Page 106 of His Bonded Omega Mate
I could see that Aldrin was settling in for a long debate over the merits of feeding the babies milk I produced myself. “I want to feed them. To breastfeed. That’s the term I want to use. Michaella is trained to deal with lactation issues and there are so many benefits for us both. My tiger wants it. They have been bugging me about how we will feed two of them, and I did some research —“
Roan touched my shoulder. “Sorry. I didn’t know this was a thing, especially since it’s important to you. I’ll support any decision you make. It’s your body.”
Ívarr gave us an approving look and had a quiet conversation with Aldrin before the healer returned to my side.
“Normally, I would suggest starting you on hormones to get the milk process started. However, with Poppy’s magic boosting your energies and halting labor, I think more chemicals in your body are the last thing you need.” Aldrin patted my hand. The contact was soothing. I wanted his approval so badly with this. It was another of those things that felt so important to me. My tiger wanted us to nurse the babies and had needled at me no end over it. “You react well to magic, unlike Roan here, so perhaps Poppy, or even Oak, since he seems quite talented, can make something for when the babies arrive. Nothing to be taken sooner, okay?”
“Of course. I plan on keeping them in for as long as possible.”
“Good. Roan will be here for the next few days. I’d like you to stay with him so I can monitor you both, just in case that magic fails. Alright?”
I nodded, grateful that I could stay with Roan. Tate had Asher with him and they could visit. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Roan!” a voice called from the hallway.
My alpha stiffened. “Dad?”
The massive wolf shifter followed the sound of his son’s voice and burst into the room, agitated gaze finding Roan. “Thank the goddess, you’re okay.” His eyes landed on me briefly. “Both of you are! Where are the others?” Xavier looked frantically around the room.
I tried to get off the bed to calm him down, but Roan stopped me. “Asher took Tate home with some guards. What are you doing here?” Roan’s voice wasn’t exactly hostile, but it was far from warm.
“As soon as I heard, I left the pack. I don’t care if they replace me as alpha. I’m done with them. You need me more. Making things right with you, son, is more important. Xavier’s voice broke as he said, “I could’ve —“ “If we’d have left things like —” He tried to get himself together. “Are you okay? The babies?”
“The babies are fine, Dad. Hiro nearly went into early labor, which isn’t surprising, but Tate’s baby is less eager to meet the world.”
“Thank the goddess that you are all okay. Your alpha said you were injured and might need blood. Anything you need, it’s yours.”
This Xavier was a different man than the one I’d met before. Gone was the anger and bitterness that had kept Roan away these last few months. Would he want to have his father around since he seemed so contrite?
Ever the healer, Aldrin stepped in. “Roan doesn’t actually require blood. Hiroshi was overzealous in his efforts to stabilize his mate. The long-term effects on Roan’s arm, however, even with Hiroshi’s considerable talent...” He seemed lost for words.
My concern about the lack of movement was right, then. Roan couldn’t use it and I couldn’t risk trying to heal him any more than I had or I could undo all Poppy’s work.
“Alpha Blake said you got that protecting your former mate and his baby when his mate couldn’t.” Roan’s steady gaze locked onto his father, his uncertainty over what he was about to say obvious.
“I’m proud of you, son. I’m sorry that I reacted badly to the mating, but I wish that it had worked out for you all. He’s still mated to Hiroshi, right?” Xavier looked at me and I nodded mutely, still coming to grips with my failure. “Then you’ve got your family to support you, two omegas, another alpha, and me, if you’ll have me.”
Roan’s chin trembled as he fought to keep back the tears in his eyes. “You’ll stay?” His voice cracked, snapping Xavier into motion. In two steps, he was by the bed, taking Roan into his arms. “Dad, I can’t feel my arm right and Hiro thinks he failed me.”
Xavier pulled me into the hug. “Goddess, no! D’you hear me, Hiro? You saved his life. Without you, he probably wouldn’t be here. So what if you couldn’t fix up his arm? He’ll learn to manage if it doesn’t heal.” He looked Roan straight in the eyes, clasping his good shoulder. “It’s his proof that he is the best man that I know.”
The Council
Roan
“Hey,Roan,I’vecometo spring you from the clinic. We need you for something in the office.”
I wanted to interrupt that I was supposed to be on leave and that we weren’t sure how I was going to manage that job now that I only had the use of one arm. It hung limply by my side, the nerve damage too much for Hiro to heal after knitting so many bones back together. Carl had pulverized my shoulder and arm. I was lucky that they didn’t need to amputate. The blood flow reconnected fine. I just didn’t have the use of it.
“Your dad and Hiroshi can come too. We are having a big meeting with the council. Most of the pack will be there because it’s happening outside the mansion.” Kade looked much too cheerful. He was clearly planning something. “Come on! Do you need a hand with anything?”
I carefully pulled a light jacket over my useless arm to the shoulder. Kade was there to help me get it on the rest of the way. Instead of snapping at him, my first impulse, I smiled. He was only being his omega self. The need to care for others was strong in him, and with Blake’s love and care, Kade was shining.
Kade called Dad and Hiroshi to meet us at the clinic doors, since they were at the house helping my father settle in.
My father turning up and basically refusing to leave had been a... surprise. A nice one, I guess. After everything that had happened. From feeling close to death on that library floor before Hiroshi got to me, well, I guess I just decided that life was too short to hold a grudge.
When it had mattered, when he thought he could lose me, my father had traveled hundreds of miles to be here for me. He had given up his pack, willing to take the stain on his honor as Alpha, to break that bond with no notice, so he could put my family first.
