Our Deceptive Heat (When it Raines Omegaverse #3)

41. Ryn

Chapter forty-one

Ryn

Paradise is only perfect when it’s with you- Ryn Raines

I find Kelly in our usual spot and lean on the rails beside him, looking out over the ocean.

“Looks good out there.”

“Does.”

“So, why are you up here and not down there?” I ask him with a grin.

“You want to tell me what’s going on?”

I wince. “They are mine.”

“A pack with two omegas?” Kelly scoffs.

I shove him with my shoulder. “You are so closed-minded when it comes to packs. Why do you need it to be black and white? Packs come in any shape or size. In my case, two omegas.”

“Who both spent the better part of the last five years pretending to be betas and alphas, yeah, you’re the poster child for well-adjusted packs.”

I snarl, getting irritated with him. “Haven’t you ever met someone and just clicked? You just knew the moment you saw them that you were supposed to be together?”

Kelly stays silent, which makes me wonder if he has met someone like that.

“I met them and I knew. I fought it so hard because of dad. But they were mine, Kelly. I’m happy.”

The stiffness eases from his shoulders. “Then I’m happy. Which leads me to ask, why are you out here instead of in there with them? ”

I clear my throat. “Because I know you're leaving, and you have this nasty habit of just packing a bag and vanishing, and I wanted you to know how much I appreciated the rescue. How grateful I am for you saving me.”

Kelly smiles, and he looks exactly like my mother wanted me to look like. Golden hair, bronze skin, those Raines eyes, and when he smiles, it warms you inside.

“Anything for you, baby Raines.”

“Hey! Lia, Bailey, and Bethany are younger than me.”

Kelly snorts, but we go silent, and I stare out at the waves.

“You should be running Alpha Labels. You’re the heir to our family’s businesses. Dad trained you.”

“No, Raider is.”

“Raider doesn’t want it. He never has. My father is not a Raines, and he’s destroyed everything our family built. Mum is completely cut out now.”

Kelly leans over the rail, hanging his head. “I can’t.”

I stand there and watch him. “I don’t know what happened to you, Kelly. And I don’t know why you suddenly decided not to take over. But I’m just saying, think about it. It’s a lot of people that depend on our businesses, and my dad is destroying it piece by piece. But if you can honestly say that you don’t want it, then we will let it go.”

“Why can’t you-”

“Come on, Kelly. You saw Locke, you heard him tell us what happened to him. He will never be okay. Not enough to lead, and his pack don’t want to leave that town. Lia is in with Mirakill now. If her pack tried to take over, there would be a mass exodus. Raider has made it his life’s work to be the biggest, baddest boy the Greene Alpha Demons Hockey team has ever drafted. And I, I want a chance to chase my dreams, just once. I want to stand on stage and sing my songs. I’m tired of watching everyone else sing them.”

Kelly sighs. “I can’t go back.”

I reach out and take his hand, squeezing it. “Okay. That’s okay.”

I don’t know what happened, but the Kelly who used to give me piggyback rides disappeared when he did. This man with deep shadows in his eyes appeared, refusing to take any sort of responsibility and refusing to do anything but surf.

I don’t know if he’s happy here, but I hope he is.

“You’re leaving today, aren’t you? You weren’t waiting for me?”

Kelly turns to me with a bright smile. “You wouldn’t have even noticed that I was gone.”

I study him sadly. “You’re wrong. We noticed every moment that you weren’t there, Kelly.”

His smile fades .

“I have to go.”

I smile up at him. “I know. Thank you for saving me.”

“Any time.”

I watch as he hesitates and then pulls me into a tight hug before stepping back and walking off.

Tyr approaches me slowly. I’m grateful he gave me the space, thankful for him being here, reminding me that I’m not alone.

“Are you ready?”

I hold my hand out, and he grabs it without hesitation. “I’m ready.”

Small torches light our way back to the beach. There is a crowd sitting on the sand, and Envy, Digs, and Mako sitting on a small stage.

Tyr refuses to relinquish my hand as he drags me up to stand beside him. He takes my hand and turns towards the crowd.

“Most of you don’t know it, but Ryn Raines is the lyricist for most of our songs. So, tonight, she’s going to be singing with me.”

I turn towards him, startled.

“In just a minute, but first, we have a song we wrote. I’d appreciate a few minutes of your time while we give this wonderful omega the apology she really deserves.”

I watch with tears as they sing a song of poignant yearning. The sweet words of sorrowful apology tell me more than all the fights and gifts could have. This is my language.

By the time the song draws to a close, I completely understand them.

Tyr drags me up to his side and hugs me close.

“Now, let’s sing Ryn’s songs the way they were supposed to be sung.”

“Tyr, I don’t think-”

“Sing!” Mako shouts.

“Sing!” Envy says.

The crowd picks it up, and soon, I’m standing in a group of thirty people, listening to them demand I sing. I start to laugh, but then I spot Kelly, Ezy, and Gael. They stayed. I put a hand to my heart and smile at my cousin.

He smiles at me and mouths the word ‘sing’.

I reach for the microphone, take a deep breath in, and let the notes come out. The silence is deafening until Envy’s raspy voice joins mine.

Digs starts playing a guitar, while Tyr walks around with a tambourine adding to the chorus. Mako works his small drum set like it's a full set up. It’s a small concert, one the likes no one has ever seen.

It’s magic.

It’s our magic.