Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Hunter Cabin, Blue Valley Woods
My muscles are coiled ready for action, while outwardly I look cool like I always do before any mission.
Inside, I am vibrating with exhilaration.
Tonight, we kill the Alphaholes who hurt the Hunters and have been trying to shoot Bird and me.
Who am I kidding?
My blood is singing with the chance to kill the Krakens.
It has been too long since I bared my fangs.
The cabin groans under the weight of the howling snowstorm. The wind claws against the wooden boards, rattling the shutters. The night sky outside the window is a white void
The Blue Valley Woods have been hit with a storm that has snowed us in. It should have made the mountain impenetrable.
Should have.
Yet Joker has made it clear that the Krakens will see this as an opportunity.
To them, we’ll appear like trapped animals.
But this is our magic trick.
An illusion.
We look vulnerable because we are snowed in.
We look vulnerable because we are the prey, while truly being the predators waiting with our bloody jaws open for the Krakens to walk into them.
I sit on the thin rug in front of the fire, which roars and crackles. It throws shadows across the small, bare lounge, which is positioned behind the kitchen. A single wooden chair hunkers to one side of the hearth.
Bird and I sprawl together on the rug. We are both dressed in warm brown sweaters and casual joggers. If we are fighting tonight, then we need space in our clothes, rather than to be constricted.
The courting daggers, which Phantom gifted to us, are cleverly fixed by Joker at our waists by hidden belt sheaths.
Phantom takes up the chair with his giant bulk like it’s a throne.
He is a king readying to start a war. A pistol rests on his lap like it’s his scepter.
He is dressed in black jeans, a white shirt, and his floor-length leather jacket.
I admire Phantom’s professionalism because he’s pulling off the same trick as I am. He appears just as relaxed, as if this is any other evening around the fire with his pack. Except, he has simply decided to bring his gun along as a prop.
I can see, however, the coiled energy in his muscles. He is as alert as I am.
We both know who is coming.
Phantom and I exchange a nod.
“Here.” Bird passes me a stick with a skewered s’more, to which he’s added additional dark chocolate and strawberry slices.
He has been carefully constructing the s’mores with the same care that Joker gives to his weapons.
“You do know how to do this, right? I was never allowed out to go camping. This is as close as I have come.”
“This counts.” I hold the stick in front of me like a wand.
“I’m a s’more virgin too. It’ll be a new experience for us both.
My sister loved sitting around in front of roaring fires with her family…
my family, I guess…over Christmas. They would drink cocoa and roast s’mores.
I would hide in the doorway and watch. One time, I was caught and locked up alone for the rest of the holidays for breaking the rules.
But I was still drawn to watch what I couldn’t have. ”
“You can have it now.” Bird crawls to sit opposite me, until our knees are touching. “You’ll always have it.”
I glance at Phantom.
He nods.
My throat is tight. “Then burn, little marshmallow.”
“I love it when you become all dominant.” Bird laughs.
I move the stick with the soft, white marshmallow toward the flames like it’s the most important mission that I have ever had, rotating it. The surface becomes golden and starts to blister.
I sigh in delight at the sweet, smoky scent.
Joker clatters into the lounge, carrying a metal tray of steaming mugs.
Joker is wearing army fatigues.
“Cocoa!” He declares. “No campfire stakeout is complete without it.”
Phantom takes a mug from the tray. Then Joker ducks down to offer the drinks to Bird.
“You’re the best, Honey.” Bird grabs a mug, taking a long slurp. “Ouch, hot but yummy.”
“Like me. Need me to blow on it…?” Joker offers in a sultry tone.
“You can blow on something else later,” Bird teases.
“This Omega of ours is becoming feisty. I like it.” Joker kisses Bird on the top of his curls.
Then he places the final mug next to me.
“Thanks.” I glance away from the fire.
“Too close.” Joker gestures at the skewered marshmallow.
“I know what I’m doing,” I reply automatically.
Bird hides his smile behind his mug.
“So, that’s not your s’more catching fire then?” Joker’s eyes sparkle with amusement.
“What? Fuck…” I glance back at the marshmallow, as its edges catch fire in a burst of orange and blue.
A flame dances on its tip like a torch, before the s’more cracks and blackens.
I snatch the s’more away from the fire, shaking it. “Still edible.”
“It’s burnt.” Joker wanders back to Phantom, dropping the tray with a clatter.
Phantom is watching me closely, while Joker checks on his Alpha’s wounded shoulder like he does every evening.
“It’s perfect.” Bird touches my knee. “Because you made it.”
Warily, I hold the s’more up to his mouth.
Is he truly going to eat this charred mess?
Without hesitation, Bird bites. Then he licks his lips, as he chews.
“It’s good.” It sounds like he means it. “Smoky with a sweet, melting center. Thanks, Ro. I never thought that I would have this experience. Try some.”
He actually takes a second bite.
I lean to bite some as well, as he smiles at me.
The outside is a burnt shell, but the center is soft.
When I bite, the gooey strands stretch out, caught in my teeth. The additional fruit and dripping chocolate are like nothing I have tasted before.
It’s not perfect or sweet or delicious.
Yet it’s right for this moment.
My chest tightens.
I glance around at the three men who are all waiting for my reaction like it matters what I think of my first taste.
Like what I say, do, or feel is important.
Something inside me breaks.
I shake.
Panicked, Bird presses his palm to my cheek. “Are you okay?”
My eyes burn with tears.
Finally, I get it.
This is what love means.
For me, it’s hoping to share these moments forever with my pack.
It’s never wanting to lose this feeling of connection, whether good or bad.
It’s knowing that being alone again is worse than anything I could suffer for the sake of these three people.
I encouraged Phantom to be brave and open about his emotions. How can I hold double standards, now that I have worked things out?
I’m many things but I’m not a coward.
“I love you all.” The words explode from me.
The sudden silence is contrasted by the raging storm outside the window.
I drop the s’more, shoving myself to my feet. I reach for the dagger in my sheath like it’s a security blanket.
It doesn’t matter whether they say it back. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t…
It fucking matters.
Joker turns to me, breaking into a wide smile. “I love you too, baby.”
The truth of that statement in the bond shines like the moon breaking through the clouds.
Joker’s emotions are complex in our bond. I can sense him, but his pain and grief are sharper than I’d imagined. He has told me some of his past, but I still hadn’t realized just how much he hid his trauma behind his jokes and seduction routines.
Now, sensing such sudden brightness and joy, I know that there is no doubt he does love me and that it brings him light amidst the night of his pain.
I drop my hand from my dagger. My shoulders slump in relief.
When Joker reaches to push aside the collar of his combat shirt to touch the bond bite that I left on his throat, a wave of possessiveness washes over me.
He doesn’t only love me. He loves being marked and claimed by me.
He is my Beta.
I force myself to meet Phantom’s gaze.
Deliberately, he raises his hand over his heart, I love you.
I blush.
Then Phantom points at Bird as well, and he also blushes.
Why isn’t Bird saying anything?
I try not to show the hurt on my face.
Bird places down his cocoa, before he slowly stands.
He nuzzles against my neck, and I respond by washing my pheromones over my Omega. I stoke down his spine, resting my hand on the hollow of his back above his ass.
Bird rests against my shoulder, and I take a deep sniff of his vanilla scent.
“Don’t you already know that I love you?
I’ve told you that I do. I’ve still held back, wanting to go at your pace because love confessions aren’t your style.
But you’ve shown me in every action since I woke up in your arms, barely alive, that you love me.
No one has cherished me like you have. You’ve protected me, put me first, nursed me, and saved my life.
You’ve given me equality and independence.
You’ve shown me that my opinion and decisions matter.
It means a lot that you’ve voiced your feelings, but I didn’t need you to because I felt your love every day.
I love you for simply being you — Ro and Switch — I love all of you.
You’re the best thing to ever happen to me. ”
Trembling at both my own happiness, and the adoration that I sense through the bond, which is unexpected and overwhelming, I drag Bird into a kiss.
He purrs against my lips, and the vibrations send sparks of pleasure through me.
I hum in response, dragging Bird closer by his hair. Then I lick across his lower lip.
He purrs harder.
When I hear Joker moving behind Bird, however, I press a final kiss to Bird’s plush lips and pull back.
Joker crouches beside Phantom’s chair.
“Everything is set,” Joker says in a low voice.
So, it’s time.
I stiffen. “Shall we lock Bird in the bedroom?”
Instantly, Bird’s expression hardens. “No fucking way. If you allow me to make my own decisions, then I am not hiding. Phantom has been training me to fight. I may not be as skilled as you badasses. But I am not helpless anymore. Can’t I prove that?”
My eyes crease with worry. “Can you prove it in a way that doesn’t get you killed?”
To my surprise, Phantom places down his mug. He picks up his pistol, tucking it into his waistband, before he prowls toward me.
He stands in front of Bird and me. Then he taps his own chest, before gesturing at Bird.
Joker leans against the wall. “In case it’s not clear enough, that was Phantom vouching for his apprentice.”
Bird glows, puffing out his chest.
Phantom lifts his chin and meets my eye.
He is the Chief Alpha but he’s still checking in with me. Bird is both our Omega. Phantom respects my opinion, despite him having been a Commander in the SEALs. But then, I have experience in a mafia family, which I hope Phantom never learns about in detail.
An assassin has skills.
“Okay,” I agree. “We have spent weeks planning the mission at the Facility. If we survive tonight, then we can finally complete all our missions and be free.”
“I’m the bait anyway.” Joker attempts to sound unaffected, crossing his arms. Yet I can sense how troubled he is through the bond. “Viper will be focused on biting and forcing her own bond onto me.”
Phantom and I growl at the same time.
Joker raises his hand to cover our bond bites protectively. “Reaper will try to kill the rest of you, but their weakness is Viper. She’ll be distracted by trying to injure me enough to kidnap me. That’s our chance.”
Phantom snarls, turning to Joker.
Joker’s eyes widen in alarm, as Phantom marches to him and cages him against the wall. He towers over him, shaking his head.
I know how he feels.
I hate the plan.
I hate that Joker has seen himself as nothing more than bait, a lure, and a honeypot for years.
Yet for one more time, we need to pull off this trick.
One final time.
Phantom reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a piece of neatly folded sketching paper.
“What’s this?” Joker unfolds the textured paper. “More plans? Instructions, Skipper?”
Phantom signs: Read.
He moves back, allowing the smaller Beta more space.
Phantom’s intoxicating, spicy scent of rum becomes stronger, mixing with the smoky scent of the open fire.
Joker clears his throat, before he reads, “You are my soulmate in every way.” Then he breaks off in shock. “Is this…? Do you want me to read it out loud…?”
Phantom gives a sharp nod.
I grin, while hardly daring to breathe.
This is the love confession that I told Phantom to write.
I hoped that Phantom had the bravery to put the words down like this. I didn’t know that he could. And not that he would want it to be public to the pack.
I know how hard this is for him. Yet because it’s what Joker needs, he has done it.
This is why I both understand and love Phantom.
Joker’s eyes gleam with tears, before he turns to the letter again and reads, “I am happy with what we have being based on friendship and romance. Our relationship works for me. I don’t need sex outside the occasional rut.
It doesn’t make my life or our bond lesser.
It makes me satisfied that you can get what you need from another Alpha and Omega.
We have been best friends since we were kids.
But you were also my soulmate. The fact that you became an Omega, while I knotted and bit you, didn’t make me want you any differently.
The sensations were interesting. They weren’t better than the times that we sat quietly in the same room, working or cleaning our guns.
Simply knowing that you were there to go on runs or swims with, while we could sit together safely and share anything, meant everything.
I have always trusted you more than anyone.
The first time we held hands was the most special day of my life. You are part of my soul. I love you.”
By the end of the letter, Joker is stuttering and stumbling over the words, barely able to get them out through his tears.
When Joker reaches the I love you, he drops the letter and jumps, throwing his arms around the much taller Alpha’s neck. Then he wraps his legs around his waist.
My cheeks are wet with tears too.
“I love you,” Joker says, desperately. “I fucking love you.”
Suddenly, I recoil at the sound of a deep thump from outside, as if the air itself has been punched. It is followed by the crack of a louder blast of an explosion, distorted through the heavy storm.
Bird clutches onto me, as the windows rattle and the walls groan.
I listen to the low, fading rumble, which isn’t thunder.
Neither Phantom nor Joker even flinch.
“The Krakens have finally made their move. They triggered a booby trap.” Joker’s voice is cold. “Time to hunt.”