Linked By Fate

Chapter 13

Today, our university is having a get together for all years. We are meeting students we've never had the chance to meet. There are so many people wanting to speak with Riley, that I suggested we separate to have a better chance at mingling about. My stomach has not yet started to show, so I'm not vocally announcing my pregnacy if not needed.

Currently, I'm sitting in the bleachers on the far end of the gym peopel watching. I was so into it that I falled to notice the nice looking guy that came walked up to me, until he spoke. I could tell from his demeanor that he was a beta.

"Hey, I'm Cole, is it okay if I sit with you," he asked in a shy tone.

Wrapping my tail around my leg, I gesture out my hand for him to have a seat. He had to be around 5'11, honey blond hair, green eyes, and a swimmers build. Not feeling any ill intent from him, I introduced myself as well. "Nice to meet you, Cole. I'm Cooper. What year are you?"

"I'm a sophomore. I took time off for personal reasons, and am just starting back. I've seen you around campus with the hockey team. You mainly hang with those three guys over there," he pointed to my mate, Alex, and Xander. "You guys seem extremely close, you and the one in front. I believe I heard someone call him Riley or Jasper."

A chuckle leaves me. "Yeah. Actually his name is Riley Jasper and we are close. He's my mate. We've known each other since childhood, but only found out months ago that we were in fact fated mates. Sometimes I still feel like it's a dream even though it's been five months." Letting my eyes roam over his body, from the ball cap he's wearing to his sneakers, Riley is breathtaking. I love him more than I could ever think was possible.

"Wow. I can only imagine how the two of you must feel. The girl I thought was my mate ended up being mated to someone else. I'm ready to end my search for my mate and simply enjoy life a day at a time. there's still time for me to find my mate in the future." Cole smiled at me.

"Sounds like a good idea. Hey, they have so many games at thigns around here. Wanna go play a few and maybe meet more of your peers?" I asked with a smile. He nods, so we move about.

Through our link, I can hear Riley growling his dislike of me hanging out with Cole. He has become very possessive since finding out about the babies. Even though it's cute to see him jealous, it's also annoying. We are mated, claimed and all. He should know by now that he has nothing to fear. I'm all his. Not wanting to let him interfere with my fun, I block of our link for a spell. Who cares if he gets upset.

For the next hour or so, Cole and I play games with our peers. It was fun talking to people that I've never met before. They did not seem to be put off my be being a beast-human. Come to find out, there are a lot more beast-humans in this area, but they go to a school that only housed other beast-humans. I was shocked to find that out and a bit disturbed. Why only be with you kind? No way would I want to live like that. Maybe I can ask Oliver about it over lunch tomorrow.

We in the middle of playing this shooting game with a couple of freshmen, when the guys found us. The tension in the air was thick. Riley was pissed beyond measure. Xander and Alex looked nervous as they stood behind him. "Hey guys. Have you been enjoying yourselves?" I asked the three of them.

"Yeah it's been cool. Looks like you're have more fun though. We should have hung out with you. Who are your friends?" Alex asked being the out-going guy he is.

"This is Cole, he's a sophomore. And these two freshman here are Link and Gage. All three of them are beta and cool to hang with like you. Maybe you guys can get to know each other since they are now my new friends. Guys, these are my best friends Xander and Alex. This handsome dude here is my mate, Riley. I'm sure you've heard their names around campus a time or two." As I spoke, my eyes never left Riley.

The tension was growing thick and my head was beginning to swim the longer we stood around talking to our new acquaintances. I decided it was time for me to go home. After announcing I was heading home, I said goodbye go everyone, except for Riley since he was going with me. The rest of them said they were going to hang out longer but wished us a good evening. Sending a small mile towards my best friends, I conveyed a thanks to them. They really are a good group of guys. Riley mumbled out a "see ya" as we left. He seriously needs to work on his attitude. This is too much.

On the way home, I did not speak to him. When the link opened, every emotion, every word, he had said that I blocked, slammed me hard. I felt hurt and angry. Did he know that I'm not a possession, but a breathing being? The mother of his babies, his mate, that's who I am. Jumping out of the car as soon as it stopped, I headed to the apartment. His energy was growing dark and I did not like it.

Stepping through the front door, I head to the bedroom. His scent punched me in my chest and my knees gave way. It's stronger that it has ever been before. Slumping on the ground, I close my eyes as his phermones grabbed hold of me. Riley has pushed out his dominant phermones at me knowing that I can't resist. My body quaked as he moved behind me. I can hear him moving behind me due to my hearing being enhanced. I can hear the calm beat of his heart while my own was beating a mile a minute.

Wetness pooled between my legs. I was sure that my own phermones were running rapid. Riley has gone into a rut. The need to dominant me, to stake his claim on me, is at full force. Leaning next to my ear, he growls out, "I'm going to show you who you belong to sweetheart. Your alpha comes before anyone. I will no longer take you ignoring me or cutting off our link. Tonight, you are going to see the alpha that I can be."

Tears welled up in my eyes when he released me enough to where I could pick myself up from the floor. His front is pressed up against my back when we entered the bedroom. As much as I wanted to fight against the desire and need that he was drawing out of me, I couldn't go against my alpha. Not once did I ever imagine he'd go full dominant alpha on me.

I can't even explain what happened over the next six hours. All I knew what that for the first time in my life, I was scared of Riley.

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Staring at her sleeping face, I come to grips with what I've done. I've never handled her the way I did last night. Her crying, begging me to stop, that she could not take anymore, only drove me to push her farther. The bite marks and brusies on her body are evidence of how rough I was with her. Her hands rest on her belly that is beginning to bulge with the growth of our babies. Dang it, what have I done?

Jerking awake, Cooper sits up in a rush. Throwing the covers off, she leaps from the bed, only to fall to the floor. Grabbing hold of the waste basket by the nightstand, she throws up repeatedly until there's nothing left. All she is doing is dry-heaving. When I lay my hand on her back, I can feel her flinch under my touch. My mate is afraid of me. "I'm just helping off the floor and to the bathroom. I'll run a hot bath for you with some healing oil that should help. I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I'm so, so sorry."

Her body shook with her silent tears as I helped her settle into the tub. My own eyes stung at the imagine of the bruises all over her once smoothed caramel-colored skin. What the heck was wrong with me to do this to her?

I've been in love with her forever, but always felt that we could only be best friends. That's why I dated Julie thinking I could move on to someone who showed interes in me. Yet, my feelings for Cooper never left me even though I pushed them deep down. That's why I was quick to except that she was my mate when I say my mate mark on her inner wrist. She was meant to be mine, but I go and do this to her.

"Continue to soak in your bath and make sure to put something on your stomach. I'm meeting the guys at the gym, so you'll have some needed time to yourself. You mean the world to me and I know that I did not show that to you last night. But I do love you Cooper. I've loved you for a long time and seeing you with Cole and the others, having fun without me, I got so freaking jealous that I could not see straight. The guys warned me to cool off, but I did not listen. I could not handle the tought of someone taking you away from me. That's still no excuse for my behavior last night, but it's the truth."

She stares at me wearing a pain filled expression. I did this to her, put that look on her face. It hurts so much in my chest. "Give me some time please" she asked me, so I did. Praying that she would still be here when I returned home later. Man I messed up royally. By the time I reached the gym my mood had turned sour. When the guys greeted me, I did not even bother to respond. It took an hour for them to get anything out of me and it was not pretty when they did.

"How did things go when you arrived home last night? I hope you didn't do anything stupid. A jealous domninant alpha is hard to control and is not someone a pregnant omega needs to be around mate or not." Noticing the stiffness of my body, Xander knew I had f''d up royally. "Where is she?" He growled out in anger.

Xander and Cooper have an especially close relationship having both lost their parents in the same accident. It bothered me at first but it did not take long to see that Xander loved Cooper like his sister and would do anything for her, including fighting me if need be.

"She was taking a bath when I left. I'll tell you what happened and you're not going to like it. Heck, I don't like it and it was me who done it." So, I proceeded to tell them everything that happened last night. By the time I got the last word out, Xander punched me as hard as he could. Alex did not even try to hold him back to which I did not blame him. I deserved their anger and I also deserved for Cooper to leave me. The way I treated her is not how an alpha should treat his omega he confesses to love so dearly.

"Look, I apologized even though I know that it would not take away the pain I caused. It hurt seeing the results of my actions. I love Cooper more than my own life and I hurt her like that. If I could beat my own self up I would." I was interrupted when my phone began to ring.

The caller id displayed Cooper's name. "Sweetheart....", I start, but am immediately interrupted by Cooper. "Riley, come home please. I'm bleeding."

My heart nearly stopped for a moment. "I'm own my way. Stay calm. I'll be right there," I stated as I hurriedly grabbed my things so I could leave.

"What's going on? What wrong with Cooper?" Alex asked frantically.

"She's bleeding. I need to go check on her and the babies?" I yelled as I hurried out the exit door.

On the ride home I prayed that the babies would be okay and that I did not do something that would cause us to loose them.

"Please don't take them away from us. I'll be a better alpha from this day forward. Please let Cooper and the babies be alright."