Page 147 of Our Deceptive Heat

Just saying that gives me a happy little shiver.

“Onyx Treyfield.”

I grin at her and suddenly freeze. “Hold on, Pack Treyfield, as in Silas, Grayson, and Falcon, the I-Own-The-Universe Pack?”

Onyx laughs and nods. “Yeah, you forgot Dylan, my omega.”

I peer at her curiously. “You have a male omega?”

“Yes.”

I’m suddenly picked up and thrown over my cousin’s shoulder.

“LOCKE!” I glance at Onyx as I’m being carried away. “You and I need to talk, get my details and message me!”

Onyx lifts a hand and waves, laughing so hard she needs to be supported by Silver.

“Sing with me!” Locke demands.

I pause, my throat suddenly wickedly tight. We’ve never been able to do that before. Our parents were too vigilant in stopping us. And it just became too heartbreaking as we got older.

“Sing with me. My birthday present to you,” Locke says again and sets me down on the empty stage. “Because we should have grown up with music in the house, loving it. Because we both spent half our lives running from it. So sing with me today, Ryn, for a new start.”

I stare down at him. It’s only a foot, but our lives are night and day.

His light of stardom is waning, and mine is just beginning.

“Do you hate me?” I whisper. “For resenting that you could live my dream?”

His expression clouds. “Do you? I didn’t know how bad your dad was? Do you forgive me?”

“There’s nothing to forgive,” I say without thought.

Locke echoes my words. “There’s nothing to forgive. Sing with me, Ryn. A new beginning. Let’s send a fuck you to everyone who doubted. A whole new chapter. I’m happy, and I never wanted the life of a star. I’m living the life I love. Now, let’s get you your dreams!”

I shake my head, let out a self-deprecating laugh, and sit on the edge of the stage.

“One with us, but I want to hear Ross and Silver, too.”

Our packs stand in a loose semicircle, watching and talking until Locke opens his mouth.

He sings so beautifully, I almost forget that I’m supposed to be singing with him.

The song is one I wrote an eon ago. When I felt that first fluttery feeling of love. It’s a slow ballad, a tempestuous song of hope and beginnings.

Silver is shoved forward, and she and Ross, Envy, and Tyr join the chorus. I get goosebumps as our voices mix together.

It’s eerie, and as the song fades and vanishes, I see Onyx leaning against Silver, wiping away a tear.

I turn to my pack and disappear into Digs’ arms.

“You are amazing.”

“Digs, I know you were trying to hide it from me, but I need the truth. Did my dad walk?”

Digs sighs heavily and rubs a hand down my spine.

“Your father got off. However, Pack Ellis did not. It turns out they had some suspicions, and they found out that a beta in their care went missing. They have been extradited and are now facing murder charges.”

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