Page 64 of This Fate That Guides Us
Things take a turn only moments later when the ball bounces back to the other side and Bea shrieks before ducking to avoid a hit to the face, earning my packmates another point.
“I might be clumsy and most of my shots lucky, but at least I’m not afraid of the ball, Bea,” Omen calls.
Bea rolls her eyes, one hand across her forehead to block out some of the sinking sunlight. “Not everyone likes taking balls to the face, Oms!”
We all stop, the ball falling to the sand before raucous laughter breaks out. Their game comes to an end when both omegas call it for the afternoon, too tired to continue jumping around in the sand.
“We’re tied though,” Lex says with a scowl. Bea pats him on the back in feigned sympathy as we head back to our spot on the beach. Most of the groups around us have left so it’s much quieter now. Only the sound of crashing waves and wildlife keep us company.
The girls are knee-deep in a mermaid sculpting competition with Ridley and Titan as their mermaids when the members of Orbital Somatic show up. Apparently, they also decided to spend the day at the beach and hadn’t realized we were here too until the crowd had thinned enough for them to spot us from their place up the shore.
“We have a small fire pit in the back of the truck, we can grab it and chill while the sun sets the rest of the way.” Their lead singer Caleb offers. We all quickly agree. Anything to prolong our day out with Omen.
I barely refrain from laughing as I listen to the members of Orbital Somatic critique the omegas’ sand sculptures. None of those men are willing to disappoint either girl, but it’s clear they also hold a little bit more fear of disgruntling their manager.
Omen is a good sport when they announce Bea the champion, only pouting for a moment before shrugging and promising Tee he’s the prettiest mermaid she’s ever seen. My packmate plays along with her playful teasing, tossing his long hair over his chest and singing a very poor rendition of ‘Under the Sea’. It makes our girl giggle like crazy though so I can’t complain.
After both alphas are unburied and have rinsed off in the water, they join us around the slowly growing fire. Omen moves to sit with her friends but I snag her hand and pull her down to sit between Nebula and me.
“Sit with us, sweet girl, Nebula brought his guitar down so we can cuddle and listen to him play.” Omen smiles, glancing between me and my alpha, before settling in against us. I wrapan arm around her back, letting her head lean on my shoulder. My eyes fall closed as peace settles within me.
I’ve got my pack, our girl, and music.
Our future couldn’t look brighter.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
NOW PLAYING: IWill Remember You- Ed Sheeran; need to be- mehro
Grief is an everlasting shadow always lingering in the back of your mind. Threatening to bring you to ruin. It’s been seven years and still, my sister’s memory haunts me. I can’t help but wonder–in moments like this where I’m surrounded by laughter, friendship, and love–what her life would’ve been like.
Would she have found a pack of her own to care for her? Or would she travel the world exploring forgotten places like she always dreamed of? Would she be proud of me? Of my pack?
Everyone faces loss and those ‘what ifs’ differently. Me? I push myself into my music, my quest for justice, and protecting my pack. My parents, however, spend their days running from Elizabeth’s memories as if she’s a ghost haunting their every waking moment in this world.
I think that’s always what cuts the deepest. I didn’t just lose my sister when she died, I lost them too. Their grief was too strong for them to stick around to care for their remaining child. I was recently presented and enrolled to start at the Alpha Academy a few weeks after her death. So they waited and as soon as I was gone they left too and they haven’t been back since. At first, I’d get the occasional postcard or phone call, but those stopped after I told them I’d met Nexus. I had mates to care for me so they no longer had to bother to pretend to care.
“Sing us a song!” Someone shouts from around our beachside bonfire bringing me back to the present. I shake my head to clear the melancholy feelings away and pick up my guitar. I already know what I’m going to sing. A song I will never put on an album–Elizabeth’s song.
Farewells nonexistent
Hello forever lost
Your pain became an anchor
Living no longer worth the cost
And now you’re gone
These scars on my heart
Remind me of you
The whisper of your name
The hint of your scent
I will never stop bleeding for you
