Page 21 of His Temporary Alpha Mate
The raven circled the trio as roars sounded inside the clinic. They only paused when Alpha Blake usedthe pack link to speak to all of us, even if the words were meant for Tate.
No, Tate,he vowed. While he directed his words to Tate, all of us heard them.If you don’t want this child, then we will help you. Your body is yours. Your mate cannot make that decision for you.
We drifted closer as the bird continued to fly high above us.
You swear?
I do.Blake promised.The same as I would never have asked Kade to have our babies if he hadn’t wanted them. I won’t allow a member of my pack to be treated like an incubator. Yes, this baby is a miracle to us, but if it isn’t to you, then I understand. You’ve had only a couple of weeks to adjust to something that other shifters have their entire lives to come to terms with.
Shame filled me. I was only thinking of how I would react. Tate had to be terrified, especially if this was something he had never dreamed of.
Larken and Chase both wrapped arms around me as if they understood everything I was feeling.
Asher came thundering out of the clinic in his white lion form. He was beautiful and terrifying when shifted. He roared at our Alpha, who refused to back down.
I felt the wave of Alpha power directed at Asher and almost fell to my knees with the strength of it.
Something passed between the pair before the Alpha shifted. More people surrounded us, drawn by the commotion in the clinic and the words over the pack link.
“But Alpha—“ Asher pleaded with Blake.
“No,” Blake said firmly. “We have tolerated this for too long.” A frown marred his face, making him look so much older than his twenty-two years for a moment. “You are irrational and dangerous. You either fix this, and soon, or you leave. Do you understand?”
Asher bowed his head, showing the right level of respect. Too little too late for me. Asher was a loose cannon.
“Yes, Alpha.”
“Tate?” Blake’s voice was gentle as he turned to the raven perched on Hiroshi’s head. The tiger looked pleased to have the bird there. “Take your time to choose. Though you only have a week or two at the very most.”
Tate lifted into the air and shifted as he landed. Show off.
“You’d truly let me choose?”
Blake shook his head as he took in the crowd that had gathered around him. He directed his words to us just as much as Tate.
“Every omega may choose to share their body with a new life. Babies are a privilege, but not everyone canbring new life into the world.” He was so kind to Tate as he turned to speak only to him, though we all could still hear him. The very air was still as if listening.
“Tate, your bond with your alpha, with your omega mate, is so strained right now. With Hiroshi pregnant,” I felt Larken’s fingers spasm around mine at the confirmation. “You’d have someone to go through it all with, yet if it’s too scary for you to contemplate, then we support that. We are your pack, your family. Anything you need, we will provide it.”
We all watched as Tate digested the words, his fingers running over the fur on Hiroshi’s head.
Finally, he spoke. “The Luna gave me this gift for a reason. I’d be a fool to throw it away, no matter how it scares me. As my mate, you have no right to tell me who I can be friends with, how I live my life. You are supposed to be my partner in all things. My best friend and support system. I shouldn’t be terrified to tell you I’m unsure about being pregnant. It shouldn’t be up to our pack Alpha to step in to protect me from you. This is your last chance, Ash. Your lion needs to be under control. Get over Roan’s place as my friend and family. Get over yourself.”
Even at this distance, I could see him crying. My heart thawed just a little towards him.
Blake, the only Alpha I’d ever seen with such a caring way with omegas, took Tate into his arms, giving himthe quiet support he needed but couldn’t quite get from his mate.
“Thank you, Alpha,” Tate said. “I’m going to keep the baby. Will you help us?”
“Of course.”
Asher fell to the ground in relief and pain. It was easy to see his grief and regret written all over his face. “I swear it, Tate, by the time our baby is here, I’ll be better. For you.”
Completely done and overwhelmed, I broke from Chase and turned to Larken. “Take me home and make me feel something good, please?”
Larken met my eyes. “Sure thing, Dimples.”
“Go,” Chase said, “I’ll cover for you. Shouldn’t have eaten that sushi, right?”
