Page 28 of Alpha's Rise

Odin walked over to them, holding Christopher in his arms, and not even trying to hide his nakedness. Then again, for shifters, their natural state of being bare-assed naked was normal to them. There was nothing for them to be ashamed of and they had no qualms walking around with their dicks swinging. Wearing clothes was a purely human trait that they’d adopted as a way to fit into the world around them.

“Layla,” Odin called out. “Let’s go home and get cleaned up. We will come back to the main house tonight if you want. Or tomorrow.” From the look in his eyes, Layla also knew this meant Odin needed some quiet time with her. Any threat to his family was not something he took lightly or kindly. Then again, she needed him also. Today had been a lot for all of them.

“Yes, I’m ready. Let’s go.” She gave Romi a long hug. “Thank you for coming when he called.”

“I will always come when he calls, or when you need me. You are my family.”

Layla pulled back and Romi saw tears welling in her friend’s eyes. “Layla, you are my sister. No matter where I am, know that I will always come for you.”

“Bitch, don’t make me cry,” Layla joked.

Romi laughed. “Go home and put some loving on your man. Come back later.”

“Well, I think you need to do something with those two men of yours. Put them out of their misery, Romi. I’ve discovered something about men like them. Once they claim you as theirs, nothing will stop them. Odin told me that you’re their fated mate.” When Romi started to interject, Layla stopped her. “No, Romi. Stop fighting it. It’s time for you to stop running.”

After Odin, Layla, and Christopher left the clearing, Romi stood staring at Tobias and Nathan. Yes, she wanted them, but there were things they still needed to work out. Her attraction to both men was undeniable. Her need for both men was at war with her common sense. If she took both men to her bed and formally mated to them, would one feel left out? Could she give herself to both men equally? Would one of them feel less love than the other? The questions were never ending, but they didn’t need to be answered today.

“Thank you for coming, but you know I could have handled those men myself. I didn’t need the two of you to come to my rescue. I’m not your damsel in distress.” Walking over to them, Romi stood in front of both men, staring into their eyes. One pair hazel. One pair green. The desire reflected at her from both pair of eyes, made her breath falter.

Tobias was the first one to speak. “You are our mate, Romi. We will also come for you. Yes, you’re strong and powerful, but you are the other part of our soul. If anything happened to you…”

“We would kill everyone involved. We belong together, Romi.”

She nodded before looking around at the carnage surrounding them. “Let’s leave them for the animals. They’ll have a feast for days.” She began walking away. “Let’s go home. I’m hungry and it’s time we three finally had that talk.” Talking was definitely on the menu, but there were other things Romi had on her mind as well. It was time to claim her men and take her place.

Fourteen

Nathan sat on the couch watching Romi as she stood in front of the mirror brushing her hair. Tobias was in the shower, washing off the blood from the interlopers. As he watched Romi, he couldn’t help but think about how this would all work. He wasn’t the Alpha. He would be expected to always be second to not only Tobias but to Romi. Could he truly do that? Watch his mate with another man day in and day out? See him touch her, kiss her…fuck her.

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

Blinking, he stood and walked over to her. “Because you are so fucking beautiful.”

“You always tell me that,” Romi said with a smile. Her eyes caught his in the mirror and he couldn’t help but press his body against hers. She’d already taken her shower and her natural scent beckoned him. Nathan knew he should wait for Tobias. Knew that the first time they were together, it should be the three of them at once. But just because he was aware of what should happen didn’t mean his wolf wasn’t clawing at his skin to claim her. To claim their mate before Tobias could. If she gave herself to him freely, then she would have made her choice. His hands rubbed along the bare skin of her arm. Luckily for him, she wore a simple dress. Easy access.

“I never thought we’d find you,” he whispered. Tobias was still in the shower and although the water was loud, Nathan still spoke low.

Romi leaned her head back against his chest. “I never knew that I was lost.”

“To me, you were. Then you show up one day when we least expect it.” Leaning his head down, he sniffed her neck, taking in more of her scent. She would be imprinted on his soul until the day he died.

“Nathan, is this something we can do? Be together as equals? Can I be a good mate to you and Tobias at the same time?”

He lifted his head. Anger and hurt filled him at her words. Even while alone with him, she still had Tobias on her mind. Was he not enough for her? Moving one hand, he wrapped it around her throat before pressing the side of his face against hers.

“Is that what you want? To be a good mate to Tobias? To fuck Tobias while I sit here with my dick in my hands wishing it were me?” His other hand was lifting the material of her dress, his fingers grazing the bare flesh of her leg.

“Nathan,” she whimpered.

He nipped the lobe of her ear. “You belong to me, just as much as him. You are my mate as much as you’re his. I will not allow you to push me aside. You will never put me away in some box while he fucks you freely, worships you freely, and breeds you with his pups.”

Her eyes went wide at his words. “I’m sorry.” They both knew exactly what she was apologizing for. No matter how much he may want to change the situation, he would never get her pregnant. That was a truth they would all have to face. Unless there was a miracle granted to them by the Goddess, her only children would be from Tobias. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Nathan knew it wasn’t her fault. This was his world and yet he wanted to be angry with her for something she could not control. He’d waited so long to find his mate, and even though he knew she would belong to both him and Tobias, for some reason the reality hurt more. To have her in his arms, to smell her scent, to touch her skin, made his place in this throuple even more clear. He hated it. He hated Tobias. He hated Romi.

But then his fingers touched her bare mound, and all logic flew from his mind.

Mate.

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