Page 9 of The Bear, the Eagle, and their Wombat Omega (Omegas of Animals: SD #14)

Steve

I’d had almost everything under control. I really did. But the weight of it all had gotten to me, and the flowers were the final straw.

They didn’t look at me like I was gross or weak. They jumped to help. Some of the things they wanted to help with I’d already taken care of, but others I really needed.

The DJ was actually friends with the band, and the two of them worked together, taking turns on who was entertaining. The crowd seemed to love it—it was the best of both worlds.

And the chairs we found—I say we , but it was Arkyn—blended in perfectly, and we were able to slide them into place without interrupting the party.

Everybody was initially hanging out up at the bar and listening to the music, which made the timing spot-on.

It wasn’t until the dinner food came out that they wanted seats.

One by one, it all worked out.

I was so grateful for them and for the event being the success it was. But it was time to leave. I couldn’t work any longer, not when my mates were here.

I never thought I’d be lucky enough to have one mate, and somehow I had two…

Two who were compatible with each other, at that.

They said they worked with each other, but there was no denying the much deeper bond, there long before this.

Which was nice. Being lonely sucks, and knowing they each had somebody made me happy.

“I think I can leave now.” I felt a little awkward.

I’d never done this mate thing before, and neither had they.

“Let’s go.” Bruno took my hand in his on my left and Arkyn on the right, and we made our way to the door, saying goodbye to Zevo along the way.

Outside, the cool air kissed my skin. I squeezed their hands, wanting to make sure they were real.

“Which direction for you?” I asked.

Arkyn pointed the way. And as he did, my stomach rumbled. Not the cute kind of rumble. No, that would be too subtle. It was more like being in an auditorium full of people and the orchestra was playing all-eyes-would-still-be-on-me kind of loud.

How embarrassing.

They stopped in their tracks, and Bruno looked to Arkyn, who gave a nod. There was some kind of communication going on there I didn’t understand. Would I have that with them one day?

“When did you last eat?” Bruno asked.

“Food?”

“Yeah, I usually think of food as eating things.” Brun wasn’t impressed.

“Oh, then yesterday. But I had a coffee today.”

Arkyn tensed. “We need to feed him. What’s open now?”

Bruno had his phone out, checking in record time. “Found a place. Let’s go.”

Apparently, I wasn’t part of any of this decision-making. And if anybody else had done this, I would’ve been mad. Instead, I thought it was pretty hot. Not sure what that said about me, but I didn’t care in that moment.

Instead of climbing into the passenger side with Bruno, Arkyn went to get in the backseat with me.

“You can sit up front,” I said. “You don’t need to make him feel like a chauffeur.”

“If I wanted to sit up front, I would. But I want to be by my mate.” He finished getting in and closed the door.

“If I could be back there too, I would,” Arkyn joined in.

Fifteen minutes later, we were pulling up to a twenty-four-hour diner.

It was remarkably crowded for this time of night, and at first, we thought we were going to have to eat at the counter with strangers between us.

But a group of drunk college kids decided to hit up “one more bar,” and we slid into their dirty table, stacking their dishes while we waited for the waitress.

“I’ve never been here before, but I’ve heard of it,” Bruno said. “They’re famous for their omelets. But I think I’m going to have one of their burgers. They smell so good.”

The waitress came over, clearing away the dishes and apologizing, as if there was a need for that.

The second time, she came back with coffee and water.

Normally, I’d say it wasn’t a good idea to drink coffee this late, but with these two men as my mates, I wasn’t gonna be wanting to go to bed any too soon.

“Tell me about yourselves.” I wanted to know everything.

They talked about how they met, and their growing feelings for each other, and how everything snapped together when they both scented me.

I’d never known a triad before. I didn’t know that’s it worked—that you could be next to your mate every single day and want them and love them but think they weren’t yours. Only in one sniff when your third was present to figure out that they’re part of your happy ever after.

And I wasn’t silly enough to believe that just because somebody was our mate, we’d have a happy-ever-after, life-is-perfect, glitter-sunshine-rainbows kind of life. But it’s what I wanted. And what I always told myself true mates meant.

And, meeting these guys, I suspected I was right.

They insisted I order dessert as well, and I only got halfway through my pie before I had to call uncle.

“I’m full,” I assured them. “Maybe we could get a box, bring the rest home.”

Not only did we get a box, but they ordered a few extra pieces of pie for good luck, and then we went home.

Only home wasn’t home . It was their hotel. A beautiful one, one that had room for us all. But it was only a harsh reminder that they weren’t here forever.

Probably.

We hadn’t discussed any of that. But honestly, I was so done with talking. I needed to touch them, taste them, feel them. And my wombat had already decided that I needed to mark them. From the way they scented of their animals, I had a feeling theirs did too.