Part 52 (3/3)

Luke, as Reese, standing next to me, senses my distress and presses into my leg. His nose comes to my hand and his tongue flicks out over it, again. It soothes me.

My step-mother is still screaming at Volto and anyone who can hear. Kota looks over my shoulder and looks to Mr. Blackbourne, silently communicating. I don't bother trying to hear what they're saying, because I think if I tried, they wouldn't let me in, and I can see equally as well as Kota. I glance over my shoulder and see that a door to a house down the street has opened, and soon more follow.

I whip around and face, Pi, or rather Kota fear in my eyes. What will happen to the guys in their wolf forms? My step-mother has just gone to show that not everyone will be accepting, and if the authorities are called on them, it'll only be a matter of time before the world, or at least South Carolina, will find out about shifters. The guys can't stay wolves forever. There are people out there that would want to hurt them, us, and I don't want any of my dreams to come true.

"Kota," I say out loud, it comes out quiet due to the fear. He meets my gaze and then turns back to Mr. Blackbourne only for a second. Dr. Green jogs over to me, a bounce in his step. He places a hand on my cheek, nudging my head to the side so he's able to look me in the eyes. His hand strokes my cheek, as he moves backward slightly so he's able to look down at my side. His other hand that's not on my cheek, moves down there and pulls the material gently away from the wound. He examines it, and then look back up at me, a small grin on his face.

"You'll live." His hand still on my cheek he pulls me closer to him. He rests his nose against mine, staring into my eyes. "They'll be ok. We won't let anything happen to them," he murmurs. I clutch onto his shirt.

"But what if-" He moves his thumb on my cheek to my lips, pressing gently to stop me talking.

"It looks like a case of 'Butifs' and as a doctor, I think the only cure for such severe case as yours is to trust us. It's a fact."

I almost let out a chuckle. "But you're my mates..."

"I know," Dr. Green answers sympathetically. "And for that reason alone they won't allow themselves to be caught."

I look down at the boys around me and trust that they'll leave if they need to. Hopefully, with the presence of the others, they'll see that I'm OK. North, or rather West, will probably take the most persuading, but I think with a choice between me and captivity he'd disappear just as quickly as the others, or at least I hope.

"Kota?" a female calls. I spin, ready to protect the guys, but when the others don't react I should have guessed the voice wasn't a threat. Erica is walking across the road to our group. She looks over our group, taking everything in. Her eyes linger on me, and the wound, before going to Dr. Green and moving on. Her eyes hold confusion, but she doesn't say anything further.

My step-mother cries to her about us all being monsters and for Erica to call the police, and Erica looks unfazed, albeit slightly nervous. Erica takes a step toward my step-mother, her hands coming up to show she means no harm. Erica's eyes stay on the knife warily and she halts in her movements when my step-mother brings the knife up. I don't want to see Erica get hurt over me, and attempt to move around Dr. Green but when my step-mother's eyes fly to me, she brandishes the knife, waving it around at everyone.

"Look what you've done to our family. You have invited strangers into our lives, and this is the result. This is all your fault."

Growls and gasps go around our groups, but before anyone can answer, I take the opportunity to let my step-mother know that I'm not going to let her control me anymore.

"No, this is your fault. You could have left my mother and me be, but you had to-"

"Your mother was a slut and could have never left your dad alone. She was so desperate to be loved, it was pathetic. When you were born, I knew she had to be gotten rid of. Your father wanted to be with your mother, isn't that sick! I did her a favor, your father was obsessed and she broke his heart. She left him, but your father wouldn't stop going after her. And then we were lumped with you. Your mother was adamant that you weren't like her, a monster, and from the kindness of my heart, I took you into my home so you weren't a stray dog on the street, who ended up like your mother. But look at you now... a bitch in heat." Her speech is full of hypocrisies and sounds like it's coming from a crazy person, but I get the message she didn't like my mom. My dad was the problem, not my mom.

Erica looks from me to my step-mother, and then back. Her expression says it all.

"And you?" Gabriel asks looking to the man in the mask in disgust. "Why were you tormenting Sang?"

"I wasn't. I wanted to give her a normal life, and being around Academy boys wasn't the way to do it. She needed to get away from you."

"And what you're doing is normal?" Gabriel asks.

"She wouldn't have wanted this for you," he says looking at me.

"You keep saying that. How do you know that?" I cry.

"She wouldn-"

"How do you know what's best for me?"

"Because Academy boys were the bane of her life. She loved them dearly, but your dad didn't let her go. She decided to go with your dad, but the boys wouldn't leave her alone, and she was in immense pain until the end. She wanted to be left alone. They could have stopped me, believe me, they tried, but they didn't. Do you really want to be with those kinds of people?"

"Her mates," I gasp. It makes sense. My father wouldn't let her be with her mates? Mates as in plural, she had more than one, like me? They were Academy? My life could have been so different.

Anger rises, and resentment toward my dad comes with it. They all took my mother from me. I want to scream and shout at them all but I stay silent, not having it in me.

I look around at the boys and the prospect of living without their mate has a very similar reaction to mine arising in them. Anger and hurt. Silas' teeth are shown as he snarls at Volto, and he's joined by North, both of them at the front of the pack. Nathan next to me takes a step closer, pressing into my body. He vibrates against my leg with a growl.

"Lykos, West," Erica warns.

A distant siren sounds like it's coming closer and I look around panicked. Dr. Green who is standing nearby looks to Mr. Blackbourne for confirmation. I do the same.

"Diner," he commands through the mind link, and almost instantly all the wolves bound off, with Nathan pausing next to me. He glances at Mr. Blackbourne who is already saying what Nathan was thinking it seems.

"You too, Miss Sorenson."

"But," I object.

"Pookie, go," Dr. Green agrees. I look to him and then Mr. Blackbourne, wondering if my step-mother is going to allow me to leave. Mr. Blackbourne looks directly at me.

"She will be taken care of. Leave. You've gone through enough today." Nathan looks up at me expectantly, and I run beside him as we make our way to the trees. It's only as I'm beginning to run that I realize exactly how I'm dressed. The shift ripped my clothes, but luckily my shirt seems to have stayed intact enough to stay put, as well as my underpants. Nothing too revealing is on show, but I'm still embarrassed that the guys saw me in such a state.

I was too occupied with my step-mother to think anything of it, and when we emerge in the diner parking lot, I find the guys waiting for us, now in human form, and dressed. Kota runs up to me as soon as he sees me and pulls me into a strong hug. I press my face into his shoulder. I'm passed off to North next and by the time I get to Silas, I feel warm ad happy. Is it all finally going to be over?

The sun sets, but even then we still stay in the parking lot. We've been mostly quiet since arriving here. On the other side of the trees, we can just about hear what's going on, and it was obvious when my mother was being taken away, to wherever she was going as she wouldn't stop screaming about wolves until she was muffled by the car. By the time all of the commotion has died down, I'm feeling ready for bed. My wound has healed mostly, but I do need a shower with all the blood on me.

The trees rustle, and when the guys emerge, I half expect to see Volto still with them, but he's gone too. It's just the nine of us.

Victor sighs as he gets to me, and his eyes are as tired as I feel. "Princess," he greets as he pulls me into a hug.

Similarly to when we first arrived, I'm passed around the guys. I even hug Mr. Blackbourne.

"What happened?" I ask, leaning against Dr. Green who has once again proclaimed that I'll live after looking at my wound. He did examine it more this time and said that I wouldn't have any lasting damage.

"Volto has been taken care of. He's now been locked up, and won't be able to get to you again. Same with your step-mother. She's been sanctioned and will be looked after by the best people. Muriel will be dealt with also. You're free, Miss Sorenson."

I cry. I draw in deep breaths, sobbing into Dr. Green's shoulder. I'm finally free to live how I want and to love who I want. I can be with my mates without any fear of being hunted down, or hurt. It's exactly what I wanted. Dreams do come true.

There you go! That's the 'end'! Ahhh! I'm getting emotional. (I think) this one was the first-ever book I published on Wattpad, and it's finally come to an end! It's an end of an era for me, and I'll be forever grateful to every single one of you! This has been such a journey, and I truly am amazed that you guys stuck with me through the 3 years (!) wait. I've accomplished so much thanks to all of you, and I'm near tears writing this because I love you all, and you are why I am where I am in life. To be perfectly honest, you gave me belief in myself that I didn't have before writing. I will also be forever grateful and will love, the C L Stone books that this book is a fanfiction of. Not only are the books amazing, but they'll have a special place in my heart due to this book. They got me into writing.

I hope I tied all the ends up, and let me know if you think I haven't, or you have any questions, and I'll reply to the comment!

I say the "end" because technically I'm not finished with updating this book. The following parts will be one-shots of the guys marking Sang, and maybe if I think another part is good enough to be published (it's been written since the very beginning, it was originally how I saw it ending) that'll be released as well. So, when can you expect the parts? You won't have to wait for another 3 years, but I think I'm going to give myself a whole month to finish them all - so mark your calendars for the 1st of December (crazy we're there already), and stay with me for the 9 days after for the guys marking Sang.

What did you think of the last part?

Did you have a favorite scene in this book (and also let me know for Ghost Bird)?

Is there anything specific you want to see in the one-shots?

Who's your favourite character in the Ghost Bird Series? I couldn't possibly choose, but I would have to say... I can't choose - all nine of the guys! ;)

Who do you think Volto is in the series?

Thank you for everything you have done with this book! I love you guys, and I can't say it enough!

CC ;)

p.s. I'm going to cry after I hit publish. I'm going to be a mess when I actually have to say goodbye to this book once and for all, after the one-shots.