Page 21 of Rome's Mate: Hunted Omegas

“You should go get changed, unless you’re planning on wearing the gown out of the store.”

Her plan was to protest, but he radiated happiness. There was no way she’d take this small joy from him. He paid, making arrangements for them to deliver it to the pack lands. Then they went to another store where she could get jeans, t-shirts and sensible shoes. Strange thing was she was still thinking about the heels and the ball gown.

They chose a restaurant in the mall to get lunch at. She flopped into the chair, grateful to be off her feet. She’d never done this much shopping in her life. If only Nicole could see her now.

The server brought their menus, and she asked for a glass of Mountain Dew. She deserved something sweet.

“How are you enjoying the mall?” Rome settled into his chair, watching her with a possessive look on his face.

“It’s a bit overwhelming. So much to see and so many stores to shop at. Now, you tell me there’s a food court and individual restaurants. My dad and I would pop into a boutique, buy a dress or two and find a store for jeans, and we were done. Shopping was never anything like we did today. Thank you. I had the best time.”

The server brought their drinks back. Rome ordered a Pepsi. They gave their order and then sat back, smiling at each other.

“Thank you for indulging me. There were times I would get lost in the thought of taking my mate out shopping. Nothing I dreamed about compared to being here with you.”

Her heart thumped louder, and she reached out to place her hand on his. The moment she touched him, the heat inside of her spread like wildfire. She wanted him. How hadn’t she realized before that this need was tied directly to him amazed her. She thought it was about having sex for the first time or something. She knew it had to do with him, but there was no rhyme or reason to it. Now she knew, she understood, it was about being with her mate and allowing herself to show him how much he already meant to her. Was it love? Not yet, but she knew that would be coming.

They kept their conversation light as they ate hamburgers and fries. Sheela would make a larger dinner, Rome told her, and they didn’t want to be too full. They strolled out of the mall, and she stumbled to a stop. Someone was watching her. She knew what it felt like to be hunted. Rome was already hustling her to his truck. Once she was safe inside, he did a slow three sixty, looking for the prying set of eyes. When he couldn’t find anything, he got into the truck.

“Maybe—.”

“No,” she stopped him. “Someone was watching me with intention. I know what it feels like to be watched like I’m prey. It feels even stronger now that my wolf is awake. She was growling, ready to tear someone apart.”

He nodded, not disagreeing with her. “It’s time to get back to pack land. We’re going to take the long way.”

“Okay.” She knew he was going to try to draw whoever was looking for her out. Was it the hunter or one of her old pack mates?

They were quiet as they took off. Rome went the opposite direction from when they came to the mall, keeping his word to take the long way home. His eyes kept darting back to the rearview mirror.

“Do you see anyone?” The tension was building up inside of her, and she was ready to explode. Her nails were digging into the palms of her hands.

“Not sure. There are few cars that seem to be following us, but that could be coincidence.” His wolf knew there was a threat but couldn’t pinpoint where it was coming from.

She nodded, knowing the hunter was coming for her had made them both more aware and on guard.

“I’ve noticed that my temperature is rising and that I’m hot and flushed. Do you know what that is about?” If she had anyone else she could ask, she would have. Rome seemed to know a lot, and maybe he knew about this, too. His cheeks reddened, making him look like a cute child who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

He told her about a talk he had with Luna and what it meant to be an omega. She wished her mom had lived, and they could have talked about this.

“Rome?” Her voice was low and urgent. Her wolf was going crazy inside of her head. She hadn’t realized how much the wolf would affect her and how much it was an individual entity and part of her at the same time.

“I feel it. We’re driving into a trap.” He slowed down, looking on both sides of the road. His wolf was howling in his head and clawing inside his chest to come out. Rome leaped across the middle console, wrapping his body around Amelia’s. Several bullets crashed through the window, aimed at her.

“Someone came prepared,” Rome said softly. There was a bullet stuck in the window. “They used a high-powered rifle and are a rather good shot.”

“Stay here and stay down. I’m going to look for whoever shot at you.” She nodded, swaying slightly as her hand clutched the seat of the truck.

“If you leave me here, I won’t be here when you get back. Whoever is out there shooting came after me. I will not run. It’s time to give them what they want.” She had no plans to die. Whoever came after her would regret it. That didn’t stop her stomach from feeling like it wanted to hurl.

He took one look at her face and knew it wasn’t false bravado speaking. There was a determination there that went deeper than her skin. She was finished running, and it didn’t matter who was coming after her.

“Let’s go.” He opened the door an inch and then changed into his wolf. Amelia watched him change and then prayed fervently that she could do the same thing without taking her clothes off. When she felt an invisible hug, she took it as a sign and changed into her wolf.

Rome sprang out the door, running fast over the land to get to the tall trees. She stayed on his hind legs. They stalked through the trees, scenting the air for gunpowder and the scent of a wolf or a human.

Amelia’s stomach dropped when she caught a slight hint of wolf in the air. There had been one wolf who helped her father take care of her when she was young. Her father had always called her a wolf nanny. When she turned six years old, he told her that her wolf nanny was never coming back. The female hadn’t left the pack, but she lived on the fringes of it. Every year she got crazier, according to the gossip. After a while, Amelia forgot about her, but there was a pang because she thought the wolf loved her. It took her years to realize that her father stepped in because he saw something he didn’t like.

Her wolf nanny stepped out of the shadows, holding a high-powered rifle aimed at Amelia.

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