Sophie’s arms went around Cybil, comforting her. Ro could feel how much all the alphas in the room were trying to hold in their tempers. He knew they were thinking about not only Anton, but every low-down alpha that had treated these omegas poorly.
Ronin knew his friends and brother wished they could hunt them down.
“We all do,” Shawn said. “Every one of us deserves more.”
“And now… thanks to Ronin, Maddox, Zander, and Nix, we have a chance to make it happen.” Marco’s voice was filled with gratitude.
Ronin walked up to his mate and took a seat beside him. His eyes on everyone were guilt filled, and he could tell his mate felt horrible having not been through what his friends had. Ronin took Ollie’s hand in his and squeezed it supportively. He nodded encouragingly when Oliver looked in his direction, telling his mate it was okay for him to speak up.
“All of your stories are pretty similar,” Oliver started, and immediately everyone’s attention was on him. “Mine is a little different,” he said. “I was taken, but because I ran away after my first shift… I didn’t know what to do, and I was scared, and Anton... I guess he knew how to spot that.” He swallowed, and Ronin could feel Ollie’s nerves as if they were his. “I had a family and home, and I’m not saying this because I want to upset any of you, but I wonder if that’s why Anton didn’t sell me off to the Alphas like he did you guys. I don’t have the same bruises that you do. I was terrified, just like all of you were. I feared for all of our lives, but there was something different. And I’m sorry that you all had to go through what you did.”
“We’re not upset because you didn’t get the same abusive treatment we did.” Jax was the first to speak. “It’s not like there’s a scorecard and we’re trying to keep track. You were abused too. You were terrified too. We don’t have any negative feelings for you, because you weren’t sold to an alpha. Besides, you were probably terrified waiting for something to happen.”
“Jax is right,” Sophie said. “This isn’t a competition. And if it was, I’m glad someone lost… because you’re our friend and we wouldn’t wish any of that on our friend.”
Oliver smiled and squeezed Ronin’s hand that he was still holding onto. As they all sat there, Ronin could feel his mate’s relief. He knew how worried his omega had been that his friends hated him for not sharing their pain. He was glad to feel Ollie’s mind ease.
The doorbell rang, and Ronin withdrew his hand from Oliver’s and glanced at the clock. It was fifteen minutes to six, he figured it was most likely Oliver’s surprise, and stood up.
“I’ll be right back,” he said to his mate, and the room in general. Ro had been blocking this part of his thoughts from Ollie, and he hoped his mate was happy with the surprise.
He went to the door and opened it up, only it wasn’t Oliver’s parents on the doorstep. Instead, it was Rick and River. “Hey, didn’t think you guys would make it.” He hugged them both before they stepped into the house.
River was Ronin’s only omega brother, and he knew he would fit in well with everyone, so Ronin was glad he could join in.
“Are you kidding me? And miss this homecoming?” Rick said. “Good job, baby brother, good job.”
“Thanks, brother.” Ronin couldn’t help being pleased that Rick was proud of him.
He led them to the living room and then made some introductions. As he was going around the room, everyone nodded and bid their greetings, but when Ronin got to Nix, something was different.
“Phoenix, meet River and Rick, my brothers. River, Rick, this is Phoenix.”
Phoenix nodded and smiled. “Call me Nix,” his friend said, but his eyes were firmly on River. There was a funny look on Nix’s face, and Ronin looked at him, brow raised, but his friend didn’t even notice.
When he glanced at his older brother, it was to find River was blushing, and at that moment, Ronin couldn’t help wondering if what he thought was happening was actually happening.
The doorbell rang again, interrupting him from maybe poking fun at the two of them.
“Who could that be?” Maddox asked. “I thought everyone in town was already here.” The room erupted into laughter at his comment, but Ronin simply smiled. He knew exactly who it was, and he hurried to the door to open it. The couple and a younger boy—Ollie’s brother, Lucas, he assumed— weren’t anyone he recognized, so immediately Ronin knew they were his mate’s family.
“Hello, you must be the Scotts.” He held out his hand to greet them.
“Ronin?” Oliver’s mother asked.
Ronin nodded. She moved in and greeted him with a hug. The embrace lasted longer than he would have expected, but he didn’t back away from it. When they parted, Ronin saw tears in her eyes that she quickly wiped them away.
“She’s trying to say ‘thank you,’” her husband spoke up.
Ronin smiled. “It was my pleasure. Trust me,” he said. “Come on. Let’s go in so Oliver can get his surprise.” He led them into the house and toward the living room, but before they could enter, he asked them to wait beside the doorway before going any further. Then, Ro stepped into the living room.
“Ollie? Will you come here for a moment?” Ronin asked his mate.
Oliver frowned, but stood up and moved towards him. “What’s going on?”
“This day wouldn’t be complete without your surprise.” Ronin couldn’t stop the Cheshire-cat-like grin on his face.
Oliver looked around the living room, brow raised. All eyes were on them. “Are you kidding me? Today couldn’t be any better,” he said.
