Chapter 100
ONE HUNDRED
LAUREL
I held Ocean’s hand tight in mine as we stepped out of the bedroom into the main living space.
“Ocean!” Finch said, standing up. Relief was written all over his face, and he opened his arms wide as Ocean came closer.
He was completely unprepared when Ocean decked him directly in his face. He staggered to the side as Ocean squared up.
“That was for dark bonding her,” he said, his face hard.
Finch didn’t strike back. He only lowered his head, consternation written across his features. “I deserved that.”
“Damn right, you did,” Ocean said, settling back on his feet. “You better spend your whole life making it up to her.”
There was a shriek, and a flash of black whizzed past me as Kaos tackled Ocean to the ground. Ocean was laughing, trying to free his arm where Kaos was wrapped around him like a koala, his face a mask of determination.
“Let go, you maniac,” Ocean said, but Kaos didn’t respond, just clung tighter. I could feel him in the bond, relieved, but also buzzing with a tension that wasn’t fading. “Uh, Finch? A little help?”
Finch helped Ocean to the couch, and I slid in next to Kaos, running my hand over the short hair on his head. His eyes were closed now, but he was still clutching tight to Ocean, like he might vanish at any moment.
“It’s okay, Jaehwan,” Ocean murmured, rubbing his back and starting up a purr.
I looked at Finch, who settled behind me.
“It’s his family name,” Ocean explained. “Kinda means brilliant?”
Finch chuckled.
“He’s brilliant but not so focused.”
“What about you guys?”
“Haejoon,” Ocean supplied. “It’s why I picked Ocean for my pack name.”
I glanced at Finch.
“So do you have a name that means bird or something?” I asked. He rolled his eyes.
“We call him that because he used to be tiny. And super cautious.” Ocean said with a grin.
“What’s your real name?” I asked.
“Saehwan,” he replied.
“So you changed your names when you became pack?”
“Yeah. Well, Finch added his as a middle name. Me and Kaos changed ours.”
Ocean grinned. “And probably for the best, because Kaos’ birth name was—KeeEnnn’” he started.
Kaos’s head snapped up, and his hand flew to cover Ocean’s mouth. “Don’t tell her that,” he snapped. “You’re ruining this reunion moment.”
Ocean pried his mouth free. “Ruining it, huh?” he asked, laughter in his voice. “You’re right, it was pretty perfect until that point. Just how I imagined meeting you again.”
Kaos huffed, eyebrows furrowing.
“Wait, what was his name, though?” I asked.
“It doesn’t matter,” Kaos said. “The people who called me that didn’t deserve to give me a name.”
I studied him. “I don’t need to know it, then,” I said, and he relaxed, putting his head on Ocean’s shoulder.
“Wow, way to make me feel bad,” Ocean said, and Kaos patted his hand and closed his eyes again.