Page 166 of Rogue & Her Hunters
Joker’s eyes gleam with tears, before he turns to the letter again and reads, “I am happy with what we have being based on friendship and romance. Our relationship works for me. I don’t need sex outside the occasional rut. It doesn’t make my life or our bond lesser. It makes me satisfied that you can get what you need from another Alpha and Omega. We have been best friends since we were kids. But you were also my soulmate. The fact that you became an Omega, while I knotted and bit you, didn’t make me want you any differently. The sensations were interesting. They weren’t better than the times that we sat quietly in the same room, working or cleaning our guns. Simply knowing that you were there to go on runs or swims with, while we couldsit together safely and share anything, meant everything. I have always trusted you more than anyone. The first time we held hands was the most special day of my life. You are part of my soul. I love you.”
By the end of the letter, Joker is stuttering and stumbling over the words, barely able to get them out through his tears.
When Joker reaches theI love you, he drops the letter and jumps, throwing his arms around the much taller Alpha’s neck. Then he wraps his legs around his waist.
My cheeks are wet with tears too.
“I love you,” Joker says, desperately. “I fucking love you.”
Suddenly, I recoil at the sound of a deep thump from outside, as if the air itself has been punched. It is followed by the crack of a louder blast of an explosion, distorted through the heavy storm.
Bird clutches onto me, as the windows rattle and the walls groan.
I listen to the low, fading rumble, which isn’t thunder.
Neither Phantom nor Joker even flinch.
“The Krakens have finally made their move. They triggered a booby trap.” Joker’s voice is cold. “Time to hunt.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Hunter Cabin, Blue Valley Woods
Joker snatches the blanket off the back of the chair and hurls it over the hearth to smother the flames. The fire backlit us, broadcasting our positions to the Krakens.
Instantly, the room is plunged into darkness.
The temperature drops.
The only remaining light is the cold white from the snowstorm, which is driving against the window.
Joker’s expression becomes hard. He pulls out his SIG, Baby One, from one of his many concealed compartments in his jacket like the dark gray semi-automatic handgun was built for his hand alone.
My training kicks in.
I push Bird to the floor, before retreating to press my back against the wall next to Phantom.
Phantom’s gaze is fixed intently through the window like he can see through the howling void to the Krakens.
Were they injured by the explosion?
The storm is growing worse.
I strain to see movement out in the night.
Nothing, only snow, darkness, and silence.
Phantom points his weapon through the window, meaningenemy-in-sight.
I raise my arm forward toward him with my palm out at chest level:I’m ready to move.
Phantom shakes his head, before pointing at Joker.
Wait, he wants me to stay here with Joker? Why is he changing the plan?
It’s risky.
The booby trap should have incapacitated Reaper. The bomb expert will have been drawn into trying to defuse the bomb. Reaper will believe that she is smarter than us.
