When we broke apart, the pack was there. Liam welcomed Sterling with a huge hug, Vigo slapped his back and laughed, and even Dante welcomed him with ease, his eyes softer than I’d ever seen them. We walked toward the car, the press keeping a respectable distance as we left the gates. They had been extra careful about approaching me and my pack once it came to lightthat they’d been fed false stories about me for years. I was sure my threats of massive lawsuits about that also had something to do with their change in tune.
Once we were driving home, all together, I let out a sigh of relief. We were whole again. Sterling let out a slow breath, his arms still tight around me. “So, what else did I miss?”
“Everything,” Vigo said, his voice dry, though I caught the warmth beneath it. “You missedeverything.Now don’t do it again.”
Sterling laughed, and I looked at his face, so grateful to have him here with me again. “Well, for starters, we are finally done helping Pack Valence rebuild the guesthouse.” Vigo offered.
I cringed at the thought. Pack Valence had been warned, but they came home to the carnage of the attempted hit on us after we told them it was safe to return. We’d paid for a remodel, of course. I was sure they would be mad at me forever, but they met with me privately after the world found out the truth about what happened to me and my pack.
Nikolai had laughed at how embarrassed I was that their guest house was the location of a failed hit job. “Don’t worry, Celeste. All it did was give us some time to think about what’s really important.” He’d said, pulling Julian close to him. “We’ve been living our lives scared of what our families will think. Life is too short to be in hiding.” He said, while his pack looked at Julian with such love that it made me tear up. The memory made mefeel some type of way as we drove down the road, getting closer to home.
Liam piped up as we drove. “Well, I know Celeste has been keeping you updated, but in case you didn’t hear, we’ve put Gideon away for life. Elijah will spend the next twenty-five years locked up where he can never touch us again. The province is ours to rebuild. And now that you’re out, we can get some real work done.”
Dante thought Sterling should also know that we got justice for the assistant who came before him. “They cleared Arnault’s name after he was gone. Gave his family a reward for his bravery. Strange, isn’t it? How the world only sees the hero when it’s too late."
I looked at Dante as we drove. “Dante and I are making a trip to Arkala next week. We have a lot to work on there with the transition of rights.” I said, and he smiled at me in a way that made my heart flutter. I thought it was only right to give the mining operation at Arkala to the people who lived there, releasing it from Harringday’s contracts. There was too much pain, too much hurt to ever keep it under Harringday’s control for another moment. That was only the tip of the iceberg in trying to right the wrongs of my uncle, but with Dante at my side, I was going to do everything possible to fix what I could.
“And I’m looking forward to showing you where I grew up.” Dante added. He’d been looking healthier than ever these past few months, the weight of the world finally off his shoulders. We’d been healing, talking through our lives and working past our trauma, and we’d made so many strides.
Sterling smiled as we pulled into the Pack Lockwood compound, where we’d set up a room for him. I decided to live here while I did a full renovation of my family compound. First, because I finally had control of it, now that my uncle was not in the picture. Second, I needed to wipe the slate clean. There were too many memories associated with it now, and I needed a fresh start.
We stepped out together, looking at the house that was now our home. “So, what next?” Vigo asked, rubbing his hands together.
Sterling stretched out, and I noticed he’s bulked up since he’d been locked up. At least he used his time well. “First up on my list is a nice, long, hot shower.” He said, and I curled my arm around him.
“Care if I join?” I asked, my core heating at the thought of him naked. It had been far too long without him. Sterling looked at me, his eyes hungry.
“I’d be honored.” He said, and I started up the stairs with him, into our new life. I felt the bonds of our pack thrumming strong, complete. Sterling was back, and with him, we were whole.
And nothing would break us apart again.
Chapter 53
Celeste
The car rolled to a stop, and I took a deep breath. We had arrived at the Darlington Ball.
I was back to where it all began. Someone squeezed my hand, and I looked over at Sterling, who gave me an encouraging look. But even better than that, I felt him sending me strength and calmness through our bond.
“Ready?” Vigo’s voice rang out from the driver’s seat. My pack was here to escort me inside. Despite the media fuss over how we’d all managed to find each other, the consensus was that technically, it started at the Darlington Ball. So, we were asked to come back as special guests and as a success story - a match resulting from the yearly event.
Dante opened the door, and I stepped out, grabbing his arm as he steadied me. I felt a thrum of affection coming from his bond, and nuzzled into him for a moment before being joined by Liam on my other side. They had been extra protective of me lately, and I couldn’t blame them.
Once we were all out of the car, we walked toward the castle, the media waiting to take photos as we entered the ball. We were so used to it by now that I barely registered the flashes.
Inside, the castle looked the same as every year - decked out beautifully, with so many omegas rushing around, eager and excited to meet their potential packs. It seemed nostalgic now that I was so far removed from it. I saw heads turn and heard the murmur of whispers as people recognized our pack. We strode through the halls until I heard a voice ring out.
“Celeste!” I turned, and saw a welcome surprise. It was Bella, bright-eyed and jubilant as ever, walking toward me with her pack. I broke out into a smile, and opened my arms to greet her with a hug. Her pack greeted mine, the men nodding at each other respectfully.
“It’s so good to see you again!” I beamed, glad to be able to see her in person. “I want to thank you again for everything you did last year. I don’t know what I would have done without your help.”
“Oh my gosh, Celeste, it’s nothing! Anything to help an omega in need!” She said, pulling back to look at me. “You’re absolutely glowing! Congratulations again!”
I laughed softly, instinctively letting my hand fall to the swell of my bump. “Thank you. We’re all so excited! Also, maybe a little overwhelmed. But the baby already has the fiercest pack in the world looking out for them.”
Bella’s expression softened as she glanced between me and my mates. “That little one’s going to have the best life. I can already tell.”
My pack closed in around me, their presence a cocoon of pride and protectiveness, each of them brushing against me in some small way as though to remind me I wasn’t carrying this child alone. The thought of raising a son or daughter in this province, one we were remaking with our own hands, filled me with fierce determination. Whatever designation our child was born with - alpha, beta, or omega - we wanted them to be able to follow their dreams. The world we wanted was one where you can be whoever you wanted without the designation discrimination that held our province back for so long.
