Page 154 of The Bounty

“Yes,” I whisper.

“And you’re with…people, that are taking care of you?”

“Yes,” I promise him. “I’m as safe as I can be.”

It will take a fucking army to rip me away from my Alphas.

“Thiswillstop,” he promises me. “I know your mother and I will never understand what it’s like to be an Omega, but we’re going to fight like hell, Pumpkin. This is only the beginning. If they try to resurrectEden,I’m pretty sure your mother has a group of at least three hundred people on standby.”

“Yup, that sounds like Mom,” I sigh. “Just don’t let her get hurt.”

“Eh, she’s already been tear gassed once. She was fine.”

I put my hand to my head, exasperated. “Okay, Dad, you need to take care of—”

“Nah, I was there too, kiddo. We’re fighting the good fight. If you see any marches on the news, I guarantee you we’re in one of them.”

In that moment, I love my parents so fucking much it hurts.

“You’re the best,” I say softly. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank us for what’s right, Olive. You’re our daughter. And if I can help protect other people’s daughters as well, I will.”

I start to sob, and Dylan pulls me into his lap.

“Alright, dad, well I gotta go,” I say once I’m able to speak again. “But we’ll talk soon. I’m sure of it.”

“Of course, Pumpkin. And I know we’ll see each other soon. I can’t wait.”

After I hang up, I collapse against Dylan’s chest, breathing in his scent as I cry quietly.

But hope ignites in my chest, burning brightly.

“Your father’s right,” Dylan adds. “Thiswillstop, Olive.”

He kisses my hair, and I snuggle into him deeper, intertwining my fingers with his.

“I’m really lucky I have my parents,” I murmur. “They love me so much.”

Dylan pauses for a moment, and his scent darkens, the pine and forest swirling around me.

“Just like we do,” he whispers. “Just likeIdo.”

I turn to face him, my spirit soaring. “Is that right?” I tease. His eyes are bright as he looks into mine, grinning.

“Of course,” he says earnestly, wiping a tear from my cheek. “I’ve been gone since day one. I poured my heart out into that soup the first night you stayed with us.”

I chuckle.

It feels lifelifetimesago, when I first begged him to help me run away.

I’m glad he didn’t.

“I love you, too,” I reply, and his smile grows. He wraps his arms tighter around me and purrs, the gentle rumble soothing my inner Omega.

“Does that mean I’m your favorite?” He asks after a while, as we watch the snow gently fall outside the living room window.

I scoff. “I don’t have favorites.”

“But I’m the hottest, though.”

I sigh. “Of course, Dylan.”

His purr grows.