Page 7 of The Brooding Alpha’s Mate (Omegas of the Shifter Mafia #9)

Colson

The healer was kind. He was a wolf, like me, which surprised me. Since Alex was a bear, I assumed he lived in a den with other bears. I didn’t know a whole lot about bears, but I knew they lived separate lives but usually on land together for protection and community, when they wanted it.

“Other than needing a few more days to heal and maybe a shift to make sure everything is back in order, is there anything else you want to speak to me about? Ask me about?”

I didn’t immediately answer.

I had questions, sure, but most of them were for my mate. He had stepped out of the room once the healer arrived.

Immediately my wolf whined inside me. I didn’t want to be away from Alex for a second. The bond we shared was thin, a weak heartbeat. In the beginning, I thought mates never wanted to be parted from each other, especially in the beginning, but here I was, alone.

“What I mean is, before this, were you abused in other ways?”

Oh. I see what he meant. “No. They were happy to treat me as an unpaid house manager, cook, launder, anything else they wanted. But they never touched me sexually. I think…” I guessed since Alex left me with this man, he could be trusted. “I think they were keeping me pure.”

The thing was, I wasn’t pure. I’d been with another alpha when I was younger. Barely over eighteen. I’d just graduated from high school and was partying hard.

It happened. No amount of regret would take it back, but I wished I’d waited for my mate. I was so smashed, I barely remembered the encounter.

“I understand. I’m glad you were able to come here. Alex is a good man. He will take care of you. Please don’t hesitate to find me or have Alex find me if you need anything. Even an ear to talk to, okay? We also have a counselor here who comes a few times a week. You can talk to him as well.”

“Thank you.”

I watched the healer walk out the door and then it was my turn. Alex was everything I’d ever dreamed of when I was a young omega.

And for that reason, I had to leave before Dean and his cronies could hunt me down and hurt my mate.

I grabbed a shirt laid across a chair and some pants and threw them on, not worrying about shoes. Once I got my bearings, I would shift into my wolf and make a run in whatever direction.

Into the hallway, I crept, trying to be quiet.

I’d heard other voices coming from outside the room, and there were scents of bears, wolves, and many more animals all around.

From what I could decipher, my mate lived in a zoo.

My wolf alerted me to a door at the end of the hall.

Through the window, I could see grass and in the distance an expanse of pine trees. That was my ticket out of here.

With my hand on the doorknob, I paused. My wolf cried inside me, warning me not to leave my mate.

Fleeing for his safety meant a life without a mate or a family—forever. I was about to make a decision that would change the course of my life—for the second time in two days.

Alex was too incredible to succumb to the wrath of the lions.

I wouldn’t let it happen.

I stepped outside and after some swift scanning of the landscape, decided to head north. I’d taken two steps when I slammed into something hard and warm.

Damn it. Now I’d really done it.

“Colson? Is everything okay? Did something happen?”

My plan had failed. It was becoming a pattern of mine.

“No. I…”

He put his large hands on my shoulders. “Tell me. Please.”

I sighed and shook my head. I couldn’t possibly lie to this man. He’d saved me. Fed me. Cared for me.

Belonged to me.

“I was going to run away.”

His dark eyes somehow became even blacker. His brow dipped above his nose, revealing lines on his forehead. When his bottom lip pouted, my heart skipped a beat. “You were going to run away from me?”

When he said it that way, I sounded like a heartless rogue. “I was running to keep you safe. You don’t know Dean and those lions. They are ruthless and violent. They are stupid as fuck in most ways, but their criminal minds make them dangerous. I don’t want you to get hurt because of me.”

Alex wrapped his arms around my shoulders and pulled me against his stocky frame.

He was so big and yet soft and the perfect cozy temperature.

I would nest right on top of his chest if he let me.

It would be the perfect spot. “My sweet omega, I belong to you. I’ve been waiting all my life for my mate.

I’ll be damned if I let some pesky lions get in between us. ”

“But…”

He pressed the pad of his thumb over my lips. “Please don’t fight me on this, mate. We are in this together.”

I nodded, struck dumb by my mate and his words. “What do we do, then?”

Alex pulled back to look me in the eye but kept our bodies flush.

“There is a safe house not far from here. It’s close enough that I can call for help but far enough to lead them away from the warehouse.

There are hundreds of omegas being held here and the crew, their mates, and countless cubs. I don’t want them in danger.”

“When do we leave?” I asked.

“Now. I was coming to get you after I talked to the crew. I have the truck packed with everything we need. I borrowed it from them. They are friends.”

“What would you have done if I ran?”

“I would’ve run after you and not stopped until I found you. I know we only met less than a day ago, but my bear, he’s grown attached to you.” Alex winked at me, and suddenly I had no knees. No legs. No pride. I would’ve lain down and given myself to him if we weren’t being hunted.

“Should we go?”

He nodded. “Yes.”

With our hands joined, we walked around the larger-than-life building and to a vehicle that, to me, was more of an SUV than a truck. Alex opened the door for me and made sure I was putting my seat belt on, before going to the driver’s side to take his own seat.

“I like you in my clothes. Feels right.” He smiled and started up the SUV.

“Oh. I grabbed it off the back of a chair. I didn’t see you pack other clothes.”

“I keep a bag packed at all times. Just a habit. And we can stop at the store on the way and get anything you might need.”

I looked out the window as the gigantic building got smaller and smaller in the side mirror. “My needs have gotten so small over the last few months.”

Alex reached for my hand and I let him take it. He comforted me in a way I’d never been before. I felt safe in his presence. “No pressure, but I invite you to tell me all about that. I’ll listen without judgment. You’ll tell me if I can make anything better for you?”

“I’ll try. I’ve been relying on myself and only myself.”

He rubbed his thumb along the back of my hand. “You don’t have to do that anymore. I’m here.”

“I dreamed about my alpha when I was there. I dreamed he would swoop in and rescue me.”

My bear chuckled. “I will always be there to rescue you, omega. Nothing and no one is going to take you away from me.”

I leaned my head back against the headrest and let my eyes close. Alex might be right and he could be wrong, but for now, I would rest in his reassurances. Have a little bit of peace while I could.