Page 9 of Safe in His Arms

Even though the words were said possessively, they didn’t scare him like when Anton insisted Devon was his. When Anton said it, it didn’t have the same reverent tone as when Roman did. It was getting easier for him to use the alpha’s name, even though he hadn’t actually said it out loud.

“What does that mean?” Devon asked. His voice somehow came out sounding both skeptical and hopeful at the same time.

“It means, it’s my job to protect you, care for you, and make sure that for the rest of our days, you know how loved and cherished you are.”

Devon stared at the alpha like he was speaking a foreign language, and when he finally opened his mouth all he could manage was, “Ohhh.”

Even though he’d been on the run for a while, and he’d seen Rex and Parker who had called each other fated mates, Devon had simply thought they were a well-matched couple. His old pack told them all fated mates were a myth. They didn’t exist, but this alpha didn’t seem to be lying.

Could he really have found his very own mate? And what did that mean for him?

Chapter Five

Roman

Well, that wasn’t the reaction he’d been expecting, but at least his mate’s fear wasn’t clogging his nostrils, so Roman would take it as a win—at least for now.

When his mate had started panicking, Roman’s wolf began pacing. They both hated feeling their mate’s distress, but he figured he could comfort the other man when they got to his home.

But, when Devon had told him to stop the car, Ro hadn’t hesitated, but he had to admit though, things had only gotten more confusing the more he spoke to his mate.

The man had said fated mates were a myth. Like he truly believed that. He didn’t understand what the mating scent was. It also hadn’t escaped Roman’s notice that his mate refused to look him in the eye, flinched at his touch, and made himself as small as he could manage. All those things added up in Ro’s mind to nothing good.

He knew some packs didn’t believe in fated mates, but to actually find his mate and have him believe that? Well, it completely unexpected.

You weren’t expecting to find your mate either so deal with it.

“Ohh?” Roman asked, unsure of what his mate was thinking.

His mate spoke slowly, “So, you’re like my Rex?”

Roman managed a small smile. He guessed that was his omega’s first experience with fated mates.

“Close enough. Rex is a beta, and he’s mated to Parker who’s an omega, and yes, they are fated, but they will meet their alpha and become a fated triad. It doesn’t always happen like that, but usually, if you still have a mate out there, then your bond will know. I only know they are not completely in their mating, because Rex informed my brother, Rick, the pack alpha, when they bought their bar and settled in the town.”

Roman had to ask, even though the answer could devastate him, “Are you scared of me?”

Devon didn’t answer immediately, but when he did, his answer didn’t help Ro any, “I don’t know.”

“I don’t want you to be scared of me, I never want to scare you…”

“My alpha says an omega must fear and respect his mate,” Devon said.

Roman couldn’t stop the growl that escaped, but he had to control himself when he saw his mate shrink into himself.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. My wolf doesn’t… and me, we don’t like hearing you call someone else your alpha.”

“Sorry,” his mate whispered.

That only made Roman feel like an ass.

“You don’t have to apologize, I understand that this is all new to you, but please, let me take you to my home and I’ll explain everything to you there.”

Ro held his breath as his mate decided. If he hadn’t been watching the man closely, he might have missed the nod of agreement.

“Thank you,” Ro said, “I promise, if you want to leave at any time I’ll take you home.”And wait outside your door till you accept me.But he didn’t add that part.

He put the car in drive and was about to go when he heard his mate’s voice, “I like the way you smell. Never smelled anything like it before.”