Page 38 of The Aurora Marelup Complete Saga Omnibus

My eyes lock on the remaining fourteen Lycan ferals in the cage. I stalk forward in full attack mode, growling and baring my canines at them. I’m hoping self-preservation will free their human from the hell they are in. One by one, they drop to one knee and shift back to their human forms. I assess all of them, noting they are all malnourished and worn out. However, after suffering for so long, the packless are finally home. I look back, and Jayce holds out a robe for me to put on. I motion for him to approach, and he moves to my side and flings the robe over my shoulders. I turn away from the ferals to shift back to my human form, my gaze once again falls on the ferals.

“Pledge your life to me and I will fight for you and beside you. We will return to our ancestral home and return it to the glory it once knew in my parent’s time.” I raise my right arm and show them my brand. My father, who’s right behind me, also raises his arm to show off his brand. All at once, they say they swear their lives to me.

Fifteen lives are spared, all because I can show mercy. Hmm… perhaps Sebastian may be right. I ponder this odd occurrence for a bit. I step out of the pen, and each of my mates check me over, making sure I’m okay. I smirk while looking at Sebastian.

“You were right this time, love. Please, don’t ever mess with my train of thought before a potential battle again. It may cost me my life one of these times. Doubt is a killer.” I stand on my tippy toes and kiss his forehead, and he hugs me tightly to him, whispering he’s sorry. We snuggle tightly for several moments before we’re joined by my other two mates. I look over at my father and he’s smiling at me. I’m happy that he’s proud of me and how I was able to handle the ferals. Gently, I break away from my guys and move to hug Elena. “Please find them a placeto stay and make sure they are fed.” Before taking her phone out to call down to the main camp, Elena nods and kisses my cheek. I turn back to the cage and look at the men standing there.

“Welcome home, my brothers. Please, follow Elena back to the compound and she’ll make sure you’re fed and clothed.” In a sweeping motion, I point at Elena and she waves at the men. “You’ll be housed in the meeting hall until the dorm is completed. Take your time to get settled today, and sleep well tonight. Perhaps tomorrow you can help with the construction. You will find a purpose again.” I smile after seeing how excited these men are with the prospect of starting over. This is definitely the difference between a tyrant and a benevolent leader. You can tell by the change in their stance that they have never been treated as if they have value. I’ll be damned if any of my people ever feel worthless on my watch. My father approaches me once the crowd thins out and my mates are escorting the new pack members home to make sure they are accepted.

CHAPTER 31

Aurora

“You did well today,daughter. You chose to rule with your heart and mind and not just your talons.” Nico gives me a hug before we start heading back to the compound behind the others. We walk in relative silence as I’m tucked up under his arm, much like you would do with a child. It’s fitting, really; I am his only child. To be quite honest, I’m actually enjoying having one of my birth parents around. Andre and Dimitri are great, but they’re not part dragon or Lycan. They did the best they could for me, and I’m forever in their debt. My right hand absently comes up to rub at the implanted scale on my chest.

Nico catches the movement and stops walking. “May I see it? I wish to make sure it took properly.” Nico tilts his head as he moves to stand before me.

Slowly, I move my robe to the side so he can examine the scale over my heart. Nico shifts one finger so he can touch the scale with his talon. I watch in wonder as frost coats the tip as soon as he makes contact. Nico smiles, then shifts his finger back to human and touches the scale again. This time, no frost, just pressure where my father is touching. “Very good! Your body has accepted his scale.” Nico lets out a short laugh. “I honestly don’t remember the last time the scale trading tradition was done. It’sbeen several hundred years, at least. I believe I was only a young boy back then. My own parents didn’t share scales since their marriage was political.” I’m quite puzzled by what my father tells me.

“Why wouldn’t your parents share scales?” I had to ask—there’s only so much he’s able to teach me while I sleep. He whispers in my mind so the others wouldn’t hear.Scales only live on true mates. Nico smiles at me, and everything starts to click. My eyes widen, and my mouth drops open from shock. Ladies and gentlemen, I have officially been rendered speechless.

The guys must have sensed my inner turmoil because they all stop dead and look back at me. I keep looking from the scale, then back to my father. Jayce, who was sent back to investigate what’s happening, looks at my scale, then over to Nico. Realization dawns on him and, slowly, a smile creeps across those perfectly plump lips of his. Ever so gently, Jayce kisses my lips then looks deeply into my eyes.

“I’ll love him like I love you. The others will just have to get over themselves.” Jayce winks and kisses me again. He’s the perfect mate. Then again, I think he secretly wants another hot male to ogle over. I couldn’t help but smile at Jayce. He’s definitely the most light-hearted one out of my mates and brings balance to my rage. Without warning him, I run behind him and jump onto his back for a piggyback ride.

“I wish to get a cold drink and rest. Take me home, love! Giddy up!” I reach down and slap his ass, which makes him squeal and laugh.

My omega mate would move Heaven and Earth to make me happy, and my two potential alpha mates would rain fire and brimstone upon the Earth to protect me. One protects my heart, the other two, my body and my life. I wonder what role my dragon mate will play. Sometimes I believe that I see him in mydreams; it’s so faint, so distant, I’m not sure it’s even real. I lay my head down on my arm as Jayce carries me home. I have a lot to think about over the next few weeks. So much to do, so many Strigoi to kill. What’s a girl to do?

We return to the Alpha House, and Jayce makes me comfortable on the porch swing. While I watch Dom and Sebastian supervise the ferals’ care and the dorm’s construction, Jayce disappears into the house. Housing here on the compound was insufficient, considering the size of the pack we’re building.

Sebastian, make sure the dorm has a central kitchen and individual bedrooms with bathrooms for the single males.Sebastian makes eye contact with me as he listens to what I have to say. Like most packs, the male to female ratio is completely screwed. Not many males are willing to share their females, but from what I can see, there are more and more menage pairings than before. Perhaps my guys and I are setting a positive example and breaking enough barriers that others will follow in.

Way ahead of you, love. I’m putting a gathering place with a large TV in the central kitchen, so no one feels isolated. I smile and nod while listening to Sebastian. His idea will be a tremendous help as we integrate new members into the pack. These were his people long before they became mine, so he knows what they need far better than I do.

Jayce appears at my side with a tray of drinks and hands me my pomegranate juice with vodka—he knows me too well. I watch my gentle mate go and offer our other two mates cold drinks before he comes back to sit with me. He sits on the far side of the swing and pats his lap, offering it to me. I quickly finish my drink and move to lay my head on his lap. Jayce gently runs his fingers through my hair, working out the knots. Perhaps a nap will do me some good. After all, I’ve had quite a busy day today.

I don’t know how long I napped for, but I wake up feeling refreshed and with my head still in Jayce’s lap. I slowly roll over on my side so I’m facing Jayce, and I notice that he’s asleep, leaning his head against the back of the swing. He looks so peaceful; his face is so angelic and innocent. Slowly, I rise from his lap and move so I can appreciate the handsome man before me. Yeah, it looks a bit creepy to an outsider, but my pack knows that I watch over my mates closely. They are my greatest treasure. For some reason that word resonates with me. I brush the thought aside before going into the house to retrieve my favorite blanket, which I use to gently cover Jayce. Once more I go into the house and pull out my guitar and amp. I sit down next to Jayce and begin to play Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here.” Technically, it should be an acoustic set, but I’m a bit too metal for that. Dimitri used to play a lot of Pink Floyd for me when I couldn’t sleep, so I guess you can say I get my love of music from him.

Slowly, the pack begins to gather once they hear the melody coming from my guitar. I know there are dark days ahead of us, and I know the days of peace are limited now, so I do my best to enjoy every second. Just as Sebastian and Dom approach, Jayce wakes up. I switch it up a bit and start playing Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters.” Although I sing it for the pack to enjoy, it’s more so meant for my mates.

I make sure to hold eye contact with each one of them. I’m not like Jayce who wears his heart on his sleeve; I keep my feelings in, tight and protected. However, before this battle from Hell, my men need to know and feel what I’m feeling. I play the song in its entirety, all six minutes and twenty-something seconds of it. At the conclusion of the song, the guys swarm me. I feel the love they have for me, and I revel in it. I also fear for them with the battle to come.

In the distance, I spot Elena and my dad walking hand in hand toward the lake. It’s about time both of them find happiness. Jayce is the first to notice that I’m staring at the hillside. He smiles and lets a softawescape his lips. Unfortunately, his cute reaction draws both Dom’s and Sebastian’s attention. Dom simply shrugs his shoulders and heads back to work, while Sebastian looks like he’s beside himself.

He motions toward the hill and shouts, “Our parents! What the actual fuck!” He drags his hand down his face, then looks to me to do something. I can’t help but start laughing. I’m not bothered by them being together, but apparently my big, bad—almost—alpha mate can’t handle it. I give Sebastian a quick hug and pat his back.

“Don’t worry, Bash. Dad’s castrated, so there’s no fear of any pups being born.” I kiss Sebastian’s cheek, then bound down the stairs and go for a walk to check out the new dorm the guys have been working on. I turn back briefly and the look of shock on Sebastian’s face is really worth it. Dom bounds down the stairs and jogs to catch up with me. He gently takes my hand as we enter the building. He takes the time to explain the upgrades and little, special features it has. It’s everything I could have wanted for the single males and more: private quarters for sleeping, a large living room, and an open kitchen design.

“I’m so proud of you guys! Everyone has done a wonderful job.” I kiss Dom on the cheek as we finish the tour. Since Dires are apparently quite well off, Dom and Jayce had extra funds to go into the project, and all of the planning fell on Dom.

We continue our walk back to the Alpha House. My throne has become the focal point of the main hall and today, I find flowers left on the table to the right of it. I can tell it’s the pack children because there is a single flower from each child—about nine or ten flowers left for me. It brings a smile to my face,thinking about how thoughtful these little ones are. We run into one of the housekeepers, Anna, and her new baby, Lia, in her arms. I’ve never seen a baby before, so I’m quite curious. Dom looks at me, puzzled.

“Babe, you act like you’ve never seen a baby before.” I remain staring at the little one, then I turn to him.

“I’ve only ever seen them on TV. They never look this tiny.” I lean down to sniff at the baby , and its eyes open. I pull my head back quickly because I wasn’t prepared for the baby to look at me.

“Would you like to hold her, My Queen?” Anna asks, offering her precious child to me. I look at Anna then back to Dom, tears threatening to fall.

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