Page 18 of Free Me

“Time to talk about the things you felt when you were alone?”

“Yes.”

Omi’s suspicious squint softened and he smiled. “Do you think the attraction you felt toward Linus was more than being near an alpha while going into heat?”

“It was. Is. That’s why I had to see him, to know if what I felt was just hormones, or if it was the mating bond.”

“And?”

“I felt it, Omi. As soon as I touched Linus, I knew. He’s my alpha.”

“Oh, Miko.” He drew Miko’s hand up to kiss his knuckles. “I’m so happy for you. It took me so long to find my bondmate, and you’ve known yours your entire life. But why are you here and not at the hospital?” Omi sat straight up in his chair. “Was Liam upset?”

“No, not at all. Not at first.”

“What does that mean, not at first? He was thrilled with Peyton and Layne being bondmates. Why would he object to you and Linus? It’s the most perfect outcome I could imagine.”

“It isn’t me and Linus that Liam got mad at, it was what I said when I realized I felt the mating bond.”

“Which was?”

A single, frustrated tear rolled down his cheek, and Miko ignored it. “That I thought I should stay away from Linus while he recovers.”

“But why? Why would you not want to be by his side while he goes through this? He’s going to need you. He’s going to need all of us. Not just for the physical recovery but also the psychological toll this is going to take on Linus.”

“I know!” Miko choked back an angry sob. “A week ago, he had all these amazing professional dreams that are gone now. I know that. I took them from him, Omi. It’s my fault.”

“No, baby, it’s not.” Omi knelt in front of Miko and pulled him close, into his familiar, tight embrace, and Miko melted against his omegin. Unable to cry but he could exist there. “So many choices were made that night, but the biggest choice, the one that did this to you both? It was the driver who ran the red light. Maybe he was trying to get you home faster, and maybe hisheart was in the right place, but he blew the light and was hit.Youdidn’t do that.”

“My heat?—”

“No. Listen to me, Miko, no. Your heat is not at fault.” Omi pulled back, and Miko’s heart broke at the tears on his omegin’s cheeks. “The accident is not your fault. Linus losing his leg is not your fault. His parents made a medical decision, and what happened is what happened. You cannot change that by piling all the blame on your own shoulders. I won’t let you torture yourself like that. I love Linus, and I love his entire family, butyouaremy son.You and Peyton will always come first for me, no matter what.”

Miko couldn’t hold back his tears any longer. His fear and pain and joy and confusion broke free in great, wrenching sobs. He clung to his omegin, and cried for a long time.

FIVE

He’s havingthe dream again. At least, he thinks it’s a dream, because it happens about the same, and then it stops, and it melts, and then it restarts. Like a movie in his mind, and it has to be. In his mind. There’s no television here. He’s pretty sure.

Only a room, maybe a bedroom. It’s cozy and warm, and he has the sense others are nearby, music playing in the distance, people laughing. Joyful. He’s happy, too. He’s made of joy and cheers and celebration. So is the boy with him, who’s also laughing and cheering and hugging him tight.

Holding the boy close.

The boy smells so good. Feels amazing in his arms. They hold each other tighter. He wants to kiss the boy so badly, to make the boy his.

Before he can, the boy closes his eyes and disappears like a faint scent in the wind.

Gone.

The boy is gone. The room is gone. The bright, joyous sounds are gone.

He is alone.

But not for long.

He’s in the room again…

“Why hasn’t he woken up yet?” Liam snapped. “Why can’t anyone tell us something?”

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