Page 24 of Spark (Damselverse #2)

Chapter twenty-four

Zara

I already know who is standing outside the door before it knocks, and I drop the little cat toy.

Little Blaze wiggles his butt and then attacks the toy at the end of the stick. Meanwhile, his sisters, Ember and Enya, watch on.

Seraphina is relaxed once again, and she even let me pet her behind the ear earlier. She purred, too, and it’s progress.

Nolan appears, but his smile is hesitant when he spies me on the floor playing with the kittens.

“Hey."

He doesn’t use his term of endearment today. Things have been pretty awkward between us these last few days, ever since I found out that he kept the knowledge about my grandma from me.

I’m still mad over the fact, which is why I have kept my distance from him. He should have told me; it was my right to know.

Nolan steps toward Seraphina, stroking her behind the ear, and she leans into his touch.

I can’t say I’m a little jealous. Once upon a time, those fingers used to soothe me.

“Wow, she’s almost like a different cat,” he notes.

“Hm mm,” I answer back, finding it hard to look at him.

Nolan notices the snub. I can tell by the way he sighs and crosses his arms.

More tense silence passes between us. Only the sound of the kittens scuffling fills the void.

“Zara…”

I close my eyes. It’s obvious he wants to talk about the argument we had, but I’m not in the mood.

All I care about is getting my grandma back safely.

“Don’t talk about it. Not now. You can make it up to me by getting my grandma back.”

Nolan is as still as a statue. Then he exhales heavily, reaching a hand behind his head. “Xavier is back. I just got a text.”

For the first time, I whirl around, meeting his bright violet eyes.

Xavier's alive?

Tears prick the back of my eyes.

Thank goodness. I have been so worried.

“Where is he?”

Nolan smiles tightly. “At his secret art gallery.”

Xavier has a secret gallery?

I am on my feet in an instant. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go!”

Just before I approach the door, Nolan stops me. “Zara… there’s more you should know.”

I find his eyes again. The Alpha continues. “He succeeded. George is in his custody.”

The news shocks me to my core, sending a dark prickle up and down my spine.

I suppose it was the moment I had been waiting for, and it appears I may just get my revenge.

Still, there is something I need to do.

I send Halle a text.

She said she would always be there, and right now, I need her to do something for me.

When she answers, I almost choke at the sound of her lovely voice. “Zara!”

I wipe a tear from my cheek. “Hi, Halle.”

“Is everything okay?” she asks.

Funny how she knows something is up with me right away. I waste no time. “Halle, do you think you could mind Seraphina and the kittens for the next few days?”

I can’t have my little cat family in any danger now.

“Of course. Penn and I would be delighted! We look after Aiden’s cats all the time.”

And now I am giving her more cats to take care of.

“And it’s no problem at all?”

“None at all!”

“Thank you! Do you think you can pick them up in an hour?”

The further away from the pack house they are, the better.

“I will be there in half an hour. See you soon, Zara.”

The Omega hangs up, and I look up at Nolan. He smiles. “Smart idea, but I’m sure things will be okay.”

I sigh. “Just in case… I can’t have them in any danger.”

Nolan grins, showing his white teeth. “Let me help you pack their things.”

Now the Alpha helps me with getting the cats into their carrier, and it doesn’t take us long to collect their food bowls and their toys.

I hate to move them from here. This room has become their home, and they have even started venturing into different rooms in the house.

Yet they have to get used to a whole new place, but it's for the best.

If any of the Wolf’s men came to the house, they would be in terrible danger.

Halle arrives within half an hour, just like she promised, with her Alpha, Penn. The Omega gazes into the carrier at Seraphina and the kittens. “Hi there.”

The mother cat is wary of her, yet the kittens are rather curious about the strange new Omega and her handsome Alpha.

The spectacled Alpha has some kind of weird animal magnetism about him. Even Seraphina lets him rub behind her ear, and she purrs for him.

Nolan chuckles. “Have you ever thought about working at the shelter? We could do with someone with your skillset, Penn.”

Penn sighs. "Aiden’s cats keep me on my feet enough as it is."

Nolan smiles, handing him a business card. “Well, if you ever change your mind.”

Penn peers down at Halle, unsure. She just shrugs, picking up the carrier that contains my babies. I hold back a sob as they leave through the door.

“All right. Maybe I will consider it,” Penn says, placing Nolan's business card into his tweed jacket.

Now he leaves with his Omega. Halle looks my way before they reach the car. “We promise to take good care of them. Won’t we, Penn?”

Penn smiles, getting his car keys out of his pocket. “Yes. The more cats, the merrier…”

Halle giggles, shoving him playfully as they get inside Penn's car. “Ignore him. He adores cats, really.”

I laugh. “Then he is going to love Blaze. He's such a handful!”

Halle grins, holding up the carrier again. Four sets of eyes watch me inside. “Say goodbye to your mommy, guys.”

I wave a hand at my cats. “Goodbye, guys! I will miss you.”

The cats don’t respond, but I do think I spy a little heartbreak in Seraphina's eyes as Halle finally places her in the back seat of Penn’s car. Then she gets in beside him, making sure they are safely strapped up.

I watch as the car drives away at the end of the road. Nolan stays by my side. When they disappear, I hang my head, covering my face.

Nolan is hesitant at first. But then in the end, he places his arm around me, holding me close.

Now I cry into his chest.

“You will see them again. Everything will work out, Zara. I know.”

I wipe my face, smiling up at him. “I hope you’re right. When all this is over, Nolan… I want to adopt them. All four of them. They’re mine.”

Nolan’s answering grin brings butterflies to my stomach, and then he brings me in for another hug, purring softly.

“I was waiting for you to say that. Because I want them, too.”

I snort. “They can all be our babies.”

The Alpha grips my face and plants a soft kiss on my lips. I suppose this is his olive branch.

He's sorry about keeping the knowledge of my grandma away from me. But I guess he was just trying to protect me.

Now he takes my hand as we enter the house.

We are going to rendezvous with Xavier at his secret art gallery.

And from there, I will finally be reunited with George. I have never been more ready.

For my grandma, I will face down my enemies.

Even The Wolf.