Page 42 of Forever My Siren Luna (The Hidden Cove #2)

Dad hugged me, telling me to be safe as I do the same.

I know my uncle is no match for a siren king, which is why my uncle chose to do away with me in my first life instead of risking my father finding out the abuse me and my mother endured.

It’s still unsafe, and there is always a risk, so I can’t help but to feel a pang in my heart as I tell him bye.

It’s just for a little while. He will be back soon.

“Your necklace is connected to me again. And Cedric will be with you. He can call for me if you need anything. Do not hesitate to tell me, my daughter.”

“I know,” I grinned, trying to hide the emotions welling up in me. “I’ll be fine. Just come back safely please.”

With a warm hand on my head and a loving smile, my father receded back into the water, and he and his knights headed out for the sea to make the journey to the shores of my uncle’s pack.

“Your father will be fine,” Cherum rested his hand on my shoulder, a warm bout of his comfort spreading over me. “He is the most powerful being in the sea.”

“I know,” I murmured. “I don’t know why I feel so unsettled right now watching him leave. It’s not like I won’t see him again.” It feels that way for some reason. Like this was a final goodbye, even though I know it wasn’t. He will be right back in a week’s time. I’m sure.

When they are no longer in sight, Cedric sighed, then pulls himself up on the dock, shifting back to his human form.

“That woman can nag the ears off a guppy. I thought my ears were going to bleed,” he complained, slipping on a pair of pants.

"Guppies don't have ears," Cherum snorted.

"My point exactly," Cedric muttered.

“What did you do this time?” I smirked.

“Absolutely nothing,” he turned up his nose. “She just thinks I’m not going to do something. Apparently, I’ve been spotted mating in the sea instead of watching you like I am supposed to be doing.”

“Too much information, there,” Cherum grumbled.

Cedric snorted. “She said you were one of the ones that complained, you red-nosed dairy-eating bastard.”

“Oh, yeah,” Cherum rubbed his red beard. “I was more venting than complaining. Children play in these waters.”

“Not before dawn!” Cedric argued.

“Well, I pissed in these waters before dawn, and I didn’t appreciate seeing the bare ass of my life-long friend as he’s balls deep in your pooter, you damned fish.”

Oh my goodness, I can’t take any more of this discussion.

I quickly walked ahead of both of them, leaving them to argue on their own. Now every time I go for a swim I’m going to think of either Cedric and Meldec doing unmentionable things in the water, or I’m going to remember Cherum peed in it.

As I rounded the corner of one of the outbuildings, heading back to the training field, I almost ran right into someone.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was-”

The smell of rum wafted to my nose, and I looked up, realizing it was Jack.

“You alright there, lass?” He reaches out, as if to keep me steady. I took a step back just in case, so he can’t. I don’t want another fight to break out between him and my mate.

“I’m fine,” I quickly muttered. “I’m sorry I was not watching where I was going.”

He smiled tightly. “It’s alright. I was, uh, looking for you anyway, Ela. Can we talk for a moment?”

I hear Cherum and Cedric coming up behind me, still arguing about their nonsense.

If they catch up, Cedric will prevent Jack from speaking to me at all. Cedric dislikes Jack more than even Lachlan.

“Sure,” I looked around for somewhere more private to speak.

The barracks is next to us, and with most of the men in training, it will be relatively private.

Just the omegas cleaning the rooms will be around.

“Let’s go there,” I pointed to the door, then rushed over before Cedric and Cherum could turn the corner too.

Once hidden inside the building, watching my two faithful shadows walk past through a window, I turned to face the pirate captain. I was just thinking not 30 minutes earlier I needed to have a conversation with him to clear the air. I guess it’s happening much sooner rather than later.

We both begin to talk at the same time.

“Jack, I-”

“Ela, I was-”

He laughed awkwardly as my face began to heat again from nerves.

“You go first,” I insisted.

“Thanks,” Jack reached for his inside breast pocket, then tried to play it off, continuing his reach upward to scratch behind his head. “I, uh, wasn’t sure if I would get this chance to talk to you in time.”

“In time for what?”

Jack goes quiet, looking more anxious all of a sudden. His face, angled downward, looked tense. He peaks up at me through his lashes, his Lycan shining a bit in his eyes. They’re conversing, and the conversation doesn’t seem to ease any of his tension.

“The full moon will be here soon,” he blurts out.

The full moon?

“Okay? It tends to do that. Waning and waxing. Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?”

“Not the phases the moon goes through,” he sounded a bit frustrated. “I wanted to talk about the significance it has for us, as Lycans who have met their mates.”

I’m still confused. What is he trying to say?

“Ela,” he said my name so softly, urging me for something, though I don’t know what. “If you wanted to take a different mate, what would you need to do?”

My eyes widened in surprise, then Val began to snarl and growl through me, catching on to what he was suggesting.

“I’m not taking another mate,” I snapped, grimacing at the notion. “Why would you even think it was okay to ask me that?”

He looked down sheepishly. “You haven’t taken any mate, Ela.

We have been here for weeks yet you have remained unmated.

I just…. I just want you to know that you do have options.

If you don’t want him, consider me instead.

I am an Alpha, and my home is already on the sea.

I think we could be perfect for one another.

I have wanted nothing more since the moment I laid eyes on you asleep in my island cabin. ”

I can hardly believe the direction this conversation has taken.

“Jack, I never once considered you in that light. Not once. I saw you as my brother. Nothing more.”

He made a soft strangled noise. “I never thought of you as a sister.”

Val rolled her eyes in my head, and I tried to refrain from doing the same outwardly.

“What about Beretta?”

His eyes shone brightly, his Lycan pressing forward more than before. Jack winced, making me wonder what his beast is telling him.

“Jack,” I sighed, shaking my head. “You are my brother. You may not think so, but to me that is what you will always be. Even if I didn’t accept Lachlan in the future, I wouldn’t choose you.

I wouldn’t choose anyone. It’s him or no one for me.

Always. I can see the way you look at Beretta, and I know she looks at you the same way.

If your heart is open to another, it should be her. ”

“ Damn right,” Val growls, “ I only want Killian brushing my hair.”

I smiled in agreement.

“If you can’t work with us anymore because of me, I will try to understand, but I won’t lie to you. Lachlan is my mate. You are my captain and my friend. Those two facts will never change.”