Page 43

Derrick

T he crowd is electric. From behind home plate I can see Rachel sitting right in the front row, where she was the day Lucas flew into her lap. My parents and her roommates surround her, all fully decked out in Nightclaw gear. My dad even brought huge foam hands custom made with claws on the fingers.

Her cheers motivate me as I crouch down, taking my spot and flashing Liam the signal that tells him to throw it low and fast. It’s the top of the ninth and we’re up by one. There’s a runner on first, and one out. Two more outs and we win. We’re so close I can almost taste it.

Liam nods, the faintest jerk of his head, and winds up.

The world narrows.

The buzz of the crowd fades.

The ball leaves his hand like a bullet.

Then… crack.

The batter swings hard, a fast grounder rocketing down the third base line.

My heart lurches.

The runner on first takes off to second as the batter runs to first.

Lucas is already moving. He dives, parallel to the dirt, arm outstretched. It looks impossible, but he snags it mid-air, twisting as he lands with a thud. The stadium gasps.

He pops up, pivots, and rifles it across the diamond.

Bas stretches, and the ball slams into his glove a fraction of a second before the batter’s foot touches the bag, getting the double play before either runner realizes they’re out.

“OUT!” The Ump’s voice rings loud and clear across the field.

And then… the stadium erupts.

I launch up from my crouched position and tear off towards the mound. Liam’s laughing, arms outstretched, and I slam into him, lifting him up as I hug him. The rest of the team converges on us, voices overlapping as cheers rain down from the stands. Someone fires a confetti cannon, and one of our team mates actually howls as the green and blue shiny flakes fall around us.

Then I spot Rachel.

She’s climbing over the wall with Demi and Maya’s help, laughing and cheering, her eyes locked on us. Her hair is tied up in green and blue ribbons that match the glitter paint streaked across her cheeks. But the smile stretched wide across her face?

It’s everything.

Bas races towards her, reaching her first and sweeping her off of her feet. He spins her in a few dizzying circles before setting her down almost directly into Lucas’s arms. Lucas plants a kiss on her cheek before dragging the rest of us into a group hug.

Suddenly we’re all tangled together. Laughing, breathing hard, half-sweaty and fully-in-love.

I look at her, smiling bright, the joyous heart of our pack, and my heart thunders with something greater than victory.

We did it.

For our school.

For our team.

For each other.

But mostly?

For her .

The Ashford estate always looks like something out of a storybook, but tonight? Tonight it’s magical.

Fairy lights crisscross the garden, casting a warm glow over the lawn. A soft breeze carries the scent of fresh-cut flowers, and the enchanted speakers play a steady stream of music that somehow perfectly matches the vibe at any given moment. Laughter echoes from the dessert table while fireflies hover like sparks in the air.

It’s perfect.

Aubree’s party is in full swing. Rachel is on the dance floor, barefoot, with Maya and Dallas. They’re all still wearing their custom jerseys, now tied into cute crop tops.Their cheeks are flushed from dancing and their laughter carries through the garden like a song.

A couple of guys from the team stand around the punch table and one of them pulls out a flask. I cross the garden to intercept him but my dad gets there first. He confiscates the flask and sends the guys back to the party wearing bashful looks.

The party winds on, filled with dancing and cake and enough food to feed an army of starving men. When the last of the guests leave for the night those of us left over make our way to the small bonfire and take seats around it.

My mom and dad take the bench and Aubree, Dallas and Maya fill the three seats beside it. Once the guys and I have settled in our seats, Rachel saunters over and plops herself down in my lap, nuzzling into my neck.

Without a second thought, I wrap my arms around her, resting my chin on top of her head. She smells like cupcakes and summer and home. Her fingers twist in the hem of my shirt as the fire crackles and pops.

Mom sips from a fresh glass of wine, her gaze focused on the flames. She looks thoughtful. Quiet, but not withdrawn. Watching her is like watching a storm build. Calm on the surface, but something deeper is always brewing.

“I do love a good bonfire,” she says after a long moment, voice smooth and unhurried. “They make it easier to see the truth.”

Maya perks up, half-laughing. “What, like firelight exposes secrets?”

Mom tilts her head. “No. Fire burns away the noise. Makes it easier to hear the things you already know.”

Dallas shifts in her seat. “That’s either really wise or really creepy. Possibly both.”

Mom smiles. “You four have something in common.”

Aubree raises a brow. “A devastating sense of style?”

“Trouble,” Maya suggests. “We attract it.”

Rachel giggles into my neck, but mom just hums, like she’s letting them talk it out before delivering her strike.

“You each have four fated mates,” she says, casually enough that for a second it doesn’t register.

And then it does.

“I’m sorry, what?” Dallas says, sitting up straighter.

“Like… four potential mates? Or like… fated-fated?” Maya asks.

Aubree chokes on air. “That’s too many. That’s... no. That’s a sitcom, not a love life.”

Mom chuckles. “Fate doesn’t make mistakes. You all have four beautiful shimmering bonds, not formed fully yet, but definitely fated. I know it the same way I knew those four boys would be connected.”

Dallas lets out a slow breath. “Four mates. Like, plural. Like one man, times four. That sounds like chaos.”

“Or destiny,” Mom counters. “Though the two are often the same thing.”

She looks at each of them, her tone softening like a breeze before the tide turns.

“Aubree, your path won’t be straight, but your heart will know what’s true.”

“Maya, yours will be the loudest, and the most protective.”

“And Dallas... yours are closer than you think. Waiting to awaken your truest form.”

Rachel squeezes my hand. The fire snaps again, and for a moment, nobody says a thing.

Then Maya leans forward, wide-eyed. “Okay, but like… are they hot?”

Aubree snorts. “Please let them be hot.”

Dallas mutters, “If one of mine turns out to be a dolphin, I swear to all the fates...”

Laughter bubbles up around the fire, just like that, the tension fades. Mom leans back with a satisfied smile, I swear she looks even more smug than usual.

Rachel curls back into my chest with a sigh, and I press a kiss to her temple.

Whatever's coming next for her friends, I know one thing for sure.

They’ll be ready.

The sun cuts through the curtains like it has something to prove.

I blink awake slowly, limbs tangled with Rachel and at least two of my packmates. Bas is draped half off the bed like a fallen statue, snoring softly, a bead of drool hanging out of his mouth. Liam’s arm is flung over Rachel’s waist, and Lucas is curled up against her back.

She’s smiling in her sleep. That little half-smile that means she feels safe.

My chest gets warm and my heart rate picks up a little from just looking at her beautiful face.

There’s peace in the room. A post-celebration exhaustion, the kind that settles in your bones after you’ve danced, laughed, and loved too hard the night before. The scent of sugar and salt still lingers on our skin from the bonfire snacks. Someone, I think Bas, has littered the glitter from the confetti cannons all over my room.

A phone buzzes on the nightstand. Once. Then again.

Bas groans. “If that’s mine, throw it in the lake.”

Lucas grunts. “Yours is dead. That’s mine or Liam's.”

I sigh, sliding out from under Rachel as gently as I can. She stirs, but doesn’t wake.

I grab the offending phone, pressing the power button to wake it up. The lock screen shows a picture of Lucas and Rachel, he’s planting a big sloppy kiss on her cheek. The carefree grin on her face fills me with joy and I understand why it’s his background.

Well, that answers the question whose phone it is.

He has five missed calls and a dozen unread texts, but the email notification has my full attention.

Eldergrove Athletics Alert — URGENT: Supernatural League Baseball Draft Announcement

I enter his password and open the email. If he didn’t want me going through his phone, he should have a stronger password than his birthday.

I stare at the screen, my eyes scanning the words, now fully awake.

It’s happening. It’s really happening!

Their dreams are coming true.

“Guys?” I say, louder than necessary.

Bas snorts. “Is it pancakes? Because if it's not pancakes, I’m not listening.”

Lucas is already sitting up, bleary-eyed. “What’s wrong?”

I toss his phone onto the bed. “You two might want to read that.”

Bas grabs it first. I watch the slow blink of realization as he reads then a smile takes over his face.

“I didn’t expect them to make an announcement so soon.”

“What announcement?” Lucas grumbles, leaning over Bas’s shoulder, scanning the screen. “Oh,” he gasps.

Rachel sits up slowly, rubbing her eyes. “What? What happened?” Her voice is thick with sleep.

“They did the first round of player announcements for the draft. It’s official. Lucas and I are going to be in the draft this year,” Bas says, still stunned. “I can’t believe it’s really happening.”

Rachel’s expression shifts, confusion, surprise, then pride. Her eyes shimmer.

“That’s amazing,” she says, soft but steady. “You guys… you deserve this. I’m so proud of you.”

Lucas smiles, but there’s worry behind it. “What if it tries to take us away from you?”

Liam, now awake, leans in. “Then we come with you.”

Rachel turns to him, startled.

“Obviously,” I add.

Rachel’s eyes well up. “You’d both really just... follow them?”

“We’re not following them,” Liam says. “We’re going with you. I’m not going pro, so I can go wherever. I didn’t even enter the draft.”

Rachel blinks, startled. “What? Why?”

He smiles, slow and steady. “Because I don’t want that. I love the game, but it’s not my dream. I want to travel. Take pictures. Tell stories with my camera. I was thinking... Maybe we make this whole thing an adventure. I photograph it. Maybe build a portfolio, get featured in a travel mag one day.”

Her eyes shine, and she wraps her arms tighter around him. “That’s perfect.”

I clear my throat. “I didn’t enter, either.”

That gets everyone’s attention.

“Wait—what?” Bas asks, brows lifting. “You didn’t even try?”

“Dad offered me a position. Junior council member for the Shifter Tribunal. It’s... a big deal.” I shrug. “I never thought I was made for that life. But after everything with Ranger, I changed my mind. I’d get to help rewrite laws that hurt people like Rachel. Like all of us. It felt right.”

Rachel stares at me, breath catching. “That’s huge.”

I smile, feeling a little sheepish now. “I didn’t want to say anything until the draft came out. I didn’t want anyone to think I was backing out just because I didn’t make it.”

Lucas slaps me on the shoulder. “Dude. That’s badass.”

“Thanks,” I say.

The bond pulses again, warm and grounded, pulling all of us closer together.

For a few seconds, no one says anything. We just breathe. Tucked into the morning light, wrapped in the kind of love that promises we’ll figure it all out.

Rachel breaks the silence first. “We could get one of those RVs! I watch travel blogs online... It looks like fun.”

Liam groans. “Stuck in an RV with my brother for months on end, what a joy.”

Everyone laughs. Until Lucas goes all Negative Nelson.

“But what if we get drafted to different teams? What if you’re on one coast and I’m on the other? We won’t be able to stay together.”

“Oh. I didn’t think about that,” Rachel murmurs, shoulders deflating and the sense of excitement for the future suddenly turning sour with worry in the bond.

“Whatever happens, we’ll figure it out. Together. But there’s no use worrying about it now. This is a good thing. Be happy. Celebrate the win before you worry about the next hurdle,” I say.

“Derrick’s right. And besides, you don’t play the same position. It’s possible you get the same team,” Liam says.

“When’s the draft? When will you know what team you’re on?” Rachel asks, chewing on her bottom lip.

“In three weeks,” Bas says.

“That’s not too bad…” She grimaces, trying her best to stay positive. “What happens after that? What about school?”

“We’ll finish school then when we graduate next year, we’ll head to whatever city our team is located,” Bas explains, Lucas too lost in his thoughts to say anything.

The bond flares with relief. “Well, that’s good. We at least still have nine months here together before we’re thrust into the real world. I say we make the most of it.” The suggestive tone is enough to snap Lucas out of his funk and we all stare at our perfect mate with heated looks.

“What do you have in mind, Moonbeam?”

“We need to go back home for that. There are some things that should stay between us.”

“How fast can we get back to campus?” Lucas demands, jumping out of bed.

Rachel giggles at his sudden mood change.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think we’ll make it back anytime soon. No doubt my parents are already fully aware of the draft announcement and Mom has plans to celebrate.”

“Yeah, but I’d rather celebrate with our mate,” Lucas grumbles.

“Oh, we’ll celebrate, alright. But there’s no hurry. Let’s get dressed and face the world,” Rachel says.

“Yeah. You might want to answer some of those missed calls and messages, too. My parents aren’t the only ones that are proud of you.”

Lucas takes the phone from Bas and scrolls through it. The Barker family chat is blowing up this morning.

And just like that, the future doesn’t seem so far away... or so scary.

We don’t know exactly where we’re going next.

But we know one thing for sure.

We’re going together.