Page 23 of Alpha's Rise

He shook his head. “My wolf would never want someone else. You’re my mate.”

“Our wolves know our mates as soon as we meet them. There is no question about that. Not once has the Goddess been wrong,” Tobias interjected. “Once known, there is nothing that can come between us. If our fated mate rejects our wolf or dies, our lifespan is shortened. If we deny our mate, we will slowly go crazy. No wolf wants that future. You are a gift to us, and our wolves recognize this. Even if we tried to deny our need for you, our souls know that we are tied together for life.”

Shaking her head, Romi tried to ignore the words, but couldn’t. No matter how many times she challenged them, questioned their faith in the Goddess for choosing a non-shifter as their mate, or told them that she was not ready for this, they countered every argument. “Nathan, you mentioned that any children… um, pups, from the marriage would be chosen as the heir to take over. So, they would have to be in a similar relationship? What if we have multiple children? Does it matter if the children are from either of you?” Maybe she was ready to accept this relationship more than she thought, especially if she were already talking about children.

Reaching over to grab her hand in his, Tobias answered. “Only our first-born son would become the heir. Any other pups, or children as you call them, could choose to have only one mate. They are not always called to have a Triad.”

There was so much going on in her head, but as she sat between the two men, she also could admit that she felt more comfortable than she had in years. Just wait until she talked to Layla about this. Maybe her friend could give her some insight into the pack before Romi jumped in with both feet. True to their word, they had given her some space and time to deal with everything happening, but with every brush of a hand against her waist, or press of a body against hers, she knew they wanted so much more.

“Will it matter if the child is yours or Nathan’s?” The look they gave each other made her pause. She placed the forkful of food she was about to place in her mouth back on the plate in front of her. “What? Why are you looking at each other like that? Am I missing something?”

Nathan shifted, pushed his chair back, and stood from the table.

“Nathan,” she heard Tobias call out to his friend in a voice full of warning.

“What’s wrong?” Now Romi was getting nervous. “One of you needs to tell me what’s wrong.”

Nathan walked across the room and stood in front of the large window overlooking the back of the house. He could see guards walking the perimeter, other household workers walking around the grounds. Everyone had their purpose in life, especially in a pack as large as theirs. There was a hierarchy that had been in place since the dawn of time. Alpha Triad’s worked a certain way because that’s what worked. The Alpha, Luna, and Beta served their people. Not once had a Triad ever not fulfilled their destiny.

As Nathan thought about Romi’s question, he couldn’t help but think about just how selfish he was being. His mate had been delivered to him and she was everything he wanted. Glancing over his shoulder at her, he thanked the Goddess for sending him and Tobias a woman who they would love, protect, and worship for the rest of their days. His wolf was pleased and had finally quieted his whining and howling that they were so far away from home.

He couldn’t wait for the day when he would be mated to her. When he could sink his thick member inside her body and feel her flesh wrapped around him. Just the thought of his mate-mark tattooed on her brown skin, tying them together, made him harden in his pants. Knowing that being with her will make him happier than he ever could be, Nathan also knew there was one aspect of this relationship that he was having difficulty accepting.

“Any pups created from our mating will only be sired by me,” Tobias said. His fingers rubbed along her skin. He knew his statement would rub more salt in his friend’s already open wound. It wasn’t his choice. That was how the Goddess had deemed it would be. No matter how many times their third… Nathan, would finish inside Romi, no child would take. Just as Brayden had raised Tobias as his own son, Nathan would be asked to take on that same responsibility for any children created from their Triad. That had been part of the reason Nathan left. Tobias knew it, Nathan knew it, and there was no denying it.

“But why,” she asked, her gaze swinging to Nathan standing off by himself.

“That is just how it is. We can have as many pups as you want, they will all be mine by blood, but both Nathan and I will be their fathers.” This was said more for Nathan’s sake. For anyone else, he wouldn’t give a shit, but he knew his friend was different. He now understood more than anything how special the relationship was between his two fathers and his mother.

They made a way for their relationship, their Triad, to work. They formed a bond that was stronger than any traditional marriage. He could see the love his mother had for both his fathers, and he’d never doubted that they loved her in return.

Brayden was his father in every way, just as Tomas was his blood sire. But he could recall moments when Brayden had looked at him with sadness in his eyes. At the time, he had no clue what the look was. But now, he believes he understands. No matter how much he may have wanted it, Brayden would never sire a child with his mate. For a wolf, that was a difficult pill to swallow.

Turning his head to look at Nathan, he finally understood why his friend resisted this situation so much. For a moment, a pang of sadness came over him at the thought of what Nathan was going through. All this time, Tobias had only looked at this situation from his own perspective. It was his duty to find his mate. It was his responsibility to have a mate, form a strong Alpha Triad, have a houseful of pups, and rule his pack honorably. That was always the plan. Everything and everyone else be damned. When Nathan left, he’d cursed his name every single day. Called him a coward for running away from fate. Said he was unworthy of standing by his side as they created their way as the new generation of pack leaders.

“Nathan?”

Romi stood and walked over to him, which caused Tobias’s wolf to stand up and pay attention. Did she want Nathan’s pups and not his? Had he not shown her how much he wanted her?

“I’m fine,” he responded to her. Turning to face Romi as she walked over to him, he captured her face in his palms. “Watching you grow with a child created from our bond is enough for me. Just because the child will not be my blood, I will be their father. I will raise them beside you, and Tobias. My role will be to show them how to navigate the world and train them to be a warrior wolf.”

For the first time, Romi walked into his arms and hugged him tight. It wasn’t that she was showing favoritism to one over the other, but at this moment, Nathan needed her more than Tobias. If they were going to do this, it had to be an equal partnership. By virtue of his role, Tobias would always take precedence over Nathan and even herself, when it came to hierarchy. Even the children… pups, created in their marriage would be from Tobias. If she wanted to give Nathan something extra to let him know she understood. That she could feel his hurt. That she wanted him to lean on her, that was her prerogative and her right. They kept telling her that she would be mated to the two of them for life. Tobias would simply have to deal with it. “I won’t say I’m sorry, but I want you to know that I understand.”

His hold tightened and he inhaled her scent. “Sweetheart, having you in my arms means more to me than you know. And with Tobias over there itching to join, it makes me even happier.”

“He can wait a bit longer. It’s only right that I have time with each of you separate from the other. Actually,” she lifted her head and caught his gaze, “does that extend to the bedroom also? Can I be with each of you separately or do we always have to be together?” Now she was being bold, but she didn’t care. She was curious about how the bedroom arrangements would happen. Being wrapped up in Nathan’s arms felt nice. Romi’s mind couldn’t help but conjure up how it would feel to have him on top of her, plunging inside her body. Then it flipped and it was Tobias who was above her. His golden eyes shining bright as he stroked his thickness inside her slick channel.

Fuck. Now she was getting all riled up.

Nathan looked down at her and laughed. “Oh, baby. What are you doing to us?”

Tobias growled before standing up and walking over to them. Pressing up against her back, his thickness pushed against her, his hands roaming over her waist and stomach. “Is that what’s on your mind, sweetheart? Do you want to know how each of us feels when we’re inside you? Do you want to know how it’ll feel when I take you from the back and Nathan is underneath you? If you knew what I was feeling for you right now, you would be running in the other direction. The time is coming for you to be ours.” He nipped her ear, causing her head to fall back in submission.

“Tobias.”

“That’s it, baby. Let us know you’re ready,” he said, licking the skin along her neck.

Nathan dipped down, his large bulge catching at the vee of her thighs and notching against her clit. “Oh, fuck. Nathan.”

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