“You say I’m your mate so—”
“You are my mate,” Mitch growled, displeasure blooming at any implication otherwise. “It’s not something I say. It’s our fate, our destiny. We’re mates.” And Mitch was endlessly thankful for it. Simon wasn’t like other Omegas. He was too stubborn, too proud, and too socially withdrawn to fit the mental picture Mitch had of an Alpha’s mate. And he was absolutely perfect for Mitch.
“Fine, I’m your mate!” Simon conceded as he wiggled out of Mitch’s hold. He would have been thrilled at the acknowledgement but Simon had jumped off the couch and was pacing back and forth across the room, frustration and anger pouring off him. “But you’re also an Alpha, and Alphas expect sex from anyone in the pack whenever they want it.”
“Hold on there.” Mitch raised his hand in a stop motion, but remained seated, not wanting to make his mate feel threatened. “Alphas don’t have sex with unwilling pack members. We’re animals as much as we’re humans, Simon, and animals are naturally attracted to power. The Alpha is the most powerful wolf in the pack so unmated members want to be with him. It’s not an unreasonable expectation on the part of the Alpha, it’s nature. If you’d quit trying so hard to deny your instincts and ignore your gut, you’d realize that following our natures isn’t bad. It’s freeing and empowering.”
“Do you think those wolves being used by their Alphas are free and empowered?” Simon scoffed. “Is that what they claimed when you screwed them?”
“I already told you that I’ve never fucked a member of this pack,” Mitch barked. “My brother and I moved to Blue Mountain when he met his mate so he’s never been with anyone here except Donia. But unlike you, I’ve lived in packs my entire life. I know what shifters want and need. I—”
“I lived in a pack too!” Simon trembled. “I lived in this pack. And maybe you’re right.” He dragged his fingers through his hair and tugged on the red locks, leaving them sticking up at odd angles and making himself look younger, more vulnerable. “Maybe our animal natures lead us to crave the most powerful wolves. Maybe those shifters go with the Alpha willingly. But we’re humans too, and when a shifter gives herself to her Alpha, she doesn’t expect her child to be cast aside! What’s natural about a father throwing away his own son, huh? Tell me how that’s freeing and empowering and—”
Realization struck Mitch like a punch to the chest, its intensity leaving him winded. He was off the couch, reaching for Simon before his brain kicked in. Words were pointless, nothing he could say would alter the past, so instead Mitch wrapped himself around his mate, squeezed him tightly, and held on as Simon shook and cried. When the storm waned, he scooped Simon into his arms and returned to the couch, sitting down with Simon on his lap.
“Now I really did ruin our date.” Simon sniffled and buried his face in Mitch’s shirt, hiding. “I can’t believe I cried. I never cry. I’m fine. I—”
“You’re strong and brave and more resilient than anyone I know.”
Slowly, Simon raised his face and looked at Mitch with red-rimmed eyes. “You really believe that, don’t you?”
Mitch nodded.
“Can I tell you something?” Simon whispered.
“Course,” Mitch rasped. “You can tell me anything.” And if it broke his heart, like everything else in Simon’s past, he’d deal with it and support Simon in whatever way he needed. If his Omega mate had the strength to endure horror after horror, then surely Mitch could manage to hear about them.
“I’m tired.”
“Oh.” Mitch blinked in reaction to the unexpected comment. “It’s been a long day and it’s late. You can go to bed and get a good night’s sleep.”
“No, not that kind of tired.” Simon shook his head. “I’m tired down deep.”
Though he desperately yearned to fix Simon’s problem, Mitch had no idea where to start. How could he change something that’d already happened?
“When I first met you in the woods that night.” Simon paused. “Remember?”
“Uh-huh.”
Simon flicked his gaze away. “I wanted to roll over and show you my belly.”
After taking a moment to catch his breath and clear his thick throat, Mitch said, “You can trust me with that part of you, pup. You’re an Omega. It’s your nature to submit to a more powerful wolf, but submission isn’t weakness just like power isn’t corruption. I will never exploit your vulnerability. You’re safe with me.”
“I know I am.” Simon bobbed his head. “You’ve been so good to me. I do know.” He raised his fingers and traced Mitch’s lower lip with a barely there touch. “It’s tempting. I’m so tired of being strong all the time.”
“You’ll still be strong if you lean on me. There’s no shame in trusting your mate, no weakness.” Mitch caressed the gentle man his arms, honored beyond measure at the show of trust.