Chapter Thirteen
“Does it feel wrong to be going out on a night out celebrating when everyone in the city except for us is getting ready for war?” Annie pauses, hairbrush halfway through my hair, then continues brushing out the curls she’s done until they are soft, dark waves. I’m not wearing anything over the top for my date night because I don’t even know exactly what they’ve planned. My mates, after making me a massive breakfast this morning filled with pancakes and all the food that I like, told me we’re going out tonight for a date and to be ready when the sun sets. I haven’t seen any of them since then but that isn’t unusual when they are training new recruits and preparing with people. Usually one of my mates is around and comes to train with me, or sits through my talks with my aunt about the plans, which she relays to the leaders of the city's army, so everyone is on the same track. It’s all happening so soon, and I want it that way, but I think a part of me is worried about what happens after this. If we win, will I be hunted forever for my part in the near destruction of the world? Can there ever be a normal for me? I know my mates are aware of how I am feeling about what normal could mean for us and I think this isexactly why they have planned this date night. I think it’s strange that this is our first group date. Bonded group date? Mate group date? I’m not sure what we call it, but this is new territory for all of us. It is something I want us to do, often, because we will are one bond group now. I love them all, and we have fought to be here.
“No. It’s not wrong in the slightest.” Annie finally replies, her blonde hair catching the dying sunlight from the window. “I mean, they are really excited. Your hesitation makes me feel like doing normal things is strange for you in this situation . It’s not. Everyone going into this war knows they can’t win it without you and your mates, without the power that you bring. So if you need a night — one night to go out and have a date — then you should damn well take it. You should relax and have fun. Just enjoy your time with your mates. You guys have fought so hard to be together. Literally, I’ve been at your side and watched all of it. No one is looking at you today and thinking you’re selfish; they are thinking you are amazing for fighting for them despite everything they heard happened. They know who took you, what he did and made you do. They know how your mates were when you were gone... and everyone wants you to find some happiness. This is what the war is about, isn’t it? Being free and having the choice to be happy.”
I turn around and stand up. “How do you always know what to say?” She pulls me into a tight hug, and I hug her back, breathing in deep. Annie is right. She often is, and it’s one of the things I love about her. “Gwen, it’s not bad to be happy. To have something real and pure is a gift from the stars. That’s what I see with you and them. You’re alive around them, and they’re the same with you. Those six months—” she pauses. “I don’t want to bring up bad things tonight, but they were like ghosts when you weren’t there. Just ghosts, barely alive, haunting this world, looking for you. Now they want to live a little with the womanthey are obsessed with. It’s not bad.” She pulls back and looks at me. “It helps that you look absolutely amazing. I love how long your hair’s got. Mine just seems not to grow, not quite like yours.”
I turn to the mirror and glance at what she’s seeing. My hair falls in waves right down to my waist. She’s braided two parts up, pulling my hair off my face. I have a little bit of light makeup on and a tight, corseted red top with flowy sleeves tucked into high-waisted black jeans and dark boots. It’s casual but not too much, and I hope my mates like it. “I could go shopping in the city a hundred times over and still not pick up amazing clothes like you do.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve advised all your mates on their outfits too. Including my brother.” She pats my arm.
I look at her in the mirror. “Onyx told me that you’d had that discussion. I wanted to be there when you did, but I understand why he told you then and there. I didn’t want to hide the truth from you, but it wasn’t my place to say anything. Onyx had to figure out his own way of breaking that news to you. If you want to talk about it?—”
“I don’t think I want to talk about it. I talked with Issan, my mate, about it a lot.” She stops me, and we both go and sit on the edge of the bed.
“It’s still strange hearing you say that. Not strange that you two are together — it’s just that you seemed so adamantly against mating with Issan before.” I point out. Not that I have anything to say on that. I was enemies with most of my mates, and now I love them.
“So did you. You literally tried to run away from your mates by joining a military academy.” She points out.
“Touché. It wasn’t one of my finest decisions... especially when I figured out they were the tutors.” We both burst into laughter.
“But no, Gwen, I don’t want to talk about Onyx right now, but thank you for the offer. I’m actually happy that Onyx is my half-brother. You know how I feel about family, and my lack of it. I’ve always wanted a sibling, so this isn’t a bad thing. I think I’m just struggling more with who my father is, and how my mother never told me, and what a secret that must have been to carry her whole life. I had good parents growing up. They were good.” I believe her, they raised Annie after all, and she is the kindest person I’ve ever met. Likely ever will meet. “My dad was literally the Alpha of Starlight for years, and those years were mostly good and filled with peace. He made mistakes, but he was a good father to me. Gave me a good life. To believe all that time that I wasn’t his daughter, and he knew — that, I think, is what I’m struggling with. It may take me a few years to process. But I have no intention of pushing Onyx away. I really do want to get to know him better, and all in all, it is fantastic that you’re technically my sister-in-law.” She grasps my hands, squeezing them tight.
I squeeze her back. “It’s a good thing. It’s always been a good thing.” I smile.
“Now — no more family talk, or business talk, or serious stuff. It’s time for you to go out on whatever amazing date they planned. I need the gossip when you’re back. I’m going to kick all of them if it isn’t the best night you’ve had in ages. Even Finn.” she frowns. “Even now I feel like kicking him would definitely hurt my toe.”
I laugh once more before leaving her in her room, and I pause at the door. “Have fun with Franklin. Thank you for looking after him.”
“It’s a pleasure. The kid’s awesome. Quiet, but awesome.” She shrugs. “I have new snacks, and I’m hoping one of the snacks gets him to like me.”
“I literally let him steal my dog and he still doesn’t speak to me.” I point out, making her laugh. I walk out, my boots clicking across the floor with their small heels. I come round to find my mates all sitting around the living room—waiting for me. They are always waiting for me, no matter where I am or how far away. I know now, without a doubt, my mates are my world and they are never going to let me down. I didn’t realise how much I needed even one person to be that for me, not until they came for me time and time again. My mates. The men I love, a love I never thought I’d be able to feel. I often wonder if I disobey my parents... would it have been different? They would have protected me from that point onwards; I would have finished off my teenage years meeting them several times a year, supervised by my parents, and becoming their friends. Our lives would have been so much different, and it could have ended badly, but I think we would have fought to make sure it didn’t. I can’t change the past; I can only enjoy the now. I intend to. Onyx and Aleksander were talking quietly about something, both of them in dark suits that were tight, yet fit them well. I admire them for a long second before I turn, hearing Severi laughing with Hollis. Severi has chosen a casual t-shirt and jeans, a playful smile on his handsome face. Hollis and Rhodes are in suits, different to the others because they have white shirts tucked into smart trousers. Hollis has several buttons undo, and he is talking fast with Severi, who actually looks like he is enjoying the conversation. Finnegan is by the window, watching the city in a dark blue shirt, jeans that make his ass look incredible, and I turn to find Rhodes and Onyx coming out of the kitchen, talking. They look insanely good, too.
There’s something about the group being together like this that’s perfect.
Home. This is my home. With them — my six mates — it is my home.
One by one they turn to look at me, and I can feel how much they like what I’m wearing. My cheeks burn as the tension in the room ramps up bit by bit as they run their eyes over what I’m wearing. I take in what they’re wearing too. Annie has done a very good job, but I wouldn’t expect less. My Nexus stretches in my mind, watching them from my one eye and purring in my mind. She focuses on Finnegan, who I’m sure is her favourite for a long moment, but she looks at them all. “Have a good night.” Her offer is simple, and I feel her slipping into a sleep in my mind, leaving me alone with my mates.
Mine, mine, mine. “Are we ready to go? Or?—”
Onyx chokes on his reply. “Y-yes.” He comes to me, offering me his hand before anyone else can. “We need to take you to the roof first.”
“Alright.” I raise an eyebrow at him, but he doesn’t tell me anything more.
His hand loops around my waist, but Severi leans over on my other side, his lips brushing my ear, his hand touching the ends of my hair. “You look delicious, Tulip.”
“No flirting until we get there.” Onyx warns them all.
Groans erupt across the room. Severi sighs and backs away, running his fingers down my arm. “There I was thinking you’re my favourite of the lot.”
Onyx just rolls his eyes. I have a suspicion these two are going to be good friends, eventually. We go up to the roof in the lift and step out into a cold breeze. There’s a helicopter waiting — a big one, and its choppers are spinning. There is a pilot in the front seat, waiting for us. I turn to Onyx. “I thought the date was in the city. Where exactly are we going?”
“To the border of the city,” Onyx replies, shouting over the noise as the helicopter blades blow towards us and we walk closer.
A heavy coat falls over my shoulders before I can even shiver from the cold. I look back to see Finn and smile gratefully as I slide my arms through, my fingertips barely touching the edges of his jacket, before I let Onyx lead me onto the helicopter. We all sit in rows, putting our seatbelts on before the pilot takes off into the skies of the city. I watch the sparkling lights as night begins to fall over the towers of the city, and I rest my head on Aleksander’s shoulder. He kisses the top of my head, watching me instead of the city. The sun finally disappears and leaves the city in a dim darkness as we land just outside what looks like a very overgrown part of a forest on the border of the city. I can still see the city towers, but we are quite far enough away. I’m more curious by the second.
I trust my mates, but I still frown at them. “Is anyone going to tell me where we are?” They all smile knowingly, but no one tells me anything as we land. Aleksander lifts me down off the helicopter, and as soon as we are far enough away in the short grass, it takes off again, disappearing into the night sky. It’s silent when the helicopter is gone; only a few crickets echo in the distance. “The chopper will be back at midnight, so we’ve got hours.”