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PANDORA

T he moment we stepped through the towering doors of Dad’s manor—my home—a chorus of voices erupted in a deafening scream, “Congratulations!”

I came to an abrupt stop, my heart nearly leaping out of my chest. “What’s this?”

The foyer was filled to the brim with people—friends, family, and familiar faces all gathered under the glittering magic orbs of light.

Jenni stood at the forefront, a smug grin plastered on her face, while Dad and Joel flanked her, looking entirely too pleased with themselves.

“Happy graduation, dream girl,” Reed whispered in my ear as he wrapped an arm around my waist.

Dex leaned in from my other side, lips brushing against my temple. “You really thought you could just waltz on home without something big happening to celebrate, trouble?”

Bram, Skel, and Hunter were right behind them, each wearing different expressions of amusement as the crowd pressed in, offering congratulations and well wishes after graduating.

My chest felt tight, overwhelmed by the warmth flooding through my bond with my mates and the love we were receiving from our friends and family.

“This was her idea,” Joel pointed at Jenni. “Don’t be mad at me, savior of my life!”

“I’m not mad at all!” I promised.

She stuck her tongue out at him with a giggle. “It was my idea, but I think we all deserve this. This year has been hard!”

“It has,” Dad agreed, smiling softly at me. “You do deserve a celebration for all you’ve been through.”

“Thank you,” I rasped.

“No need to thank me,” Dad said, his cheeks turning red. “It was Jenni’s idea, after all.”

Bram stiffened beside me as Slater and Melinda approached us.

The entire room hushed as Slater turned to face Bram, his usual easygoing smirk replaced with something softer, more serious. “I just wanted to say,” Slater started, voice uncharacteristically uncertain. “You’ve always been family to me, but we want to officially name you a Havoc here with everyone as witness, if you’ll accept, of course.”

“If you truly mean it…” Bram’s Adam’s apple bobbed, but he nodded. “I’d like that.”

“Really?” Slater’s eyes widened before his usual grin spread over his lips. “Fates, yes!”

Melinda stepped forward with her eyes glistening with excitement and love. “Bram Havoc, welcome home.”

The bond between us pulsed with raw, unfiltered emotion. A deep sense of belonging, something Bram had always longed for, rushed through his bond like a tidal wave. His jaw clenched, hands curling into fists, but his red eyes shimmered with something that looked a lot like hope. “Thank you.”

Slater clapped him on his back. “Took you long enough.”

Laughter rippled through the room as they dissolved into their own emotional conversation.

Hunter stood next to his father, and the two of them radiated an unmistakable air of pride.

“You did it, son,” Lance said, gripping his shoulder. “You’ve taken our legacy to new heights with being the first vengeance demon on the Supernatural Council. I couldn’t be prouder.”

Hunter swallowed thickly, his usual composure wavering. He gave a firm nod, but the pride shining in his white eyes was unmistakable. “It’s because of Pandora, you know.”

“I know.” His dad smiled at me. “I’m proud of both of you.”

“Now, we can get our vengeance business back open,” Hunter said, longing lacing his tone. “There’s this one case I’ve been wanting to talk to you about…”

“I’ll be back, princess.” Skel kissed my lips before darting to the other side of the room where Kat stood with their dad and her mate, laughter spilling from them as Durge draped an arm over Kat’s shoulders.

When Skel approached, Kat and Nelson hugged him. Even Durge shook his hand, and they eased into laughter again as they talked.

The tension that had once fractured their relationship was gone, replaced with something light and easy.

Forgiveness.

Family.

But a few seconds later, Skel, Kat, Nelson, and Durge made their way over to us.

“Dex,” Skel announced dramatically, and my heart swelled with excitement as he clasped him on the back of his neck. “Dad, Kat, and I were talking, and well…”

“We want to officially make me your little sister Kat,” Kat blurted.

Shock enveloped Dex’s expression, and he glanced quickly in my direction before focusing on Nelson. “You…what?”

“Skel told us you forsook your last name, and you’ve always been family to us,” Nelson said. “We’d love to make you a Grimshaw.”

“Really?” Dex’s voice broke.

“Of course, man!” Skel squeezed his neck playfully. “I’ve always considered you a brother.”

Dex nodded, his gray eyes glistening as raw acceptance flooded our bond. “Yeah, I mean. Thanks…all of you. I think Dexter Grimshaw sounds way better, anyway.”

We all smiled, and they dissolved into a heartwarming moment that Dex deserved.

“I think Pandora needs a drink, too,” Reed suggested as Kat, Nelson, and Durge went to grab something from the kitchen.

Dad approached us with his eyes crinkling at the sides as he smiled at us.

“She has her enchanted water bottle—” Reed elbowed Dex, cutting him off before gesturing to Dad.

“Oh, ya know, I think she’s hungry,” Skel agreed.

“Let’s get her some steak,” Dex offered, rubbing his stomach and chuckling at me before Reed, Skel, and Dex both kissed each of my cheeks before walking off to the kitchen.

“You’ve made me proud every single day I’ve known about you, Pandora, but even before that.” His voice was raw with emotion as he pulled me into a hug. “I’m so damn thankful you’re my daughter.”

“Thank you.” Tears burned my eyes as I buried my face in his shoulder. “I love you, Dad.”

“I love you so much.” Dad’s voice wobbled as he pulled back and smiled at me.

Jenni and Joel stood nearby, watching with matching smiles.

Jenni elbowed me playfully. “You know Daryl bought us a restaurant space in the Market, right? We’re gonna run the best damn place anyone’s ever seen. You better come.”

“I wouldn’t miss it,” I promised her.

Dad chuckled, pressing a kiss to Jenni’s temple. “She’s going to make it the best restaurant in the Demon Capital. I’m just there for support.”

Jenni grinned. “Exactly.”

Joel pouted as he crossed his arms. “I’ll be doing Supernatural Council stuff with you, but I’m totally going to be helping with Jenni’s dream.”

“Of course you will.” Jenni pecked his lips.

“Too bad you’re too young to retire,” Dad joked with him.

“Bragging about being old isn’t a flex,” he grumbled as Jenni laughed.

Bram and Slater walked back over to me, and I caught what Slater was talking about as they did.

“I’m heading to Apex Elite Academy for the exam in a few months, but I’ll make it,” Slater said. “I’m going to be an agent. But listen, man, when I make it, you can’t play favorites, alright? The other agents will get jealous.”

Bram snorted. “Me? Play favorites? Never .”

Slater rolled his eyes but clapped him on the back. “I’m proud of you, brother. You’re exactly where you’re meant to be. Being on the Supernatural Council with your mate is exactly where you belong. You were always meant to be something.”

I smiled, tip-toeing to give Bram a kiss on the scar over his cheek. “He’s right.”

Bram blushed as Reed and Dex made their way over to me with a plate of cut up steak.

“I’m telling you, he needs a friend, and so do I,” Dex whined, handing me the plate. “Let me just get him a friend.”

“Absolutely not.” Reed handed me my water bottle. “Axolotls get aggressive with friends. You can get one in a tank next to his, but your axolotl is not getting in Gumdrop’s tank.”

Dex hummed thoughtfully, leaning against me in that way that made my heart flutter. “Sounds like a good idea to me.”

Skel crossed his arms as he made his way back, a mischievous glint in his green eyes. “If we’re adding to the family, I vote we adopt more cats.”

“I agree.” I laughed, the warmth of the moment sinking into my bones.

“I don’t,” Hunter commented playfully as he came back over. “Cats are vengeful.”

This— This was what I’d fought for, what I’d been scarred for and what Nebula had sacrificed himself for— family . A home.

I had love in its purest, rawest form, and it was truly all thanks to Nebula.