Page 75 of The Alpha's Mates

My lungs were used to staying under the water for long amounts of time, so I knew I could go further than most, but the hysteria in my mind clamored at me to kick for the surface. I knew, from all my dives as a kid, when exactly I needed to turn back. When I had just enough air left to get to the surface. I was at that point now. My mind begged me to do just that. To turn back. I pushed on. This was it, either I found her, or I became a permanent feature of the ocean floor. Or maybe both. I didn’t know how this worked. A dim light appeared beneath me.

Pausing in my swim, I watched as the light glided through the water toward me.

What is that?

My eyes widened as the light shot straight at me, then zipped around me in a graceful circle. A little otter hovered in front of my face, cocking its head at me as if to ask if I was ready to go. It glowed with the same light Squall had and I wondered if this was my gift. A companion to light the way along my journey.

Some damn journey.

I followed the glowing otter down into the dark sea below. My lungs began to ache and I knew my ability to hold my breath was coming to an end. I needed to find Lyas, and release her. It was already too late to get back to the surface, but I was running out of time for her. A shelf of rock came into view. The otter dipped down below it, blocking his light.

Delirium threatened to take over again, but my friend’s little head popped back up over the shelf, easing the feeling. I kicked my way over to him, the water flowing past as my body moved through it. Pushing off the rock, I propelled myself downward and nearly let out a cry of relief when I saw the sandy bottom.

I had no idea how deep I was and—if I understood Squall correctly—it didn’t matter. Everything that was happening to me was supernatural. I was in The Goddess’ world now, operating by their rules.

A circle of light lit up the bottom of the sea and I swam toward it. There I found the otter circling a broken skeleton. My heart slammed against my chest then sank. I knew who the skeleton belonged to. She was dead. Panic was beginning to rise up in me. I was too late, my mates would die, my people would die. And I would die, here, a failure.

I wanted to scream, to cry. To curse the bones in front of me. Everything we had gone through, everything they were fighting for on the surface, and we were too late. I swam to the bones and knelt in front of them. All my anger and fear gave way to sadness.

I studied them, with what little breath I had left. She had sat down at the bottom of the ocean, legs crossed and hands placed gently on her knees. She had sat and waited patiently for her priestess, for me, to come save her. I’d failed her.

Despite the saltwater I could feel my own tears flowing. Kneeling before her, I reached out a hand to brush her cheek, or rather the bone under the cheek.I’m sorry.

A shock wave knocked me back through the water, tumbling ass over heels until I didn’t know which way was up and which was down. My head kept spinning long after my body stopped. Shaking it to clear my mind, I made my way back over to the bones. The otter came out of hiding, zipping behind me and stared between me and the bones. He didn’t want me to do that again. I didn’t really care to either, but I had to be sure.

I touched her again. Nothing. A single moment of hope washed away. Despair was a lead weight on my shoulders. I truly had failed. All I could do now was try to make it back to the surface. I knew it was a long shot, but I had to try.

This had all been in vain. My lungs screamed for oxygen. My legs and arms were heavy and my mind became foggy. I was drowning. Soren, Atlas, and Calder’s faces entered my mind. I could kick for the surface and try to reunite with them. We’d live out our lives, knowing that fewer and fewer shifters would be born and eventually our kind would die out. Except, I couldn’t.

I looked over at the skeleton. I couldn’t abandon her. She looked almost peaceful. She’d been waiting here for centuries. Waiting for me to rescue her. I might not have succeeded, but I couldn’t just leave her. Situating myself in the sand next to her, I let the emotion flow over me. My tears mixed with the salt water surrounding us. I just knew this was where it ended, yet I belonged here. Reaching out, I grabbed Lyas’s hands in mine, and leaned forward, placing my forehead against hers. Her bones wrapped around my fingers as I waited there.

I’m sorry, Lyas. I’m too late. My loves…oh my loves. I’m so sorry. I failed you. Failed us all.

Reese?Atlas’s panicked voice entered my mind.

Where are you, Little One?

Do something, Soren.Calder’s fear was all I could feel.

My little otter friend looked from me to Lyas, then curled up on my lap. His light was a comfort. I wouldn’t drown down here in the pitch black.

My eyes widened as my lungs spasmed hard. Without my permission my mouth opened wide and I sucked water in as I desperately tried to get oxygen. Fear threatened to overtake me, but I focused on my mates. They were such a blessing to me. I wasn’t going to my end never having known safety and love. Thanks to them, to my mother, to Emma, I knew exactly what it meant to be loved as a mate, a daughter, and a friend. I knew what it meant to be willing to make this sacrifice. I was leaving everything behind for Lyas, but it only meant something because ofwhoI was leaving. Without them, this wouldn’t be much of a hardship.

Water rushed through my body and despite my glowing friend’s presence everything began to dim. I glanced over at the skeleton, hoping I wasn’t actually going to have to die here, but she remained still and cold next to me. My heartbeat began to slow in my chest, and my body began to convulse from the lack of air.

I kept all those I loved in my mind in those last few seconds, gripping Lyas’s hand tightly in my own. A strange sort of peace overtook me at the last moment and I knew I was dying. The blackness crept over me as my head slumped forward onto my chest.

CHAPTER 33

Soren

Iskidded to a halt, ignoring the wolves swarming around me. “No.” The word was more of a harsh breath than anything. My eyes found my cadre mates’ and I saw the shock and horror reflected there. We all felt the moment that Reese died.

“No!” I roared, spinning toward the sea. My eyes searched the inky waves, looking desperately for her. I knew I wouldn’t find her, but I couldn’t seem to help myself.

Atlas and Calder were at my side instantly, their hands on me, trying to calm me down. It wasn't working.

She was gone.