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“I’m… I’m staying—I don’t… I don’t ever want you out of my sight again. I just need you to know whatever you ask for is yours.”
I didn’t really understand the offer. They’d given up everything to get me back. Their entire career had taken a hit for the gold pack omega who’d lied to them.
I shook as he drew me closer, wrapping his arms around me protectively and sinking down into the sheets, drawing blankets around us. “We failed you, Vex. I failed you.”
I shook my head. “You didn’t.”
“I did, and I’m so sorry I didn’t see it. I should have. I’m your mate, and I wasn’t enough. I should have—”
“Please don’t say that.” My voice was thick. “You…” My chin quivered. “You were the only one who was enough.”
He held me tighter. “Love wants to speak to you. They… all do, but I don’t think the others…” His voice became tight, the blackcurrant wine in the air edged with a dark fury. “You just… you let me know when you’re ready to see them, alright?”
I bit my lip, eyes darting to the door. “I could… I could see Love I think. Maybe after…”
“After sleep,” Drake said.
I nodded.
Love was the only other one who had tried to stop them opening the door. My chest tightened at the thought of the limo. Of the book.
Were they reading it right now?
I’d have to add to it when I got it back; that command was a constant tug.
Swallowing back another round of tears, I held Drake closer. It was strange to be back with everything in the open. Knowing who Zeus was. Knowing now why he’d used scent dampening spray in the limo to hide his own scent.
Drake would recognise it.
Drake knew the whole pack. Triton and his cruelty and his foul scent of old beer. Cerus and Achlys… though I knew less of them…
I knew they’d hurt Drake, but I was forbidden from speaking a word of the pack who had bitten me, with layers of foul trigger commands warning me away from even considering fighting that order.
The shower wasn’t enough. I still felt as if Zeus was everywhere.
“I want…” I swallowed, feeling my tears come back. “I want to forget it all. I just… I want him gone.”
I regretted the moment I’d spoken. I shouldn’t have mentioned a ‘him’ at all. I couldn’t imagine what it must have been like for Drake when he’d learned the truth of my bond. But then… he’d seen the videos…
What did he think of them?
I hated how frightened I’d been. I knew Drake would never say it, but he must think I was so foolish. I’d chosen my eyes and now I couldn’t handle the pack who’d bitten me—
“That, Dreamgirl, is something I can do.” His sweet words were enough to stifle my fears, and his voice was so confident that I peered up at him. The smile on his face was genuine. He shifted, fingers winding through my hair, tugging my neck back gently as he brushed his cheek along my jaw.
Blackcurrant wine became all consuming. It took me a moment to realise what he’d done. When I did, an unexpected purr rose in my throat, and my fingers dug into his arm.
He’d scent marked me.
“You’re safe, Vex,” he breathed. “You’ve only seen the smallest part of what we’re going to do to keep it that way.”
I swallowed, shrinking, unsure of how to process that. “I love you,” I whispered, instead.
That truth was safe, even among all of this uncertainty.
I could see the sadness in his eyes, as if he knew I wasn’t ready for the promise he’d just made. Instead, he pressed his lips to my forehead and whispered, “I love you too, Dreamgirl.”
The sense of safety warred with dread as sleep swept me away at last, a single, lingering thought souring my peace: this comfort could only ever be make believe. There was no promise in the world that could convince me that this nightmare was over forever.
