Page 75 of Empty Heat

As my tears welled again, I saw them enter, Senta, Rhodes and—Callum. He looked stunning. Beautiful. And awful. Tears ran down his face in rushing streams.

My mouth opened in question.

Callum squinted in my direction and gasped. “Lev?”

I couldn’t move. It wasn’t real, was it?

Callum glanced at Rhodes, then to Senta.

Senta nodded at him. “It’s all right. You couldn’t tell us in words, but you’ve told us now.”

“Told you what?” Callum asked.

“We had to be sure. You weren’t talking. Lev wasn’t talking.”

“Be sure of what?” he asked again.

“That you, my dear friend, have come to Omega Island and found your true mate.”

My eyes widened. In my chest, something came alive.

“Callum.” I could hardly speak.

“Lev?”

Before I could understand that he’d come with them willingly because of me, he ran forward. Suddenly I held a breathless, beautiful omega in my arms.

Callum whispered into my ear. “Lev, is he right? What he said?”

“Is he?” In myself, I was sure. But I had to know from him.

“I don’t want to leave you. That’s all I know.” He clawed at my shoulders, trying to pull himself closer.

“I am sure, then. Very very sure, my sweet. No hesitation.”

“Oh wow. Oh wow. Lev.” He gasped and sobbed into my chest.

“My omega. You’re mine.”

He murmured something, but I could not make it out. It didn’t matter. I knew what his body said, and his tears. I knew what we both were saying with all our hearts.

I love you.

I turned my face into the side of his neck and held on tight.

EPILOGUE

Callum –One Year Later, and Beyond…

“You bred me well and true,” I said, laughing as Lev ran his hands over my big stomach.

“That’s because I love you.”

Lev told me that every day. He never missed. If he thought he forgot to tell me, and he was gone from the house, he would text me or call me just to say it again. “I love you.”

Now he made love to me while I was almost too big with our child to participate. He didn’t seem to notice.

Lev did everything for me. Drew his famous soap flower baths. Cooked me breakfast in the middle of the night if I had a craving. Carried me out to the ocean to feel the waves upon my hot, pregnant skin.