Page 38 of Rome's Mate: Hunted Omegas

“Not everyone likes children, but we need them so the world can go on.”

“We wouldn’t need them if we were immortal. We’d live forever without the need for infants and then children. Think how much better our lives would be.”

Amelia couldn’t imagine her life without the pup who was baking in the oven. She loved her already.

“Everyone is allowed to have their own opinions, and we don’t always have to agree.”

“See!” Brittany gave an excited cheer. “I knew you would understand. I think you and I should be friends, best friends. You need a single woman to show you around.”

Amelia barely maintained her strained smile. They would be best friends when Luna died, and the moon became a black mass hurling toward the Earth.

“I have a best friend.” Her heart ached at the thought of Nicole. Most of her life had been spent with her.

“No worries, you can always have another. I think we’re a lot alike.” Brittany gave her a wink before standing. “See you later, bestie.”

“What was that?” There was only one way any of that made sense, but she hoped she was wrong.

“That was a wolf who thinks she knows what she’s talking about and one whose eyes are set on your wolf,” Janice said.

That’s what she thought the first time she’d seen her. Now she had to figure out if she would pose a threat to Rome or herself. Some wolves do desperate things to get what they want, and Brittany struck her as that type.

Amelia spent more time with Janice learning about Brittany before she finally bid her farewell. They hugged and Janice wrung a promise out of her to come back soon. They’d sit on the porch and drink lemonade. Amelia couldn’t help smiling, Janice made the best lemonade.

She walked around pack lands, meeting other wolves and loved that there was a hierarchy among them that seemed to work. She met alphas and betas, even two female alphas, but no one seemed to want to challenge Rome. They were safe, happy, and well protected and that’s how they wanted their lives to be. She was on her way home when she stumbled over a teenagersitting on a porch. That didn’t strike her as weird, it was the downturned shoulders, bent head and the fact that he was alone.

“Hi.” She was standing in front of him, and he hadn’t realized until she spoke.

He lifted his head, and his eyes went wide before he bowed to her. “I’m sorry alpha-mate, ma’am, I didn’t know you were there. Please forgive me.”

This poor teenager was an alpha and he was gangly and all over the place like most teenagers.

“Let’s sit.” She lowered herself gingerly. Sitting on a rocking chair or a glider was relatively easy. Sitting on the edge of the porch much harder. Her precious bundle was making herself known and Amelia’s balance isn’t what it used to be, not that she would tell Rome. It was easier to get around in her world while pregnant when her mate was by her side.

“I noticed you’re sitting here alone. You don’t have to tell me why. I’m alpha-mate, but I don’t get to know everyone’s secrets.”

He gave her a shaky smile before he looked around to see if anyone was eavesdropping. Amelia took the chance to look at the cabin she presumed he was living in. It wasn’t updated like the others. In fact, it looked like it would fall at any moment. The more she took in the less she liked. The teen was wearing shabby clothes. What was she missing here?

“It’s not a secret they all know. My mom was human, and she had a one-night stand. Here I am. She loved me, I think she still does, but when I was fourteen, I became a wolf. My mom screamed, she didn’t know who I was or what had happened to her son. My stepfather pointed a shot gun at me and said I know what you are you’re a filthy abomination. Run, and if you ever come back here, I’ll kill you and her.” He wiped his eyes trying not to cry.

“This pack took me in and gave me this cabin and some hand-me-down clothes. I’m a half-breed and the wolves here don’t associate with me because of that stigma.”

Amelia was fuming. She wanted to vent all over the pack’s wolves; it reminded her of how she was an outcast among her own people, but it was more than that. What if they took in a Spanish wolf or a Native American? Would they allow their prejudices to rise to the surface and make them outcasts? How could Rome allow such intolerant bullshit? She thought her mate was better than that. How could he?

“You never told me your name.”

“It’s Malcolm.”

“My name is Amelia, nice to meet you. Now, would you give a poor pregnant wolf a hand up?” She raised a brow and there was a twinkle in her eye.

He gave her a genuine smile and helped her up.

“Now let’s take a look at this cabin.”

“No ma’am, I mean Alpha-mate. There’s no reason for you to go in there. Someone like you shouldn’t be in a place like that.”

“Someone like me?”

“The first wolf I’ve met that reminds me of my mother.” It took everything in her not to burst into tears. She dragged Malcolm into her arms and just rocked until she got herself together and was able to stop sniffling.

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