Athena's Human Mate

Chapter 27

Roman got up to get a towel again, reminding himself to get one ready before they have sex next time.  He wiped them both off, then climbed into bed with her, wrapping his arms around her, her head resting on his chest as he kissed her forehead.

"You are amazing Athena."

She looked at him with black eyes, which freaked him out for a second.  "We think you're amazing."  Her voice rougher and lower in tone.

"Artemis?"  He hadn't talked to her wolf much.

"Yes, mate.  I need to spend time with you too.  You don't have a wolf for me to connect with."

"I haven't thought about that.  Are you sure you're ok with having me as a mate?"

"I have no doubts, it's just I want to form a bond with you too, like Athena is."

"Well, what do you want to do?"

"Talk to me, we don't know much about you."

Roman sighed and adjusted them so she wasn't looking at him, this would be difficult enough without her examining his expressions.  "I don’t talk about this, to anyone.  Very few people know much about my past.  I had a really shitty life until a couple of years ago."

He paused, "I'm not sure if it's the mate bond or you, but I trust you, both of you.  I feel like I can tell you anything and that's a scary feeling."

He rubbed her hand and arm on his chest.  "I have an older sister, she has a different dad and they both split when we were little.  I honestly don't remember anything about him, but my mom has said I get my height from him.  Other than that, I take after my mom.  Ashley, my sister, also looks like mom.  I haven't talked to my mom in years, but I keep in touch with Ashley."

"Whats her name?  Your mom?"

"Angelina, but she's no angel.  She's a drunk and probably a prostitute.  I don't know how many boyfriends she's had growing up, I left home when I turned fifteen.  I tried not to be home much before that anyway, the boyfriends were just as bad, if not worse, than she was.  The only happy part was Ashley, she's four years older than me, but she raised me more than our mom did."

Artemis hugged him and he felt the comfort coming from the bond.  "Ashley was the one who cooked breakfast and made me go to school.  After she graduated, it all fell apart.  She moved out, to another town, a fresh start where no one knew she was the town sluts daughter.  I hung out with the bad crowd, kids with chips on their shoulder who only wanted to prove how tough they were."

He took a breath, he tries not to think about that time in his life.  "We did some really messed up shit.  Using drugs, selling drugs, stealing from anyone and everyone.  We thought we were such bad asses, so tough no one crossed us.  Such dumb asses now.  A bunch of us got caught robbing a convience store, lucky for me I didn't have the rap sheet like the other guys had.  They got sent to prison while I spent a year and a half in a juvenile facility.  When I turned eighteen I was released but put on probation for three years."

She snuggled deeper into him and he didn't feel any disgust coming from her.  "I spent the next few years in a spiral, I didn't finish school and getting a job was hard.  Keeping a job was even harder, I ended up doing day labor jobs for a long time.  Some days I was able to get into a shelter and shower, but most of the time I lived on the streets.  My probation officer didn't give a crap about me, to him I was another hoodlum one step away from prison. After my stint in juvie I kept myself off drugs.  Guess what the last words my mother said to me."

"We hope she told you she loves you."

"Nope, she said I was just like her, a drunken druggie with no future."

"I'm sorry mate, that's a horrible thing to say!"

"That's my mom for you.  I haven't seen or talked to her since."  He stopped talking for a while, he felt as if he was beginning to accept his past.  That her opinion of him hasn't changed.  Of course, she didn't know everything, he still had deep secrets that he doubted he would ever share.

"I can't imagine what you've dealt with.  Our father ignores us most of the time, he's certainly let us know how disappointed he is that we're female."

"I'm very glad you are."  He kissed her head, "tired?"  She nodded and he wiggled into a better position to sleep in.  "Goodnight sweetheart."

She left a kiss on his chest, murmuring, "night babe."

When morning came, Roman initiated Athena on how great showering together can be.  As they finally got dressed, she asked him, "what's the plan for today?  I need to get back to the pack soon and check on them."

"I need to check on my car, hopefully it's still there.  Think we'd be alright spending some time apart?"  He held her hand on the way to get breakfast.

"I think we should be ok for a little bit, neither of us knows for sure how far or how long we can be separated yet."

"How about this, after we eat, drop me off at my car, you head to the pack and I hit the gym.  Maybe an hour or so you can meet me there?  If it's too far, you can always come back."

"When do you want to meet everyone?  We can't keep staying in town."

"Do I have to meet everyone at the same time?"  He wasn't sure he was ready for that.

"Well, whoever is there.  Once they hear I found my mate, they will want to meet you.  I know!  I'll tell them about you now, then tonight we can have a bonfire so they can meet you.  Do you have a lot of stuff to pack?"

"No, all the furniture will stay, Bob will need it when he gets back and he might try to find someone else to share it with.  I've got my clothes and maybe a couple of boxes, I don't have a lot of personal stuff."

"You'll fit right in, no one had much when we left either.  Will we be able to move it tonight?"

Roman wanted to delay going to the pack, but her hopeful expression was hard to resist.  He would do almost anything for her, and that terrified him.  "Yeah, we should have time."

To Roman's shock, his car was still parked where he left it, the only thing wrong was the big orange sticker telling him he had to move it or it would be towed.  Luckily, the deadline was the next day. 

He leaned against his car, hands at the small of her back, holding her close.  She had her arms wrapped around his waist, head resting on his chest, listening to his heartbeat.  He felt her anxiety and worry through their bond, making him nervous about meeting everyone later.

"Are you concerned about how the pack will react to me?"

"No, I know that's what you fear, but they'll welcome you with open arms.  I don't want to leave you.  What if it's too soon?  What if the pain comes back?  What if you're sparing and you get hurt because I'm not there?  What if."

Roman kissed her, "no more what ifs.  You're not going far.  You can feel my emotions, right?  Like I feel yours?"

"Yes, but."  He put a finger on her lips.

"No buts."  He chuckled, "if you feel pain from the bond, just come back.  The pack is only twenty minutes away.  You'll only be gone an hour or two."

"Can you mind-link me?  Let me do it first."

Roman?  Try to answer back.  She watched him carefully, he got her message but nothing came from him.

"I guess not.  Usually mates can mind-link but maybe you can't because your human?"  She frowned, sad that it didn't work.

"It'll be fine, I'll be fine."  He kissed the top of her head, touched that her main focus is on his comfort rather than facing the pack.  He wasn't bothered by not being able to talk to her in his head, it was creepy when she did it.  He pecked her lips, cautious not to ignite their desire.  "I'll see you soon."

He untangled them and got in his car, waving as he headed to the gym.  Athena watched until he was out of sight before climbing in her vehicle.  It was strange being back in the driver's seat, somehow she got used to being the passenger during the last few days.  Sighing, she drove to the apartment complex, hoping everything would work out.