Page 48 of Cost of Courting (When it Raines Omegaverse #6)

Ryn and her pack come in from the back of the house. They look amazing, totally like rock stars. They are charting number one in the world at the moment, and everyone knows them. Any disturbance of the change from Fate’s Choice and Fate’s Destiny died the minute Ryn opened her mouth.

The world loves her. She was born for this.

Envy flops down on the couch and kicks off his shoes. “I hate these fucking things. Why do I have to wear them?”

“Apparently, you look hot,” Tyr purrs. “Though I prefer it when you’re barefoot.”

“Oh.”

He smiles adorably at Tyr and blushes.

Digs walks over to the pot and puts a heavy hand on Finn’s shoulder. “Have you tried the recipe I sent you? ”

“I have.”

“And?”

“They loved it. They want the recipe, and they’re going to sell it in the café for the locals and do a special edition during the River Festival.”

Digs groans, leaning his head back. “Mako and Shane win again.”

“Don’t worry, I have an idea that will make a new cake look like child’s play,” Finn says, and I think I see a gleam of challenge in his eye.

Pack Fate and Bradley and Mirakill are close. They all have the common connection of Locke, Lia, and Ryn growing up together. It’s funny how well they all work, though. Most of the alphas are competitive, but no one can outshine Finn.

Tyr grabs Ryn’s hips and buries his face in her neck. “Let's go get a hotel and come back when we’ve had some sleep.”

She laughs and strokes his back. “Poor baby. I told you to get some sleep on the plane.”

“I was reading.”

Mako walks past me and stops at the porch door. “HEY, GOLDEN COCK!”

I burst into explosive giggles and peer out the front door, finding Kelly glaring malevolently at Mako as he pushes his way into his house. “I told you not to call me that. I've got a pet shark I can feed you to, Mako.”

“Suits you, though,” Ezy says under his breath.

I grab plates and start setting the table. Keagan helps me. I think, of all of us, he’s struggling with the invasion of the packs the most.

“You okay?” I ask.

He flicks a look at me and smiles slightly. “I invited someone else, but it’s supposed to be a surprise. So, yes? Ask me again if this goes south.”

“Oh?”

He looks away, and I can’t help but wonder if this is a good surprise or a bad one.

Beau sits down and starts frantically messaging someone.

“Are you okay?” I ask him, exasperated with this strange pack.

He looks up like he’s forgotten we were here. “Oh, yep, sure. I’m good. Just helping someone out. Directions, they’re lost.”

Beau and Keagan exchange looks, and Keagan rushes off, leaving Beau chewing on his bottom lip and shifting restlessly in the chair.

Gael leans over him, putting a fist on the table and one on the chair. “What are you up to?”

“Me?” Beau says with a wicked grin. “Nothing at all.”

I roll my eyes and help carry the food to the table. There’s not enough places for us to sit around the table, but that’s okay .

I serve up food for everyone and then follow Aspyn, Ryn, Lia, Ryann, Bethany, and Erin out to the porch. We sit around talking and eating, gossiping, really. The sounds from inside are deafening, but I think the alphas have split into two camps and part of the group is eating out the back.

There’s something in my chest that is warm and full when I’m with these people. This is different from my neighbourhood. These people don’t rely on me. We’re here because we’re family, and I don’t have to be Selene the plumber, or Selene the fixer.

These alphas, betas, and omegas are my friends and family now. And I want that. I really want that. No more walls. No more standing apart.

For a moment, I get this wave, this intense yearning. I see Dot in my head, the way we were that last time. The familiar smile and the smell of her.

My throat tightens, but then a hand takes mine, and when I look up, I’ve got five pairs of eyes watching me intently. Aspyn is squeezing my hand, and Ryn has shuffled closer and leans her head on my shoulder.

We don’t need words. I don’t need to tell them anything. They know.

I can feel my pack through the bonds. Their alarm settles.

A couple of people walk up the beach and turn towards the house. I stare, wondering who it could be.

“Who is that?”

As they get closer, the rain stops, and I see someone I never would have thought I’d see.

“EBEN!”

I run down the steps and fly into his arms, hugging him hard.

“You moron! I've been trying to reach you for months.”

He blushes slightly and shrugs. “I was busy. So, this is Emrys.”

I look at his entwined hand and the very attractive omega standing beside him.

He glances up behind me, searching for someone, and finds them, apparently.

“Shale!” Beau shouts. “Get your ass out here!”

I glance back and see Shale and Mael rushing down the stairs.

“You’re here!” Shale growls.

“We’re family. It was a family gathering. Seemed only right.”

The cousins slam into the two men. Shale hugs Emrys hard, lifting him off his feet and swinging him round before letting him go and turning to Eben.

“You ever disappear like that again, and I’m going to kick your ass.”

Eben shrugs. “I work in forestry. Whoops?”

Mael growls and puts him in a headlock. “Not cool, cousin.”

We step back, and they follow us up, hand-in-hand .

Later that night, when we’ve retired to our bungalow and I’m lying naked and entwined with my alphas, I let out a sigh.

I’m staring at Kingston’s chest, stroking his new tattoo.

It’s a depiction of a moon goddess with long blue hair.

All of them went out and got tattoos last week, and all of them were images of a warrior woman with blue hair and the moon.

I love them so much.

“Whats wrong?”

“Nothing's wrong, Edric. I’m happy, perfectly, completely, and thrilled. We have homes, and our packs, and extended packs. So many people in our lives. We have money, love, safety, and security. Our health. Family and friends. But, most of all, I have you. I have all of you. I am so happy that just thinking about it could make me cry.”

Edric is quiet for a long moment. “What could make this life more perfect for you?”

I pretend to think. “There’s only one thing I can think of.”

“Yeah, what’s that?” Mael asks with a frown.

I roll Bailey onto his back and straddle him. I lean down, watching him as his pupils dilate, and he flexes up into me.

“A knot…or four.”

Kingston gets up behind me and kisses my shoulder, leaving me gasping.

“That…can be arranged.”