Page 42 of Roman
I nodded, but what I was about to say in reply was interrupted by the appearance of a warlock. He smiled at us, and there was no hesitation from the others; they simply moved closer together. Roman did the same with us by guiding me along with him, and then we were suddenly in a different room. Without a word, people started to file out, Roman and I among the first to do so. It felt different being back up on the mountain after being away for so long. I hadn’t been here too long, but already, it had started to feel like home.
I noticed that one of the young men who was in the transport building with us was walking in the same direction. I thought that maybe he was going to wander over to the store or even back to the childcare center, but I was surprised when he walked right behind us to the bakery. I looked back at him when I typed in my code for the door. He just grinned, which I found a bit unnerving.
“Umm…I don’t know who he is,”I told Roman through our bond as I opened the door. I didn’t exactly feel unsafe, but I didn’t quite know what to make of everything.
I had just stepped through the front door and was greeted by the amazing scents of all the things and Konrad’s smiling face.
“Beau! I was expecting Tate.”
“I’m right here,” said the quiet voice behind us.
I looked back at the blond and offered a smile. I was going to introduce myself, but I suddenly found myself wrapped up in Konrad’s comforting embrace. It truly had to be an omega thing.
“I’m so happy you’re back,” Konrad said. He gave me a squeeze and then let go, his hands resting on my upper arms. His smile was beaming, and immediately, I felt at ease.
“I’m glad to be back. I’m sorry things sort of happened in a hurry.”
Konrad’s smile grew. “They tend to do that when it comes to alphas and their unclaimed mates,” Konrad said. He looked up at Roman and then pulled my mate into a quick hug. “I’m so happy for you, Roman. You deserve all of the happiness you can get.” Konrad sighed, then looked over at the blond who had followed us in. “This is Tate,” Konrad said. “He’s from the pride down off of the mountain. There are three others here as well. You met Sean already, and I’m positive you’ve met another who’s been hired to help run the place.”
I was smiling at Tate when what Konrad said registered, and it took a moment for my brain to catch up. “What do you mean?” I asked.
Konrad glanced between me and Roman before his gaze landed on me. “Nobody has talked to you?”
I shook my head. “No. Talked to me about what? Roman and I haven’t heard from anyone other than Evan and his family.”
“Beau!”
My eyes widened as I heard a familiar voice I never thought to hear again. I looked in the direction of the kitchen as a very familiar person came into view.
“Lewis?”
He squealed as he came rushing toward me. That was quickly squashed when Roman growled and effectively put himself between me and my lifelong friend from my village.
“Whoa. All right. No hugs allowed for my bestie,” Lewis said. “Got it.”
I grabbed Roman’s waist and looked up at my mate as I moved around him. I wanted him to know that I wasn’t upset in any way.
“Roman, this is Lewis. We grew up together in our village in the fae realm. He used to work at the bakery with me.” I smiled at my mate before I let go of his waist and moved to give Lewis a quick hug. He latched onto me, and we did a little dance before he let me go.
“I can’t believe you’re mated! And pregnant!” Lewis hopped a little while clapping his hands. “I get to be an honorary uncle, right? You know I don’t have siblings.”
I shook my head. “I have so many questions. But you should meet Roman,” I said, reaching back for my mate.
Lewis nodded. “Yeah, I think we already did that. So…” Lewis paused and looked around the bakery. “I’m here to help. I’m going to run the bakery with you. Isn’t that going to be amazing? Think about all the times we used to talk about doing our own bakery someday.”
I nodded slowly. We had. But that was before. “I’m still trying to get over the fact that you’re here. How?” I looked to Konrad.
“Thomas and Canyon decided that Lewis should come here.” Konrad winked, and my eyes widened because it didn’t take but a moment for me to understand what that meant.
“Yeah, I’m excited to meet my mate too, but I’m not holding my breath. I don’t know when it’ll happen, nor do I care. I just want to bake all the things. And you’re here! I get my bestie back!”
I nodded slowly, but what I was about to say was interrupted by Tate. “What did you need me to do, Konrad?”
“Oh,” I said, feeling terrible that I’d not been more talkative with him. “I’m sorry, Tate. I didn’t mean to be rude,” I said as I held out my hand. “I’m Beau. I work here too.”
Tate snorted and shook his head. “No, you and Lewis run the place.” Tate glanced up at Roman before he took my outstretched hand. “It’s nice to meet you. Konrad has told me a bit about you.” Tate looked back to Roman. “Congratulations on both your mating and the little one. Do you know when you’re due?”
“Dr. King said to expect the baby the first week of October,” Roman said. He continued to stare at the other feline shifter. I glanced between the two, a sudden sense of dread overcoming me. Roman picked up on it immediately, and when he looked at me, he shook his head.
