27. NEPHELINE

27

NEPHELINE

It's time.

I tell myself for the umpteenth time that there's nothing to worry about, that Mateo will win, and the next step is to rip Silas's head from his shoulders. Unfortunately, my Omega won't let me do anything else other than worry about what's to come. Still, I find a white dress in all of the clothes that River purchased, recreating the night that my pack was to hand me over to the Nightshades.

Staring at myself in the mirror, I recognize a woman who's grown out of the frivolous ideas and the absolute need for revenge. The woman staring at me is healthy, alive, and mated. She is determined to save her pack and start a new future. But most of all, the face looking back at me doesn't regret our past. I mourn those I've lost and wish Locke was still here to see the woman I've grown into and the men I've given my heart to.

I reach forward to press my fingers to my newest bond, the bite on my bottom lip just off to the right. It's still tender, although River has tried his best to persuade me that he needs to take care of it 24/7. My fingers move to the ones on my shoulders, Asani and Mateo nearly in the same place on either side. Moving farther south, I cup my tit through my dress, biting back a moan as the bite on my flesh stretches.

Maverick will most likely put his next to Asani's and Darius… a pang of disappointment hits me in the chest when I realize that I won't be able to show off his claim. No doubt he is mine but I want everyone to know that I have six mates, not just five. Storing that thought for later, I fix the top of my dress so that my new crest is peeking through.

River has been showing off the crest now covering his chest, each of my other mates making a dangerous connection between that symbol and sex with me as the way to obtain it. I quickly vetoed that line of thinking.

"Ready, sunshine?" Remi peeks his head into the bathroom and grins when I twist toward him. "Fuck, you're gorgeous. You always are but-"

"He'll be okay," I whisper as Remi steps up to me and sweeps me into a kiss. "I know that he'll be okay and Maverick said that the magic only strengthens after tonight."

My Alpha chuckles against my lips before pulling back. "Doesn't mean I can't worry. It's why I came in here to make sure you weren't pulling your hair out. Don't look at me like that. I know you're stronger than we give you credit for but I also know that you have taken way more onto your shoulders in a shorter amount of time than most Lunas do. I will always check on you."

"Why isn't Darius doing it?"

"Told him that I wanted to. It was a little bit of a tussle. Also, Mateo had to speak with him so I got dibs. Now, let's go wow our pack while Mateo shows them who's fit to be the leader." Remi sticks his hand out, those beautiful eyes dancing. I can't believe that it's only been a few weeks since I met them. It feels even longer from the day I first met Mateo over a year ago and jump-started this whole journey.

I gladly take my Alpha's hand as he leads me into the hallway, my other Alphas pausing as they drink in my new dress. River is all too happy as he bounds toward me and I twist my head so his pierced lips catch my cheek. "Sweetie…"

"Don't sweetie me! Every time one of you kisses me, I go weak-kneed. That is not an invitation. It's a goddamn distraction." I jab River's chest playfully before heading for safety. Which means Asani and Maverick. They gather me in their arms, pressing twin kisses to either temple as they hold onto me. Too soon, I'm released and turn around to search for my last two mates.

It feels like an eternity when Mateo and Darius emerge from the room, my Beta approaching me with a tight smile.

"What did he do to you?" I catch my words too late but refuse to take them back. Had I been just an Omega, Mateo or any of my other Alphas would have had my ass for that question. My loyalty is to my Alpha, not my Beta but in this little family of ours, nothing is normal.

Darius snorts as he gently grabs my cheeks and presses a kiss to the bridge of my nose. "Just giving me the rundown for what happens if he loses. Bambi, I know that he's not going to. We can all feel that this night is different. However, in case we're wrong, my only job is you. Kylan isn't just fighting for pack Alpha. He's fighting to have you at his side and if he manages that, you will suffer. My job is to prevent that."

"He's not losing."

"Bambi-"

"Mateo. Will. Not. Lose." I'm not going on the run again. I'm not going to search for another killer. After tonight, my goal will nearly be realized and then I will be one step closer to actually starting a life. Mateo comes up to my side, drawing me against his chest. He's absent a shirt, ready to shift at a moment's notice when we make it to the heart.

I'm not ready when Mateo leads me to the back door, rather than the front. We walk in silence, every time I look up to him to ask a question seemingly not the right time. Our mates follow behind us silently, almost as if this moment is just for me and Mateo. The bitter chill of the night air runs through me but I don't feel the cold. The warmth of my wolf and the magic hanging in the crystal forest is keeping me cozy. It isn't until we reach where the House of Crystal used to stand that Mateo stops and faces me.

Snow covers what is left from the burned ash of the house that would have been Locke and Mateo's meeting place when they both took their positions as pack Alpha.

"Tonight, I will steal one of your nightmares and replace it with victory. Nepheline, I will make the snow run red with Kylan's blood. He will rejoin our pack lands, the ones we have left abandoned for so long. Tonight is more than just protecting my seat. It is about ensuring the future, one that will include you and all of our mates."

Mateo's kiss is gentle but needy, my Alpha craving a comfort that only I can offer. I cling to him, supping from his strength as he wraps his arms around me. Too soon, he pulls away. "The Sapphire wolves will be here to greet us afterward. They will help guide us on this new path and return to the ways of old."

"They're here?"

"Yes, they are amongst us but they will not reveal themselves until later. If Kylan wins-"

"He won't."

"Listen to me, Nepheline. If he does, the Sapphire wolves will not let his evil taint their pack. It is pertinent that their magic stays pure and it is something I have agreed to. That is why Darius has his orders to shield you."

I hate that there has to be a contingency plan. There had been one the night my entire pack was slaughtered but it should have been Darius carrying me out of the crystal forest, not Flynn. I brace myself against Mateo as we wait, pack members slowly moving into the clearing, Ilsa's headstone just a few paces away.

The general aura is heavy with curiosity and fear and anxiety, people unsure of what will happen. After all, Kylan is much larger than Mateo in some respects. The majority of the pack has no clue about the serum and opening that can of worms would shove Asani into an unfavorable light that we can't afford. That truth will reveal itself sooner or later but for now, we'll focus on Kylan.

My breathing quickens when Kylan enters the clearing, his chest puffed out, his shoulders spread as he approaches us. A smug smile sits on his lips as he thrusts his hand out, Mateo staring at it but not touching it. My Alpha waits for everyone to settle before speaking to the entirety of the pack—faces I saw at the diner, those I'm sure follow Kylan and Calista, and a few new ones that I assume must be from the Sapphire wolves.

"As we all know, Kylan has challenged me for my position as pack Alpha and for the right to my Omega and our Luna. Tonight, this fight will be to the death but must stay in the clearing. There will be no outside interference, no cheating, and it will continue beneath the full moon until one of us breathes our last." Mateo's voice thunders across the snow, holding a power not unlike the one from last night. Only now that he's said his peace, does he address Kylan. "Do you still challenge me as pack Alpha for this position?"

Kylan bursts out laughing, shaking his head. "You think you are so great but have no idea what's truly working behind the scenes. I have been waiting for this moment. Waiting to strip you off your high horse and fuck your Omega until she's screaming my name. She will be a pretty trophy that I will ruin before handing off to your brother. Instill hope all you want, Mateo , but you won't win. I accept."

They clasp hands, Darius moving forward to pull me away. It isn't until I'm standing at the edge of the space that Asani bends down to my ear, his warm breath fanning my skin. "A few shots of that serum will give an Alpha a boost. Too many and it'll fuck with their ability to reason and to truly interact with their wolf. I suspect Kylan hasn't shifted in a while. That serum and becoming feral is a delicate balance."

My eyes widen as I twist around to glare at Asani. " You gave me that serum! My wolf could have become feral?"

"Nepheline, Enzo handed that shit to you on a pretty little platter and I knew that keeping you from that serum outweighed any other risks. To answer your question, no. That serum wasn't made for an Omega. Your wolf may have become a little more vicious but no, not feral."

I breathe a sigh of relief as I face my Alpha and Kylan again, both of them moving into readying stances. That's when my gaze falls on Calista dragging Gael in to sit on a small seat. Mateo's father has seen better days, his skin almost gray and his expression gloomy. He doesn't look like he's in pain—thank the goddess for Asani—but I don't know if he'll make it through this fight.

When Mateo notices his father is in attendance, I hope and pray that my Alphas are right—that Gael's presence will spur my Alpha to draw the magic from Mother Nature and use it to his advantage.

"We may lose a precious soul tonight but we will gain so much more. Remember that Gael will always be with Mateo, the same way that your brother is with you."

Maverick's words hit a cord as I frown but don't look away from my Alpha. I never mentioned Locke to him, not that I remember. If Maverick's words ring true, that means that the magic will bring back the aura of the Redstone pack. Our lands will feel full of life again.

One step at a time.

A growl tears through the clearing, Kylan shifting into the largest, most terrifying wolf I've ever seen. He's easily a few inches taller and thicker than Mateo and the snarl that follows the shift rumbles through the earth floor. The black fur is almost an inky color, the wolf's eyes so dark they absorb light from the snow.

Mother Nature says that Mateo will win.

I'm not so sure.