Ryder’s POV
It's quiet; it almost feels like I'm in her cottage, but I'm not. It doesn't smell like her. This place isn't decorated with her touch. I don't see her everywhere I look. Her garden isn't outside; nothing of her is here except the things of hers I brought with me. I look at them spread out in my office. I don't know how long I've been standing here looking at them. It feels like minutes, but I know it's been hours.
My heart aches; everything in me screams to go back to where she is. I know she told me she was not there anymore, but to me, she is. She was the color on the walls, the flowers in the vases. She was the vegetables in her garden and the yellow shutters against the sage green house. She was everything and everywhere. I existed in her world. She was my world, but my world is now gone. How do I go on without her? I feel so lost. My purpose is almost gone. It was Angelica and Azalea. Angelica is gone, and Azalea will be 18 soon. Soon, she'll be gone as well, off living her own life.
I'm not sure what I'll do when she goes off on her own. I'm sure I'll go back to Angelica's cottage. It's the only way I can be near her. Even my wolf is urging me to go there.
He's been depressed since we got here. He can no longer shift when I go to sleep and sleep on her grave each night. I didn't realize he was doing it until I woke up naked on her grave one morning. I assumed it was a one-time thing until Azalea told me she had seen him sleeping on her Mother's grave many mornings and many nights.
Now, he can't do that. She's too far away.
I blinked my eyes and shook my head at the sound of a knock at the door. It was then that I realized my face was soaked.
I wiped my face and cleared my throat as I walked down the hall toward the door. When I opened it, I wasn't surprised to find Michael on the other side.
“Come on, I'm not leaving you cooped up in this apartment again, and I'm not taking no for an answer,” Michael said as he grabbed my wrist and pulled me from my apartment.
I groaned and didn't even bother trying to take my hand back. I allowed the idiot to pull me along with him.
“Where are you taking me?” I asked when he dragged me to the first floor, away from the kitchen and front door.
“I'm taking you to have some fun,” Michael said, and I rolled my eyes at his shitty job of answering my question.
My question was answered when he dragged me down the stairs to the basement. The music became louder as we neared the bottom of the stairs, and the sound of a cue ball breaking a racked set echoed as we reached the bottom.
As we turned and entered the basement, my eyes scanned the room, and I was surprised to see everyone there.
Michael, Asher, Anders, Mark, Thaddeus, Aiden, Grayson, Sebastian, Ezra, Roman, Reid, and Julian were in the game room.
All the omegas and Sebastian were sitting around a table near the back playing cards while the rest played pool.
The ones who weren't playing sat at the high-top table along the wall with their drinks. Reid puffed on a cigar while nursing a can of Dr Pepper, and Thaddeus sipped his bourbon.
Ezra growled at Asher when he laughed as he scratched the cue ball.
Anders turns after making his shot, and he smiles when his eyes land on me.
“Ry! Damn, it's so good to see you!” Anders said as he approached and pulled me into a hug.
As I hugged Anders, I realized how much I missed everyone. As soon as Anders moved away, Thaddeus pulled me into a bone-crushing hug that was almost painful.
“Come have a drink! I brought down the good stuff. Maker's Mark private selection,” Thaddeus said as he swung his arm around my shoulder and led me toward their table.
I chuckled and shook my head. Nothing had changed about the old man. After all these years, he's still drinking the same stuff. I thought and laughed harder, which earned me a curious look from the Alpha.
“I just found it funny that you're still drinking the same stuff.”
“Hell yeah, I am! Ain't nothing better!” Thaddeus said and slapped my shoulder a little too hard before parting and sitting down.
“I like Detroit city's butcher-cut bourbon.” Anders said before taking his next shot. His lips tugged up when he made his shot. He winked at Mark before taking his next shot and smiling triumphantly when it went in.
“I like Doc Holliday. Talk about smooth!” Asher said, licking his lips as if he had just had a taste.
“Y'all wasting your money on that expensive shit! Just give me some Captain Morgan and cream soda! Twisty cream sodas is what it's all about!” Said a soft, rough voice from the back of the room that was all too familiar.
I was almost in my seat when I heard his voice. I stood and scanned the room, trying to figure out where he was.
“He's back there laying down,” Asher said as he pointed to the couch behind the table where the Omegas were sitting. As I got closer, I saw someone lying on the couch, tucked in with a fluffy comforter.
My heart clenched when my eyes landed on Noah. He didn't look any better than he did when I first got here. In fact, he looked worse. His pale skin, which usually had a rose tint behind it, lacked the rose tint. His skin lacked color, and he looked lifeless.
I grabbed a chair and pulled it over before sitting down next to him. I looked at the Omega, who I still see as my Luna and my heart broke. I'm not used to seeing him like this. I'm used to seeing him full of life, cocky and speaking his mind, not lying here looking like he's on death's door.
“Hey, how are you feeling?”
“Like shit! Alpha jerk won't let me drink, and neither will Alpha jerk number 2!” Noah said with a pout, and I laughed.
“There's my Luna,” I said as I roughed my fingers through his hair.
Noah gave me a weak smile before pointing at the table next to his head.
“Can you hand me my water? My throat's dry.”
“Sure,” I said, propping his head up and then handing him his water.
My stomach dropped when I saw his hands shaking as he reached for his cup. It dropped even further when I noticed he had difficulty bringing the straw to his mouth. I quickly reached forward and directed the straw into his mouth.
Once Noah had his fill, he handed me the cup, and I set it down. I frowned as I pushed his hair away from his eyes.
“You need a haircut!”
“I need to get laid; that's what I need!” Noah said, and Michael coughed as he sat down on the couch at Noah's feet. He lifted the Omega's feet, put them in his lap, and began squeezing and massaging them.
“Boy, even on your deathbed, that's all you can think of,” I joked.
“I'm not on my deathbed. I'm just pretending to be sick to get sympathy from these guys. I was hoping they’d put on a show for me if I looked sick enough. Maybe strip each other, watch Michael take Asher in the ass again, something good like that, ya know,” Noah said, and Asher choked on his bourbon. It sprayed across the table and showered Reid's face.
“Who'd he hit with that?” Noah asked with a devilish grin.
I laughed and shook my head.
“I'm glad to see you're still yourself,” I said, and Noah closed his eyes as I kissed his forehead.
“Get some rest,” I said as I stood. As soon as I stood, Noah reached for Michael and made grabby hands at him like a child.
A soft smile spread across Michael's face as he squeezed in beside Noah and wrapped his arms around him.
“Kiss me so I can at least taste the bourbon,” Noah said as I walked away, and I laughed. That Omega never fails to make me laugh.
As I walked past the Omegas, I roughed my fingers through Mark's hair, and he looked up at me with a smile.
“Hey Ry! It's good to see you,” He said as he stood, reaching for me. My heart melted as I leaned down and hugged him.
As he pulled away from the hug, Mark looked up at me with a smile, and I felt that familiar feeling as if she was here. For the first time, I realized that she was here. All that time we shared in the pack house before we moved to her cottage was always with Asher, Michael, Noah, Anders, and Mark. The seven of us were together almost every day. We worked together and ate together. We let our wolves run together. We were a family.
I turned back, looked at Michael, and smiled when I saw him nuzzling Noah's face. She's here, everywhere in this room; she is with everyone.
I felt my chest stutter and my eyes burn as I tried to keep the tears back. I somewhat managed, but I'm sure it was noticeable.
When I sat down, Reid was still glaring at Asher while drying his face. I laughed as I grabbed a glass and poured myself two fingers of bourbon. I held my glass up and let my eyes roam the room.
“To family,” I said, and I wasn't the least bit embarrassed that my voice cracked.
“TO FAMILY!” everyone said at once before clinking their glasses together and taking a sip.
.
Maverick's POVThe shower was soothing, but she was more soothing, and I couldn't wait to get back to her. I didn't spend a moment longer in there than I had to. I cleaned my body, dried myself, and pulled my boxers on as fast as I could. When I opened the door and looked into the bedroom, I was stunned by her beauty. I know she's an angel, but she looked ethereal sitting on the bed in a pale pink gown that reached mid thigh, a book in her hand, as the evening's sun shone in through the window on her.Her red hair looked as if it were on fire where the sun shone on it. Her pale, porcelain skin was flawless, and her natural, red lips looked as if she were wearing lipstick on them, even though she wasn't.Her beautiful, natural, flowery scent greeted me as soon as I stepped into the room, and it brought peace over me in an instant.Her eyes lifted from the book, and she smiled as she closed it and placed it on the nightstand. She pulled the sheets back beside her and tapped the empty s
Third Person's POV Maverick stood back, confused and concerned, as he watched and listened to them argue about him. He could feel Shade's concern oozing into him. He was already regretting telling Grayson and wondered what would happen now. “You don't know what I know! You didn't study them like I did. He's here now, but sooner or later the call of the gate will get to him, and just like that,” Reid said, snapping his finger. “Your new friend will be your enemy!”A wave of guilt and shame came over Maverick. His head dropped and his shoulders slumped… Could Reid be right?The gate has been calling to him, and it seems relentless. At times, it's so loud it's hard to ignore. Is that his fate? Will the gate eventually win? Does that mean he'll become something evil–something dangerous… something he's never wanted to be?Her voice pulled him from the depths that his mind was spiraling, and he looked up to find Azalea scolding everyone. “You should be ashamed of yourselves! How many tim
Third Person's POV Sebastian knew it was pointless to remind Noah he was a Delta 3 and not an Omega. He insists that he has claimed him as one of his Omegas. As strange as it is to be called something he's not, it kind of feels good being considered one of Noah's Omegas. He's so defensive and protective of them. It's like they're his children. It's kind of nice having that Dad figure that was missing from his life. Sebastian looks up when fingers lightly press against the underside of his chin. His heart flutters when he sees Grayson leaning down. His eyes flutter closed as lips press against his. They linger for a moment before they're gone. The look in Grayson's eyes tells Sebastian that the kiss isn't over. A small rush of excitement flows through him at the thought of what the night will lead to. He blushes as he dashes into the kitchen, following the Omegas who quickly get to work, helping Aiden cook dinner. “Hi, Father,” Grayson said as he hugged his father.The vampire King
I'm posting this editor note to let everyone know the last several chapters are finally corrected.The last two chapters were identical, titled chapter 93. That has now been corrected. If you look at the chapter before this, it should read as chapter 94 and should be a completely new chapter.
Third Person's POVKevin was ready to rip his ears off, and Kyle wouldn't stop giggling at his silly uncle. Kevin quickly realized why Tate suggested that Noah ride with them instead of taking him back himself. Each time he glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Tate driving comfortably in silence, he was tempted to pull over and throw Noah in the car with him. Kevin drove faster than he normally did, and the packhouse came into view in record time. The car came to a sudden stop, and Noah stopped talking abruptly, causing Kevin to freeze. The Delta slowly turned and looked in the backseat. When he did, he saw Noah staring at him with a blank expression. “Thanks for the ride!” Noah suddenly said, and climbed out of the car just like that.Kyle curled forward, holding his stomach, laughing. The expression on his mate's face was priceless, and had him laughing so hard tears filled his eyes.Kevin growled and Kyle screeched as he was plucked out of his seat and pulled across the center
Third Person's POV The Delta 1 never heard the door open. He was so focused on examining a slide and making notes that he didn't sense him approaching. The Delta sucked in a sharp breath when hands suddenly covered his eyes. “Guess who?” a delicate voice from behind asked. Kevin smiled as he reached back and grabbed Kyle's legs. The Omega giggled and pulled his hands back, allowing his mate to turn and face him. A smile stretched from ear to ear on the Omega as he climbed into Kevin's lap, straddling him as he wrapped his arms around his neck. The Omega was a breath of fresh air. His green eyes sparkled, and his chocolate-brown hair rested delicately against his creamy, pale skin. His smile was bright enough to light up a room, and his scent made it feel as if Kevin were home. “How did you get here?” Kevin asked, his hands caressing the Omega's thighs before moving to his back.“I came with Noah and Tate. They were coming to see Alpha Mike. I thought I'd hitch a ride to surprise y