Chapter 27
“You won’t slip, and the others love you.” Alexei got up from his chair and moved closer to Donal.
“Your friends’ husbands feel sorry for me now. Maybe they even like me a little. But soon they’ll catch on to the fact that I’ll bring you down.” Donal impatiently wiped the tears from his face with his sleeve. Alexei patted his knee and handed him another handkerchief.
Donal really needs Kane and Eugene. He is definitely depressed. He has an extremely poor self-image. I have to let him know that he’s already been chosen, that the gods deem him worthy. Alexei looked at the clock. It was already eleven. Armand is going to be annoyed that I’m pulling him out of bed. But, if I don’t, Donal will leave tonight and make sure I never find him again, or gods forbid, take his own life in despair.
“You have to know that what I’m saying is the truth,” Donal said as another tear escaped and rolled down his cheek.
“How you see things is not necessarily the way things really are. Let’s go across the hall to my study. We need to talk. Bring Colin’s book with you. No sneaking out the front door until we talk.” Alexei hoped that Donal responded to the commanding tone he deliberately used, a tone that no Human Omega should be able to resist. Alexei may be number five in America, but he had been number two in Russia, and conditions in Russia were harsh. Alexei knew how to manipulate a situation even though since he left the gulag, he disliked doing it. But he was fighting for his Mate here.
“Yes, sir,” Donal responded exactly as he should.
* * * *
Donal walked with Alexei across the gallery to the study. He took the book with him, figuring he’d have to have Alexei return it to Colin. It was a shame he wouldn’t get to finish. He really would have liked to know the end.
“I’m going to stand in front of the couch, and you’re going to sit on it and not run no matter what. Do you promise me this?”
Donal stared at Alexei, cocking his head to the side.
Alexei got on his knee and held Donal’s hand. Donal sighed. Alexei wasn’t playing fair. “Yes, I promise.” Another tear dripped from Donal’s cheek to Alexei’s sleeve.
He didn’t want to have to give Alexei up. Just to be able to speak to him every day was a privilege. Having Alexei as his own was a bridge too far to even dream about crossing.
“Good. Now I’m going to undress, and you’re going to sit right there. I’m not going to touch you so don’t be frightened.” Donal stared at him and started to shake. “This is me, Donal. If I were going to ravish you, I could have done it before now.” He stepped away from the couch. “There is no need for you to be frightened.”
“Okay,” Donal said, his voice steadier.
“Look at me,” Alexei commanded.
Donal responded immediately to the tone of Alexei’s voice. “Do you remember what happened to Peter and Richie in the book?”
Donal’s face grew hot. “I read that three times, that’s why it’s taken me so long to finish.”
“Don’t take your eyes off of me.” The air in front of Alexei shimmered. In his place was a large gray wolf with a black undercoat.
* * * *
You are my mate, Donal Berne, just as Richie was Peter’s. There is no one for me but you.
Donal brought himself upright in the chair with a start. He slowly stood, his whole body shaking. “The gods made a mistake. I’m not good enough.” Donal didn’t blink over the fact that he was a wolf. He was so hung up on his past.
The air shimmered, and Alexei returned to his human shape and put on his robe. He looked at the clock. It was near midnight. He hoped he didn’t have to call Armand, although he knew in his heart it would come to that.
“My little mouse, you are a Human Omega and you come to my pack bearing great gifts which will come to us from the gods in their own time.”
“The others are all fine and educated. I don’t fit.”
“As I’ve said, the other boys love you. My whole household loves you. Of all the things I thought would happen when I told you, this was not one of them. I pictured you running screaming into the night, refusing to trust your own eyes, but I never thought you’d turn me down because you didn’t think you were good enough.”
“I’ve got to go. Why prolong the agony. You’ll get over me. The gods made a mistake. They’ll rectify it quickly enough. I am grateful to you that I got away from Apuso with my life. I won’t ruin yours by staying.”
“Would you talk to the boys first? At least give me that. You owe me that much.” He didn’t even give me time to tell him anything about the loup garou.