Page 90 of Bad Blood Alpha

Flynn walked up to where Xander had stood. Despite his assurances, he suddenly seemed at a loss for words. Kira rose from her chair and went to stand next to him, shoulder to shoulder.

They both owed these people their lives.

Flynn ran his hand through his hair, looking at the sea of faces. “Ah, shit. I guess I really don’t know what to say. I thought Sloan was bringing in some backup. I never expected everybody I ever fucking met. You saved our asses, and I appreciate it. Even though I don’t know why the hell half of you did it.”

Xander rolled his eyes. “Of course you don’t.” He turned to the crowd. “Who here has had their lives saved by Flynn?”

Kira watched the hands go up. All the Bad Bloods. All their mates. Jesse and Sophia, Rafe, Terin and Tristan, Noah and Mina. Brock put his hand up, using the other to hold up Michelangela’s chubby little one. “She was in Auntie Terin’s belly,” he whispered to Xander. “But it counts.” Xander held up Brandon’s hand.

Jesse Travis had both his hands up. “What?” he said, looking around at the questioning faces. “He did it twice.”

“Okay,” Xander said. “Who here has had Flynn save the life of someone they care about a whole fucking lot?”

At least half the hands in the crowd went up. The whole Silverlake pack, and some of Donnie’s. Donnie had his hand halfway up, and Noah Reilly jabbed him in the ribs. “Come on,” he said. “The dude saved my life. You like me. Put your hand all the way up.”

Donnie said, “I don’t like you that much.” Noah flipped him off, and Donnie, grinning, raised his hand the rest of the way.

Xander nodded with satisfaction. “That’s why they did it,” he said to Flynn.

Flynn looked a little stunned.

Kira felt tears sting her eyes. Flynn only ever thought about the ways that he’d failed, the people he hadn’t saved. It weighed on his mind, weighed down his soul.

He never thought about all the people he had saved. They didn’t forget. And when Xander called, they’d rallied around him, putting their lives on the line because Flynn needed them.

Flynn ran his hands through his dreads, looking uncomfortable. “I suck at this,” he admitted. “And I don’t thank people, because I always say I don’t fucking need help. I know I’m supposed to give some fancy speech about how awesome and heroic you fuckers are, and I suck at that too.”

He looked out at the faces of the shifters. “But my crew means everything to me. My mate means everything to me. You all risked your lives for me, for her and her family. You stopped an evil sorcerer and his fucking hellhounds. You did a good thing. A brave thing. And I—” He broke off.

Xander called out, “I can finish it for you, if you’re going to cry.”

Flynn flipped him off. “And, thank you. Everybody, thank you.” He paused, then added to Xander, “And savor that shit, because it’s going to be a long damn time before you hear it again.”

The crowd broke out in cheers and whistles. Flynn headed back to his seat, shaking his head.

Xander winked at Kira, and she blew him a kiss.