Page 78 of The Night Wolf
Gareth?
Good morning, love! I’m in the nursery.
Nursery?We have a nursery?
Come see for yourself. It’s at the end of the hall.
Curiosity drove Sean to walk faster. When he got to the end of the corridor, he put a hand on the door, twisted the handle, and pushed it open. He gaped at what he found. The room had been renovated recently, because he’d been in it a week ago and it was nothing like it was now. Gone was the dark wood and pristine white carpet. In their place was a fantasy wonderland, with unicorns, rainbows, fluffy blue and pink clouds, and a mobile with more unicorns, as well as a pegasus, whirling around a shining star.
“When did you get this done?”
“I didn’t. This was all on Dani.” He swept across the room and took Sean’s mouth in a sweet, gentle kiss. “She’s been watching them while you slept.”
The woman was a goddess. There was no doubt. He went to the cribs and gazed down at the babies. They slept peacefully, untroubled by the violence that had occurred on the day they were born.
“They’re beautiful.”
Gareth stepped up behind Sean and wrapped his strong arms around Sean’s waist. “They’re like you. Perfect in every way.” He kissed Sean’s hair. “Quinn came by to see them. He stood here and cried, because, he said, they were the sweetest things he’d ever seen. Deke had to take him aside and hold him to get him to calm down.”
Deke would be good for Quinn, and Sean knew it.
He sighed. “I’m going to guess you have questions for me.”
He was whirled into Gareth’s arms. “Ya think?”
It was time to get the whole tale off his chest. Finally.
He tugged Gareth’s hand and led him to a sleek black sofa in the corner of the room. “Might as well settle in. This will take a while.”
Gareth sat, his hands folded in his lap. Sean paced, trying to come up with the words. Gareth reached out, grabbed his hand, and tugged him down.
“Start wherever you’d like. It’ll all work out.”
Sean drew in a deep breath. “It started the day I ran from Ryker. He knew I was an Omega, but I have no idea how. Maybe my parents said something? Who knows? The point is, he heard that a chained Omega could be used to control people. Make them feel too blissed-out to fight back. He wanted to use me to take over other packs, help bend them to his will. He also wanted to fuck me, and he made no bones about it. I got scared, and I ran as far and as fast as my four feet would carry me.”
It was a lifetime ago, and Sean knew it, but the memories were still with him. Gareth must have sensed it because he pulled Sean onto his lap and ran fingers through Sean’s hair.
“We can do this another time, if you want. It doesn’t have to come out today.” He stroked Sean’s cheek. “No, it doesn’t ever have to come out. The past doesn’t matter.”
It was a nice thought, but Gareth needed to know.
“No, I’ve got to tell you. The Mother came to me on my first night. It was cold, and I was soaked from the rain. I hid under a bridge, where I fell asleep, curled in a corner. I couldn’t understand why my parents sold me, or why Ryker would think I would help him hurt people. I shifted and ran.”
“Wait. Youshifted? I thought that couldn’t happen until you turned eighteen?”
Sean shrugged. “I’ve always been able to shift. I thought everyone could do it, but then found out I was the only one. Maybe it’s something to do with being an Omega. I’m not sure.”
“And that’s how your parents knew to bring you to Ryker.”
“I never even thought about that. You’re probably right. It doesn’t matter anymore, though. So that first night, she came to me. She was beautiful, with a long white dress that looked like it was made of moonlight. She wrapped me in her arms and held me close while I cried. When I had no more tears, she sat with me and told me that, for now, I was unique in all the world. The only living Omega. She warned me that Alphas would covet me and the things I would be able to do. I told her I didn’t want to be an Omega—I just wanted to go home. She kissed my forehead and said she wished it could be so, but that I had a destiny to fulfill. She said my life would be hard, and she wished it didn’t have to be, but she assured me it was necessary. According to her, I was supposed to find a good Alpha. One I would be willing to trust with my life. She said he would be the one who would help me bring the wolves back together. I didn’t understand it for a long time. Not until I met you.”
Warmth surrounded Sean when Gareth pulled him up into a hug.
“I’m made for you, you know.”
“Yeah, I know.” Gareth nuzzled Sean’s hair. “You’re my mate.”
“No, I mean I’m really made for you. When you claimed me, my body changed to respond only to you. When we made love, did you notice how easy it was?”
