Second Chance Mates

-20- 🌹 Not A Dream

"A heart full of love. A heart full of you, A single look and then I knew. From today, every day. For it isn't a dream, not a dream after all."
~Les Miserables, 'A Heart Full of Love'

[A/N - I used lyrics from the second part of the song in the previous chapter, since it was split into two chapters lol]

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*Landon's POV*

"Landon, are you serious?!" Ryland shrieks as we pull up to the theatre. "We're seeing Les Miserables?! That's one of my favorite shows!"

"I know," I chuckle, parking the car. "You have a poster of it in your room."

Ryland bounces excitedly in his seat as I exit the car, coming around to open his door. He practically leaps out of the car as soon as I open the door, latching onto my arm.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" He squeals, hugging my arm. "Have I mentioned that you're the best mate ever?"

"I appreciate that, but I think you're exaggerating a bit. This is just a community theatre group, not the national tour."

"So? It'll still be fun! Plus, isn't it the thought that counts? You're taking me to see one of my favorite shows. It's already a lot more romantic than anything anyone else has ever done for me."

"Wow, you must've been on some pretty bad dates in the past," I venture a guess.

Ryland's cheeks turn pink. "I, uh... have never been on a date before."

I stop in my tracks, turning to face him with my jaw dropped. "What? How have you never been on a date before?"

"Initially, I was waiting to meet my mate before dating anyone," Ryland casually shrugs. "After Roman... well, there was no one I wanted to date."

"I'm finding it hard to believe that nobody wanted to be with you. I mean, have you seen yourself?"

Ryland rolls his eyes with a grin. "I didn't say nobody tried to be with me. Just... no one took me on a date... before or after."

"Before or after?" I repeat curiously before it dawns on me. Oh.

'Oh,' Leo catches on, his shock equaling mine.

It must've shown on my face that I figured out what he meant, because Ryland laughs nervously and scratches his neck.

"Like I was saying, this is my first real date," he emphasizes. "Not just drinking in a club before heading back to some stranger's place."

Leo growls in my head and I clench my fists at my side. I keep my expression neutral as to not spoil Ryland's joyous mood as we walk into the theatre. We settle into our seats, and Ryland can't keep his legs from bouncing in anticipation. I smile at him, loving how adorably excited he is, but I can't shake the feeling of annoyance nipping at my brain.

It's stupid to be bothered by something like that. Ryland was rejected by his mate, with no way of knowing that I was going to be his new mate. He had every right to do whatever he wanted with whoever he wanted.

'Are you hearing yourself right now?' Leo demands, exasperated. 'Our mate has had sex with someone else!'

'It's not like we're virgins, either,' I remind him. 'Ryland knows Easton and Elias marked us, so he obviously knows we've had sex before.'

'I still don't like it,' Leo grumbles defiantly before fading away into my mind.

If I'm being honest, the thought of Ryland having sex with someone else makes my stomach twist. I don't like to think that there are other men that have seen Ryland in ways that I haven't yet. Even if I'm not ready to do that with him, I'm very open to trying... other things.