Page 76 of Outcast

Seth softly added, "The same goes for me, brother. I saw his lies for myself today."

Confusion blanketed Jameson's face as he glanced back and forth between his two possible futures, each so drastically different. His mouth opened and closed a few times before he looked to the ground and bit his lip. His eyes closed tightly as he nodded, coming to a decision.

Looking up to meet my gaze, he broke my heart for the last time. "We were doomed from the beginning. We're better off without each other." To Seth he added, "I'll miss you, brother."

With those parting words, he walked to Maya and held her in his embrace, rocking back and forth from foot to foot. He’d made his decision.

Seth and Milo entwined their fingers with mine and squeezed at the same time.

"We'll get through this, Kitten."

"I love you, Kira. It’ll be okay."

Fighting to hold the tears at bay and not crumble from the pain and finality of Jameson's rejection, I tried to focus on my other mates’ words. Milo's admission of love held together those pieces of me that threatened to break, like he’d sworn he'd do for me: hold me together so tightly that I couldn't shatter.

Seth's line in the sand with Jameson and unwavering devotion over the past few days felt like a lifeline keeping me afloat.

You're not alone.

A wicked smile lit the alpha's face as his green eyes glinted with malice, and my blood boiled. He thought he'd won.

"You are not worthy of a duel as a traitor to the pack. Leave now and say a prayer to Selene that the Daimona aren't lying in wait for you, child." His words probably sounded normal for an alpha expelling a shifter from the pack, but I heard the underlying menace and intent behind his words.

He had the Daimona waiting to pick off my mates and capture me so he could complete his delivery to his master.

Let them fucking try. With my true mates by my side, I'd make it through this. I'd gather allies, hone my strength, and return to kill him. I just hoped that there would be a pack left standing with so many of them infected.

Glancing around one more time at the place we had called home for so long, I caught Sofia’s eyes, filled to the brim with tears as her father stood behind her with a tight grip on her shoulder, looking smug at my exile.

I’d kill that fucker when I came back as well.

Turning our backs, Milo, Seth and I shifted into our wolves and sped towards the forest without looking back.

While parting with Jameson in finality hurt like a bitch, I came to the realization that sometimes you just have to look forward, give the world the middle finger, and let the past burn in your wake.