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“Holy shit! Why’s he pissed at me?” River demanded. He backpedaled a few feet before grabbing Rafe and holding him in front of his body as protection.
“I’m not your shield!” Rafe cried.
“Really, Ozzie! It’s not their fault. It was a misunderstanding. No, I—” Bel was cut off by more angry cries from the bird who was now attempting to turn his attention to Wyatt.
“What’s wrong with him?” Wyatt asked.
“He knows I’ve been upset, and that it was in relation to you and River,” Bel said with a sigh. Very carefully, he closed his hands around the bird’s body and placed him on the railing that extended from the staircase. The bird grew quiet, but his inky black feathers were still ruffled. “I’m sorry I worried you, Ozzie. I was in a state. It happens with humans. We’re not very logical.”
Ozzie cawed one last time and then worked to resettle his feathers.
“Yes, I know I’m usually very logical for a human, but we all slip up once in a while.” Bel reached out and smoothed a finger over Ozzie’s sleek head a couple of times in a loving caress. He and Ozzie had been through quite a lot together, but never love like this.
When the bird was settled, Bel looked over the railing to find Ethan standing in the hall, staring up at them like they’d all lost their minds.
“Ethan, could you open the front door for Ozzie? He’s okay now.”
The fledgling vampire muttered something under his breath as he walked to the door. Just as he was opening it, Ozzie launched himself off the banister and dove down to the first floor. As he went out the door, he just narrowly missed hitting Winter as he was coming inside.
“Fucking madhouse,” Winter snarled, dodging the bird as he stepped inside.
“Yes, and Bel’s wolves are back!” Ethan said by way of greeting.
“Thank fuck for that!” Winter sighed.
“I take it we were missed.” Wyatt’s arm snaked around Bel’s waist, pulling him in tight. River abandoned his vampire shield and pressed to Bel’s other side. Bel soaked in their body heat, the scents, and the steady rhythm of their hearts pounding against his body. This was his new normal. This was his definition of happiness.
“Greatly,” Rafe said before Bel could form the word.
“Why? Why did you think we weren’t coming back?” Wyatt sounded hurt, and it lanced through Bel.
“Because it didn’t make sense. Everything you gave up, everything you lost, you could have by staying with the pack. They’re your kind. They will understand you better than I ever can. You could build a life with them.” Bel paused and frowned at Wyatt. “And you’d be safe. You know the war that’s coming in the vampire world. Damon and what’s left of the Ministry won’t be happy until the Variks are dead. That will include you and River if you stay anywhere near me.”
“Bel, we were miserable without you,” River said. He turned his face, rubbing his cheek against Bel’s shoulder. “That was the longest two weeks of our lives.”
“But—”
“You’re everything we could want. In the past dozen years, we’ve grown accustomed to living outside of a pack. Our list of things we want and need to be happy has changed as much as we have. Right now, that list has only one thing on it.”
Bel blinked back tears as he looked up at Wyatt, while his arms wrapped around River. “Really?”
“We just need you. You’re more important than food, water, and shelter. We need you more than air.”
River sighed happily. “Bel is air.”
“I’m going to be sick,” Rafe muttered.
Bel groaned. He’d forgotten they had an audience. “Shut up, Rafe. I need this.”
“No one with a stomach needs this,” Rafe replied.
“Shut up, Rafe. It’s romantic!” Ethan called from the first floor.
“I’m fine with it as long as everyone stays dressed,” Winter added.
“Leave your brother alone. He’s been heartsick.” Aiden’s voice rose from the first floor as well, and Bel groaned. He needed his own house, and he needed it now. Never in his life had he ever craved privacy like he did at that moment.
The only thing that made it all tolerable were the low, muffled chuckles coming from both River and Wyatt.
It didn’t matter. He had his wolves, and he was surrounded by his family.
“Sorry to interrupt this reunion,” Aiden continued. His voice sounded as if he was moving closer. Bel looked up from where he was burrowed against both wolves to find Aiden climbing the stairs. “But now that Winter is here, the core of the clan is present. I’d like an update from Wyatt and River on the status of the local pack.”
As Aiden reached the top stair, Wyatt released Bel and moved around him, his hand extended toward the older vampire. “River and I would also like to accept your generous invitation to join your clan…assuming the invitation is still open.”
