Page 24 of Omegas Need
“I’m sorry,” he said gently. “You didn’t deserve that.”
A lot of people had said that to me since it had happened. I took it with a grain of salt though. Who would deserve to lose their mate?
“No one would,” I argued, but he shook his head.
“You’re different. You’re good.” He placed a hand on my beating heart. “I can feel it.”
He looked down, exchanging a look with Wren, who had clearly been awakened by our chat.
Wren let out a sleepy sigh and reached over my chest, making sure his arm was around both of us.
“See? I told you,” he teased and Usman chuckled.
“Yes. You were right, as usual,” he admitted.
My cheeks heated as I realized they had spoken about this before, about me beinggoodor more likely, better than the alphas they’d known. And that made my stomach plummet because the alphas they had come across before must have been rough or cruel. After all, we had barely spoken, why else would they think I was a good person if not because I had been gentle with them?
Usman, still on his elbow over me, must have caught the concern in my eyes because he smiled softly and shook his head, probably cementing the opinion he had of me being caring and good.
It was doing strange things to me though, memories echoing, the same words but said with different voices and faces and at different times.
Ariana used to say that I had the biggest heart she had ever known. I didn’t see it. I didn’t think most people did either. I was a businessman. I had to be smart even if sometimes that took a toll on me. Now more than ever, since I no longer had Ariana at home to make all the tension leave my shoulders with one smile.
Except that right now in this moment with Wren and Usman against me… I couldn’t remember the last time I had felt so like myself again. Surely it had never happened since that fateful day when I lost my mate.
That was the end for me. I’dthoughtlife from that moment on meant being only half alive until my body followed the soul she had taken with her. I had sought out these omegas in order to ease the pain of everyday life. Not to replace her. Not to feel love and tenderness again.
And yet, it was doing more than easing the pain. Being with them was soothing me.
“What’s wrong?” Wren asked and suddenly, they were both over me, looking down at me, reading me.
I swallowed and shook my head, unable to voice what was going through my mind. It was too crazy.
They exchanged a look and were probably about to start an interrogation, but I couldn’t take that right now, so I pushed them both until they got the idea and made room for me to sit up.
“I’m starving,” I said. “Should we get food?”
The way their eyes lit up made me chuckle.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
“They have the best food I’ve ever eaten,” Wren said enthusiastically.
“Can we order the flatbread again?” Usman asked.
I blinked at the two of them, trying to keep my expression neutral as reality invaded my thoughts again. These two weren’t used to having good food. They probably weren’t used to a lot of it either. And not good hotels, or clean beds or... hell, maybe not used to beds at all.
“Why don’t we go downstairs to eat?” I suggested, suddenly wanting to treat them, well, the way I would treat anyone else. They deserved to feel equal. “You can get anything you want off the menu.”
Surprisingly, they both hesitated, and I realized why the moment Usman glanced around at the heaps of clothing around the room. Maybe they thought hoodies and ripped pants wouldn’t be accepted in a nice restaurant, but I could trust that the staff would know better than to remark on their clothes or give them trouble if they were with me.
“Anyone is allowed to eat there, and you’ll be with me,” I said. “Unless you really don’t want to. We can order in too. I’ll leave it up to you two.”
They exchanged a look.
“Come on,” Wren finally said. “When else will we get to eat in a nice restaurant?”
Usman caved at that, and they both got out of bed, quickly pulling their clothes back on.
