Antonio

I stared at the phone until it went dark then looked up at Conner. “What did we do?”

Conner opened and closed his mouth multiple times, but finally just shook his head and never saying a word. I shook my head and let the tears flow. I knew part of what I was feeling was Skye’s distress, but my own was just as prevalent.

“Will it have been worth it?” I asked softly.

Conner stared out into the foliage, but still made no attempt to answer me.

Rescuing the omegas was not something I would ever regret, but if it meant losing Skye, I would have a very difficult time looking on it with happiness.

We had come upon the omegas three days earlier. There were four adults and two children in the group, two human, one wolf, and Karter’s brother. The children were young, ages three and five and it made for slightly slower travel. It didn’t help that we could no longer go through Blackwood lands; we had to go around, hence the month extra of travel.

“Antonio?” Karter’s voice broke through my thoughts and I looked up at my second.

“What can I do for you?” I asked, running a hand over my eyes.

“Kasper would like to speak with you, if you would permit it?” He asked, bowing his head. 

“Oh, of course. Yeah, you know we don’t really stand on formality here. Tell him to come over.” I said, waving my hand.

Karter smirked, but did as I asked. “Yo, Kasper! I told you that was what he’d say!” Laughter erupted across the campground and I had to smile. Most of Conner’s pack was here to help us back to our lands and it made for a lovely return party.

“It’s still polite to ask permission.” Kasper huffed. “You must have forgotten all your manners in the last seventeen years.”

I smiled at their banter and had an image of our children doing something similar when they were grown. Another thought quickly overshadowed that. Skye does not want that kind of future with us anymore. I forced that thought away and turned my attention back to Kasper.

“What did you wish to see me about, Kasper?”

The young vampire took a deep breath and rolled his shoulders back. “I wish to ask permission to join your coven.” He seemed to stop himself from saying more.

I regarded Kasper until he began squirming and finally spoke again.

“Alpha Conner has already given permission for the other omegas to be part of his pack and I wish to ask the same of you. We,” he motioned to where the other omegas sat, “have been through a lot together and I don’t want to leave them. Master, I know what I am asking for is a lot. Having an omega in your coven can cause higher risks. It would increase the danger for your members until I am mated. I promise I will pull my own weight in any way I can.” He twisted his hands, waiting for my answer.

I waited a moment longer, then smiled at him. “I would be very happy to have you as part of my coven. Kneel, and we will create the bond.”

He knelt, and I motioned for Karter to join us.

“Kasper, please extend your wrist.”

He did so and I bit the inside and drank a mouthful of blood. I licked it shut and bit the inside of my own wrist and lifted it to his mouth. Once he drank, I pressed my lips to his forehead and then to Karter’s.

“Welcome to the family.”

Karter wrapped his brother in his arms and spun around. “Welcome, мой брат. It’s so good to have you.”

I watched as the other members of my coven present came up to express their own welcome to the newest coven member.

“Okay, so not to be rude, but ew! Do we have to drink blood?” Colby, one of the human omegas asked. He was young, barely fifteen, and had become a favorite to the whole group with his eternal optimism and quirky tics

Laughter once again rippled through the group as Conner stood and wrapped his arm around the young omega. “No, you don’t have to drink blood. If you wish to be marked as one of my pack, I would simply bite your wrist and it would be done, no bodily fluids exchanged. But it is not a requirement for you.” He assured Colby with a smile.

“I mean, I wouldn’t mind sharing bodily fluids with you. Too bad you already have your sexy vampire mate.” Frankie, the wolf omega sighed dramatically and winked at both of us. 

I started to speak up and mention our other mate, but Conner cut me a look that silenced me and pain lanced through my heart at not acknowledging our third to the omegas.

Needing a moment, I strode into the woods, away from the celebration going on.