Page 57 of Ondine: Vol. 2

I’m holding the front of his sweater with tight fists.

“You’ve bonded with alphas? You hate alphas.”

He smiles slightly. “It’s ok, honey.”

I don’t know why I needed to hear that so badly but I did. My face is hot. Tears track down my cheeks.

“It’s going to be ok,” he repeats.

Betas can’t purr, but he starts humming. He’s humming me a song.

Sebastian

We all stand in abject horror as the beta hums a song to Ondine. And what truly startles Jake is that it’s working. She’s relaxing in his arms.

And I may be crazy, but I think the song might be a popular hip hop song called “All them bitches.”

But at least they stopped yelling about kinky sex for all our neighbors to hear.

Are we the trashy neighbors whose business we scream for all to hear?

This surprise beta was a little too much for Ondine’s disposition. We probably should have told her in a gentler manner.

“Where’s he going to stay?” Ondine asks. Her voice is so goddamned sweet I have to stop myself from saying “awe.”

Jake huffs a breath and then answers, “I put him in the spare room. The one you’ve been using.”

What?

“Where’s Ondine’s room, Jake?” My desperation coming out clearly.

There’s only four rooms in the house. I honestly thought we were saving the last one for Boone. But now we have a beta and want an omega.

“With me.”

I roll my eyes and Shadow, who’d been up and with us, takes that as a sign to go sit back down by the fire.

“Freddie can stay with you, Sebastian.”

I can feel my face flush. Why does everyone seem to know that we are close now?

“I’m staying with Arnie tonight,” Ondine declares.

Oh shit, they are going to fight again.

“Fine! Good!” Jake yells but at a low, hissing volume. “That’s why I acquired him. He’s mine, Ondine! Mine! Bonded and registered. I hope you two get real close. So close you’ll never want to be away from each other again. Because when that happens then you’ll be mine for good!”

It’s the most threatening I’ve ever seen from him. Ondine doesn’t look too upset about it. Maybe fake-shocked. But that’s it.

I glance over at Shadow and he’s got a marshmallow roasting on a stick over the fire. I roll my eyes.

I’m already planning on getting up early to go fishing. I’ve experienced too much in too little time.

Ondine throws her head back and marches off, hand in hand with Arnold.

Jake stays put watching them intently. I go sit with Shadow, who offers me a toasted marshmallow. I decline.

Finally, Jake joins us. And for one small moment it feels like nothing ever changed. It’s just the three of us. Like it’s always been.