Page 145 of The Omega's Bloodlinem: Part Two

“There’s these too,” Yelena said, offering me a small stack of packages.

“What are they?”

“Gifts from your birth family, courtesy of the Witches’ Council.”

I raised one questioning eyebrow.

“Now that the O’Clerys are no longer underground, Anya helped find them all. None of your direct ancestors are still alive, but other family members knew them.”

I opened up the top box, the first photograph immediately recognizable. Virginia Burke, my aunt I had never known. Inside were more images of her, a singular one that according to the words scrawled on the back was Virginia as a baby with her birth mother.

The next box contained a photo album with images stretching from this year all the way back to black-and-white photos. A note taped inside the front cover gave everyone’s names, introducing me to a multitude of cousins I hadn’t known existed. As I flipped through the pages, one image had a gold star next to it and a piece of paper tucked behind it.

These are your parents. Mairead and Sean. They wanted the best of life for you and I hope the Murphys gave you that. I’msorry we weren’t in a position to keep you, but know that I think of you often.

All my love,

– Auntie Keira

Yelena held me while I wept. The Murphys had filled my life with a lot of love. My parents growing up had been only children born of only children, so my experience with extended family didn’t really exist. I lost them all one by one until it was just me. I had built a new family since then, but this was an opportunity I’d never expected to have. The universe was giving me a fresh chance to connect with my roots, for all of the O’Clerys to experience a world they had been denied.

Tiny Seth, Caden, and Kendrick fought for space on my lap, and Velda’s giant bear form cozied up at my back. Haru sat on my other side, my pack offering their comfort.

Do you like it?Seth asked.

“I love all of it. I can’t believe how much you all transformed it down here.”

The work is easy when the Councils are actually being helpful,said Kendrick.

Protectors, Margaret’s voice rang through my head.The Council representatives have arrived.

Be right there, I replied.

Everyone returned to their human forms and we went up as a unit to greet the reps.

The common areas were crowded, our residents eager to snoop. Cecily was talking to her mother, Violet, her gaze sliding every so often to the handsome shifter chatting with Florencia.

Someone I hadn’t really expected to see again walked through the doors. “Oh my gods, hi!” I beelined straight for Melinda.

She opened her arms to me and I sank into them, all but forgetting the agony of the last time she had touched me and ripped open the final bindings on my magic. “Congratulations on surviving.”

“How was Bucharest?”

“Beautiful, and my cousin was a lovely host. You did so much better than I expected.”

“It was touch and go for a while.”

Melinda cupped my cheeks. “You’ve made your ancestors proud. I’m sorry I wasn’t more help.”

“I don’t blame you for bolting. I had no idea what we were dealing with, and you still helped plenty. If you hadn’t unbound me, we definitely would’ve died.”

Melinda’s red-painted lips stretched into a smile. “Sometimes it’s worth it to break a few laws. The gods know better than the Council, anyway. I also see you collected a few more lovers since the last time I saw you. Well done.”

I laughed even as my cheeks warmed.

“I’m glad your cranky panther adapted himself to sharing.”

“Me too,” I said with another laugh.