Page 16 of Free Me

What if Linus woke up and his concussion caused similar memory loss? Miko wasn’t sure his heart could bear being forgotten by another alpha he loved—especially not an alpha his entire being insisted was his bondmate. The alpha mate created for him by the goddess herself, the man he would spend his life with raising a family.

Is that why I ran? I couldn’t stand it if he wakes up and doesn’t see me? Doesn’t know me?

Yes, that felt right. As the cold numbed his body, Miko smiled at a leafless bush, proud he’d worked this out but also ashamed of his weakness.

His omegin wouldn’t have run like that. Omi had actively pursued Dad when he discovered they were bondmates. Omi hadn’t let anything keep them apart, not even Dad’s own fear and traumatic past. Miko knew every single secret about Linus, everything worth knowing, but he hadn’t been strong enough to stay.

“Miko? What are you doing out here?”

A familiar, deep voice boomed down the path from the door he’d exited. Gaven Freel took a few steps toward him, arms crossed over his purple scrubs, his breath puffing out in vapor clouds. Gaven was a family friend, alpha, and as of his graduation from the program two months ago, a registered nurse. He was still doing various specialty rotations and had no seniority to choose his schedule, so he worked in the various wards and observation floors as needed.

“Hey,” Miko said dumbly.

“Hey, back, dude. Did something happen with Linus?” He came closer and sat, wrapping a muscled arm around Miko’s shoulders. “You’re shivering. Let’s go inside.”

“They’re letting Linus wake up. I just…” He couldn’t mention the bondmate thing to Gaven, not before he told his own parents. “I’m so scared for him.”

“I know. But he’s got the best doctors on his team, and the best cheering squad of anyone in Sansbury. Remember how we all came together for Peyton? And Emory when he had the triplets? We’re all here for Linus, too.”

“He deserves to walk again. He deserves to have his dreams come true like they were supposed to.”

“He does. Nothing about this is fair, Miko. How are you?—?”

Miko didn’t want or need questions about himself right now. “How are Frey and Yvan doing?” Gaven and Frey’s first child, Yvan Serge Freel, had been named after Frey’s late omegin Ivan, and Gaven’s beta parent Serge.

When Miko first heard the baby’s name, he’d amused himself wondering if their next son would be named Monte Dex, or even Dex Monte. It wouldn’t surprise him in the least. Frey and Gaven were both incredibly sentimental, and Gaven himself was named after a late friend of Serge’s from nursing school.

Gaven’s smile seemed to brighten the gray day a little bit more. “They’re great, thanks. I can’t believe Yvan is already six months old. It doesn’t seem possible. Frey is absolutely beside himself with joy being an omegin. His brother Colm practically forced us to go out on a date last weekend so he could babysit. He loves being Uncle Colm.”

“That’s wonderful. It’s been ages since I’ve seen them. I’m sorry it’s been so long.”

“Don’t be. It’s a lot harder for us to get together now that we’re all getting older and having families. Ever since Yvan was born, I don’t see Rei, Emory or Caden nearly as often as I did when we were kids, or even teenagers. It’s part of growing up.”

“Right.”

“So is facing the really hard stuff.”

“Yeah.” Miko knew Gaven was trying to circle back to Linus and the accident. But Gaven was three-plus years older and they’d never been close, not the way Gaven had been close with Peyton and the other guys his age. They’d never had a heart-to-heart talk, and Miko wasn’t interested in starting now. “Are you on a break? I don’t want to keep you.”

“On my way in, actually. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I got a text from your sire asking me to keep an eye out for you on the grounds.”

Miko groaned. “Great. What else did he say?”

“Nothing else, just that he was worried about you. You know, out of our massive collection of parents, I think Mikel is probably the least gossip-y of them all. Probably makes him a great person to confide in, huh?”

“He is.” Gaven was subtly urging Miko to talk to his sire about whatever was clearly bothering him, but Miko wasn’t sure he was ready yet. “Thanks, Gaven, but really, I’m okay. I just needed some air. I promise I won’t sit out here and freeze my ass to the bench.”

“Good, or I’ll never hear the end of it.” He squeezed Miko’s shoulder. “I’d also feel better if you came inside with me. Not to any particular ward, just inside where it’s warm. Please?”

“Okay.” His legs were stiff so Gaven helped him stand and half-limp down the walkway to a side door that required Gaven’s ID badge to re-enter. The warm air felt wonderful, and he didn’t need wonderful right now. He needed space to think and decide if what he’d done, what he’s said to Liam, was truly the best course of action. “Listen, Gaven, I’m going to take a taxi home.”

“Are you sure? I bet Mikel would give you a ride.”

“I know he would, but no. I need to be alone for a little while. I’ll be okay.”

“All right. I know you’re worried about Linus and his future, but you’ve got plenty of friends who will listen if you need to talk about anything.”

“I know I do, thanks. Give Yvan a kiss for me next time you see him.”

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