17. Sebastian

Chapter 17

Sebastian

As the post-sex clarity begins to kick in, I catch myself wondering what the fuck is going on. I know that Roman and I had discussed pursuing our interest in Oliver as allies, but I hadn't expected things to escalate so quickly. Not that I'm regretting it. Kinda the opposite really.

I look over at Oliver and Roman as we all finish getting dressed again. The silence is comfortable, not awkward or anything like that. It's the kind of silence that comes when you've all said everything there is to say and you feel like you completely understand one another. It's not something I've ever actually experienced before.

I like it.

"I hope you guys understand the situation now," Oliver says once we're all dressed. "That what I'm feeling for each of you, all four of you, is too much for me to ever be able to choose between you. Ever since we met, my wolf has been pulling me toward all of you. Even now that I'm here with both of you, it wants me to find the other two. I need all of you. Desperately. It feels…I don't know, selfish? Greedy? Wrong of me to ask you all to be okay with this. But I don't know what else to do. I can't help how I feel."

"Hey, it's okay," Roman says gently, reaching out and taking Oliver's hand. "We get it. You don't need to be so hard on yourself. There's no shame in being true to yourself."

"He's right. Besides, if this is what you want, what you really truly want, then we're behind you all the way. I can't speak for the others, but I'm sure they'd say the same. This is what's best for you. And if it makes you happy, then I'm happy."

"I'm really glad to hear that," Oliver says, his eyes welling up with tears. He quickly dries them on his sleeves. "But now I think we should probably go find Theo and Lucas. I asked them to wait in my cabin, so they're probably there right now. They need to know everything I've been feeling lately. They need to know that I think all of you are my fated mates."

"Wait," Roman says, his eyes widening. "Fated mates? You mean…"

"Yes." Oliver nods. "It's the only thing that explains this connection I have with all of you. I don't think it's just the usual omega and alpha stuff. This is something different. Something stronger. Like we're meant to be together. And I'm not going to deny that anymore."

"I thought that stuff was just a myth," I mumble. "Like, a story that's told to kids so they'll have something to hope for."

"It's not a myth," Oliver says firmly. "It's real. I believe it with all my heart. And now I'm sure of it."

"So, where do we go from here?" Roman asks. "How do we tell Theo and Lucas? Do you want us there with you?"

"Of course I want you there with me," Oliver says. "I want you by my side no matter what."

"Okay, then let's go," Roman nods and gestures toward the door.

The three of us head back outside and across the compound. A few people give us some curious glances, but nobody asks any questions. We walk down the winding paths and up the hill to the place where Oliver's cabin sits. As we approach, we can hear laughter coming from inside.

"They must already be waiting," Oliver says, sounding nervous.

"It's going to be fine," I reassure him. "Everything is going to be fine."

I'm not sure where this certainty is coming from, but I'm not just saying it to make him feel better. It feels like something has just clicked into place inside of me. That this really is the relationship I was always meant for. Roman, Theo, Lucas, and I have always been friends. We grew up together, we've fought, played, and worked together all our lives. And that Oliver is here, now that he's stepped into this role in the center of our relationship, it feels like I finally understand the purpose of the bond we all share.

It's for him. To protect him. To care for him. To help him raise our future pups and create a healthy, stable home where we can all thrive.

"Yeah, everything will be fine," Roman agrees, resting a reassuring hand on Oliver's shoulder. "Whatever happens next, we're all in this together."

Oliver smiles and nods, looking a bit more confident than before. "Okay. Let's go."

When we open the door, Theo and Lucas are sitting on the sofa talking quietly.

"Hey, guys," Oliver greets them, trying not to sound too nervous.

They look up at Roman and me in surprise. Clearly, they hadn't been expecting either of us to be here right now, especially not both of us.

"What's going on?" Theo asks, raising a brow.

"There's something that I think we need to talk about," Oliver says as we file into the cabin and close the door quietly behind us. "What do you guys know about fated mates?"

"It's a story that's told to pups," Theo says, waving a hand dismissively. "It's not real. It doesn't exist."

"Then how do you explain what you've all been feeling since we met?" Oliver counters. "I'm certain, even if you haven't said it explicitly, that you've all felt the same pull that I have. Being drawn to me, like your wolf is pulling you toward mine. It doesn't stop until we're together, and even then, there's something pulling you closer. Something that makes you want to claim me as your mate."

Theo's face pales a little, and Lucas's cheeks flush red. Neither of them can deny what Oliver is saying, even though they try.

"I think he's right," Roman says, taking a step forward. "It's the only thing that makes sense. The certainty that I had when we found Oliver… I was convinced he was Dodger despite the evidence to the contrary. I think—no, I know it was that need to be close to him. We didn't find Dodger, but we did find something that we didn't even know we'd been searching for."

"But the pack—" Lucas starts to say.

"Fuck the pack," Oliver says, interrupting him. "I don't care about the pack's laws or traditions or whatever. I don't need a single wolf to approve of our mating. I just want to be happy. And I can't be happy unless you guys are a part of my life. You're my mates, and nothing is going to change that."

"You're sure about this?" Theo asks, looking a bit skeptical.

"One hundred percent," Oliver replies without hesitation. "I-I don't think I've ever been more sure of anything. You're all important to me, and I can't imagine a future where you're not in it."

"Then, if that's the case," Theo says with a slight shrug, "who am I to argue?"

"Me neither," Lucas adds. "I honestly can't think of a good argument against it. So, if it makes you happy, Ollie, then I'm all in."

"Even if it means we can't stay here?" Roman says after a moment. "Because there's no way the elders will agree to this. A single omega claiming so many alphas is not allowed. I think we'll have to leave no matter what."

"We can build a new pack," Oliver says confidently. "Together. Just the six of us."

"That could work." Roman nods.

"Wait, six of us?" Theo frowns. "Are you…do you mean…?"

"Not yet," Oliver says, a big grin spreading across his face. "You four are my mates. And as soon as breeding season arrives, our pack will be growing. I have no doubt of that."