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Ashrian slid a cup of coffee toward me like it was a peace offering from a former assassin. “You earned this. Drink. Don’t talk. Just absorb caffeine and try not to cry.”
Daxon chuckled softly, pulling my tray toward him. “You didn’t even grab food, babe. You okay?”
“No,” 1 muttered. “But also yes. I’m just, fuck. Everything’s a lot. Like… we did so much in Scotland. And now the packs are united. And the prophecy’s real. And people are having sex in the training fields and falling in love over muffins and signing inter pack alliances and f haven’t even brushed my damn hair today.”
Rylen slid into a seat across from me, his arm slung around Taya’s shoulders. “You’re overwhelmed. That’s normal. That’s leadership.”
“Oh, good,” I said, deadpan. “Maybe if I keep leveling up I’ll earn a stroke and a bottle of tequila.”
Lachlan let out a booming laugh. “Aye, that’s the spirit. Fuck destiny, get drunk.”
Ash snorted into his coffee. “That should be your campaign slogan.”
“Or your tombstone,” Dax added.
Jace strolled over looking smug as hell, with Amaris right beside him glowing like she just walked out of a fantasy porno. “Mornin‘, losers. Did y’all sleep? No? Weird. We did.”
“Yeah, we noticed,” I muttered.
Amaris winked. “You’re welcome for the soundproofing spell.”
“I owe you one.”
We all sat in silence for a moment, the kind of silence that feels like breathing together after holding it too long. Then Lachlan leaned in close, his voice dropping just for me. “El… ye don’t have tae carry it all today. We’ve got ye. I’ve got ye. If ye fall, we fall with ye. Simple
as that.”
I blinked fast, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I don’t deserve you guys.”
Ash reached across and squeezed my hand. “Too late. You’re stuck with us.”
“Forever, unfortunately,” Daxon said, his tone teasing but his eyes dead serious. I looked around that table, at all the sarcasm and chaos and ride or die energy surrounding me, and my chest ached, but in the best fucking way.
I wasn’t alone.
I never would be again.
Even if the whole damn world came for me… I had my pack. And they had me.
By the time we made it back to our room, my bones felt like stone and my heart felt worse. I kicked off my boots, peeled off my sweat stained clothes, and crawled onto the bed without a word.
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Chapter 75
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Ashrian followed first, silent as always when I was on edge, just brushing his fingers down my spine like he could smooth out my soul. Daxon didn’t even ask, he just climbed in and pulled me between them like I belonged there. Lachlan was last, murmuring something soft in Gaelic I didn’t catch, but it cracked me wide open anyway.
“I can’t do it,” I whispered. Three sets of arms tightened.
“I’m trying so fucking hard,” I choked, my eyes burning. “And it’s never enough. There’s always someone else who needs something, always some prophecy or battle or fucking threat and I’m just,” My voice broke. “I’m tired.”
Lachlan brushed my hair back. “Ye dinnae have tae do it alone, mo ghrá.”
“You never did,” Daxon added, low and rough.
“We’re not going anywhere,” Ash whispered.
The dam broke.
I buried my face in Daxon’s chest and let it out, ugly, shaking sobs that rattled my ribs. And they just held me. Let me cry. No fixing. No advice. Just warmth and presence and fingers stroking my hair while I came apart between them.
Eventually, the storm quieted. My breath slowed. My chest stopped hurting. Lachlan kissed the back of my shoulder and whispered, “Sleep, love. We’ve got ye.”
And I did.
Safe. Held. And just for a moment, not carrying the weight of the whole world alone.
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