Ravensong (Green Creek 2)

Three faces appeared above me, foreheads wrinkled.

“You think he’s all right?” one asked.

“His brains aren’t leaking out his ears,” another said. “So I think he’ll be okay.”

“I don’t think that’s physically possible,” the third said.

“Of course it is. I saw it on the internet.”

“Oh, because you saw it on the internet—”

“Jesus Christ,” I groaned. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Rico, Tanner, and Chris smiled. “Yeah,” Chris said. “He’s all right.”

And then I remembered.

Mark.

I sat up quickly. “Did it work? Did it work? Where is he? Oh god, please tell me where he—”

“Gordo.”

I turned my head.

Mark Bennett was sitting a few feet away, Jessie crouched in front of him.

My breath hitched.

He was here.

He was really here.

I was moving even before I gave it much thought. I needed to be as close to him as I could. He wrapped his arms around me as I crashed into him, and his breath was warm in my ear when he said, “I’ve got you. I’ve got you. I’ve got you,” and I heard the wolfsong and the ravensong rising through us, etching themselves into our skin.

IT TOOK longer than I thought it would before I let him go. Every time I decided to pull away, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. He didn’t seem too bothered, so I didn’t worry.

Over his shoulder I could see Kelly. His shoulders were shaking as he sobbed against Carter’s chest. Elizabeth held them both, and she kissed each of them in turn over and over again. Robbie stood above them, arms across his chest, as if he was guarding them.

Carter must have felt me staring and gave me a small smile. Whatever Kelly had seen, whatever he’d done to bring Carter back, seemed to have worked.

For the most part. The timber wolf lay a few feet away, eyes on Carter. Whatever we’d done hadn’t been enough to force his shift.

Beyond them was a group of strangers, people I’d never seen. They huddled together, shivering in the night air. Ox and Joe stood side by side in front of them.

“I know you’re scared,” Ox said, and Mark held me tighter. “And I know you’re confused. But there is nothing here for you to fear. You are safe now. My name is Ox. This is my mate, Joe. We are the Alphas of the Bennett pack. And we’re going to help you find your way home.”

epilogue

THEIR EYES were still violet.

All of them.

They were Omegas.

Mark and Carter too.

Even with the bonds between us.