Page 80 of His Bonded Omega Mate
Roan came rushing into the house just moments behind him. He grabbed Hiroshi into his arms, spun him around. Roan put Hiroshi safely on his feet before planting a kiss on waiting lips. They laughed together, leaving me watching them completely stunned. “Um... what’s going on?”
“Your fantastic, spectacular, wonderful mate, Hiro, has figured out why you changed! He’s solved the reason for the sickness!”
I felt my mouth drop open. “What?”
Roan and Hiroshi started explaining, each finishing the other’s sentence in a super cute display I couldn’t help smiling at. It took me a few moments to process.
I didn’t think anyone could blame me for needing to think about what I’d just heard. In the space of a conversation, my entire worldview changed.
For the last few months, I’d believed that my transformation was punishment from the goddess, but no, she had chosen this for me. This was a path she had put me on as a gift. Given the ability to grow life inside of myself, to no longer be a useless beta in the eyes of so many. I could grumble about why I hadn’t been given the gift of being an alpha, but if I’d become one, I wouldn’t have either of my mates, and I wouldn’t give them up for anything in the world.
“Does Ash know?” I whispered, overcome. My hands cradled my belly. The new life in there was flourishing.
“The elves have gone to explain it to him and bring him back here,” Roan said quietly. He was watching me carefully, as if I was on the verge of fainting again. I’d never live that down. “They wanted to do it there to make sure his reaction was safe.”
“Why?”
“Well, I thought he might want to see you. Or you see him.” Roan was right. I wanted to see my alpha mate. “It’s a big deal to find this out. Plus, the pack is having a celebration. We’ve been given this amazing news and we are partnering with Toth.” Roan grinned at Hiroshi, who clapped and cheered.
“Toth?”
“I’ll explain on the way. Come on, we’ve got to meet at the big house.”
We joined what was probably the whole pack, even those that didn’t live in the compound, on the lawn to the rear of the mansion. There were tables, chairs, and heaters set up to combat the early February weather. Spring was hopefully right around the corner.
The tables groaned at how laden they were with food. I craned my head to look through the crowd and spotted Kade’s messy red-brown curls next to Blake. Kade’s dad and papa were also easy to spot. His dad, Dakota, was carrying their son.
The twins, Axel and Chase, were hovering near Blake and Kade. Their cousin and one of the elves nearby.
We ate some food and wandered about speaking to people here and there. Hiroshi was keeping tight-lipped about his news, but he was almost bouncing with excitement.
Hakeem approached me, gesturing for me to join him at the side of the crowd. “Though he has made improvements, Asher isn’t quite confident enough to be near you in amongst the others. Would you mind standing here while I get him? He’s understandably upset by the news today and expressed concerns for your state of mind.”
“Yeah, I’ll wait here.” It dumbfounded me the change in Asher. Had we turned a corner?
Asher approached slowly with Hakeem at his side, a complicated expression on his face. He wrapped his arms around me, settling his head on mine and breathing me in. “I missed you. You doin’ okay?”
I sank into the feeling of safety and love. This was my Asher. “I’m doing good. Better now that we know why. How are you feeling?”
Hakeem gave us a nod and backed away to give us privacy.
Asher took a moment to draw in my scent and hold me close before he replied. “For this entire time, I blamed Hiro and Roan for doing this to us.” He paused. “If I’m honest, I blamed Roan more. My lion sees him as weak instead of seeing the love that Roan has for his mate.”
“What do you mean?”
“My lion has some very outdated ideas on how alphas should behave. He grew up under my brothers. Our pride was full of these forceful alpha males. To him, Roan is too soft for his mate. Doesn’t keep him in line or tell him no enough.” Ash laughed, a bitter sound. “For a while, I agreed with him on that. If Roan hadn’t said yes to this experiment, then we wouldn’t be like this, but that was stupid to think like that.”
I wasn’t sure I was following properly. “Why?”
“Because if we hadn’t tried this, then you and Hiroshi would forever mourn the chance to be as you are. You two were supposed to be together. I believe that deep in my bones.” He stepped away so I could see the honesty in his chocolate brown eyes. They were brighter than usual. His lion was just under the surface, hoping I would understand. “At first, I went along with it to make you happy. But I was curious about Roan. It felt good to dominate him. To act the alpha in our relationship. He gave up control so well and he’s a decent and kind person. We are lucky to have had him as a mate, even just for that short time.”
“We were. I hate you can’t be in the same room together. I miss us being a family.”
“I’m working on it, I swear. By the time you are nesting, I’ll be home, in the new house with you. And Roan and I? Well… even if we aren’t best friends, we will be civil.” His earnest expression nearly broke my heart. He was trying so hard.
“So, hypothetically, if I wanted to sleep in the same bed as Hiroshi and Roan, you’d be there, too?”
Asher’s lion pushed forward, letting out a warning grumble. He shoved him away with effort. “Behave, Demon.” When he got himself under control, he continued. “It’s going to take time,” he rolled his eyes. “But one day, yes. I want that. We should be able to have a close family bond without fear that he will steal you from me. I trust you. Demon just needs to get over it.”
