Chapter 48 Thea #2
Liam doesn’t let go of my hands as we continue to move, albeit slowly, around the rink. “My mom taught me, she loved dancing and skating, really anything that moved the body in a fluid way. Skating was really her passion.”
“Was? Did something happen?”
“She has muscular dystrophy. When she was initially diagnosed when I was a kid, things didn’t change that much right away but it’s a disease that will progress, and medicine can only help slow it down.
She hasn’t been able to skate or dance like she used to in years. My dads take care of her though.”
“I’m so sorry. That has to be hard. Do you see her often?”
“In person no, but we try to have a video call at least once a week. Her diagnosis is part of what motivated me to go into medicine in the first place. Helping people, taking their concerns seriously. It took a long time for my mom to get answers on what was wrong. Too long, if her primary listened better, tested earlier—it doesn’t matter now.
As long as I can help someone like she needed, that’s what’s important. ”
“She must be so proud of you.”
“Mhm, yeah, well it doesn’t mean anything if I can’t save the one person I need to.” He looks away from me. “Sorry, didn’t mean to bring the mood down.”
“You know Keelan told me once no one expects me to be happy and perfect all the time. That goes both ways. He was right when he said that isn’t real. I want it to be real, with you, the pack,” I say, pulling us to a stop.
“You know I’m going to do everything I can to get you through this heat safely, right?”
I reach up to wrap my arms around his neck.
“I know you will. I have my own fears about the heat but never one about whether or not you’ll be able to get me through it.
” I pull him down for a kiss. It’s gentler than I expected but perfect for us.
His hand wraps around my waist, pulling me close to him, our bodies connected as much as possible in this position.
When we break away, I’m a little breathless and as he notices, a smug smirk forms on his face. There’s my Doc.
“C’mon let’s skate for real, I can do it,” I say.
He looks at me questioningly. Playing off my own inexperience, I move ahead with one foot then another.
Not fast but better than before. Liam catches up to me in no time.
The showoff he is, he skates backwards again in front of me.
“How about a race then?” He thinks I’ll back down but I won’t.
I know I’ll lose but it’ll still be fun.
“Good idea, what are the terms?”
Surprised I agreed so quickly, he thinks for a moment before saying, “First one to the net wins.” We’re about halfway so at least it’s not the entire rink.
I’m pretty sure I can get there without falling, yeah, totally, like sixty percent sure.
“You’re on,” I say in all seriousness. I do get competitive so I’ll still try my best. One day I’ll beat him at something.
He moves next to me so we’re starting in the same place.
“Ready…set…go!” he shouts as he speeds off at a pace I could never match.
I’m trailing far behind him but still steady, so I count that as a win so far.
I’m halfway to the net when he reaches it, circling around it with a huge smile on his face.
I love that look. Definitely worth losing for, that was my prize anyways.
Staring at him must’ve been too much of a distraction as my foot lands weird and my balance is thrown off.
Before I know it, my ass is hitting the ice.
“Fuck, are you okay? This was a stupid idea.” Liam reaches the spot where I fell.
I’m laughing at myself for falling and he looks at me like I’m crazy. “Okay I know you didn’t hit your head….”
Rolling my eyes, I sniff, “Always so serious, I’m fine. I’m laughing because I fell. Now help me up.” He lets out a huff of annoyance but reaches down to help me but I pull hard, making him fall next to me.
“What was that for?”
“I didn’t feel like getting up yet and wanted you next me.” I shrug as I lie down on the ice.
I feel him lie down with me and move closer. “You could’ve just asked,” he grumbles.
“Nah, you would’ve made a big deal about making sure nothing was hurt and all that.”
His shoulder is just about where my head is and I slide over a little and rest my head on it. “Liam?”
“Yeah, Sweetheart?”
“I’m falling in love with you.” I’m pretty sure he stops breathing. “You alive over there?”
“Yes I’m alive. A little warning, otherwise I need a minute.”
“I don’t really know how else to say it. You really can’t ease into that statement.” Well someone probably can but I’m not wired that way.
He moves so he’s partially sitting up, now able to look down at me. “You can, like this—Thea, you’re the most beautiful omega, no person, inside and out. I love the way you butt heads with me, test me, how you are with the pack, every up and down with you I love, because I love you.”
Yep, that definitely is nicer than just blurting it out. My eyes are watering, I don’t want to cry. He leans down to kiss me but I stop him. “Wait, one more thing, I’m ready to bond with you during my heat, if that is something you’re also ready for.”
His face is so close to mine, I can see the tiny speckles of brown in his otherwise green eyes. “I just told you I love you, of course that’s something I’m ready for.”
“Well doesn’t hurt to be sure.”
“You” Kiss. “Drive” Kiss. “Me” Kiss. “Crazy” Kiss. “In the best way.” A deeper kiss that makes me feel like I’ll melt this ice beneath us with how hot I feel. I break away from the kiss abruptly.
“Sorry, I was feeling like a heat wave might be coming on. I don’t want to trigger it here.”
Realization dawns and he nods. “Of course, we should try to avoid triggering as many as we can between now and the heat.” His doctor hat is now firmly in place.
“I’m sorry.”
“I, of all people know how important this is. Don’t be sorry, your health is more important.
” At this point I want to get my heat over with, so we don’t have to worry about it and I can be with the guys.
A month ago I would’ve thought it impossible to feel that way; how quickly things change.
We get up and this time there’s no more racing, instead we skate at my pace around the rink.
At one point he grabs my hand and does a version of our kitchen dancing here on the ice.
With him leading we go faster and it feels like flying.
By the time we’re heading off the ice I feel like I’m floating.
We didn’t get home as late as I thought we would, but the house is pretty quiet.
Liam heads off to his room after a good night kiss.
I end up in the kitchen, picking at the plate Ben left for me before deciding to read a little before bed.
Putting the plate away, I make my way to that little nook I found Jake in.
It feels secluded even with the big window.
There’s a soft plush blanket there now and my e-reader is tucked into it.
I’ve been reading here a few nights a week.
Getting comfortable, I look out the window, realizing it’s nearly totally black out with just the little bit of light catching on the small amount of snow dusting the ground nearest the window.
I pull out my phone to text Keelan and Parker I’m going to read for a little bit in case they wonder where I am if they see Liam’s home.
Before I pull up our group chat I see a text from earlier tonight from an unknown number.
My heart starts racing. No. It can’t be him.
Not again, not here, not now. Opening it, I see two photos.
The first is a grainy photo of me and Liam tonight at the rink.
It’s from far away and up high, maybe a security camera.
Has to be. There’s no way he was there. The second photo isn’t one I immediately recognize until I see my startled face in the background.
I really did look like I was going to pass out.
It’s from the night at the bowling alley, weeks ago.
That teenager who took the photo must have posted it somewhere.
He found it. That’s how he found me. His message is thankfully short:
UNKNOWN
My flower, I found you yet again. You looked stunning tonight. I’m tiring of our distance, the chase has been fun but it’s time we are together. See you soon my love. X
My heart feels like it’s going to beat out of my chest. I can’t run; I have a pack now.
I’m bonded. Realization hits, I’m bonded—what will he do when he finds out?
What if he already knows. He’ll take them from me like Connor.
I can’t…can’t do that again. I can’t breathe.
Can’t lose them. Black spots dot my vision and my ears start ringing.
I can’t lose them, not again. Then it all goes dark.
The End, until Part 2.