Page 92 of Ondine: Vol. 2

I tell him about not getting the position on the symphony. He is so kind and sweet to me about it. I tell him about bringing my things inside. He says that last night he cleaned out most of his place. His lease is up in two months and he’ll let it go after that.

His fish tanks already have a new home.

“We’re really doing this thing?” He asks me.

Sebastian calls out that dinner is ready.

I pull Arnie’s face to mine.

“Yes!”

“Cause I can take them, if I need to. Maybe not right now. Give me a few days. But I’ll get us out of here if you don’t want it.” I kiss him on the bridge of his nose.

“I want to keep them.”

“Ok, honey. I’ll just get better at hiking then.”

He stands up and offers me his hand pulling me up off the couch, and we go into the bright kitchen where everyone else is.

And for the first time we all eat together. We talk and laugh and tell stories. Jake chides Shadow for not cleaning his plate. Freddie and Arnie eat like 20 tacos between them as they talk about being lost in the wilderness, leaving everyone laughing so hard our sides ache. Jake makes margaritas and passes them out to everyone. I start out in my own chair and then in Freddie’slap. Sebastian pulls out some playing cards and shows me his favorite game.

Hours go by before we leave the kitchen to pile up in the entertainment room for Shadow to show us some YouTube videos he was telling us about. The YouTube videos turn into a movie, and eventually I fall asleep in Arnie’s arms, Jake laying on my hip, and Freddie on the floor between my legs.

I’ve never been happier.

27

Boo

Shadow

Jake ordered me to bash in Boone’s kneecaps.

Well, he didn’t say that.

He said that Boone needs to be told to leave Sebastian alone. I twirl my machete over my palm and knuckles on my way to Boone’s law office. I’ve been dying to tell this fucker off.

He keeps texting Sebastian, and while the guy is usually very put together, it’s eating him up. His stress and anxiety spikes every time his phone pings.

Up until recently I believed Boone every time he looked at me like I was the biggest fucking loser. But Jake chose me. Sebastian chose me. Ondine chose me. Why would I give a fuck about his slimey ass and who he chooses?

I asked Jake about Boone courting Ondine. He’d tried to lead Ondine to believe he was making food or getting her things that the pack was giving her.

Boone’s never made a lasagna a day in his fucking life. He’s a fucking liar.

And all the clothes were from Jake.

The sun is shining. A cool breeze passes over me. But I’m running hot so I don’t shiver.

Jake’s words echo in my head as I pick up my pace—I don’t often find myself admitting to being influenced, but it was Boone who told me to stop fucking you. I was young and he knew my dreams of having a big pack, and building a successful business. He said that if I tied myself so closely to you, it would stunt me. And when we met Sebastian, and he was very vocal about his feelings about alpha-alpha relationships, I decided that was it. I don’t regret anything in my life, but I regret not believing I could have everything I wanted. You’re mine, Shadow. All mine. No one gets in the way of that again.

I thought Jake lost interest in me. I thought he didn’t understand how badly I wanted more from him. This whole time he believed that our relationship would stop him from having all he wanted, because his older best friend told him so. I won’t ever let him doubt me again. I will make sure Jake is happy. That he has his big pack. I’ll always have his back.

Boone’s law office is a single-office building with a glass roof. I bust open the door and enter to find him at his desk. His paralegal nowhere in sight. Beautiful.

Just to set the mood, I slice my machete blade across the contents of his desk, sending everything flying off. Glass shatters on the floor and wall. Pencils and papers scatter.

“Wow, what the fuck, Shadow!” Boone shouts as he jumps up off his office chair.