Page 24 of His Bonded Omega Mate
Hiroshi
Carefullyclimbingontothebed, I gently maneuvered my way into his arms. I relaxed for the first time in so long. Before all the mess of the sickness, before deadlines and threats.
Home.
This was where I belonged. I just hoped that Roan wanted me, too. I knew I came with complications, not just my betas, but the betrothal to Jared and my history there.
Coming through the last few months unscathed was impossible. I knew that. Therapy was probably a good idea at some point soon. Yet I slapped a brave face on it and carried on, regardless. Tate wasn’t buying my bullshit. Would Roan call me out on it, too? Would he accept me for who I was?
The biggest question was if he’d try to bond with my betas like I wanted.
Tate and Asher were a vital part of my life. I couldn’t imagine what I’d be like if it wasn’t for them. If I hadn’t had them to fight for, to hold on for, I wouldn’t have made it through all of everything with Jared. They were my hope.
If Roan would just consider attempting a bond with them, that would be enough for me. Just not dismissing it out of hand would give me the sign that he was right for me.
Something deep in my soul told me they were necessary to my future happiness. I had to keep them with me somehow and I loved them so much. Together they made me better. Tate had me reaching for my positive side. Asher made me want to be a better person, to not grow hard or bitter. Both had been through a lot to even be together. Then they’d risked their lives to be with me. I couldn’t let them down now.
I pulled closer to Roan, soaking in his scent. It was a delicious mix of ginger and petrichor, that fascinating scent of rain on the air after a dry spell. My tiger chuffed at me, perfectly content to be next to our mate. My tiger was obsessed with the dark wolf they had gotten a glimpse of. It moved me, the moment that our alters connected. I hadn’t expected them to meet so soon, without a shift forcing the issue. It was an intimate experience. One that I would remember for the rest of my life, no matter how this turned out.
The healing had gone in such a strange direction. My light had never flared so brightly. Then for Roan to push energy back into me? Unheard of. It was something that I’d have to discuss with Aldrin and James. If I could tear them away from the research with the elves, that was.
“Are you okay?” Roan asked softly.
“Me? What about you?”
“You are such a healer at heart. I can tell already. I’m fine, Hiro. Can I call you Hiro?”
“You can. Thanks for asking.”
Roan gave me such a sweet smile. “So are you okay? You used a lot of energy there. At one point, I thought you were going to pass out.”
I thought about how to answer. I didn’t want him to feel guilty, but also, didn’t want to start out by telling lies, even if they were tiny little white ones.
“Hey, where’d you go? You can be honest with me. I never want you to sugar coat things with me.”
“It was dicey for a second. I gave too much in the healing just to repair the most significant of the damage. You’re right about passing out, it was a close thing. What you did? With pushing energy back to me? I didn’t know that was possible, especially with us being unbonded.”
“That’s something else we should talk about, I guess.”
I tensed, and Roan pulled me closer, making me relax. “Do we have to?” I could hear the whine in my tone. Tate chuckled, reminding me of their presence. “Oh Goddess! I am so sorry. How rude! I forgot introductions.” I hastily introduced Tate and Asher to Roan.
“Hey, so this is awkward, right?” Tate gave a sheepish grin. Asher just nodded, remaining silent and watchful.
“Just a little. Look, Dakota spilled the beans on you guys when you came for sanctuary.” He cupped my face, so I was meeting his emerald eyes. They were so vibrant, it took my breath away. “It’s unconventional.” I went to interrupt. “No, it hasn’t been done before, but that doesn’t mean I’m not willing to try. Why is it so important to you?”
I took a deep breath before answering. “I love them. A part of me doesn’t want to lose what I have with them when we bond. There’s also something telling me I have to keep them close. They are supposed to be with me for a reason.”
Roan stroked my cheek gently and nodded, then let go. Immediately, I missed the touch. “Then that’s enough for me. I trust your judgment.”
“Just like that?” Asher asked.
Roan studied him before answering. “Just like that.”
“But why?” Tate blurted before correcting himself. “It’s great that you will give this a shot, but usually people question Hiroshi about it.”
“Other people haven’t seen how fate pushes people together the way I have. What were the chances that Kade would meet his fated mate at the exact moment that he needed to, so he could heal? Not to mention it was at the time his father appeared in Sweetwater.” I wanted to brush them off as coincidences, not fate like Roan was keen to attribute them to. “Then Jasper came to town to see Kade and immediately met Dakota. If Kade and Blake hadn’t met, Jasper and Dakota wouldn’t be expecting their little boy in the next couple of weeks.”
“It’s so cute that Angelica named the baby!” I burst out. Kids were so precious and I wanted a ton of them. Just on my own terms and not as a baby maker for my family. With my fated mate, as The Luna intended.
