Page 72 of Venom Island
“It’s not your fault.”
“It is,” he whispers. “I was the Alpha in charge. They were under my protection, and I failed them.”
I shake my head. “You didn’t purposely crash the jet, Enrique. I would never blame you, or even Hel, for that.” I swallow. “If this experience has taught me anything, it’s that fate has a plan for all of us. And her plan for me was to bring me to you.”
Which suggests her plan for us was to guide us here.
Just as her plan for the other Omegas was to send them to whatever island they landed upon.
“Maybe those islands have secrets,” I whisper aloud. “Just like this one seems to.” I’m referring to the surprise I felt in our bond when Xavier spoke about this compound, specifically about being able to help Joseph.
“Maybe,” he agrees, resting his chin on my head. “For the other Omegas, I hope you’re right.”
“I hope I am, too,” I tell him, swallowing. “So what do you want to do?” I ask, curious about his thoughts. I think it’s pretty obvious that we should stay, but he doesn’t seem very keen on remaining here with Xavier.
“I can’t help those other Omegas,” he says slowly. “But I can help Joseph, and potentially the Omegas mated to the Alphas here.”
“By staying,” I murmur when he doesn’t add that clarifying comment.
“By staying,” he echoes.
My chin inclines in understanding. “Then we’re staying.”
He glances down at me. “As simple as that?”
I shrug. “I have nowhere else I want to go, Enrique. Since you told me my Alpha was dead, all I’ve ever wanted—all I’ve ever hoped for—is to be wherever you are.”
His eyes search mine. “How could you be so trusting of me from the start?”
“Because you saved me,” I tell him.
“Several Alphas saved you, tesoro. I only broke you out of that cage.”
I shake my head. “It’s not that, Enrique.” I palm his cheek. “You saved my heart. My soul. My very spirit. Just by showing me that some Alphas can be kind. You gave me a reason to live. To look forward to a future. To want more than what I thought my existence should be.”
It’s not something I can easily explain. It’s just… an awakening he provoked inside me. A change in the direction of my mind.
“You made me want to breathe again,” I whisper. “So yes, it’s as simple as that, Enrique. If you want to stay, we’ll stay. Because I will forever be by your side.”
He leans into my touch, his eyes falling closed. “You’re the new beginning I never knew I needed, tesoro,” he murmurs. “I was lost before, unsure of where I would even end up after Bariloche Sector settled into dust. And I certainly never thought I would end up here, with you beside me.”
I draw my thumb across his sharp cheekbone. “There’s nowhere else I would rather be.”
“There’s nowhere else I would rather be, either,” he admits, his dark eyes opening once more. “You’re my future now, tesoro. My everything.” He presses his palm to my flat belly. “And I’m going to spend our lives proving that to our family.”
I go up on my toes to brush a kiss against his lips. “You’re already everything I could ever want, Enrique.”
His arm circles my lower back as he holds me against him. “Oh, tesoro. I’m going to be so much more. I promise.” He kisses me before I can reply, his possessive touch warming me to my very spirit. “To our new existence,” he says.
“To our new existence,” I agree.
A new life.
A new purpose.
An unexpected… happily-ever-after.
Epilogue
