Page 10

Chapter 10

Ollie

D on’t focus on it, don’t think about it.

Don’t focus on it. Don’t think about it.

Don’t focus on it. Don’t think about it.

That became my mantra for the past two hours since he left. Of course, all I was doing was focusing on it—thinking about it. How could I not? I found my mate and he rejected me. Maybe that was me being dramatic, but he didn’t recognize me, and wasn’t that the same thing?

I changed the sheets in my bedroom, vacuumed, swept, spritzed around a linen-scented room freshener, as if I could wipe the scent of Malric from the house. It was impossible, his scent was everywhere, a sweet torture.

I pretended it was all for the happy couple, who would be returning home today. I didn’t want them to think there was any part of this weekend that was difficult. They deserved their time away.

The children were happy and content, playing on the floor. Thank goodness they eased into their day and hadn’t been too upset about their fathers being gone. I didn’t think I could’ve handled three distressed little ones this morning, not in the way they’d deserve.

I had the couch positioned in such a way that they couldn’t escape, along with two different gates to keep them in the living room. This set-up would only work for a short time. Soon enough they were going to be climbers who could rival the Olympic sports climbing team, but it was working for now.

Finally, when I felt that the house was sufficiently clean, I sat down with them, and we played.

Each of them looked so much like Malric. I could see him in their eyes, in the shape of Flint’s nose, the way all three of them had one singular dimple. I’d never be able to escape him, not working for this family, but I’d made a commitment to this job, and I would keep it. It wasn’t their fault that I’d fallen hard for someone who didn’t want me.

Perhaps I could avoid him for a while, although not for long. He was an active part of their lives, as he should be. And I wasn’t silly enough to think that the truth wouldn’t come out eventually.

The hardest part was that I knew in my heart of hearts that we were mates. He was mine. I was his. There was no one on this planet for us except each other and all that jazz. If only I could convince him that.

And if Malric continued to refuse to believe that, then that was his problem. Also mine, but mostly his. It wouldn’t change the facts. Rejected mates were rare, but they did happen. I wouldn’t die or anything dramatic like that. I would just want to. Why couldn’t I unmeet him? That would’ve been so much easier.

When the door clicked open, the children all squealed with delight, as if they could sense that their fathers were home. Tavian and Kier threw their bags down and picked up their children, hugging them tightly, giving them lots of kisses, as if they had been away for weeks and not just two nights.

“We missed you guys so much.” Tavian blew raspberries on Ruby’s belly, and the room filled with her giggles.

I grinned. “They missed you. They were very brave, though a little bit more trouble at bedtime than usual, but they did very well. And in the middle of the night, Ruby wasn’t satisfied that it was me who came in there and not one of you.” Secretly, I thought she was comforted some by the fact that she could scent Malric on me, and that did enough to appease her last night.

That wouldn’t happen again. Rip my heart out once—shame on you. Do it a second time—shame on me.

“Thank you, Ollie. We really would never have done this trip without you. I’m sure you’re ready for a break.” Kier snuggled Flint and Opaline in his arms.

I smiled. “Oh, I wouldn’t mind one.”

Originally, I’d planned to shower and then go meet my mate for a nice dinner. That plan was gone. But regardless, I was exhausted and a break from pretending everything was sunshine and roses would be nice.

“Well, feel free. We’re here. We’re just going to toss our stuff in the laundry and then relax for the day,” Kier said, and truth be told, he sounded pretty exhausted as well.

“That sounds great. I have lunch all prepared and dinner in the crockpot for you.”

Kier put a hand over his heart. “Oh, Ollie, that is above and beyond. Thank you. Thank you. I was just telling Tavian that we could just order pizza for the day.”

I grinned. “Me and the kids might have done that for lunch recently.”

Tavian eyed me carefully, his nostrils flaring. “Did my dad visit?”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Of course he could scent him.

He kept his sharp gaze on me, as if he was looking for any morsel of information. Could he know what had happened? No, he couldn’t. Probably. Suck.

“Yes. He visited Friday night and again yesterday.” That wasn’t a lie. I just didn’t mention that he was also here this morning because he stayed the night with me in his arms after his cock was in my ass. I wasn’t going to say that part out loud in front of them… ever.

“I’m glad he was here to help.”

“Great. I... well, I’ll let you spend some time with the kids. I’m gonna—” I pointed toward the hallway.

I needed to escape right now. I’d been on the go since Malric left my bed, and I almost wanted to sink into the shower and cry, but that would do zero good, and there was shifter hearing in this house. I wouldn’t be crying here, not unless I wanted them to know, and I did not.

“I might run to town, check out the bookstore and a few other places. If there’s anything you all need—” I needed nothing, but the privacy and fresh air would do me good.

“We’re great. Thank you, Ollie. Truly. We’d be lost without you,” Tavian said.

They’d be fine. Sure, it was easier with a third set of hands around here, but they had managed before I arrived and could continue to manage on their own after I left. Not that I was planning on leaving.

“Ollie, seriously.” Kier pulled me into a hug and held me tight. “Thank you. I never would’ve left my children with anyone else. I mean, maybe Malric, but seriously—”

“It’s what I’m here for,” I said, and I left them alone before I let the emotions overwhelm me.

Inside my room, I looked at the freshly made bed. I had swapped out the linens and even the comforter with some extras in the linen closet. I would have to switch over the laundry later. It was possible I would have to wash everything twice just so I could get the scent of Malric out of them. And even that might not be enough. Just the tiniest hint of his scent was enough to bring all of my emotions flooding back in.

And it wasn’t like he wouldn’t be back at the house again to fill it with his scent once more.

My heart constricted, making my chest hurt like my lungs refused to fill with air. If it hurt this much now, would the pain get worse or better with time? I thought I knew the answer, and I did not like it.

I wasn’t delusional. I wasn’t wrong. Malric and I were mates. I knew that in my heart of hearts. A mouse and a dragon might’ve been laughable, but I knew my truth. Malric was it for me. And I was for him, even if he didn’t want me.

And we had been together. We hadn’t used protection, but I was on birth control, like many omegas. But I also knew what biology was like, and it was more likely than not that I would be expecting. Fate always seemed to find a way to make that happen.

Fuck.

Malric already had two clutches with his previous mate. I doubted that he would want a third with me. If he wouldn’t claim me as his own, then fine. I would find a way to make this work on my own. He already made himself clear. He didn’t want anything to do with me. And that sucked, but I’d move past it, even if that meant being a single father.

No one had to know about Malric. Except me. While it hurt me to be rejected, I refused to hurt him in return. I couldn’t shut off my feelings for the dragon simply because he didn’t return them. That wasn’t how the heart worked. It would be so much easier if it did.

I’d definitely have to leave if I was expecting. Everyone would be very suspicious if a mouse shifter had a clutch of dragon eggs. It might reflect poorly on Tavian and Kier also. And it wasn’t like I could keep Malric out of my business if I was this close. He might not want me or the clutch, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t have opinions on all of my choices.

Never one to wallow around in self-pity, I threw myself into getting ready for the day, grabbing a jacket and my trusty list of to-be-read books, then made my way to the bookstore. It was my happy place, and I needed to be happy or at least not so miserable.

If real life really sucked, then that was when it was the best time to immerse myself in another world. Plus, they had the best coffee in town. I needed to hold onto the small things now, because the big things were too much for me.

All of this was too much. In a perfect world, Malric would accept me as his mate, tell me how much he loved me and wanted me in his life, and hold like I was the most precious mouse on this entire planet.

But this wasn’t a perfect world, it was one where my mate either didn’t recognize me or refused to believe what was right before his eyes, a world where I was rejected by the one person who was meant for me, the world where my future was a hot mess in a way that I couldn’t fix.