Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 122684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 491(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 491(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
As the song ended, Bel lifted his bow and heaved a heavy sigh. “I’m rusty, but that wasn’t too bad.”
Rafe lowered his violin and groaned loudly. “That was a godawful depressing song.”
Bel gave his twin a little smirk. “That would be because I’m depressed, Rafe. I miss them.”
“I know, Bel. I wish I could take this pain away.”
“I just don’t understand. Logically, it all makes sense for them to remain with the werewolf pack. It’s the smart decision. Right now, we live every night knowing that Damon or some of his followers could attack us. Wyatt and River are safer with the pack and away from the Variks. But…why do I hurt so much? Why do I still want them here with me? Is it just selfishness?”
Rafe placed his violin back in the open case on Marcus’s piano and walked over to his twin. He plucked the cello bow out of his hand and set it down before taking both of Bel’s hands in his. “My sweet Bel,” he whispered. “Love is felt with the heart, not the head. It doesn’t give a damn about logic. And you are the most unselfish person I know. You want your wolves to be happy, but your heart misses them. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
Moving his cello aside, Bel tugged his brother closer for a hug, closing his eyes as he rested his cheek on Rafe’s shoulder. All of his brothers had been hovering over the past couple of weeks, but Rafe was sticking the closest by far. He appreciated their concern. Even Ethan had offered up his blood for study, willing to suffering through another needle prick if it perked up Bel’s spirits.
Bel straightened, fingers tightening around the neck of the cello. “Thank you. I just want them happy.”
“But how could you ever think we’d be happy without you?”
Bel’s head snapped to the open doorway at the wonderful sound of Wyatt’s deep voice. River and Wyatt were standing there like the most beautiful dream. They were dressed in jeans and T-shirts, but their faces looked tired and even a little thinner, as if the past two weeks had drained them. For a moment, Bel was afraid to move, afraid to breathe. He didn’t want to risk waking and finding himself alone in his bed.
Shoving the cello at his brother, Bel pushed to his feet but didn’t move beyond that. “Wh-what are you doing here? Is there a problem with the pack?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” River said with a shake of his head. The younger man looked tired, dark circles under his eyes, but there was a smile on his lips.
“But I don’t understand…”
“We came home to you, Bel. Just like we promised,” Wyatt replied.
“But the wolves…they’re your kind. They could be the family you wanted. The life…”
Wyatt was already shaking his head. “There is no other life that we could possibly want than the life we build with you. You’re our family. Our home.”
Bel’s brain kept chucking up new reasons as to why Wyatt’s words weren’t making logical sense, but his feet were already moving. His heart didn’t care about logic or what was smart. It just wanted his wolves.
Strong arms closed around him and Bel snuggled into both men. The scent of pine and earth drifted around him along with hints of Wyatt and River. He couldn’t imagine missing a scent as much as he missed theirs.
“We always planned to come back to you. Why didn’t you believe me when I said it was only temporary?” Wyatt asked.
Bel lifted his head to answer, but his lips were immediately captured by River. He tasted like heaven. The younger man’s tongue plunged into his mouth, claiming him and owning him completely. And Bel loved it. He belonged to River.
When River broke off the kiss, Bel drunkenly turned his head up toward Wyatt. There was a low chuckle before Wyatt brushed his lips against Bel’s. “You’ve not gotten out of answering my questions, vampire,” Wyatt warned, but he still kissed Bel deeply.
Where he’d tasted River’s joy, from Wyatt he tasted worry and relief in equal measure. There was joy in that kiss, but so much longing as well. Bel had been missed. The touch of them finally had him releasing his hold on his powers, and the familiar rush of their emotions plowed through him. Pain, joy, and love. All so overwhelming he could barely catch his breath.
“Love you both so much,” Bel said as Wyatt lifted his lips.
“Love you—”
A scream tore the air, causing them to jump. It had sounded like Ethan’s voice. They hurried out of the music room and to the railing that looked down on the foyer in time to see Ethan run into the open space, followed by a cawing and flapping Ozzie.
“Bel! That bird is crazy!” Ethan shouted.
“Bloody black chicken,” Rafe grumbled as they watched Ozzie circle the two-story open air, gaining altitude until he could finally land on Bel’s shoulder. The bird looked at Bel for only a second then turned his attention to River and started cawing angrily and flapping his wings.