Page 47 of Cost of Courting (When it Raines Omegaverse #6)

Epilogue Selene

One Year Later

Once upon a time, I had a mother, but she died.

I’m still not sure if my dad did it or not, but the point is that she’s gone.

I grew up, and I never expected to have a family again. I thought once you lost one, you didn’t get a chance with another.

But August Raines is a force of nature. She sits down, holding my hand, and, somehow, I word vomit my entire history onto her. This amazing beta just hugs me hard enough to make my bones ache. She feels like a mum.

“It’s going to be okay, I promise. You’re home now.”

The words stop me dead. My eyes prickle, I can’t breathe, and then, I suddenly can.

I hug her back just as tight. Maybe if something in me doesn’t heal, it starts to mend, just a little.

Charles, Wayne, and Sol charge out, ready to fight anyone and everyone. I look at them and hope that my alphas will still love me that much when we’re that old.

“You’re a Raines now, Selene. It’s a life membership. You’ll be stuck with us for a long time to come,” Charles says with a small smile.

“Don’t scare her!” Sol laughs. “Truly, it’s not as bad as it sounds.”

Wayne laughs and puts a hand on my shoulder.

“We want you to come visit the farm. You can bring any kids or people who need to get away.”

“Oh, no, I couldn’t-”

“That’s what the farm is for, Selene, respite from the world. So if you know someone who needs it, please take it. It’s your home, too, now.”

Auggie laughs. “We’ve scared you. It’s okay, you’ll get used to it. But, Selene, we just want you to know we consider you family, and we’d be honoured if you’d do the same.”

I bob my head, floored by their offer.

“We’re going to head off and let you young ones play.”

I watch as they leave. It makes me think about my family. Or lack thereof. Luna is bonded and married. To Jo. She’s got a little baby, too, my niece. I haven’t seen them, and I’m not sure when or if I will be allowed to.

She called her daughter Callisto, following the tradition of moon names for her daughter. It makes me think she hasn’t quite given up on me yet.

Every time I think about it, it puts an ache in my chest that I can’t erase, but there is always hope. So, I will wait and be ready to welcome her home with open arms.

Bethany comes and sits beside me just as the rain starts.

“We’re a strange family.”

“You’re the best family.”

She grins, and I watch as her alphas, Saint, Hunter, and Crow, strip off and go running off down the beach. They are closest to Pack Bradley and The Mirakills.

I haven’t had much to do with them, but like recognises like. Childhood trauma leaves scars.

I like Bethany. She’s quiet and down to Earth. Bailey explained what happened with the family, and, whilst I can understand why people are upset, I can see why she did it, too.

She helps run a wildly successful club with her alphas. Dynasty, I’m dying to go and have a girls night that we have scheduled in a couple of weeks.

We talk for a while, but she ends up going to find her alphas. I watch as they go and start playing in the ocean. Jumping waves until, at last, they get out and disappear hand-in-hand, back in the direction of their bungalow.

A short time later, I find myself standing under the porch watching the rain pour in torrents. I’m being so careful, and I’m ready to kill anything that makes this omega even flinch. Aspyn is beside me, shivering, but though she’s got my hand in a death grip, she isn’t running.

Aspyn and I hit it off the second we saw each other. I have never met anyone that felt so completely like family until I laid eyes on her.

As soon as we got back to the set of bungalows their pack own, she’d dragged me over to meet Ryann. The auburn-haired beta and I had hit it off almost as fast.

I feel like I’ve met my people .

It’s just too bad that Aspyn lives on this island miles away from my home, and Ryann makes her home with her Demons Hockey team.

She and Wren started up a kids’ team, and that snowballed, so now they have several grades.

Raider is one of the assistant coaches now for the pro team, while Kit is storming the world with his fashion label.

I asked Ryann if Callan felt left behind, but she shook her head and said no, that’s not who he is.

Their success is Callan’s success, and he’s happy that way.

I kinda fell into a platonic love pool for my friend’s alphas.

Not to be outdone by the sheer devotion from the Daane pack.

These alphas are so enmeshed with each other and devoted to only one thing: Aspyn.

It is something I have never seen before.

That level of sacrifice, protection, and love. Their co-dependence is almost scary.

Ryann climbs up on the railing and drapes herself across it. “I mean, I’m loving this place, but I thought paradise was meant to be like sun, surf, and a sexy tan. I did not expect all the rain.”

Aspyn gives her a tight-lipped smile. “The storm will pass in a few hours, and we’ll be back to sun.”

Ryann nods and closes her eyes. “I will accept that. But, in the meantime, I want to go down there.”

“Where?” Aspyn asks in alarm.

“I want to go and dance on the beach in the rain.”

I wait, not leaning one way or another. I’ll be the wall Aspyn leans on, but Ryann will be the push in the back.

“Come on, the packs are doing boring pack gossiping stuff. Let’s sneak away and dance.”

“Dance?” Aspyn says.

“Yep.”

She jumps down and holds out her hand. Aspyn takes it. I bite back a smile and follow them out into the rain.

Ryann tosses her thick hair and laughs. Aspyn lets out a small cry that could be excited or afraid. But she keeps walking, following Ryann.

Aspyn is nervous, but she comes with us, and when we get to the beach, Ryann puts on Fate’s Destiny’s latest release. It’s a haunting melody about love lost, found and forever. Ryann starts to sing and puts her hands in the air and twirls around.

I whip around, sending my long blue hair spinning. When I look back, Aspyn is soaked, but she’s smiling. I reach for her and hold a hand out, dancing us around. Ryann joins in.

That’s how our packs find us, singing tonelessly and dancing in the rain.

“Crazy girl,” Bailey shouts .

I whirl around, letting go of Aspyn and stepping back as Shale slips his arms around her, lifts her off the ground, and spins her around.

“You’re in the rain!” Shale whispershouts.

Aspyn nods and grins so wide. “We’re dancing!”

“I can see!”

Ryann laughs and throws herself at Kit, who stumbles and crashes backwards on the sand. They both end up laughing and being rescued by Wren and Raider. Callan just stands there laughing. But Ryann and Kit attack him as soon as they’re back on their feet, and all three end up back on the wet sand.

Their joy is infectious.

But it's Pack Daane in the rain that is the real joy. They are so happy, and they are so careful and protective of the golden omega. They swarm around her, touching, murmuring, kissing, teasing.

Bailey grips my hair, yanks my head back, and kisses me hard.

Mael, Kingston, and Edric are on the porch. When I look at them, Edric holds up a bag.

“What’s that?” I shout suspiciously.

“Gifts.”

“What kind of gifts?”

“The food kind.”

Ooh, food. “Sold.”

I take off, running back to the house, but, before I get close, I’m tackled by a blond blur.

“Lia! Don’t break my omega!” Bailey growls.

Pack Mirakill growls at Bailey, but I see a smile on Ranger’s lips as he pulls Lia to her feet.

We are the closest, not just in proximity, but in connection with the Mirakill Pack.

We actually have a family dinner twice a month.

And, boy, does this pack like to have fun, the alpha’s and Lia are constantly pulling the most adorable pranks on each other.

“Impressive, but, next time, aim a little lower,” Valen instructs.

I climb up, but now I’m covered in wet sand. I quickly jump across and hug Ianto, rubbing sand all over him, and then run.

“Shots fired!” Zaden calls out. “Looks like we’re declaring war on Despair.”

“Bring it on, we’ve kidnapped Mills, and he’s going to be our kitchen bitch!” Kingston shouts from the porch.

Lia chokes on a laugh. She’s as wet as I am and covered in sand.

Mael sighs and steps into the rain. He disappears but returns a minute later with a hose and hoses us all down.

I shriek and laugh, but, in the end, I’m sand free. Soaked in all of the places, but clean .

“Ryn’s here!” Erin calls. She looks out and looks at us all and just shakes her head. “What happened?”

Every single one of us points at Ryann.

“What did I do?”

I snicker and make my way through the rain to the porch.

Locke pokes his head out the door. “Baby Bailey, we need your help with the doors, the locks are stuck, and I can’t open it.”

“Oh, that’s me,” I say and step up on the porch, grabbing a towel from Brayson.

We’re going to stay at Finn’s resort for the next gathering. I’m really looking forward to it. While I love this island, I really want to see what those crystal clear rivers look like and meet Alma. I’ve heard so much about her.

“Thanks, Brayson.”

“You can thank me by opening that door before Kelly finds out what we’re up to,” he whispers and winks at me.

I snicker and quickly towel dry my hair, pull off my wet t-shirt, and wrap the huge, fluffy towel around me.

I reach into my bikini and pull out a hairpin.

“Memories!” Bailey sighs, watching me fondly.

I smack a kiss to his lips and slip into the house, following the Bradley omega. Locke watches in awe as I get the door open in moments.

“Teach me!”

I wink at him. “When your alphas don’t look rabid.”

Shane gasps in affront. “I am not rabid.”

Finn ignores us and continues stirring a huge pot on the stove top. It smells amazing.