He seemed so small and fragile in my arms. I felt the heat drain slowly from his body as he slept, slowly coming back down to normal. The idea of Ivory going through a heat hadn't even occurred to me until Dr Boone brought it up at the hospital. She had told me how important it was for him to feel safe and taken care of during it, so he wouldn't solidify more trauma.

I had done everything I could to make him feel that way, but there's still no telling how he'll react when he wakes up. Honestly I was expecting him to freak out, at least at first. Although sex was the only thing that could help him during the heat, and he wanted it desperately in the moment, omega's in heat are far from their usual selves, and instincts override everything else.

At least for now he was okay, sleeping peacefully on my chest. His long black lashes cast shadows down his cheeks, and his dark hair was tangled and messy. How did I ever get lucky enough to have him as my mate. I still had trouble believing it sometimes. I wonder how he will react when he realizes our connection. Hopefully he will be happy. Thoughts of Ivory and I, happy and growing old together, lulled me off to sleep, and I was out like a light in a few minutes.

I woke up a few hours later to the sun in my eyes. Blinking in the bright light I looked down at Ivory, still asleep in my arms. I sighed and closed my eyes again. It's going to be difficult for him when he wakes up. Honestly, I'm expecting a panic attack; begging, crying, probably a retreat to the far corner. But I am ready for it, ready to be here for him as many times as he needs me to be.

Soon, the beam of light from the rising sun lit Ivory's face as well, and he stirred against my chest. Inwardly I braced myself, preparing to help calm him down from the panic I am sure is coming. His beautiful blue eyes fluttered open, and blinked a few times in the sunlight.

Slowly, as if I were seeing the gears of his brain turning, I watched the memories of his heat come back to him. He shot up like an arrow, the sheets pooling around his waist as he whipped around to stare at me with wide eyes. Before I could reach out to him or say anything, he collapsed back onto my chest, burying his head against me as his shoulders shook.

I was stunned for a moment, this was not the reaction I had been expecting. Somehow, by some miracle, he had stayed with me, coming to me for help, instead of trying to get as far away as possible. And now here he was, crying desperately against me and trembling like a leaf.

Wrapping my arms around him, I rocked him gently from side to side, rubbing his back slowly and humming in his ear. His hands were balled into fists, gripping tight to my shirt, and his long legs were curled up, trying to make him seem as small as possible.

It took him a few minutes to calm down to any noticeable degree, but eventually he was reduced to a tear-stained, hiccuping mess in my arms. I pulled him away from my chest so I could look at him, and spoke gently as I wiped a tear from his cheek, "Talk to me love, tell me what's wrong." He seemed skeptical, and sniffled as he looked down at his lap.

"I...I-we, last night, I'm not allowed, I'm s-sorry. Please don't-please don't hate me. Please..." I sighed, this was more like the reaction I was expecting, "No baby, I could never hate you. You're safe here with me now, and you are allowed to do whatever you want." I paused for a moment, wondering how far I should go and what would be too much for him to hear.

"Ivory... Do you remember when I told you that you were my mate?" He nodded slowly, and I continued, "what do you know about mates?" He took a moment to think about it before replying slowly, "W-when you have a... a mate, you're together for-forever. I-uhm, I'm not really sure. But I don't-don't have a mate. F-father said no one would e-ever want to l-love me like-like that."

"I know that's what you learned from your father, but he was wrong. I feel that way about you Ivory, I want to love you like that... I do love you like that." He stared back at me, his eyes wide and questioning, as if he didn't quite believe me. "But I'm... you're a..." he stuttered to himself, dropping his gaze to stare down at the sheets below him.

I lifted his chin with my finger and looked into his teary, blue eyes. "I just wanted you to know that Ivory, so you know that I will always be here for you. You don't have to be afraid of your father anymore, I'm going to protect you. There is nothing you can do to make me stop loving you."

He was breathing heavily, his hands shaking in his lap. I knew he was probably confused or disbelieving but I had to say it, had to tell him how I felt. "I think...I t-think I love you too." He said in a tiny voice, so low I could barely hear him.

My breath caught in my throat. I couldn't believe what I had just heard. I smiled down at my omega, brushing a strand of his hair behind his ear. He looked back at me for a moment, before collapsing back down onto my chest. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and held him close, wondering what life was going to look like now.

We laid quietly for a while while I tried to figure out how I was going to make everything work. Obviously, Ivory would not be going back to his previous house, so that meant he would have to find somewhere else to stay. Immediately I decided that he would stay here with me, where I could keep him safe and help him heal.

There are complications that come with that plan though. There was still a semester left of senior year, and then I would be heading off to college. If it were up to me, he would come along wherever I ended up. But that was the problem, it wasn't up to me. What if he wasn't ready to leave everything behind and follow me?

Then there was the issue of my parents. They knew about the situation, and were thoughtful enough to give us some time alone for these few days. That wouldn't last forever though. What would it be like to have my mate in the house with my family back at home? How would they react to him? Would he be comfortable around them?

"Ivory?" I asked, running my fingers through his soft hair, "mhm" he hummed from his position against my chest. "Do you...do you want to stay here with me, now that you won't be with your father?" He was quiet for a moment and then, "I...I can s-stay?" "Yes, yes of course you can stay. I want you to stay." He sat up, nodding slowly as he answered, "I w-want to stay t-too. I want to-want to stay with y-you for...forever."

I looked back into his big blue eyes, reaching out to cup his blushing cheeks. I couldn't believe how lucky I was. I had found my mate, and he was perfect. More than that, he wanted to stay with me, he trusted me enough to want to stay. I glowed with pride as I smiled down at my little omega, pulling him against my chest in a tight hug.

Resting my chin on the top of his head I gazed quietly out of the window where clouds were beginning to gather. Glancing at the clock on my wall, I spoke quietly to Ivory, "Are you hungry? I'll make you something to eat." Standing up, I took his delicate hand in mine and helped him stand.

Ivory's legs shook beneath him as he put his weight on them, and he leaned on my arm for support as I opened the door for him. In the kitchen, I pulled out a chair at the bar for him, and he sat silently at the counter watching me cook. "D-do you want me to... I s-should help. It's my job t-to..." putting down the spoon in my hand I looked up at him, "It's your job to sit there and rest while I take care of you, at least for now."

Blushing a deep rosy pink, he stayed quiet after that, and I made quick work of pancakes and eggs for breakfast. When I set the plate down in front of him, Ivory looked confused at what I was offering. He looked at the food, and then back up at me with a questioning look. "It's for you Ivory, go ahead, they're good." He hesitated, but picked up his knife and fork.

As soon as he put the first bite in his mouth I knew he liked it. As usual, he didn't make any sound unless directly spoken to, but the look on his face told me that he appreciated my cooking. When we had both finished eating, we sat quietly at the counter. I watched the rain fall outside the kitchen window.

Next to me, Ivory let out a sigh, his shoulders sagging as he played with his fingers on his lap. "How about we go back to bed, we can watch a movie or something?" He looked relieved at my suggestion, and followed me back up the stairs to my room. Sitting down on the bed, I turned on my tv and flicked through Netflix.

"What would you like to watch?" "I uhm... whatever you w-want." Humming, I settled on a series that I had seen before, and thought Ivory might like. He was still standing awkwardly by the door, so I beckoned him over to me as the blond actor on screen shouted as his mother. I turned the volume down, and looked up at Ivory who now stood before me.

I reached out and took his hands in mine, smilingly gently up at him. "Would you like to lie down?" He paused for a moment before answering, "I, I... will you h-hold me?" My smile grew as I pulled him down next to me on the bed, gently guiding him to lie back. When he was lying down on his side, I pulled him into my chest, and wrapped my arms around him.

We lay there peacefully, vaguely watching tv. Outside my window, the rain fell heavily and the clouds grew slowly darker. Raindrops pattered on the roof above us as the steady hum of the heater buzzed. My room was lit with the warm orange light from my lamp. It was warm and cozy here, I was with my omega, my Ivory. If only things could stay Like this forever.