The Omega Mated To The Four

The Alpha Bond 214

Mariah leaned back against the couch, arms crossed, a smirk playing on her lips. "Well, kid, I gotta tell you-if none of that were true, I'd say you've officially lost it."

I blinked at her, my heart hammering in my chest. "So... you're saying it is true?

She sighed, running a hand through her dark curls before giving msmall, knowing smile. "Yeah, Stormi. It's true."

A sharp chill ran through me, but nothing could have prepared me for what she said next.

"You're really dead?" I whispered, my throat tight.

Mariah's smile softened. She didn't say anything right away. Instead, she reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear, just like she used to when I was little. Then, she leaned in and pressed gentle kiss to my forehead.

Tears burned at the edges of my eyes..

I already know the answer. But I needed to hear it.

"Mariah, I begged, my voice cracking.

She nodded once. "Yeah, kid. I'm really dead."

A broken sob tore from my throat.

Mariah wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a hug. I clung to her, my nails digging into the fabric of her T-shirt as I buried my face against her shoulder.

I was never going to let go.

"I don't understand," I whispered against her. "Am I dead too?"

Mariah pulled back, brushing her fingers over my cheek. "Not really, she said gently. "You're somewhere in between."

"Between?" I echoed, confused.

is the place where you meet your loved ones. It's where we guide you... before you pass into the spirit realm."

She nodded. "This is

I swallowed hard. "So I'm dying?"

Mariah tilted her head slightly, a sadness flickering across her face. That depends on you, kiddo."

I didn't know what to say to that.

For a long time, we just sat there.

It felt like I had been drowning in darkness, and now I was finally breathing again.

Being with Mariah felt right. Safe. Like I was home.

I didn't want to leave,

Mariah seemed to sense my thoughts because she grinned and stretched her arms over her head. "Well, since you're here, we might

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as well make the most of it.

And we did.

together, just like we used

cross-legged on the old, worn-out

up her sleeve when she thought I wasn't looking. Lentight her, and we ended up Inughing so

our faces, and she playfully smacked my arm when I stole a bite of cookie

tiny table, sharing stories between bis of Mariah's famous

For

The first t

what felt like

ache in

war. My mates. The Shadow

it mattered

I hesitated in the hallway, biting my lip. "Mariah... can leep in your

"Damn, kid, you're

I shrugged. "Please?"

but ned her bedroom

into bed beside her. She wrapped an arm around me, and I closed my eyes, sinking into

a kiss to the top of my head. "Oh, my little girl," she whispered. "I love

eyes shut, holding back tears.

sharp breath caught in Mariah's throat. She stiffened slightly, then hugged me even

in

Mariah frowned. "For what?"

before you died. For not being there

my chin and tilting my face up to hers "Stop," she

voice softened. "Listen to me. What happened wasn't your fault. It never was. You were a kid-my kid.

spilled over my

Mariah wiped them away.

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to let go of the

hard

least now, we

smiled up at her.

Marish blinked. "For what?-

said softly. "To the spirit

Silence.

Mariah didn't answer.

just stared at me, her lips slightly parted, her eyes dark with

couldn't quite place.

"Mariah?" I whispered.

She looked away.

feeling crept

again, firmer this time.

She turned back to

to me, her eyes shining

Stormi," she

A sharp sting shot

through my chest.

up. "What do you mean? Of

gripping my hands tightly. "Not yet, my

My voice cracked.