Page 32 of Alpha's Rise

Tobias glanced back down at Romi. For one moment, he was tempted to say fuck it all and take her right now. Nathan could join in, or he could fuck off. Either way, Tobias would get what he wanted.

“Don’t be an idiot,” Nathan growled. “I already know what you’re thinking. How? Because I felt the same.” Stepping close to the bed, he stared at Romi lying on the bed.

Tobias was staring at his friend closely, waiting for him to make the wrong move. His body was tense as he stared at Nathan standing next to the bed. Which is no doubt why he noticed the change that came over Nathan’s face for just a millisecond.

Longing.

Need.

Regret.

Turning away, Nathan walked over to the table and sat down. “I came back to fulfill my destiny. Now that I’m here, I’m not giving her up. If the price of having Romi means that I must share her with you for life, then so be it.”

Rustling on the bed let Tobias know that Romi was moving, sitting up. Moving back, he grabbed her ankles and helped her get more comfortable. She remained seated on the bed as she turned her body to Nathan. Reaching out her hand to Tobias, she looked between the two of them. Her eyes held a hint of sadness and confusion. He knew it was because both him and Nathan continuously fought over her like a dog with a bone. Not that he knew what she was feeling, but he could feel her regret wafting off her body with an acidic scent.

“Nathan. What are you saying? You must make it plain to both of us.” If this was Nathan accepting his fate, Tobias needed to hear the words. It was important that Nathan say it out loud. If he didn’t, there would always be a kernel of doubt that he truly wanted this life. Earlier, he was on the verge of losing his shit and ripping out his friend’s throat, but Tobias knew that his ascension to the throne would not be the same without Nathan as his second, and Romi as their pack Luna. Their Queen.

A long sigh escaped Nathan’s lips before he glanced over at Romi. She sat on the bed with her hair mussed and her eyes glazed over from lust and desire. With both making her orgasm, Tobias knew she was feeling overwhelmed. It was natural. Now it was their job to make sure she calmed. Plus, her taste was still on his tongue and by the Goddess, he wanted to taste her again.

“Stop staring at our mate and answer me.”

Lifting his gaze from Romi, Nathan turned to Tobias and smirked. “Are you always going to be this fucking insufferable? Because if I have to live the rest of my years listening to your demands and growls, I’m not sure I can take it.”

Soft laughter came from Romi as she scooted closer to the edge of the bed. “Does this mean what I think it does?”

Even now, his stubborn ass friend/brother couldn’t just give them what they needed. If he thought he could get away with it, Tobias would break his neck and bury him in the woods. But he knew Romi would be sad if Nathan disappeared without a trace. Okay, fine. He wouldn’t kill him. Today.

Tomorrow, however, was a different story.

“It means,” Nathan said, turning to look in Romi’s eyes, “that I know how important a strong Triad is to the future of our pack. From the moment you burst into my life, I’ve known you were the other half of my soul. Nothing will make me turn away from you or leave your side. Even if that means I have to be bound to that asshole,” he motioned to Tobias with a head tilt, “for the rest of my life.” Fully turning to Tobias, he leaned back in the chair. “Does that answer your question?”

“Fuck you,” Tobias growled. Fine, so maybe he wasn’t as good with the flowery words as Nathan. Words weren’t the only way he could express his feelings for his mate. So what if he was more a man of action. Romi had to know that he wanted her just as much as Nathan, if not more so. His pups could only be carried by his true mate. His life was tied to hers until the day he was taken from this earth. Everything he is and everything he would be, was tied to the beautiful woman in front of him.

“Tobias,” Romi said in a low tone, reaching out to touch his arm. “Please be nice. If we’re doing this, I want peace. I can’t have you two at each other’s throats for the rest of our lives. I mean, how does your mother deal… Oh, that’s it.” Hopping up from the bed, she began to adjust her clothing. Running over to the mirror, she used her hands to fix her hair. “I have to go speak with your mother.”

“My mother?” Nathan asked.

“No. The Queen. Maria. His mother,” she said in a rush to the door.

“My mother?” Tobias looked at her with a furrowed brow. “Right now? Why?”

Romi huffed and stared at him as if his IQ was in the low double-digits. “Because she’s done this before. She’s lived with your bio-dad and bonus dad for your entire life. They seem happy and the two of them aren’t always sniping at each other like two other people I know,” she glanced between the two of them. “I need to find out her secret. Understand how in the hell we can make this work. Because I will not have an unhappy home or relationship with the two of you. And if I end up hurting one of you because you can’t get along, then your parents will be upset with me. So, while I’m gone, I need the two of you to figure this shit out between you. All the snapping at each other needs to stop. I’ll do my part, but you need to do yours also. Both of you will be my husband. Both of you,” she stressed. With a wave of her hand, she opened the door. “Don’t look for me. I’ll find you when I’m done.”

Once she’d exited the space, Tobias and Nathan stared at the door for a few seconds, before Nathan spoke. “Well, this is going to be interesting. I give it two-months before all the guards are afraid of her and she makes them piss their pants when she walks by.”

Laughter bubbled up as Tobias stood frozen in place. Did his mate just tell him to ‘Stay’ so she could traipse around his home… her future home… without a care in the world? Did they not just go through a traumatic experience together? Glancing over at Nathan, he saw his friend’s face held a smile as well. One thing for sure, there would never be a dull moment with Romi by their side.

“Hell, I give it thirty-days. That woman is going to be the death of me.”

Standing, Nathan walked over to him. “But it’ll be a good death with our mate by our side.” He went quiet for a moment as they both languished in their own thoughts. “I never thought we’d find her. When I left, it felt final. But now that I’m returned, I know this is where I belong. With her.”

“This is a package deal Nathan. We are both connected to her. Where she goes, I go. Where I go, she will be by my side.” Tobias sighed as he turned to his friend. “But that goes for you as well. Once we’re bonded, she will never be able to leave your side, and the same goes for you. Can you handle that? I don’t want to fight with you every day. What is that saying? Oh, happy wife, happy life. Romi is my mate, our mate, and she needs us to make her happy. Now that I’ve found her, I want to make her happy. I don’t know what the ramifications would be, or if there’s someone else who could complete the Triad.”

Fists clenched and nostrils flaring, Nathan took a step forward. “There is no one else. If someone else tries to replace me, I will kill them. Keep that in mind. You asked me to accept this, and I will. That doesn’t fucking mean that I’m going to change my way of thinking overnight. Give me a fucking minute.”

“You’ve had years. A minute more is too damn long. Your anger at our situation isn’t becoming. I’m tired of playing these games with you. You’ve made your concerns known, but that you’re still questioning how this will work is getting old as fuck. I’m done. I’m tired. And now, I have business to handle. Take the next few hours to get the fuck over yourself. If you want our mate, then you need to start acting like her mate and not a fucking idiot who can’t control his emotions.”

“You don’t understand,” Nathan said, his chest heaving.

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