Page 16 of Rome's Mate: Hunted Omegas

Her voice lowered, and her shoulders slumped, as if she couldn’t take what she was about to tell him. “My pack was planning to kill me on my birthday. My father is the alpha, and he made a way for me to escape. They followed me, hoping to kill me on the road. I shook them, but that doesn’t mean they won’t come after me later. For the sake of your pack, I need to leave and keep running.” Tears slid down her face, but he noticed she straightened her shoulders and back. She was running, but she refused to be knocked down. His mate was strong. His wolf preened. She would make the perfect mate and one day, Luna willing, the perfect mother.

“Do you understand?”

“I do. The goddess Luna has blessed you.”

She turned wide silver eyes on him even as she shook her head. “There is no goddess. That’s something we tell children. As they grow older, they no longer believe.”

“Explain to me how I have met her many times over the course of my life?” He poured her a third of a glass of wine, while he swapped his flute for a glass of whiskey.

“You met her in the flesh?” She wasn’t sure if he was lying or simply pulling her leg.

“I have, more than once.” It took her a minute, but she finally nodded.

“I kind of believe in her even though I shouldn’t. Why do you say I am blessed, and why would my pack want me dead if I’m such a blessing?”

“Your birth was foretold centuries ago. It is a long story, and I think you’ve had enough to deal with tonight. You need sleep.”

“I have to go back to the motel. My bags are there, and my car is parked along the road where I entered the forest.”

“Did you unpack?”

“No, I was too tired.”

“Saul will get your bags and pay Roland whatever you owe, and Theron will retrieve your car.”

Her shoulders stiffened and her jaw clenched. “I have money. I’m not looking for a handout.”

“Good mate,” his wolf purred. Was this going to become an everyday occurrence? His wolf speaking words he could understand and not just pictures and emotions. His wolf gave him a growl, and he left it alone. Amelia was too important for him to be sidetracked.

“I don’t know.” She was shaking her head like she was arguing with herself.

“Trust your wolf. I’ll show you to your room and have the rest taken care of. Let me do this for you.”

She stared into his eyes for a long time before she finally nodded. He smiled and led her to her room. Tomorrow the wooing would start.

Chapter Nine

Amelia paced in thebeautiful room she was given. There was a king-size bed with a black comforter with a purple design that made her want to stare at it for hours. The walls were painted lavender with pink accents. There was a walk-in closet and a seating area. There was also a fireplace. She peeked out of the window and could see the forest. There was a lake or a river that she could just glimpse, and the bathroom was to die for if you loved marble sinks, deep soaker tubs, and a shower that held three people. It may only be two people if Rome was in there with her. He was muscular and massive.

She felt a little faint, hot. This had never happened to her before. She got what she considered the usual feminine things. She fanned herself and then decided she’d take a cold shower before bed. Right now, she had other more serious things to take care of. Her thoughts went to Rome. How he told her she could trust him. His amber eyes stared at her. They made her want to trust him; they were so beautiful, a shade or two darker than gold.

She flushed again, thinking of his eyes and his arms, which were massive. The male was big all over. A conversation she overheard once came back to her. There were several female wolves sunning themselves. Yes, wolves sometimes did the same things humans did. She and Nicole were going to turn the corner when they heard the others.

“Did anyone see Tyler at the full moon run?” Tabitha made a sucking noise.

Amelia knew Tyler was the newest member of their pack. She’d watched as her father swore him in.

“Damn, that man is thick everywhere. I do stress everywhere.” That was Jocelyn talking, and she sounded hungry.

“Bitches, you can all drool. I’ll be taking that for a ride tonight.” Amelia and Nicole went back the way they came, not wanting to be seen.

She hadn’t really paid any attention to the conversation, although she and Nicole made fun of them.

Now, she thought she understood what they were talking about. She was a wolf, and she knew what the male anatomy looked like. It just never made her drool before. Not only did Rome have arms that flexed when he moved them, but his chest was muscular enough to make her faint. Or get a dizzy spell where she conveniently needed to lean on his chest to make herself better. His legs were thick like tree trunks but shaped like they should be licked and worshiped.

It was really getting hot in here. The knock at the door pulled her out of her thoughts. She took several deep breaths to regain control. “Who is it?”

“Rome.” Goddess, please don’t let me make a fool of myself, she prayed before answering the door.

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