Home in His Arms

by Skye R. Richmond

  Ronin’s eyes on him were filled with concern, but thankfully, there was no pity, and that compelled Oliver to repeat, “What would you like to know?”

  “Anything… Everything.” Ronin shrugged. “Whatever you feel comfortable talking about. Remember, no pressure.”

  “He was a real piece of work… a fucking bastard.” Ollie shook his head trying to get rid of the memories coming back to him.

  “Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?” Ronin’s voice was hesitant.

  Ollie nodded, even though he didn’t want to think about any of it.

  “I’m sorry, I really am”—Ronin sighed—“but it may be important.”

  His eyes holding Ollie’s were warm and apologetic, so Ollie nodded, giving him permission.

  “Did he ever mention why he…” Ronin paused and his brow furrowed. “I mean, did he ever say what… at the river, I saw...”

  He watched Ronin struggle with how to ask the question that was clearly on his mind.

  “I don’t know why I was there,” Ollie said matter-of-factly, helping the alpha out.

  Ronin frowned. “Huh?” he asked.

  “You were wondering why I don’t have the same scars on my body that the others have. Right?”

  Ronin sighed and wiped his face with his hands. “Yeah, I suppose that has me curious.” Ronin's head suddenly spun so he faced him. “I wasn’t looking at the others. I swear.”

  That had Ollie giggling and kind of reduced the heaviness of the moment, but he finally answered.

  “I honestly don’t know. Anton didn’t use me like he was using the others.” He felt ashamed admitting that for some reason. “I honestly have no idea why I was even there. I mean, I guess you could say that’s good for me, right?” Ollie shook his head. “But I heard the stories, and I saw what happened to everyone else.” Tears filled his eyes and his voice shook. “It was really bad... really bad.” Images of his friends coming back badly beaten and barely breathing surfaced in his head. “They were brutally abused. No one should have to go through that.” Ollie held Ronin’s eyes. “But Anton, he never took me to an alpha.”

  Ollie felt arms go around him and he sniffled. “I thought they would hate me because he only slapped me around a couple of times. Sometimes he would give them food, but not give me any. Yet I didn’t go through what they did.”

  “You guys supported each other. Just because you didn’t go through everything they did doesn’t take away what you went through.” Ronin began caressing Oliver’s back while making soft, soothing sounds to calm his mate.

  “He kidnapped you, and that must have been a traumatic experience. Pain and grief can be different, but that doesn’t make it any less.” His hands kept rubbing up and down Ollie’s back, and it gave him strength to talk about what happened.

  Ollie leaned back so he could look Ronin in the eye. “My birth mother was messed up in all sorts of ways. Drugs, alcohol... you name it, she probably snorted or drank it.” Ollie shrugged, “She didn’t want to or couldn’t take care of me, so when I was born, she dropped me off at my aunt—her older sister—and uncle’s house. I guess they always wanted a child of their own, but they couldn’t have one.” Ollie hesitated, looking down, and a sudden pang hit him in his chest. God, he missed them so much. He looked back up, attempting to put a smile back on his face. “They adopted me and gave me the best life I could have possibly have had, but I guess my birth father must be a wolf.”

  “Then what happened?” Ronin asked.

  “Well, I was outside and running like I have been since I was, like, sixteen, and then all of a sudden, I’m on four legs and everything is weird… I guess I shifted. It was the first time ever, and I totally freaked out. All I could think was I’m a total weirdo… a freak, and I just wanted out of there. I didn’t think my parents would have been able to handle having me live there, knowing that I wasn’t like them. Like, at all. And I couldn’t bear it if they were scared of me.” Oliver breathed in deeply and sighed thinking back to that day “So, I ran away. Unfortunately, I ran straight into Anton. It was a really cold night and the shelter was full… I was stupid. He said he knew what I was, and I trusted him. He bought me dinner, then I woke up at that place, and, well, I guess you know the rest.”

  “I’m so sorry, baby.” Ronin’s voice was soft. “I am so sorry you went through all that—finding out you’re a shifter and not knowing what it means, and Anton.”

  Ronin used the pad of his thumbs to wipe his cheek, and Ollie hadn’t even known he was crying.

  Their eyes met, and that was when Ollie saw it—the naked hunger in Ronin’s eyes. The smoldering heat grew, wrapping them in it.

  “Have I said thank you? For finding us, rescuing us.” Ollie couldn’t take his eyes off Ronin. “I hope I never see Anton again as long as I live.”

  “He won’t come after you. At least not if he knows what’s good for him.” Ronin's tone was menacing, but instead of scaring him, it aroused Ollie even more.

  “You can’t be sure of that.” Ollie sighed. As much as he wanted to be in the moment with Ronin, his brain couldn’t help wondering what if Anton found him.

  “Maybe I can’t be sure of that, but I can tell you that I will kill him if he does. I swear on everything I hold dear that you and the rest of the omegas are going to be safe and always will be. We’ll make sure of it.”

  “And when will I get to go home?” Oliver asked.

  Ronin flinched and cleared his throat. However, he kept his voice even as he said, “I’m not so sure that it’s safe for you to return home just yet, but if you want to go home, I’ll get you there. I promise you.”

  Oliver nodded and smiled. He had a feeling Ronin kept his promises. Still, he was curious... maybe if he didn’t go home… he and Ronin could maybe live together, although he didn’t even know where that would be.

  “Where do you live?”

  “Home for me is Wildwood.” Ronin’s eyes lit up at the mention of his home. “Although for the past months, I’ve been in Chesterfield and a few other places working on a project that my brother has me helping him with.”

  “Roman?” Ollie asked.

  Ronin shook his head. “Rick. He’s my oldest brother and the pack Alpha.”

  Ollie yawned, suddenly very sleepy.

  “I think you should head to bed,” Ronin said. “I’m sure it’s been a while since you’ve gotten a good night’s rest.”

  “Yeah.” Apparently telling his life story had drained him. “So should you.”

  “Someone has to keep watch,” Ronin said with a shrug. Neither of them moved, though.

  Ollie held Ronin’s gaze, although his eyes couldn’t help lowering to the alpha’s lips. Ollie wanted so bad for Ronin to lean in and kiss him. The alpha must have seen something in his eyes because he held Ollie’s gaze as he pulled him closer, and the omega's body sank into Ronin’s bigger frame.

  “Goodnight,” Ronin said, then lowered his lips to Oliver’s. The kiss was sweet and soft, and waaayyy too brief. Ronin let him go slowly, and then pulled the zip of Ollie’s sleeping bag open for him. “In you go.”

  Ollie scooted downwards until Ronin could pull the sleeping bag up for him to slide in. When he was lying down, his mate zipped it up before placing another gentle kiss on his lips.

  “Sleep tight, Ollie. I promise I’ll watch over you.”

  Chapter Ten

  Ronin

  Ronin had taken over patrol, giving his friends a chance to sleep, although he knew from experience on a mission that even while asleep, they were still alert.

  Ro stared into the night thinking, but all his thoughts circled back to Oliver. Right as he had that thought, Ronin felt his wolf sit up, and he slowly looked over his shoulder and saw Oliver standing there.

  “Hey.” Oliver’s voice came across the distance, barely above a whisper. When Ro turned around, his mate was waving at him, and when their eyes met, Ollie looked down at his socked feet. He moved in closer, making his way towa
rds Ronin.

  “Hey.” Ronin couldn’t hide his smile.

  “You're not sleeping, huh?” Ollie took another step towards him.

  Ronin shook his head.

  “Uhhh, did you let Roman and Devon know that you've got us?” Oliver asked.

  The last people Ronin wanted to be thinking about at that moment were his brother and his brother’s mate, but if that was what his mate wanted to talk about, then sure, he was up for it.

  Ro nodded. “I called them earlier. They can’t wait to see you guys, especially Devon. Rome said Devon is so happy that you're all safe.”

  Oliver managed a smile. “We have him to thank for it. He got out, but he didn't forget us.”

  “Yeah, my brother is so happy because Devon is. Rome said this may be the first night Devon sleeps without having nightmares.” Even though Rome hadn't been too happy about Anton still breathing, he'd understood when Ronin explained how shit went down—they were raised the same way.

  Ollie sighed and looked over to where his friends slept. “I think this is the best sleep we've all gotten in a while.”

  Ro stepped closer to his mate. “Having trouble sleeping?” His eyes roamed over Ollie's face, taking it in... Fuck, he wanted to steal another kiss from Oliver, but it felt like it was too soon after all his omega had been through.

  Ollie shrugged. “Can’t seem to fall asleep, and I saw that you weren't in your sleeping bag, so I thought maybe you would like some company.” His mate looked down awkwardly at his shuffling feet.

  “I will never say no to spending time with you,” Ronin said honestly. He put a finger on Ollie's chin and lifted it up so they were looking at each other. “I will always want to spend every moment with you.”

  Oliver nodded, his eyes on Ro, and the smile that grew on his face had Ro smiling as well.

  All Ro wanted to do was taste his mate's lips again, and he felt like Oliver’s eyes on him saw right through to his soul. His mate's eyes darkened and his body swayed closer to Ro's, who knew immediately that Ollie was imagining the same things that he was.

  He didn’t even need to hear Oliver’s thoughts to know that—not that he could anymore. He'd spoken to his brother about it, and Rome said he had a feeling the mate bond had felt his mate's panic, his need for Ro, and all the intense fear, and that was why they could communicate before they'd actually mated.

  Ronin looked away from him as they both awkwardly stood there, neither one going to make the first move. As the alpha, it should have been an easy decision for Ronin, but he didn’t want to take advantage of the situation. He didn’t want to scare Oliver away or push him before he was ready.

  His mate closed the remaining space between them.

  “We can take it slow.” Ronin made sure that his mate knew that there was no rush. Ronin searched Ollie's face, and he appeared anything but scared.

  “I don't feel pressured or rushed.” Oliver’s voice was low, his eyes on Ronin. “You make me feel more than... I feel safe with you.”

  “I hope you always feel like that,” Ronin said.

  Oliver had a teasing look on his face. “I know you want to kiss me, but I can also feel that you’re hesitant.”

  “Are you reading my mind?” Ronin's felt his face heat.

  “No, I can't hear you in my head anymore.” Ollie’s brow furrowed and he bit his lip. “Does that mean our connection... does that mean we aren't…”

  Ronin realized what his mate was wondering. “No, our connection is fine,” he reassured Ollie, “although I was worried when I couldn't hear you anymore, either”—Ronin flushed at the admission—“so I asked Roman. He asked our papa, who said it kicked in because you needed me, and it'll come back after we've mated.”

  Ro couldn’t stop the images of what them getting mated meant… him and Ollie naked, knotting his mate, claiming him.

  Ro’s eyes couldn’t help travelling over his mate, and right as he was about to look away, Ollie’s voice pulled him back.

  “Is that why you won’t kiss me?” Ollie’s eyes on him were questioning. “You’re waiting for us to be mated.”

  Ronin let out a groan. “I just don’t want to take advantage of you,” he sighed.

  Oliver shook his head. “It won’t be taking advantage when I want it, too, and maybe if I made the first move...”

  Ronin’s eyes widened when Ollie’s arms wrapped around his waist and he looked up at him. “I think you have to take it from here.” There was a teasing note to Ollie’s voice that made Ronin chuckle and snapped him out of his surprised stupor.

  Ronin lowered his head to Ollie’s, sealing their lips together. He tried to take it slow, but Oliver slipped his tongue between Ro’s lips, and all he could do was groan and deepen the kiss.

  As they kissed, Ronin sensed someone watching them. He figured it was Maddox, Nix, or Zander—one of them must have woken up and taken over watch. Ro didn’t even care if anyone saw. This was his mate in his arms. All that mattered was the two of them in that moment, caught up in each other in a heated embrace, one that Ro never wanted to part from. He wrapped his other arm under the curve of his mate’s ass and lifted him, supporting his weight easily. Fuck, his mate felt so good… so right in his arms.

  “Do you think you’ll sleep better if you were in my arms?” Ronin said, and began walking with Ollie over to the sleeping bags. He saw Maddox was awake and by the van, which confirmed it had been him watching them.

  Chapter Eleven

  Ollie

  Ollie woke up the next day and found that everyone was already up around the fire. His eyes immediately sought out Ronin.

  “Apparently, I’m the only one that overslept.” Ollie giggled, even though he felt a little self-conscious.

  “It’s not all that late,” Ronin reassured him, “but yes… you did.” Ronin winked at him, and the memory of falling asleep in his arms with both their hard cocks gliding against each other was fresh in his mind. To get all the stares off him, Ollie blurted out, “So, what’s the plan today?”.

  Ronin glanced over to Maddox. “I think maybe we just start driving and see where we get to. Wildwood is quite far away and might take close to two days of travel because of the additional people going, but I think we can make it to Chesterfield tonight. Besides, I have to get my things from your guy’s house.”

  “I may also have to attend a quick meeting with an Alpha boss.” Ronin met his gaze. “I was supposed to meet with him the other night, but I got a little derailed. It turns out I’m quite happy about that now.” Ronin turned to him, a wide smile showing on his face.

  Zander snickered. “Gosh, y'all are so sweet. You're giving me a toothache.”

  Ronin snorted at his friend and flipped him off. “Don't hate cos you haven’t found your mate...”

  A couple of the omegas giggled, but they all smiled at him when Ronin called Ollie his mate.

  “Besides, you guys have a security business to get back to.” Ronin looked at Maddox, Zander, and Nix.

  The other alphas looked at each other and then finally Nix spoke. “Yeah, but we kind of did some talking about that.” The alpha shrugged. “We aren’t really feeling much like home where we’ve been. We can do what we do just about anywhere.” For such a strong and sure alpha, Nix actually appeared a little sheepish, and when Ollie glanced over at Zander and Maddox, they were wearing similar looks as well. “We’ve missed hanging out with you, and I think Wildwood might be our next stop—if that’s okay.”

  He watched as his mate grin widely. “I think it sounds like a pretty great idea.”

  Ronin looked around the rest of the group, focusing mainly on the other omegas.

  “What about you guys?” Ronin said, “Are y’all ready to get out of here?”

  Sophie, Cybil, Jax, Shawn, and Marco all eagerly nodded, and so did he. Ollie wanted to be as far away from here as he could be. Even though they were a good distance from that building, it just wasn’t far enough.

  As Oliver stood up, Ro was besid
e him in an instant and immediately joined their hands. Oliver looked up and smiled at Ronin.

  “I hope things aren’t awkward between us this morning,” Ronin said, as the rest of the group headed towards the truck. His friends all had their rolled-up sleeping bags in their hands, except for Jax. The alpha, Zander, was helping him.

  “No.” Ollie shook his head and moved so he was standing in front of Ronin. “It was perfect, and I liked falling asleep in your arms.”

  Ronin pulled him into his body. “Me too.” Ronin’s voice was deep, and his eyes on Ollie had him swaying into the alpha’s body.

  “We should probably get you rolled up before it gets any harder to let you go.”

  Ollie chuckled. “I think it already is.” He looked down between them and then back up at Ronin, a teasing glint in his eyes. He could feel just how hard his mate was, and it made his body light up.

  “Well, that’s what you do to me.” Ronin chuckled, then lowered his head and placed a kiss on his lips.

  “Come on,” Ronin said.

  He helped Ollie roll up his sleeping bag, and they walked back towards the truck.

  “I need to speak to Maddox. Are you okay for a minute?” Ronin asked.

  Ollie nodded and watched as his alpha walked to where Maddox was standing.

  “I know something happened between you two last night,” Jax said in a whisper as he came up beside him .

  Ollie chuckled and put an arm around Jax to support him since his friend was still healing… although Jax would be fine in a day or so, thanks to shifter healing. Ollie had learned that was why he’d never fallen ill as a child.

  “Maybe,” Ollie giggled. “Were you spying on me?”

  Jax smiled. “You wish. I saw the way you two looked at one another. It’s clear something happened. I am happy for you, Ollie.” His friend’s smile was a little sad, and Ollie couldn’t help hoping that Jax found his mate soon too.