Chapter 42

Blake paced the floor in the great room, wishing he still drank. However, he knew that would lead to nothing but trouble—a long road back to the shitter. He’d come too far to put his sobriety at risk, even if he felt like puking because of his nerves.

He marveled at how his path in life had turned and twisted. Killing his evil father, burying his mother, living on the streets, going into the FBI, breaking his FBI oath to help the Saviors while becoming one of the top ten on the FBI’s wanted list. Then the drugs … and now, he waited to be mated to the most wonderful woman he could ever imagine, and he helped raise her child. He hated that Megan's father had been such a nasty fucker and that he’d had to kill him, but he’d done what needed to be done in the situation.

“Are you ready, my man?” Noah said, coming into the room, his eyes blazing his SR44 color, orange.

“Yep.”

“Nervous?”

“Hell, no.”

Noah threw his head back and laughed. “You lying sack of shit.”

Hudson and Jovan came in next. All the men work black pants and dark, chocolate brown shirts, the color of Sophia’s SR44 form. The women would also honor her by dressing in the same color.

“Who’s up for a cocktail?” Noah asked, and both Jovan and Hudson raised their hands.

Cohen and Annis came into the room. Blake stared at her as she walked over to him, her dark brown pantsuit swishing around her legs, and almost the same color as her skin. Her eyes shone a golden color, and golden hoops hung from her ears. He could see her burgeoning belling under the fabric, and his heart swelled with happiness for her. He still loved her deeply, but not in the way of lovers. Instead, he thought of her of the sister he’d never had. She glowed, but he wasn’t certain if the pregnancy was responsible, or the fact that she was happily mated to Cohen. Maybe both.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he kissed her cheek.

“You look beautiful, as always,” he murmured.

“Thank you,” she said, stepping back from him. “And you are simply dashing on this wonderful evening.”

“That’s enough of you two gushing over each other,” Cohen said, coming up behind her and wrapping her arms around her lovingly.

Even though Annis and he had no sexual feelings for each other, Cohen still felt protective of her, as a good SR44 male should.

“You afraid I’m going to steal her away?” Blake joked. At one time, he had tried.

“No, she prefers the good-looking ones,” Cohen teased with a grin. “And you don’t fit that profile, my friend.”

They all laughed as Noah poured Cohen a shot of rum.

Justice and his crew entered the room, and Blake felt happy they’d decided to participate in the mating ceremony. They had turned out to be a good bunch of guys, and Macy, although very quiet, seemed a kind and gentle soul. She’d decided to sit out the ceremony, opting to be with Titus for a while and make sure he remained somewhat stable. Nobody wanted him to do anything stupid, like take his own life.

The rest of the women arrived together, each looking gorgeous in their own right in their own style of dress, but all the same, deep chocolate brown. They said their hellos to everyone, kissed their mates or significant others, and seemed to brighten up the room with their presence.

The only one missing happened to be Sophia, but he’d see her in the mating circle.

Once everyone had a drink, Noah yelled, “Okay, everyone shut up!”

After a minute, they obeyed.

He raised his glass. “Blake, I wish you the most happiness a male can find, and I’m certain that will be with Sophia. I treasure our friendship and our solid working relationship. You’re a decent male, Blake, and I love you like my brother.”

“Agreed,” Hudson said. “I’m sure Sophia will bring you centuries of happiness, if she can stand you that long.”

Everyone laughed, and Noah shouted, “To Blake!”

“To Blake!” they all yelled back.

Tears welled in his eyes as he took in his old friends, and his new ones. He knew his whole life he had been different, and he’d finally found his tribe. As the SR44ians laughed and joked around, he truly felt blessed. Never would he have imagined his life being this satisfying, or that he would be capable of being so happy.

Hudson poured another round for those drinking while Blake sipped his Sprite.

“It’s time,” Abby said, glancing at her watch. “I’ll go down and help Sophia.”

“I’ll go with you,” Faith said.

The two women disappeared, and Noah threw his arm over Blake’s shoulder. “Ready?”

His stomach fluttered and his knees felt weak, but he’d never been more certain about anything in his life. He was ready to commit the rest of his years to Sophia and love her the best her could.