Rise of the Underdogs: VALIK

XVI

We were in the car, me in the back with Heaven in my lap and Jake driving. His hands were steady on the wheel as he navigated the roads, fingers tapping lightly to the rhythm of whatever song was playing low on the radio. The late afternoon sun filtered through the windshield, casting soft gold across the dashboard. He glanced back at me, his eyes dancing with glee and pride.

“I’m glad it’s you, Val. She deserves someone who will see her and accept her as she is,” he said suddenly.

A small smirk tugged at my lips as I leaned my head back, looking out the window. The weight of my Mate in my arms was soothing, her warmth grounding me in a way I hadn’t felt in years. Her breath was slow and even, her head nestled against my chest like she belonged there. Ehno, of course, was in my head sighing whimsically every now and then, tail thumping softly in the background of my thoughts.

‘What’s wrong with you?’ I asked, humoured by this change in him.

‘Our sweet little Mate. So precious,’ he replied. ‘Omega, but smart and strong in her own way.’

My eyes went wide, realizing that she’d likely be scared when she figured out the truth. It wouldn’t take long. All she had to do was wake up and realize that I was hers. That her life had just changed forever.

“She’s not going to take it well, is she?”

“Probably not,” Jake agreed. His eyes met mine in the rear-view mirror, the light catching the edge of his grin. “So that means you gotta take your time with her. Heaven’s… sensitive. Knowing that you’re the first of the Alpha’s Elite and she’s an Omega might make her upset.”

His words made sense, considering what I heard her tell my brother. She didn’t want to be seen as weak. She didn’t want pity. And she definitely didn’t want to be claimed like some prize.

“So what. My last Mate was a bratty Vampire b***h. Heaven’s always been different,” I told him.

“Different?”

“Kinder, gentler, softer,” I blurted. “She’s always been the calm one. The listener. The one who treats wounds and makes kids smile during vaccines because that’s what makes her happy.”

I looked down at her, brushing a strand of hair from her face. Her skin was warm, her lashes fluttering slightly like she was caught between sleep and waking. I could feel her heartbeat against mine, steady and quiet.

Jacob’s snicker made me smile. “I’ll handle Paul. I’m loving the fact that you’ve seen her so clearly over the years.”

I nodded, eyes still on Heaven. He was right, though. I’d seen her in the way she moved through the pack, unnoticed by most but unforgettable to me. And now she was here, in my arms, and everything felt like it was finally starting to make sense.

As he pulled onto the gravel road that led to the Howler packhouse, he blew out his cheeks. “This is going to go over about as well as telling a Luna she looks like crap.”

“Then don’t tell a Luna something that could potentially have you digging your own grave,” I told him, listening as Heaven’s breathing shifted slightly, the rhythm no longer as deep.

Looking down, I realized she was awake when I saw her eyes twitch just a little. It was so subtle I would have missed it if I wasn’t already tuned into every part of her. She was still, quiet, probably holding out. Waiting for me to reject her.

Yeah, right.

My brother would beat my ass for that without even asking what happened. He wouldn’t need details. Just the idea of me walking away from my Mate would be enough to set him off.

The gravel road curved through the forest, trees tall and close on either side, their branches swaying gently in the breeze like they were whispering secrets. The scent of pine and damp earth filled the air, grounding and familiar. As the car rolled forward, the woods began to thin, giving way to a wide clearing that opened up like a breath.

The Howler packhouse stood at the center, rebuilt and solid, a mix of dark stone and warm wood that gave it a strong, lived-in feel. The structure was bigger than before, with two wings stretching out from the main building and a wraparound porch that looked like it had seen a few late-night talks and early morning coffees. The roof was pitched high, built to handle snow and storms, and the windows were wide, letting in light and watching over the land like quiet sentinels.

To the right, the training grounds stretched out — a flat expanse of packed dirt and grass, bordered by a ring of trees. Wooden dummies stood in a row, scarred from years of use, and a few logs were stacked near the edge for strength drills. The air carried the faint scent of sweat, leather, and old adrenaline, like the ground itself remembered every sparring match.

Logan was already on the steps, arms crossed, his weight shifted slightly to one side like he’d been standing there a while. His eyes locked onto the car the second it came into view, sharp and unreadable. The wind tugged at his jacket, and the fading sunlight caught the edge of his jaw, casting shadows that made him look even more like the Alpha he was — steady, watchful, and ready for whatever came next.

Jacob parked, moving calmly to my door so I could get out without jarring Heaven in any way. The gravel crunched under his boots as he stepped around, his movements smooth and practiced like he’d done this a hundred times before. “Keep cool, man. I can feel Paul’s wolf trying to get through to me. I’m blocking him for now, but he’s in the foyer.”

“Aren’t you scared you’ll lose face over this?” The question was more teasing than anything else, my voice low as I adjusted Heaven in my arms.

“Nah,” Jake answered. “Just a little brotherly chaos. Besides, I’ll call in Wyn if he gets out of hand. She and Devon are Mates, by the way. Trippy how that happened, but Sammy got the best of the best deal.”

“Say what?”

He snickered, the same humoured reaction to everything he had since I’d known him. His grin stretched wide, eyes gleaming with that familiar spark. “Yeah. Devon and Wynter are perfect for each other while Sammy, our male Omega lead, ended up with the freaking Druid Princess, Heather Cage.”

“The heck?” I asked, chuckling low as I carried Heaven into the packhouse. I moved with newfound stealth, making sure to get past Paul before he noticed what was going on.

Kudos to my bestie for stepping in when he saw his brother getting pissy, though.

When Heaven nuzzled against my cashmere coat – a gift from Samara and Peiter before leaving Russia – my heart jumped unsteadily. It was an unconscious reaction, but it was one that had tears threatening to fall.

As realization dawned on those gathered around me, I felt the shift in my own heart and soul. I was home, my new Mate was safely in my arms, and I would murder anyone who thought I would roll over and play dead like I had the year before.