Linked By Fate

Chapter 15

After all his classes were over, Riley invited everyone over for game night and dinner. Doing my classes online made it possible for me to have dinner ready by the time everyone arrived. Cole, Link, and Gage came over early to help me get things organized, meaning Riley sent them. The three of them have become part of the group not long after meeting them.

There are currently two tvs set up for gaming so they can all play if they'd like. For me, lounging on the couch listening to all the trash talk is rather entertaining within itself. Snacks are placed strategically around the living room as well. With the way these six guys eat, I hope six pizzas, wings, brownies, chiops, sodas, water, cookies, and cake will be enough for them. Not gonna lie, looking at the spread has me so freaking nausous. My boys kicking around in my stomach aren't really helping matters much.

Tonight is for Riley. My mate has been on edge since I agreed not to meet Julie in person. If she wanted to get in touch with me, she would have to do it through our lawyers. I received a letter and a video from her today. It was like seeing a totally different person. Her hair no longer looked shiny and vibrant. Her skin looked pale and she looked weak. Calling Oliver over to let him have a look, he agreed that something was off about her treatment. He and his chief, showed the tape to a judge, who gave them a search warrant so they could investigate what could possible be going on at the institute she was sent to.

No matter our history, I'd never want Julie to be the victim of any type of abuse. No one should ever have to be the at the hands of someone cruel like that. Forgiveness has been the key for me to move forward in life or I would be half a sane as I am right now. It's crossed my mind of I should tell Riley about the letter and the video, or should I just let him enjoy his night with our crew of friends. The front door opens announcing the arrival of my mate, Xander, and Alex. Taking in the genuine smile that's on Riley's face, I decided to tell him at a later time. Tonight will be a night of fun and relaxation for him.

"Hey sweetheart." He leans down giving me a tender kiss. "I missed you. How are you feeling? How are the boys?"

Rubbing his jaw with my thumb, I gazed into his golden brown eyes seeing nothing but love and adoration in them. "I missed you too honey. Besides your sons using my stomach like a soccer ball, we are all doing fine. Go put your things in the bedroom and enjoy an evening with the guys. You deserve it."

Kissing me one last time, he takes his things to our bedroom. Xander and Alex come over to give hugs and to rub my stomach like it's a crystal ball. I laugh at them everytime they do it. "Stop rubbing my stomach like that. I'm not a genie that will grant your wishes or tell your futures like a fortune teller." Using my tail, I hit both of them across their butts like I was spanking them.

Xander lifts me up so that he could seat beside me having me lean into his side. "School is not the same without you. It's like something huge is missing from our daily lives. I hope these munchkins realize the sacrafice you made for them when they grow older. Not many moms would do what you're doing knowadays. My hat goes off to you. You know it kill Ri not having you by his side. Though he plays it off well, he is struggling. Having you on his phone during class was a genius idea. You know your mate very well."

"Things have to be hard on you, too." Alex added sitting on the ottoman with my feet in his lap. "That's something I've always admired about you, Cooper. Your strenght to move forward no matter what obstacles get thrown your way. You still strive on. I wanna be like you when I grow up."

A chuckle comes from across the room and we three turn our attention to Cole. The look that passes between him, Alex, and Xander has bells going off inside my head. When they noticed my expression, all of them blushed crimson red. No freaking way. No freaking way.

Laughter suddenly bubbles up from inside me and I can do nothing to contain it. I'm not talking a regular laugh, but I mean a deep body-shaking, hard to breath, tears rolling down my face laugh. Riley comes in to find me leaning over into Xander's chest, I'm laughing so hard. It almost looks like I'm crying if not for the noises coming out of my mouth.

"Sweetie, what has you in a fit of laughter like this?" Riley asked me as I tried to get a hold of myself. When he catches the expressions of Alex, Cole, and Xander, it hits him and even he starts laughing. "No freaking way."

After finally getting hold of myself, I apologized. "Sorry guys, but the looks on your face where too much. Now I understand why the air is always crackling whenever the three of you are around. Though I already had an inkling about Xander and Alex already, this I did not see coming. I couldn't be happier for you guys. Cole, welcome to the family my friend." Something passed between them that caused a deep pain in my chest. From Riley's face, he felt it, too. Our friends needed help. Cole rushes over to me and buries he face in my neck, sobbing.

"Our folks were not too pleased about it, so things have been rocky to say the least." Alex spoke of his and Cole's parents. "We can't go back home when school lets out for this year and we were both told not to return home. We've been thrown away by our familes."

"No you haven't," I exclaimed. "You family is right here. I got the news this morning that we can finally move in to the house this weekend. The power and water have already been turned on. The rest of the furniture will be arriving this weekend also. The guest houses will be furnished for the five of you. Since Link and Gage liked the one closest to the woods, that one is theirs, the other one belongs to the three of you. Riley and I want you guys to move with us. You're family after all."

Cole lifts his head so I could help wipe the tears from his eyes. He truly is a handsome young man. "It's going to be alright, Cole. You're not alone. You're mates are here and your friends are here for the long haul." Kissing his forehead, I hug him tightly. I know what it's like to feel alone even in a room full of people. No way will I let him sink into that dark pit.

"I've prepared food, so why don't you guys go eat before the gaming really starts. Don't be too loud tonight. I don't want to be a distrubance to the neighbors again." Warmth fills me as I watch them gather in the kitchen to wash up and eat.

Riley catches me staring, walks over and kisses me softly. "You are one h*ll of an omega, Cooper Sinclair. I love you."

"Thank you. I love you, too. But I'm not doing anything more than what your family did for me. I'm paying forward to those I care for. Our boys are going to be surrounded by people who love them and will always be there for them. Our found friendships are a rarity these days, so I wish to hold on tightly to them." Hugging his neck, I send him on his way to go eat while I sipped on some ginger and lemon tea.

"So, we can all move in this weekend? Will Link and I be able to leave the dorms with us only being freshmen?" Gage asked sitting on the blanket that the coffee table is placed on. "Don't our parents have to give permission or something?'

"Yes, and they already have. I had them over for lunch last week. Not wanting to disrespect them in any way, I asked for thier permission to not only give you the guest house, but to add you to our family. So now, our baby boys will have three sets of grandparents." I did not miss the tears that welled up in thier eyes as I talked. Truly, I could not have asked for a better group of freinds in my life.

Link wipped his eyes and stared at me for a long time. "I am so glad that I decided to attend uni here or I would have missed out on my mate and the wonderful friends we've made. I can't wait for the babies to be born so we can spoil them. Hoepefully they'll take after their mom. Riley is too wound up for me sometimes."

"Hey," Ri yelled as he threw a chicken bone at Link, "I'm not as bad as I was at first. Cut a brutha some slack. Look at my mate and tell me you would not act the same way if she was yours?"

Everyone looked at me, then at him. In unison they replied, "Absolutely." Shaking my head and rolling my eyes, I could only smile at them.

"We will need help moving all of our things this weekend." They talked amongst themselves. Noticing that I wasn't saying anything, they all glared at me.

"Why are you all looking at me? Online school gives me more time to handle things that you guys, so I made sure to have everything worked out as best I could. Having invested the money that was left to me when my parents died, I will never need to work again if I don't wish to, but it gave me the means to handle all the moving expenses for everyone. A moving crew will arrive here to help pack up and move the things here. Living in the dorms, you only have your clothes and personal belongings to bring with you. While you guys walked around the furniture store last weekend, I had the attendant that was with you make notes of the things you liked so I could purchase them for you homes. Oliver and the team will be there to help get things set up. Coach and our parents will be cooking on the grill of us that night. It's going to be an amazing day."

"Cooper Sinclair, you are one h*ll of an omega," Xander says to me, mirroring what my mate said earlier.

As they spent the rest of the evening having fun and talking about the future of our family, a heaviness sat on my chest that I couldn't describe. Staring at my hands, I began to see what the problem was. Riley and I are mated, about to start a family, but he has never mentioned wanting to solidfy our bond in marriage. I don't have a ring on my finger. Has Riley ever thought about marrying me, giving me his last name? Though we are mated and don't really need to marry, I want to be his in every way possible. I don't want to be Cooper Sinclair any longer. I wished to be Cooper Sinclair Jasper. If you're wondering, I don't have a middle name, but whatever.

Hearing someone call me Cooper Sinclair lately has made me feel so empty that I want to cry. Now I understand what the cause was. I want to marry Riley, to carry his name.

"Sweetheart, are you alright? You blocked off the mate bond." Concern in his voice, Riley waits for my response. No way can I tell him that I'm upset because he hasn't asked me to marry him or that he has never talked about it in the future.

"I'll be alright, baby. A thought crossed my mind, taking me by surprise that's all. I'm fine. No need to worry." Though I said it, I did not feel fine in the least.

"I love you, of course I'm going to worry about you. That's part of my role as your alpha, your mate. I'm not going to force you, but know that I am here when you're ready to share what's on your mind. I'll wait." Riley kissed my forehead as I closed my eyes. He really is a wonderful mate to me.

"Thanks for being understanding and giving me space to gather my thoughts together. If I haven't told you lately, I'll tell you now. Riley Jasper, you are one h*ll of an alpha."