Page 87 of Mercy & Her Devils

Then I’m wrapped in his strong arms. He pulls me against his neck. I whine, hugging him tightly.

I’m terrified of letting him go.

What if he vanishes again?

My hands bunch in his jacket.

I nuzzle against his neck, taking deep drags of his scent.

I feel drunk on his sweet, warm cinnamon scent. It flies me back to a time, when he meant love and safety.

He’s always been my home just like Thomas and I were the only one that he ever knew.

Held like this, the world falls away.

This is right.

There are no doubts or fears.

With Gabriel there never were.

He’s my Alpha.

I know it deep in my bones. And at last, I’ve found him again.

Gabriel’s kissing the top of my head, and I sink into his firm touch.

“I’m sorry, Mer,” Gabriel whispers, desperately. “I’m so damn sorry. I didn’t know that they were going to bond you to that knothead. I was locked away in the academy and then later, in my unit in the Alpha SEALS. They threatened Tom and you, if I didn’t obey. But when I heard about who they’d matched you with and knew that it couldn’t have been willing, I stopped marching to their drum. But I’ll never stop being sorry—”

“You don’t have anything to be sorry for.” I stare up at him. I’m trembling with happiness. I won’t let him blame himself for this. “We were young, when you were sent away. You had no more power than I did. Do you still want to match with me, Gabe? Do you love me?”

I hold my breath.

Please, please, please…

It’s been years. It’s understandable if he’s moved on.

But how could I ever forget an Alpha like Gabriel?

Gabriel’s luminous eyes meet mine. “I fucking love you, Mer. I never stopped. Not for one moment in my miserable life.”

“So, you two know each other then?” Lark’s dry voice breaks into our cocoon.

Reluctantly, I break off nuzzling Gabriel to glance over my shoulder. “This is Gabriel, the kind Alpha who I told you about, when we were in the Brok Cell.”

“Perhaps, I should have mentioned it.” Antonio rubs the back of his neck. “But the name of our leader is meant to be a secret, hence the codename. Never mind, we’ve fucked up pretty much everything else. Hmm, this secret resistance thing is still pretty new to us as a pack. Do you think that we suck at it?”

“A little bit.” Lark’s lips quirk. “Don’t worry, you have two smart Omegas on your side now. How can I be enemies with Mercy’s best friend?”

“You talked about me?” Gabriel pushes me back slightly.

How can he doubt that?

Did he think that I’d forgotten about him?

“Is that a surprise, solider?” Kai glances between us, smiling widely. “If this is the female Omega who you’ve been pining after all these years in the vague, tortured way of yours, then you’ve barely gone a week without moodily rhapsodizing about her beautiful aquamarine eyes, how she made you feel wanted and like family, or how much fun you had with her on Fortnight, although she always kicked your behind.”

“Shut up.” The tips of Gabriel’s ears redden.

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