*Omario POV*
It’s after one in the morning when I finally leave my chambers to visit Oli, because Abi just can’t let this go. I understand her intentions and it is the right thing for me to do, but I am already dreading meeting Brenda and going through Oli’s recent moods. Titan on the other side is furious with me for agreeing to leave. Him and I don’t seem to agree on anything at all lately.
“Oli is our mate and she’s hurt.”
I don’t know why I have to be the one reminding him of this.
It is unfortunately, Brenda who opens the door. She’s so excited about me coming over while I am disgusted that she is here as my dad’s mistress. On top of that I have to forcefully suppress Titan who wants nothing less than to tear her apart.
“Titan.”
“She tried to cut Abi’s arm off.”
Titan’s vendetta and everything really, revolves around Abi these days.
“She’s dad’s concubine now, stand down if you want to see Abi again.”
This, me threatening him with Abi every time I need him to comply is on its own confusing and frustrating me. It makes me vulnerable and I hate that.
“Oli’s bedroom is the third door on your right, Your Majesty,” Brenda announces, excitedly. “The doctors gave her some sedating pain medication, she might be drowsy,” she adds.
I nod and follow her directions. The distance away from her seems to cool Titan down. I take a deep breath before knocking and opening the door.
“Abandon me and I will lift the claim on Abi,” I preemptively warn my rebellious wolf. This is not ideal but I am tired of feeling empty and vulnerable because he decides to abandon me anytime he wishes.
Oli’s room is exactly like her old one. Expensive modern furniture with antiques she collected from her travels around the world. The massive portrait of us at the beach in Jolly islands hangs on the wall. Looking at it makes me feel guilty. That was a year ago. Frode had just revealed that we were mates, our family’s were euphoric and already planning a grand wedding. We visited the romantic island to be away from everyone and we had a great time there. We got to speak about our future and both decided to tie the knot when she turns twenty-one years old. That’s in six months time, but I am no longer certain about that resolution now.
I am still in my own world when Oli turns on the bed and opens her eyes.
“Rio, you came,” her weak, sleepy voice makes me feel more guilty. I slip in bed with my clothes on, careful not to move her broken leg and pull her in my arms. She has been my closest friend since I can remember. We became even closer when we discovered that we were mates, but we have clashed a lot lately.
She lifts up her head to look at me but I can’t make eyes contact with her.
“I am sorry, I should have….”
“Shhhh, it’s okay. Have a rest now.” I say with my finger on her lips. I am relieved when she is immediately fast asleep but I am left staring at the ceiling.
Maybe I do share a blame for her joining the stupid hunt. I have been distant lately, claiming and spending most of my time with Abi, while she has been going through all these changes with Sylvester’s death and moving to the castle.
“It’s not okay, she was stupid and …” Titan links back.
“Titan, shut the fuck up.”
I get that he is mad at her for joining the hunt, so am I, but he is not as forgiving as he should be. It took a few minutes for him to forgive Abi for attempting suicide, but he won’t even try to do the same for our mate.
“I am going back to Abi.”
Great, now he is sulking.
“Do that, asshole, and know that you are responsible for handing her over to Blake.”
He does not respond and now I feel like an ass.
“Look man, we are one, you and I. Oli is our mate and she needs us. Just suck it up and we will get back to Abi in few hours.”
“Fine.”
That’s a relief. I hold Oli in my arms and watch her sleeping. She is by far the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Everything about her is just perfect. Eyes turn everywhere she goes. Man drool over her, yet I feel nothing. I had accepted that it was the mutations, that this is how things are for everyone, but then dad dropped that bomb on me about only feeling my mother. Then there was that kiss with Abi that has messed up my head. I have never felt anything like it before and I can’t help but panic. She is the thinnest, unattractive woman on earth and her wolf wants me dead, yet I can’t walk away from her. This leaves me with one conclusion, that her wolf is luring me to her so it can pounce.
“She will never let it hurt you.”
I roll my eyes at my stupid wolf. Nina has him eating from the palm of her hand. “You really are dumb, Titan. Abi is not even aware of what Nina does.”
“Then help her escape.” Titan responds.
He just never gives up.
“How is that a solution for anything?”
I am getting irritated with him now.
“Abi will be free. She won’t be abused. She will eat and be strong. Maybe she will be able to control Nina like you are able to control me.”
“That makes sense.”
Titan has obviously been thinking a lot about this. I am certain that Abi will never hurt me. She is weak but very resilient, but her wolf is getting stronger. I felt that Nina’s electric jolts were even stronger when Abi was at her weakest after she lost a lot of blood. What Titan is saying makes perfect sense. If Abi is physically strong, she might be able to control Nina when she finally shows herself.
“Is that a yes?” Titan asks expectantly.
“No, Titan. There’s still dad, our Alpha, who wants Abi here.”
I can feel Titan’s disappointment even when he does not respond to me. “I will think about this, okay?”