Mr. Blackbourne

Don't worry guys, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth again! ;) I just wanted it to be perfect, and Mr. Blackbourne was hard to write with deciding what I wanted to happen, especially the end. I thought about making it Lily's team, but decided against it, having put the Ghost Bird characters through too much already.

Mr. Blackbourne and I don't manage to get some alone time for more than a month after Dr. Green marked me. He didn't seem phased at the fact that Dr. Green marked me in the back of his car, but there was a sort of tension there that wasn't there before. I don't want him to feel any expectation from me to mark me, only wanting him to do it when he's ready, and I'm sure he does to some extent, along with guilt.

I kept trying to spend time with him at the suggestion of Dr. Green or rather Sean now, but every time, at least one of the other boys is present, and I don't manage to get some time alone with him.

Such a time is now. I'm not complaining, I love all my mates dearly, and especially love when we get to spend some time together without one of them away on a mission, but one on one time is nice sometimes.

The guys are still doing missions, while I am at home continuing my schooling by work Mr. Blackbourne and Dr. Green got me through tutors. it allows us all to spend more time together, whenever the guys aren't working extra hard for favors. They explained it to me as a points-based system, and they were currently in debt, which they hoped the mission at the school would help with. Dr- Sean said I was prize enough which made me blush, and the others ultimately groan. I still hadn't gotten used to calling him Sean fully, currently at a hybrid between Dr. Green and Sean whenever I forget.

I didn't hear anything about the Academy, or the school, for at least a week after I shifted there. I was unsure whether there was no news, or if my mates were trying to protect me. Admittedly it was nice to have that week without having to think about it. I had repeatedly asked for news, and finally one day Kota had promised me that I was in the clear. Judging by what they didn't say, or rather their body language, they had been keeping the full extent of the ire from the Academy from me. I didn't push it, knowing that they would tell me if they felt it was needed. I had been told, however, that the school would not be bugging us again, the pupils who saw me shift either having kept quiet or had been forced to keep quiet by the Academy. Some days I hated the Academy for taking the guys, but others I felt grateful to have a seemingly powerful institution on our side.

All of my mates, include Mr. Blackbourne and Dr. Sean, who are thankfully no longer my teachers, are spending the night at Nathan's. Whenever I'm not doing school work, I find myself at a loss, and luckily today I occupied my time with cooking for my mates. I'm serving up the taco soup when Mr. Blackbourne joins me in the kitchen. Even with us out of school, he's stuck with his suit and tie combo, but tonight he forwent the tie and jacket, looking the most casual I've ever seen him. He pushes his sleeves up and silently helps me with the bowls. A small smile touches my lips, liking the comfort we have around each other.

"Miss Sorenson," Mr. Blackbourne finally breaks the silence, turning to me momentarily. I still hadn't got him to call me Sang, but truth be told I hadn't tried very hard. "I was wondering if you would like to accompany me next week somewhere."

I pause spooning the mixture into the bowl, turning to Mr. Blackbourne in surprise.

"Yes," I respond, not trying to sound too eager at the prospect of alone time with him before I change my mind and don't care if he knows. "Where are we going to go?"

"I thought you might want to meet some people." He doesn't say anything else, and I don't have a response so we return to our silent work side by side. Our time is interrupted by the guys coming in, telling us how hungry they are. Mr. Blackbourne, being his usual self, doesn't say anything else as he helps me take the bowls over to the table. A bigger smile stays on my face the rest of the night as we watch a film, excited for next week and our adventure.

***

A piece of light classical music, full of stringed instruments plays through the car, and my heart wrenches when I remember we no longer have our Violin lessons. I find myself copying Victor and tapping my fingers to the rhythm of the song, instead of the notes to a silent melody as Victor does.

Mr. Blackbourne looks at me through the side of his glasses before reaching out to the dial and turning the volume up. I give him a timid smile in response. We've been driving for at least two hours, Mr. Blackbourne having picked me up at 8 this morning on the dot.

The silence between is, as usual, comfortable, and even though he's probably the one that I'm most intimidated to spend time with, it's only due to the fact that I want to get to know him more. I want him to be comfortable around me.

I haven't asked where we're going, and Mr. Blackbourne hasn't offered up the information, and all I'm left with to try and work out where we're going are the trees outside my window. Every so often I glance back in the mirror to where Dr. Green marked me, but I don't want to remind Mr. Blackbourne while we're spending time together, so I don't linger. The string instruments of the song grow into a crescendo and goosebumps erupt over my skin.

Mr. Blackbourne glances over to me again, as I sway my head slightly with the song.

"We don't have to stop our lessons if you want to continue."

I spin to face him, and Dr. Green's suggestion to try and spend more time with him enters my mind but is overshadowed by the pure want and excitement I get at the prospect.

"Please," I respond emphatically, before quickly tacking on, "If you're not busy."

A millimeter smile works its way to his lips before he turns back to the road. "I'll make time."

The song stops with a resounding final note, quickly segueing into another piece, this time on a piano.

The drive doesn't last long enough for us to hear all of the song, Mr. Blackbourne turning into a long driveway before it can really build momentum. The drive is lined with trees, and when we round a corner I see a grand house in the middle of what looks to be a field. Mr. Blackbourne shuts off the engine before the piece can finish, silencing it. The silence is almost deafening as the blood roars in my ears, afraid of who could be in the house. A fleeting thought of it being my stepmother is immediately thrown to the side. Mr. Blackbourne wouldn't take me to see her, but he also said "people", meaning there is more than one person waiting for me behind the door.

I don't move to the seatbelt, and Mr. Blackbourne is unmoving beside me, too.

"This is the house of your mother's mates," he finally tells me, meeting my eyes over the center console. "I thought you might want to meet them, maybe ask them some questions. Miss Sorenson, I want you to know that we can leave at any time, even now, just say the word."

The fear diminishes and increases at the same time, in different parts of my brain. Will they want to see me? Would I just remind them of my mother? Mr. Blackbourne must have told them about me. So many questions take root, while excitement at possibly meeting people connected to my mother, who could tell me more about her, as well as learning more about having more than one mate has me fidgeting in my seat ready to go in and see them.

"No, I want to go in," I respond, my words coming out quieter than I intended.

"Miss Sorenson," he says again, getting my attention. I meet his eyes again through his glasses, and he stares deeply into my own for a moment. "I'm here. It's going to be OK."

I nod resolutely, hoping for it to convince myself, before I reach for the seatbelt, exiting the car.

The humid air causes a droplet of sweat to roll down my back, but I don't give it much attention, too busy staring at the windows on the house, hoping to get a sight of someone inside.

Mr. Blackbourne waits for me at the hood of the car, and when I join him we keep pace with each other as we walk to the porch. Getting to the stairs, Mr. Blackbourne places a hand on my back, egging me to go up first. His hand lingers as I start to climb, and when we get to the top he moves ahead, pushing on the doorbell in random intervals. I look at him questioningly. "Academy," he says simply as if that should be an answer.

I wring my hands together, playing with the skirt Gabe dressed me in this morning. He had gone for a smarter outfit than usual, and I wonder if they too know what I'm doing today.

The sounds of people moving around inside, and the murmur of chatter hit our ears, and it's only a couple of seconds before the door opens to a 30-something-year-old man with dark hair. His stature reminded me of Nathan, but he's cool collectedness reminded me of Mr. Blackbourne.

"Yes?" he asks, his voice deep and gravelly, his blue eyes moving from Mr. Blackbourne to me. Maybe they had been bright in a different time, while his mate, my mother was here but now they were dull and lifeless. His face fell, and the mask slipped as soon as he saw me. His jaw went slack, and he took a small step toward me. He reaches a hand out as if to touch me but then thinks better of it, collecting himself and placing the mask back.

"You must be Sang and Owen," he says, clearing his throat and pushing the door open wider. "Come in." Hearing Mr. Blackbourne's first name slipping off someone's tongue so easily outside of Dr. Green is so foreign that it takes me aback for a second before gathering myself and following Mr. Blackbourne through the door.

We enter an entrance hall, a grand staircase allowing access to the next floor. I don't get long to look as we're quickly escorted to a room off to the side, a formal sitting area. A man is sitting on one of the couches, his hands clasped together on his legs. He stares out of the window behind the opposite couch, only stirring when the man who greeted us at the door clears his throat.

Upon seeing us, he stands to his full height but doesn't move to get closer to us. Similarly to when we arrived a look of wonder meet's this man's face. He looks to be the same age as the man standing with us, his skin the color of caramel. His dark hair is cropped close to his head, and he smooths a hand over it in what I assume is a nervous tick.

"Fuck me," the new man mutters under his breath. I stay close to Mr. Blackbourne's side unsure what to do. That's two. Do I look like my mother? I recall the vision I had of her being burned alive, and flinch at the memory but decide that yes, I must.

"Sorry, I haven't given you my name," the man at the door greeted. "I'm Jensen, and this is Solomon. Brad is outside."

"I'll go and get him," Solomon offers before I can greet him. He leaves the room quickly, leaving us all standing.

"Have a seat," Jensen offers. "Do you want a drink?" My mouth has been dry ever since I got out of the car, so water sounds good right about now.

I nod, giving him my order, and Mr. Blackbourne repeats me. Jensen rushes out of the room in the direction Solomon went, leaving Mr. Blackbourne and me hovering by the couch.

"Miss Sorenson?" he questions, and just by those words I know that he's asking after me. I give him a smile, not trusting my voice.

These were my mom's mates. Would I even be here if she hadn't left them? Would I have met the guys sooner or later, or not at all? How different would my life have been? Would I have been a totally different person, with different mates?

I sit down on the couch, the back hard and keeping my posture straight. Mr. Blackbourne sits down with me, his posture not being affected from its usual one.

Jensen returns not allowing much more of a conversation with Mr. Blackbourne, putting two glasses down in front of us on the coffee table. He flashes a quick smile before his face falls again and he takes up one of the chairs around the room.

The room stays silent until Solomon and Brad arrive, but Jensen appears to try and start a conversation multiple times but thinks better of it before he can get a word out.

Mr. Blackbourne rises when they enter, Solomon followed by a man with bright blonde hair, a scruff marring his jawline. He's wiping his hands with a cloth as he walks, and once he's happy that they're clean he raises his head to where we're sitting.

Once again I follow his lead standing out of politeness, and Mr. Blackbourne reaches a hand out, brushing his fingers momentarily over the back of my hand by my side. I want to reach out and take it in return, but Mr. Blackbourne moves it before I can.

Brad drops the rag coming toward me, his amber eyes raking over my face. "You..." he breathes. He comes to his sense and apologizes. "Sorry, you just look a lot like her."

"It's ok," I say meekly. I know if I were in their position and one of my mates were to die, and I saw someone who looked like them I would have a very similar reaction. The thought makes me turn to Mr. Blackbourne who stares down at me with a similar expression to how I'm feeling.Solomon returns to where he was sitting on the couch, Brad joining him, and I take them all in. I didn't know what to expect walking toward the door, and I felt even worse knowing that my mom had decided that she didn't want them, instead going with my father, and I wouldn't be surprised if they were angry with me as a result. They didn't seem it, they seemed happy to see me, and I hoped that it was their character that made them not hold any resentment. All the fear bundled up and ultimately stopped me from me being able to say anything. Mr. Blackbourne saved me. My eyes wide I flicked from one man to the other. They were staring at me with a varying array of emotions on their faces. I didn't want to stare too long, so I was never quite able to work one out.

"Thank you for seeing us," Mr. Blackbourne started. I reach for my water, gulping it down. I nod in agreement, my eyes flying around the room again.

My eyes stop on a collection of photographs on the mantle. I see each of the guys with a woman, but from where I'm sitting all I can make out is blonde hair. I itch to stand up and go over to them, examining each one, guessing it's my mom, but I don't want to do so uninvitedly.

Jensen sees where my eyes are, and when he speaks I can't help the embarrassment of being caught red-handed. "Yes, that's her," he says, the mask firmly in place. Solomon stands and reaches for a group photo passing it to me. I take it with a quick thank you. My fingers trace over the woman in the middle, and can't help but see the similarity that they did. The three guys in the room with us surround her. They all look young, maybe about my age or just older. They all seem happy, so I wonder where it went wrong that my mom felt that they weren't right for her. The mate bond is strong enough that I could never think of anyone else in the way I think of the guys. I don't feel angry or disgusted at my mom, only sad that she didn't feel what I did with these guys. I wanted to apologize on her behalf. Maybe she had it with my dad.

"How did you meet her?" I ask, my voice coming out quietly even after downing a whole glass of water.

Brad has a small smile come to his lips, but it's Jensen who answers. "She was feisty, knew what she wanted, and it led to some decisions that were far from sensible." He has a fond smile. "She found herself in trouble one day running through the woods and tripped over a branch. Brad found her at the bottom of an incline, transformed into wolf form, struggling to find her way out. Obviously, the spark was there, and we all met her soon enough." His smile turns sadder towards the end.

"Sounds like how someone I know would be described by some of her mates," Mr. Blackbourne says sharing a millimeter smile with me. I press my lips together.

Solomon's dark, dawning gaze goes from me to Mr. Blackbourne. "I'm glad you found your mates. You must take after your mother in the multiple aspect." I never thought it to be abnormal to have more than one. I knew in the human world it was considered normal to have one, but I didn't know much about the wolf one. I'm sure I'll learn more as I grow.

I hope to smile at Mr. Blackbourne, but his attention is back to the room. Loads more questions arise, and I hold back from asking some in fear of offense. The one that nagged the most was why she didn't want them in her life.

"Did you love her?" I decide to ask next, trying to steer the conversation that way subtly in hope of them volunteering the information.

"Yes," they all breathe, barely above a whisper. The grief is thick in the room.

"What was she like?" I ask, hoping to gain a connection to her in some way. I knew from my memory of the fire that she would have done anything for me. I also knew what Volto told me, but I didn't know how much of that was manipulation and how much of that was true.

"Bubbly, funny, kind. We were young, but she made me want to be a better person for her, but like Jensen said she knew her mind, and wouldn't back down from anything. She had the most beautiful green eyes that seemed to stare through your soul, picking out every good thing..." Brad trails off, his eyes meeting mine. Mr. Blackbourne pulls his suit jacket closer to him next to me, and this jolts Brad away from my eyes.

"Was she happy?" I blurt out. I need to know that the decisions she made ultimately made her happy.

The air goes silent, and the three men all move positions.

"I didn't-" I start but Jensen cuts me off.

"She was, I think." He clears his throat before continuing. "She was always plagued by her past, though, and that past included a man that she loved way before we came along. At first, yes, we were all happy, and I thought that that would be the only thing that mattered, but we hadn't accounted for the fact that the other shifter would try and take her from us." Solomon clenches his fists and Brad stares stonily past my shoulder. "She continued to see him, after us. We didn't think it was romantic, but soon she started to distance herself from us, almost completely. We tried to regain contact with her, sensing her hurt, but before we could... well, you know what happened." This other shifter, I assume is my dad, and a wave of anger, betrayal, and hurt over the last 16 years rises. My dad knew and didn't say anything.

"It was my fault," Solomon murmured and Jensen immediately shoots it down.

"What about me?" I ask, wondering if they knew about me before Mr. Blackbourne contacted them.

"She loved you. More than the shifter, and more than us. I didn't know the other shifter was in a relationship until the girlfriend turned up to our house screaming at..." Brad can't bring himself to say her name and instead settles on calling her my mom. "She spouted off every bullshit excuse she could find to hate her, and she saw you, and it made..."

"...things worse?" I finish, when he doesn't. Brad nods giving me an apologetic smile. I never stood a chance with my stepmother by the sounds of it. I'm surprised she allowed me into her house at all.

"That's probably what caused her to distance herself from us," Solomon states, murmuring under his breath after. Volto had made it out that they had bugged her, hurting her, but in reality, she had been hurting because she was away from them. She had loved them. I don't know much else about her, but I do know that. Why had she gone back to my dad? Was she trying to protect the three men in this room? But it takes me back to the question of why she went back.

An awful feeling overcomes me. She had no choice. Just as I had no choice but to go back, I'm almost certain now from talking to her mates, that she too didn't. Had my dad hounded her as Volto had hounded me? We had never been close, with him usually away on business trips, and whenever he was around we never talked. Was that because of my mom? Did he feel guilt?

I looked around at the three guys and my heart broke for them. It was obvious that deep down they never got over my mom. I hadn't noticed any female belongings since I got here, only the photos, and I worried that there never would be. They could be stuck constantly pining after my mom. It was obvious that they were reliant on each other to make the pain lessen.

Mr. Blackbourne and I only stayed maybe half an hour longer, talking more about my mom, telling stories about each other. I grew to like them over the time we spent together, and when we were leaving I promised to see them again, which I was always welcome to do, apparently. I was comfortable around them, and walking back to the car I felt more connected to my family than I have ever felt before.

The ride back to Charleston was quiet, only broken every so often by Mr. Blackbourne asking after me. I was perfectly content with keeping to myself, absorbed in my thoughts and the new information I had received today. I was pleased to be going back to one of the guys today. After not hearing from them all day, I was excited to decompress with them at some point, hoping to hear their thoughts on the matter. I also needed to be reassured that they were actually still waiting for me. All the talk of lost mates has caused the dreams I had of losing the guys to resurface.

I nod off at some point because the next thing I know I wake up on a bed of grey sheets, the scent of spring and Irish soap surrounding me.

I search the room confused as to where I am. A movement in the bed has me looking back in its direction, and I find Mr. Blackbourne, his glasses and suit gone. Without his glasses, it makes him appear much softer, and at that moment, I remember that he's only a couple of years older than me. Most of the time, with the authority he exudes, he comes across much older.

Even sleeping he looks composed. No gaping mouth, his hair only messed up slightly. I find myself staring at him longer than I had intended, and as if he has sensed it, his steel grey eyes open meeting mine head-on. I must look like a rabbit in the headlights. He greets me before I can turn over, trying to pretend it didn't happen.

"Morning, Miss Sorenson," I'm still speechless at being in the bed with him, that I only manage a squeak in response. He sits up, reaching for his bedside table, getting his glasses. It instantly makes him look more like himself. I like his glasses. I get a glimpse of the clock saying it's 6:32.

"How are you feeling today?" he asks.

"Fine. You?"

"I'm very good, thank you." He pushes up onto his feet, moving to walk out of the room. I panic, not wanting him to leave just yet, hoping that the intimate moment, in our books, we just spent together could open up the conversation between us more.

On instinct, and used to how I treat the other guys, I jump up and grab onto his arm, shouting out for him to wait. He turns, his eyes meeting mine over his shoulder. I instantly regret my decision and drop my hands. This causes him to turn completely.

"Yes, Miss Sorenson."

"Sorry, I just wanted to..." I trail off, deciding on the best way to tell him what I want without offending him. "Can we talk?" His eyes stay on mine for a moment. He sits down on the side of the bed, watching me expectantly. I wring my hands, not knowing how to start, or even what I want to talk about.

"What is it, Miss Sorenson?" he prompts me, his features blank. I can see through his facade enough to know that he's not angry with me, just waiting.

I sit down next to him, as close as I can get without touching him. How do I convey to him that I just want to talk about anything, rather than a specific thing?

"I want to thank you," I finally settle on, deciding that it's safe territory. "For taking me yesterday."

"No need to thank me, Miss Sorenson."

"I also wanted to apologize that we haven't been able to spend much time together."

Mr. Blackbourne stares at me in surprise. "Miss Sorenson, if anyone should be the one to apologize it should be me. I acted out of turn by kissing you in the hospital. I was acting under impulse, and I should have waited for a better time, than doing it then. I found myself distancing myself from you on purpose, needing to keep it that way for the school, but yesterday I realized how bad of a decision that was."

It's my turn to stare at him in shock. "What?"

"I'm sorry," he repeats. I can't gather my thoughts enough to give him a reply. "I hope I can make it up to you."

This stirs me out of my stupor, and I jump in before he can say anything more.

"You have nothing to apologize for."

"We don't deserve you," he says, reaching out and touching my hand.

"You do." I move closer to him with my words, wanting him to believe me. This is the most vulnerable I've seen him, and I like that he trusts me enough for him to feel comfortable to do so.

He lifts a hand tenderly to my cheek. "Have I ever told you, you're beautiful?"I stare at him through his glasses, my voice eluding me again, but I manage a small response.

"No."

"You're beautiful," he murmurs.

"You too," I blurt, blushing profusely seconds after when I understand what I just said, and to who. I try and rant my way out of it, but Mr. Blackbourne just smiles, a proper one this time. It truly is beautiful. I can't think of any other word to describe it.

"I hope this one's better," he tells me, before dropping his head, his lips brushing mine. His first kiss was perfect, but this one is even better if it could be possible. I press myself closer, and he takes command of the kiss like everything else. It's him. A smile stretches my lips, and I reach up to take his glasses off like I did with Kota, and this causes Mr. Blackbourne to push even closer to me.

In a swift movement, I'm under him, lying back on the bed. His hands caress my cheeks, moving around my face as if exploring it. He moves down my neck, hesitating when his fingers are about to hit my marks. He doesn't stop though, finally touching them. I push up into him, a light moan leaving my lips. He plays with the mark, and I reach for his shoulders or anywhere else I can reach, grinding up into him. This seems to give him back his senses, and he pulls his hand and lips back. I whimper at the loss.

"Miss Sorenson."

"Mr. Blackbourne," I respond in a similar matter.

"I'm sorry for leaving it so long." I use Dr. Green's technique of keeping me quiet and rise up, kissing him. He thrusts a hand into my hair but allows me to take control for once. I explore his mouth, and his kiss, a need rising up in me to complete marking all my mates.

"Can I?" I ask, pulling back when I feel I'll combust if I don't.

"Whatever you need, Miss Sorenson."

"I love you, Mr. Blackbourne," I say, and instead of feeling embarrassed at what I blurted like earlier, I only feel embarrassed that maybe he wasn't ready to hear it. He surprises me, however, by replying in kind.

"Miss Sorenson, I love you. I don't think I could help it even if I wanted to." He takes his glasses from me, putting them back in place. His eyes rake over my face, and when I feel my canines descend, he continues to stare, the millimeter smile returning.

I push up onto my knees, crawling toward him. It would feel a waste to disturb his perfection with a mark any other time, but here and now I can't wait for my mark to be what does it. I disrupt the perfection in him, and I like it.

I focus on his neck, moving my face to it. Mr. Blackbourne stays still, and when I strike, his hands fly to my waist in front of him. He steadies me against the onslaught of his scent that doesn't even compare to earlier when I woke, and the onslaught of emotions. All of them are mine. All nine. No one can take them from me, and no one else can have them. Tears spring to my eyes, and I clutch at Mr. Blackbourne needing him to ground me as he always does. He's our perfect leader who will always be there when I need him most. Just as the other guys will be. The connection with Mr. Blackbourne deepens, way more than any getting to know each other would have done.

They all saved me from my stepmother, and they never left me when Volto was around. I can never see my life without them.

I eventually pull back, tears sliding down my face.

"Miss Sorenson... Sang?"

"I'm ok." I nod. "I just... love you all so much."

Mr. Blackbourne brings a hand to my face, wiping at my tears. "Us too." He surveys my body, and everywhere he looks is a mark. He rests on my unmarked wrist but smiles and moves.

"Where am I going to mark you? I think if I mark you there, we'd never get anything done. Every time someone held your hand..."

I giggle, and his smile grows. With my mark on him, he seems so much more relaxed around me.

He meets my eyes, slowly pulling on my shirt. "May I?"

I nod, and he pulls the shirt up, stopping when he sees Silas'.

"Why there?" he asks. I shrug, looking away embarrassed to tell him the reason. He understands and moves on.

He goes to my legs, kneeling on the floor. It's a shock to see Mr. Blackbourne on the floor, yet alone kneeling, and when he looks up at me I gasp. He slides his hands down my thighs, and I gasp as he gets closer to my knee. He bends his head, licking the spot on the outside of my knee. It's so unexpected that the next gasp is mixed with a moan.

He looks up at me again, and I nod fervently. He strikes, bitting down into where my knee meets my thigh.

I buck up again, moaning. The pleasure from the bites reaches the peak with this one, and I feel like I'm going to float away.

At the same time, the other mate connections seem to get stronger and stronger until I can't feel anything else but it. The sparks from where Mr. Blackbourne is touching me feels like electricity over my skin.

It's over before I know it, and Mr. Blackbourne is rising up to place a kiss on my forehead.

"You can go back to sleep if you want," he tells me. Suddenly, that feels like an excellent idea.

"Did anyone else feel that?" Victor asks over the mind link.

"Who knew Mr. B had it in him," Gabe says after everyone confirms that they did.

I lie back on the bed, reveling in listening to my mates talking, the mate bond so strong now that it feels like they're in the room with me.

I curl up, a wide smile staining my features, and I don't think it'll ever leave. I talk to the guys about my mom's mates and their reactions are as to be expected.

I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I know the doorbell is ringing. Mr. Blackbourne answers it, and I sit up, immediately throwing back the covers when I smell the guys. I run out into the living room and find all 9 of my mates all grinning at me, their happiness as palpable as mine.

Who knew that the girl from Chicago who was getting abused would find happiness and love in South Carolina. They have me. They have my everything, and I know that they will always be there for me. My future with the guys is going to be long, and I look forward to every moment.

Ahhhh! It's done. It's finally done!! After almost 6 years! What???

This was one of the first-ever, if not first, books I posted on Wattpad, and as a result, it means so much to me and has led me onto doing something I absolutely love.

Not to get emotional, but I really appreciate all of your love and support through everything. I love the Academy books as can be seen by this book, but I also love the fans now (cheesy I know). The books meant a lot to me already, but they mean even more now. You guys have been amazing, and I know I'll cry when I mark it as completed.

For the final time, what did you think? I hope I did the character justice, and I hoped you liked the whole book. I had so many more drafts of ideas on my computer for the Ghost Bird Series when I posted this, and I still have those drafts. None are worthy enough to be posted, but maybe in the future, I'll post another if I have an idea that's worthy.

Thank you all so much once more for voting, commenting, sharing, and following!

CC ;)

I'm going to go and cry now marking it as complete.