Page 35 of Rome's Mate: Hunted Omegas

“I feel the same way. A sense of fear deep in my chest when you leave. Wait, you felt it, didn’t you?”

“I was in that meeting that wasn’t worth the time when a sense of fear flooded me. You weren’t safe. I didn’t know what was happening, but I knew there was no way I could get to you in time. I sat talking to possible clients with a fake smile on my face as I tried not to grit my teeth. My pregnant mate, who didn’t know she was pregnant, life was in danger. Yes, I felt it!” he finally screamed, allowing some of the tension to bleed out of him.

She smiled as her hand worked through his hair, feeling the softness of it caressing her.

“Who was it that made sure I had defense lessons even when he knew I was pregnant?”

“One day you may have to defend yourself.” It was a protest but a weak one. He knew like she knew there might be a day she’d have to fight, even if she was eight or nine months pregnant.

“Your lessons came in handy. Not so much hand-to-hand, but the critical thinking. My wolf and I used those lessons.”

“Amelia.” She placed a finger over his lips.

“Listen, please. I don’t know what’s happening to me, but I felt that hunter. At first, I thought they were after me. I couldn’t have Sheela and Todd around a hunter. You know what happened with Julie. I thank Luna every day that you’re immortal, but they aren’t, and I will never put their lives at risk for me.”

He gave a grunt, knowing his soft-hearted mate wouldn’t risk another’s life to save hers.

“When I got closer, I knew that the hunter wasn’t after me. That should have given me a release, but the tension I felt ratcheted up in my chest. It was suffocating me with the need to intervene. I couldn’t help it; I needed to see who was in danger. It was this young boy. The same one who gave me a stuffie. Rome, this child was wearing a crown on his head. Only I could see it, but it was there. Then I spotted the woman who washunting him. She blended in so well with the surroundings. A white woman with blonde hair and blue eyes dressed in a pair of old jeans and a t-shirt. No one looking at her would have thought she didn’t belong. But her eyes, Rome, they were so hard and filled with hate.” This was the part where he was going to lose his shit, and she couldn’t find a soft way to tell him.

“I needed to know to confirm what my eyes and my senses were telling me. I approached her after I pulled out my scarf with the fringe.” She waited, holding her breath.

“What!” His roar felt like it shook the bedroom. Were other people holding on, thinking an earthquake happened? He was up and pacing around the room.

“Rome.” She got out of bed.

“Don’t Rome me. You faced a hunter, walking up to her like it was no big deal. Don’t you care for your life or mine? What about the child you carry?”

Amelia threw her arms around his waist and held on tight. “Baby, she wasn’t after me. I wasn’t on her radar. She was going after a different type, and I hid my hair and all signs of my wolf so she wouldn’t know I was other.”

“It was risky, Amelia, damn risky.”

“I wish you could have seen that child. How was I supposed to bring a baby into this world knowing I stood by and watched someone’s baby die without interfering?”

“I hate it when you break out logic. I want you to be safe. Logical arguments mean nothing to me.”

“I’m safe right here in your arms.” He held her tight, rocking back and forth.

“I killed her.” She held her breath, waiting to see what he would say. It was hard for her to believe she’d killed two people since she left her pack. If the hunting continued, there was a chance she’d kill more. How was Rome going to take knowinghe was mated to a killer? The thought made her stomach churn with acid. Not something the expecting mother needed.

Was that what made her an abomination, the willingness to kill to keep others safe? Was that boy’s life worth the life of a hunter? Didn’t she have hopes and dreams too? Tears flowed as she realized she really was an abomination.

Rome picked her up and set her on the side of the bed. “This is one of the things I worry about my soft-hearted mate. Killing Julie was in a rush of emotions. You thought she killed me. Also, you were in a situation of kill or be killed. We’re all primal beings needing to put ourselves first even if we deny it. Anyone in your situation would do the same. This other hunter was different. You made a choice to take her out and save the boy’s life. If you hadn’t killed her, maybe you incapacitated her. She knew what the boy looked like. It would be easier to track him, and she would. She would have kept going until either he or she was dead. You simply took the decision of who would die in your hands. You’re not a cold-blooded killer more like a vigilante for the right side. If I were there and had seen the hunter I would have done the same thing.”

She looked at him with an accusation in her eyes.

“You’re right, but I’m not my pregnant mate and your safety will always come first.”

“You’d give me the same lecture even if I wasn’t pregnant.”

“Your safety will always come first.” He didn’t deny a word she said.

She snuggled closer to him, thinking about what she wanted to say next. This was another of those things he wasn’t going to take well. She wrapped her arms and legs around him.

“You’re acting like an octopus. Why do I think I’m not going to like what you have to say?”

Well, that got a laugh out of her. “You’re not going to like it, but we need to talk about it. I scented and felt the hunter nearby. Neither Sheela nor Todd knew anything was happening. How?”

Rome was quiet, thoughtful. He thought he knew what was happening. He didn’t think his mate would be pleased with the news.

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