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“Getting kidnapped was the best thing to ever happen to me,” I mused.
He chuckled breathlessly, but I could tell he was already falling asleep.
I strolled through the streets of Diwan on my own for the first time in my life.
Ever since running off with Addy, I had experienced more firsts than I could count.
This was another one. One that felt more surreal than anything else that had happened.
No one stopped me, asked me where I was going or where my escorts were, but I still felt like they should. I wasn't used to being completely unprotected. But I was mated now and pregnant. I was no longer a prize. I had already been claimed.
It was so strange to think of it in those terms, but I couldn't imagine another way to do it.
Unconsciously, I dropped my hand onto my lower belly. There was no bump yet, but I could feel a small, hard spot inside me. Sometimes when I moved in the wrong way it felt like I was trying to stretch something that couldn't stretch. It was a strange feeling but it gave me a giddy sort of excitement.
Being in our house, just us, for days already, everything was starting to feel different. Like perhaps, I actually could get excited and enjoy this.
Starting with Addy's parents. His om-father was planning to spend the day with me, to walk me through some pregnancy traditions. It was a shame that my own om-mother wouldn't be doing it with me, but I could not bring myself to face her or my al-mother yet—if ever.
At least I could trust Addy's family and they had always felt like my own family anyway, so I was grateful to have them.
Until I arrived at their house and walked in to find Latif sitting in the living room and knew I had walked into a trap.
He looked just as shocked to see me as I was and we both looked at his om-father, who raised his hands in surrender.
“You both need to stop avoiding one another and finally talk.”
I grimaced.
I had been avoiding seeing my best friend and Addy's brother. Latif had made that easy though. In the weeks since our arrival back in Diwan, I hadn't so much as seen or heard a word from him.
He pursed his lips but didn't look at me or say anything as his om-father left the room.
“Latif,” I said simply, unsure what to say.
How could I explain in such a way that the rift between him and his brother would not get worse? That was what I was the most worried about.
He stood.
For a second, I thought he was going to leave but then he met my eyes, looking utterly broken and rushed to me, engulfing me in a big hug.
I returned it, stunned and relieved.
When he pulled back and I saw that look on his face again, I felt utterly retched for avoiding him all this time.
“I knew my brother hated omegas,” he said, voice trembling. “But I never expected him to do this to you.”
“Oh, Latif,” I whispered. “Please don't be mad at him.”
He shut his eyes.
“How could I ever forgive him? He stole you away and mated with you.”
“Yes, but—I wanted him to.”
It was beyond awkward to tell my friend this after a lifetime of keeping the feelings I harbored to myself.
He gave me an incredulous look and I nearly died from embarrassment, but I forced the words out.
