm will pass in a few hours, and we’ll be back to sun.”

Ryann nods and closes her eyes. “I will accept that. But, in the meantime, I want to go down there.”

“Where?” Aspyn asks in alarm.

“I want to go and dance on the beach in the rain.”

I wait, not leaning one way or another. I’ll be the wall Aspyn leans on, but Ryann will be the push in the back.

“Come on, the packs are doing boring pack gossiping stuff. Let’s sneak away and dance.”

“Dance?” Aspyn says.

“Yep.”

She jumps down and holds out her hand. Aspyn takes it. I bite back a smile and follow them out into the rain.

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