Chapter 39 Star #2
Everyone froze. “I don’t believe you,” Max finally replied, although I could see the doubt on his face.
Vlad chuckled. “If you kill me, you will never find them, which means you will never be able to seek revenge for what they did to you.”
I swear, I will kill this vampire myself.
Despite the rage threatening to bubble over, I allowed Max to come to a decision on his own, ready to support him no matter what.
Even if I might have some opinions about it later…
Max lowered his arm, letting the stake hang loosely at his side.
“There was a time I would have given anything for revenge against my maker, but that ended the moment I laid eyes on my eternal companion.” His gaze met Damon’s before drifting to me.
“And I was reminded again of my purpose when we met our third.”
Damon smiled softly. “And what purpose is that?”
“Your and Star’s happiness,” Max replied without hesitation. “To ensure you know I will stay. That you will never be alone, that I will always support and love you unconditionally… that you deserve everything I have to give you.”
“Aaaaand?” I teased, knowing full well I was being a brat.
But this is important.
Max huffed a laugh. “That I deserve it as well.”
Good boy.
Vlad scoffed in disgust but the rest of us gave that statement the silent respect it deserved.
“So, I do not care if you actually know where my maker is, Vlad,” Max continued, raising the stake again. “Because the last thing I would ever want is what you have, or to become anything like you.”
Burn.
“WAIT!” the vampire shrieked, but it was too late.
Max drove the stake into Vlad’s heart—spraying grody black gunk in every direction—before lifting his arm and bringing it down again, straight into his wrinkled jugular, for maximum decapitation.
Still hot after all these years.
“Damn… I was kinda hoping to be the one to do that,” muttered Chaz, his gaze fixed on the gore soaking into his trampled garden. After another moment, he sighed and glanced back at what remained of his house. “Well, I guess this is my sign to finally move on—”
“Why on earth would you leave?” snapped Max. “This is your home. We can easily rebuild the cottage…” He pointedly tilted his head toward Pearl. “Make it bigger, if needed.”
Zero subtlety.
Pearl made a disgruntled sound, while Chaz adorably blushed. “I would love to stay,” he mumbled. “I guess I just always assumed you saw me as a fourth wheel…”
“We do,” I confirmed, just to make him scowl. “We see you as our himbo werewolf fourth wheel, and an official part of our family.” Max and Damon nodded in agreement, so I added, “But now that your debt is repaid, you should feel free to, you know, find yourself a mate and settle down.”
Yeah, I’m not subtle either.
The werewolf bros snickered as one pulled a phone out of his pocket. “Lemme call this in to Cash. Tell him the job’s done.”
“Do FaceTime.” The other jabbed him with a hard elbow. “I bet the others wanna say hi.”
“Oh, I definitely wish to say something to your brother,” Max grumbled as the call rang through.
“Hey, Lunas!” Cassius cheerfully called out when his big, shit-eating grin appeared on screen. “I take it you saw Vlad?”
There was werewolf laughter all around as the phone was aimed at the vampire’s oozing remains, but Max immediately record-scratched the fun.
“You know, úlfr…” he spoke through gritted teeth. “Informing any of us aside from Chaz about this plan would have been helpful. Between Pearl’s arrival, your men monitoring our property, Vlad being tipped off to come here and seek his revenge… It all strikes me as need-to-know information.”
Oh, the irony.
But, agreed.
The úlfr pack leader sobered. “It was too delicate of an operation to risk any variables other than what I had under my control. Because we both know you would have attempted to take matters into your own hands before we got a confession.”
Okay, fair.
Chaz awkwardly cleared his throat, kicking the turned up dirt at his feet. “If it makes you feel better, Max, I didn’t know anything about Pearl coming until my brothers dropped her off at my door.”
Pearl sniffed haughtily. “Well, now that I’m no longer needed as a pawn in this game, I suppose I’ll be expected to make my own way from here, hmm?”
Chaz’s eyes widened in panic but Damon smoothly cut in. “No, Pearl. You are also part of our family—have always been a part of my family—and we want you to stay.”
“We” including a certain werewolf.
I slung an arm over the little vampire’s shoulders and pulled her close. “That’s right, girlfriend. We do actually have a spare bedroom in the main house you are welcome to stay in during renovations.” I shot Chaz a meaningful look. “Both of you.”
He blushed again. “Oh, I… I can just sleep on the couch.”
Whatever, loverboy.
Pearl was quiet for a moment as we all patiently waited for her decision. “I would like to stay, thank you,” she finally replied. “ And, Max… t-thank you for… saving me from my… that…”
She barely spared Vlad a glance—which was more than he deserved—before throwing herself, sobbing, into Max’s arms.
My mate’s eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly hugged her tightly, understanding better than anyone the pain she’d endured.
“He’s really good at that,” I agreed as I wrapped my arms around both of them as best I could, meeting his gaze over her blonde head. “He’s also saved me and Damon, and continues to keep us safe.”
Damon joined the group hug, followed by Chaz and his brothers—since werewolves never turned down a puppy pile—and I could feel the cheesy love flowing through our mate bond and beyond.
I sure hope Conor feels it too.
Wherever he’s creepily lurking nearby.
“Wait!” Pearl exclaimed, and we all untangled ourselves to give her space. “I’ve been carrying around this card for days, Max, and I keep forgetting to give it to you…”
“Card?” he murmured.
“Yes,” she grinned, pulling a yellowed tarot card out of her pocket. “Don’t you remember? I drew this for you back in Opalite, but it wasn’t yet time for you to receive it.”
Oh, this will be good.
Max looked wary, but I nodded encouragingly so Pearl would continue.
“It’s The Sun, and it signifies a joyful phase in your relationships, especially romantic ones.
” She smiled warmly. “It also represents life, vitality, and happiness… and encourages you to shine your light and feel confident about your path.”
“My… light?” Max repeated, his expression dazed but no longer afraid.
Good. Boy.
“That’s right, Sir.” I delivered a sloppy kiss to his cheek, leaving a dark, blood-red lipstick mark behind. “And we will follow your light, wherever you lead us.”
“Always,” Damon agreed.
Always.