Liam clutched all three gifts to his chest, his golden eyes suspiciously bright in the late afternoon light. He looked utterly overwhelmed, like someone who'd been dying of thirst suddenly offered an ocean.
"There's space on the shelf," I said gently, nodding toward my bookshelf. "If you want to put them somewhere safe."
He nodded, moving carefully to arrange his new possessions on an empty shelf. The lynx toy was positioned just so, the quilt folded neatly beside it, the journal and pencils placed withprecision. His fingers lingered on each item, as if reassuring himself they were real.
The three omegas settled around my room—Bug cross-legged on the floor, Treat perched on the edge of my desk chair, and Percy standing with his back against the wall near the door. All of them kept a respectful distance from Liam, instinctively understanding his need for space.
I watched as Liam returned to his spot near me, still casting wondering glances at his gifts. A sudden inspiration struck me.
"I've been trying to explain to Liam about mates," I said, addressing the three omegas. "About what it means. But I think he might understand better hearing it from your perspective."
Bug clapped his hands, eyes lighting up. "Oh! Bug tell! Bug know about mates!"
Treat nodded thoughtfully. "That's not a bad idea, actually. We've all had... different experiences finding our mates."
Percy remained silent, but his posture shifted slightly, a small nod indicating his willingness to participate.
"Would that be okay?" I asked Liam directly. "To hear what it's been like for them? Might help you understand better than my clumsy explanations."
Liam considered for a long moment, his eyes moving from one omega to the next. Finally, he gave a cautious nod.
"Who wants to go first?" I asked.
"Me! Me!" Bug raised his hand like an eager schoolchild. "Bug tell about Bear and mates and everything!"
I smiled, gesturing for him to proceed. "Go ahead, Bug. Just remember to give Liam space, okay?"
Bug nodded seriously, then scooted forward on the floor until he was about five feet from Liam—close enough for conversation, but far enough to respect his boundaries. He crossed his legs and settled his hands on his knees, his scarred face alight with enthusiasm.
"Bug tell story now," he announced, his fragmented speech taking on the cadence of a storyteller. "About Bear and Bug and how we became forever-people together."
Liam slid down the wall to sit on the floor, mirroring Bug's cross-legged position. His golden eyes were fixed intently on Bug's face, absorbing every word with the same careful attention he'd given my knife collection.
I settled back on my bed, hoping these three damaged souls who'd found healing through their mate bonds might succeed where I had failed—in helping Liam understand that being my mate didn't mean surrendering his hard-won freedom.
Bug rocked back and forth excitedly as he began his story, his fragmented speech painting a surprisingly clear picture of his claiming by Bear.
It was strange hearing such an intimate moment described in Bug's childlike vocabulary, but there was a raw honesty to his account that no polished storyteller could have matched.
I watched Liam's face carefully as Bug spoke, trying to gauge his reaction to this first account of what a claiming could be like when built on trust rather than fear.
"Bear found Bug hurt. Bad men chase Bug. Try hurt Bug more," he explained, gesturing to the faded scar that ran along his hairline. "Bear protect. Make safe place. Not touch Bug until Bug say okay."
He smiled at the memory, his scarred face transforming with genuine happiness. "Bug scared first. Many bad touches before. But Bear different. Bear wait. Bear gentle."
Liam leaned forward slightly, his golden eyes never leaving Bug's face. I recognized the intensity in his gaze—he was searching for deception, analyzing every word and expression for hidden meanings or dangers.
"When Bear bite Bug," Bug continued, touching his shoulder where his claiming mark would be hidden under his oversizedshirt, "it not hurt much. Just pinch! Then everything better. Like puzzle piece click." He made a satisfied snapping gesture with his hands. "Bug know Bear always find. Always protect. Not scary anymore."
Bug's simplified explanation stripped the mate bond down to its essence—protection, belonging, security. His childlike perspective removed any hint of possession or control that might have frightened Liam.
"Bug not belong to Bear," he added, as if sensing Liam's unspoken concern. "Bug and Bear belong together. Different."
Liam blinked, his head tilting slightly as he absorbed this distinction. I saw his fingers brush unconsciously against his own shoulder, the spot where a claiming bite would someday go—if he ever chose to accept it.
Treat cleared his throat softly, drawing our attention. Unlike Bug's animated storytelling, Treat's demeanor was calm and measured, his voice steady as he picked up the narrative thread.
"My experience was a bit different," he said, smoothing an invisible wrinkle from his jeans. "I was running when Butch found me, protecting Doby. I'd been hunted for a long time because of what I am."
