“No, you don’t,” Sorrel muttered through angry tears.

  “Sorrel.”

  My voice was crisp and sharp—the epitome of a stern older brother’s voice. And it still worked on him. His eyes widened as they met mine.

  I took a deep breath. “I’m in love with Viol. I’ve loved him since the day we met on the plains, all those years ago. And now, finally, we call each other fated mates. Every day, I feel safe and warm and protected. I’m happier than I’ve ever been.” I pressed my snout into Sorrel’s neck fur. His familiar scent made my chest ache. “Please stop clinging to your vengeance. There’s more to life, I promise. There’s someone out there who will love you this deeply, too.”

  Sorrel hesitated. For a brief second, his gaze flickered over his shoulder before he forced it back on me.

  Who was he looking at? I wondered.

  “Hey. You two,” Viol shouted. “Alpha bears.”

  Sheba and Knox started at his call. Sheba’s face was scrunched up in annoyance. I doubted this confrontation had gone the way she’d intended. But Knox’s shoulders slumped with fatigue. He almost seemed like he’d rather be somewhere else.

  “I don’t want to fight you,” Viol stated. “And even if you do want to fight me, you both know there’s no fair fight here.”

  Sheba leapt to all four paws, yellowed fangs bared in a snarl. “I’ll die before I let you walk away, dragon! This clan hasn’t been the same since you killed Konrad.”

  “Isn’t that a good thing?” Viol snapped. “This is no way to live—for the omegas, or for you. Look around. This ‘clan’ is a miserable dump. You shackle omegas to shitty lives, and in doing so, you shackle yourselves. Get that through your thick fucking skulls already.”

  Sheba glared at him viciously. “You murdered our brother.”

  Viol grimaced. In a softer tone tinged with regret, he said, “I know. And for that, I’m sorry.”

  My heart hurt for my mate. He was too kind. Even knowing all the cruelty Konrad had wrought, Viol felt guilty for taking his life. There were alphas who wouldn’t blink at such violence. Alphas who would’ve relished enacting their idea of justice. But Viol was different. He had a truly gentle soul.

  I could never forgive Konrad for what he’d done—especially not when I discovered his horrible thoughts towards Sorrel. In the depths of my heart, I was glad Viol did what he did. But it wasn’t fair that my gentle dragon was pushed to his breaking point all those years ago. His tender nature was his downfall, causing him to drown in guilt and suffer needlessly for so long...

  I shook my head, pulling myself back to the present.

  “I’m not the only one fated to a dragon,” I went on. “Rorik is, too. He’s mated to Viol’s brother, and he has two beautiful twin boys.”

  Sorrel had been frowning until I mentioned Rorik’s name. “What? Rorik is alive?”

  I blinked. “Of course he is.”

  Sorrel’s brow furrowed in doubt and bewilderment. “No, he can’t be. The alphas told us he was dead.”

  Slow comprehension washed over me. Viol and I both stared at the alpha bears. Sheba growled defensively while Knox had no expression.

  “Don’t believe this traitor over your alpha superior,” she snapped. “He’s obviously lying!”

  “You’re a fucking moron,” Viol grumbled. “You’re lucky I told them to stay behind, or else—”

  A distant roar split the sky.

  Then a second.

  And a third.

  Soon the gray heavens were alive with a symphony of roars, all mingling together in a triumphant cry.

  Every hair on my pelt tingled with awe. When I raised my head to the sky, my heart skipped a beat.

  Six dragons of vivid colors flew towards us. Crimson, Jade, Cobalt, Thystle, Aurum, and Saffron... Like a dream, all of them were present. And they weren’t alone. A majestic golden eagle flew beside Thystle; the rest carried their mates in their claws or safely around their necks.

  I was so overwhelmed that my legs gave out. I sat down, staring up in wonder and disbelief. Our entire family had come to join us.

  “W-what’s going on?” Sorrel gasped, his hackles rising.

  He wasn’t alone in his panic. Sheba snarled in fear, her frightened, beady eyes ready to pop out of her head. Even Knox, who’d acted subdued the entire time, was spooked by the sudden appearance of six more dragons.

  “It’s all right,” I comforted, loud enough for all the present tundra clan members to hear. “That’s our family. They won’t hurt anybody.”

  Viol snorted, but beneath his nasty words, he sounded relieved. “Those assholes... I told them not to follow us. That bastard Jade must’ve been crossing his fingers.”

  The dragons touched down. They sparkled like surreal gemstones among the barren gray landscape.

  Sheba and Knox were stunned into silence. If they harbored any lingering desire to attack Viol, it must’ve shriveled up and vanished.

  Rorik was the only one in human form. As Saffron released him, he stepped forward and shifted into the familiar shape of his polar bear. Beside me, Sorrel sucked in a breath and stiffened.

  “Rorik?” Sorrel mumbled. “You are alive...”

  Rorik didn’t pause at his statement. He just loped up to Sorrel and pulled him into a one-armed hug. Their white fur mixed together—Rorik’s dense and thick, Sorrel’s fluffy and thin.

  “Foolish pup. You think a dragon could kill me?” Rorik mumbled teasingly.

  Sorrel’s round eyes darted back and forth between us. He looked like he’d seen a ghost—which was probably how Rorik felt when he found out I was alive.

  “I don’t understand,” Sorrel whispered, shaking his head. “The clan alphas told us you died on your mission...”

  “They lied,” Rorik said bluntly. “They’ve lied to us for a very long time.”

  The surrounding omegas moved closer to Rorik, as if they couldn’t believe their eyes. Their bond with him was strong. Seeing Rorik not only alive and well, but happier and healthier than ever, awakened a seed of doubt in them. When they glanced back at the clan alphas, they did so with wary eyes. For the first time since arriving, the knot of dread twisting in my chest slowly began to unravel.

  Behind the crowd, Sheba growled under her breath, but Knox remained silent.

  “Well, Sorrel?” Viol prompted. “Believe Poppy now?”

  My brother’s fur fell flat. He resembled a pup caught out in the rain, drenched and tired. “I... I don’t know,” he admitted weakly. “I’m confused. And scared.”

  I pressed up against him. My heart filled with hope when he didn’t flinch or pull away. “It’s okay. I’m here to help you, remember? We all are.”

  “The dragons make me nervous,” Sorrel whispered in my ear. With the surface layer of anger stripped away, he sounded more like the brother I remembered.

  “I know. But I promise they’re good people.”

  Since Rorik stood nearby, he couldn’t help but overhear. “Would you like to meet my mate?” he asked.

  Sorrel’s eyes flashed with unease, but then he nodded.

  Rorik shot a knowing glance over his shoulder at Saffron, who shifted to human form and bounded over with a friendly smile. As he caught up with Rorik, the blond alpha slipped an affectionate arm around his bear’s shoulders.

  “Hi! Nice to meet you,” Saffron greeted.

  Sorrel’s hackles rose for a second before smoothing. “H... hello.”

  The other omegas stared in awe as Sorrel interacted with the dragon, who was now a grinning human with an obvious love for Rorik. They saw Saffron for who he was: a stranger, yes, but a normal shifter, just like them.

  I was deeply relieved that Jade had disobeyed Viol’s request. I’d been gone from the tundra for so long that I may as well have been a ghost in the clan’s eyes, but Rorik was not. They’d grown up with him, trusted him. Even though Rorik’s failure was supposed to inspire contempt, it clearly didn’t. I could imagine the omegas’ grief when the alphas lied and said Rorik had died on his mission. That lie had been their downfall. Now Rorik’s presence was a blessing—and I think it was slowly turning the tides.

  From the corner of my eye, I noticed Sheba backing away with a frustrated snarl. Control was rapidly slipping from her grasp, if she still had any at all.

  As Sorrel spoke with Rorik and Saffron, Viol strode to my side and arched his neck down in a comforting nuzzle. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to share a quiet moment of relief with my mate.

  “The clan alphas are losing their grip,” Viol murmured in my ear.

  I sensed it, too. “Yes,” I whispered back.

  “What should we do? Want me to chase ‘em off?”

  I turned to see the state of them. The two bears stood away from the omegas, as if separated by an invisible barrier. Sheba bristled with frustration as the clan crumbled around her, but Knox remained withdrawn. Neither of them appeared willing to fight for the remaining scraps of the tundra clan.

  “I don’t know if that’s necessary,” I admitted. “All the omegas know they’re liars now. And I think the fact that we showed up with dragon reinforcements spooked Sheba halfway out of her fur. I doubt she can regain her old authority.”

  “But what about the omegas?” Viol asked, casting a concerned look at the small crowd.

  “Jade must have a plan,” I assured. “He wouldn’t show up without one.”

  That mollified my mate. “That’s true,” Viol murmured, then snorted fondly. “That snake always has a few tricks up his sleeve.”

  Motion from the corner of my eye drew my attention. Knox turned his back on the omegas, muttered something to Sheba, then began to walk away in the opposite direction. Sheba caught up with him, arguing all the while.

  “What are they saying?” I asked Viol, who had a higher vantage point.

  He squinted as he focused in on their conversation. “Knox is saying... there’s no point in staying. They lost everything when Konrad died. They’ve wasted all these years tending to his memory by keeping the tundra clan alive, but now it’s dead and rotten. He’s saying it’s time for them to move on.”

  I watched their body language as the two bears loped away. Sheba was upset, but I could imagine she didn’t want to lose Knox, the only family she had left, even if it meant abandoning the smoldering wreckage of Konrad’s memory. Within minutes, the alpha polar bears rounded the side of the mountain and disappeared.

  “Where did the clan alphas go?” Sorrel asked as he padded up to me. He’d been so distracted speaking to Rorik and Saffron that he hadn’t even noticed the alphas’ departure. I was grateful for that. It meant he was already moving on.

  “I have no idea,” I said truthfully. “But I don’t think they’ll be back.”

  Charon walked up beside Sorrel. I noticed how close the omega bear stood to him, so that the tips of their fur brushed together.

  “What do we do now?” Charon asked. “I... I don’t want to stay here.”

  Sorrel frowned, looking uneasy, but his voice hardened with determination. “Me neither.”

  Sensing his presence was finally needed, Jade stepped forward. He shifted to human form so as not to frighten the omegas who were still wary about dragons.

  “Hello, everyone. My name is Jade. I’m Viol’s older brother, and family to Rorik as well.”

  When the omegas sought Rorik’s confirmation, he nodded. His confidence in Jade was clear in his proud expression, and that confidence reassured his old clan mates.

  Jade smiled calmly at the group. “Whether you wish to stay or leave, the choice is yours. I’ve arranged options either way. Please come speak to Rorik and I to discuss them.”

  It took a few awkward beats, but Charon and Sorrel broke the ice by leading the way. As they began talking to Jade and Rorik, many others joined behind them.

  As I watched the scene with growing calm, a speck of motion suddenly caught my eye. A snowy owl flew low in the sky, its white wings as silent as they were beautiful. The owl suddenly caught my gaze, its yellow eyes piercing and intelligent. Emotion tightened my throat. It was a silly thought, but I couldn’t help wondering if it was a descendent of the snowy owl we’d helped all those years ago.

  The owl flew away, and I turned my attention back to my brother and the other omegas. I breathed out in relief. The weight of the world felt like it had been lifted off my shoulders.

  But I wasn’t alone. A draconic purr rumbled in Viol’s throat as he nuzzled his face against my cheek.

  “It’s all right. They’ve got this under control,” he promised.

  I nodded gratefully, too tired to speak.

  “You did good, Poppy,” Viol murmured.

  Tears brimmed in my eyes for what felt like the millionth time today. I rested my head against my mate, comforted by his mere existence. I couldn’t have done any of this without him.

  “Thank you, Viol,” I whispered. “For everything.”

  His eyes flashed with emotion. In them I saw a love shining brighter than any star. He didn’t need to say the words for me to hear them.

  Let’s go home.

  17

  Viol

  It was a pleasant spring day. The quaint low-rise that stood ahead of us was framed by budding trees, and the air smelled sweet with the promise of new life.

  A few months had passed since the tundra clan disbanded. With the clan alphas gone, the omegas were left to their own devices. Thank Holy Drake Jade had come up with a plan, just like Poppy anticipated. I’d never been so damn grateful for my brother’s nosy interventions.

  It wasn’t all sunshine and roses. Things were rough in the beginning, while each tundra clan omega decided what they wanted in life. They weren’t a monolith anymore. For the first time, they were able to choose for themselves, and so they fractured into separate groups. Some stayed in the tundra; not as members of the dissolved clan, but as wild shifters, seeking out their own territory and mates.

  Others veered in the opposite direction. Downplaying their animal forms, they decided to try living a human life among other humans in the integrated city—with a little financial help from Jade and the rest of us. Of course, urban living wasn’t all about money. Jade hired Winnie—our human secretary—to teach the city omegas all about humans so their choice wouldn’t be a leap of faith.

  The final group was the omegas who decided to live in a shifter community. It was in a large town distant enough from the city that it didn’t overwhelm their senses, but close enough that they could eventually explore the urban landscape if they desired.

  Jade, bless his snake heart, bought out a whole damn building so the new omega clan residents wouldn’t have to worry about rent. I had to admit, sometimes he made me proud to be his brother.

  As the cherry on top, our family offered to pay for therapy for any omega who wanted it. We figured they could all use a reprieve from the cultish bullshit they’d suffered.

  Poppy and I went to the shifter community for a special trip. We’d shared lunch at a cute local cafe run by a family of donkey shifters, then strolled over to the nearby apartments.

  We paused in front of a low-rise building made of deep red bricks. Ivy trailed up the front railings, and a vibrant tulip garden bloomed on either side of the cobblestone walkway.

  I double checked the address on a piece of paper, then stuffed it back in my pocket.

  This was the place.

  “Are you ready?” I asked Poppy.

  My mate fidgeted, but he laced his fingers with mine. “Yup.”

  As we took the stairs up to the third floor, I sensed Poppy’s pulse racing with both nerves and excitement. I knew this trip had been on his mind for a while. We could’ve visited earlier, but Poppy insisted on maintaining some space, and I wasn’t about to go against my mate’s wishes.

  We knew we’d reached the correct unit because of the artwork taped to the door. The drawings depicted an arctic wolf and a polar bear happily standing next to each other. The style was amateurish but charming.

  Poppy smiled at the artwork. The sight of it relaxed him. He seemed more confident now than he had moments ago.

  “Okay. I’m knocking,” he announced quietly.

  A few seconds after he knocked, Sorrel opened the door. In the months since we’d last seen him, his cheeks had filled out with a healthy glow. His hair was longer now, tied back in a casual ponytail. He wore denim overalls on top of a white t-shirt. It was the first time I’d ever seen him wearing clothes—a striking reminder of just how much his life had changed.

  Sorrel’s face lit up when he saw Poppy. He hesitated, then threw his arms around his smaller elder brother. I watched Poppy’s nerves melt away as he hugged him back.

  “Ouch. Something’s stabbing me,” Poppy said.

  Sorrel leapt away, then grabbed the offending colored pencils out of his overalls pocket. “Sorry. I forgot I shoved them in here.”

  “Did you draw these?” I asked with a grin, nodding at the artwork on the door. “They’re pretty cute.”

  Sorrel looked embarrassed but pleased at the compliment. “Thanks. I’m not a professional or anything, but I’m learning.” He fiddled with one of the pencils in a way that reminded me of Poppy. “My therapist recommended I try it out. Something about a creative hobby being good for you.”

  Poppy beamed. He was about to say something when a jarring piano chord rang out from deeper inside the apartment.

  “Wrong note. My bad,” Charon called.

  Sorrel grinned. “Charon’s learning how to play keyboard. But at least my artistic flops are quiet...”

  I snorted in amusement. A few months away from that hellscape and the kid already had a sense of humor.

  “I’m so proud of you, Sorrel,” Poppy said warmly. “Both of you.”

  I could practically imagine my mate’s wolf tail wagging a mile a minute.

  Sorrel rubbed his arm—another gesture that reminded me of Poppy. The familiar little mannerisms were quickly endearing me to him. I hadn’t been Sorrel’s biggest fan upon our reunion, but I knew most of his shitty behavior was a product of his shitty environment. Getting away from all of that was good for him. I already liked this new version of him much better.