Ollie knew he would never be alone again. And he felt whole and complete for the first time in his life… which was crazy because he’d never known anything was missing.
Ollie twirled around like he saw people do in the movies. And why not? His life was feeling like he was in one. But then the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end—or maybe it was his wolf—because Ollie suddenly had a feeling that he wasn’t alone. He opened his eyes and turned to look off into the woods. Even though he couldn’t see anyone there, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched.
“Ronin?” Ollie called out, even though he didn’t feel the presence was his mate any closer than before. But there was only silence. He waited a little longer, the feeling not wanting to vanish.
“Ronin?” Ollie called out again, louder this time.
It was then that he heard the rustling of leaves on the ground and he anxiously looked around the clearing. His heart started racing, and he nearly closed his eyes for fear something was going to attack him.
“Ollie, baby? Is everything okay?”
He turned around and saw Ronin there. He ran to his mate and put his arms around Ronin’s waist, hugging him tightly.
“It’s you!” Ollie couldn’t help the relieved tone of his voice.
His breathing calmed down as Ronin wrapped his arms around him, comforting him as no one else could.
“Of course it’s me,” he whispered against Oliver’s neck. “What’s wrong? I could feel your panic. You’re safe, love. No one is going to harm you. Ipromiseyou that.” Ronin’s tone was vehement, even as his arms tightened around Oliver. Just hearing that from his mate had a feeling of peace wrapping around Oliver like a blanket. It didn’t hurt that he was in his mate’s arms, and he knew Ronin would do everything to keep him safe. He pulled back from the embrace to find Ronin’s eyes scanning the whole backyard.
His mate’s worry was pouring of him, and Ollie decided not to tell him about the feeling he’d had moments before. He pasted on a smile, even though he couldn’t quite shake off being watched.
Ronin tilted his head, studying Ollie, a serious look on his face. “I can tell something’s wrong. What is it?”
He looked around like he was searching for whatever it was that was bothering Oliver.
Oliver grabbed onto Ronin’s hand, and then placed his finger on Ronin’s cheek so he could force Ronin to look at him. “It’s nothing. I think I’m just a bit jumpy. I guess my mind just went back to Anton being out there somewhere.”
Ronin smiled. “I swear to you I will never let that happen. You are mine now, and I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. You know that, right?”
Oliver smiled and nodded, then went on his tiptoes and kissed Ronin. They stood in that spot and made out, and he focused on being safe with his mate, removing every thought of Anton from his mind.
Oliver liked hearing that they could get through anything together, and he believed Ronin when he said he would keep him safe. He slipped his tongue along Ronin’s, and his mate sighed and lifted him into his arms.
Ollie broke the kiss. “You like carrying me, don’t you?” His voice was teasing because he liked when Ronin lifted him.
“I do.” Ronin’s face was lit up in a wide grin. “You were made to be in my arms.”
Ollie sighed and his arms tightened around Ronin’s neck.
“Ready to see where I call home?” Ronin asked.
He nodded. Oliver couldn’t wait to get there. Ronin put him on his feet and they walked into the house, and then out the front to the waiting vehicles. Everyone else was already loaded into the van and truck waiting.
Ollie started to walk over to the truck he’d ridden in the day before, but Ronin stopped him. He held onto his hand, and Ollie looked up at him.
“Why don’t you ride with me.” Ronin nodded toward a car parked in front of the other vehicles in the circular drive.
Ollie looked over to the van and saw no one was paying him much attention, so he nodded eagerly. “I’d love that.”
“Good!” Ronin smiled. “Give me two seconds.”
Ronin headed over to the van to talk to Maddox first, but wasn’t there long before he came back to Ollie. Ro took his mate’s hand in his as they walked over to his car, and then he opened the door for Ollie to get in on the passenger side before walking round the front to the driver’s side. When Ronin joined Ollie in the car, he turned it on, and immediately the radio began playing Beyonce. Oliver chuckled and looked over to his mate, brow raised.
“What?” Ronin’s cheeks were pink. “I like Beyonce, but if you want, you can choose a song on the iPad.”
Ollie shook his head and chuckled, and instead of picking up the iPad that his mate pointed at to play something else, he just put on his seatbelt and started humming along to the song that was playing.
Ronin looked over at him, and Ollie saw him smile. “What?” Ollie asked.
