Chapter 43
Wilder
I scraped another chunk of leaves out of Lucy’s gutters and thanked the universe I hadn’t been commanded to do something social to win over my omega. Manual labor was much more in my wheelhouse.
“Umm, what are you doing?” My heart leapt at Lucy’s voice. She squinted up at me from the sidewalk, and time stopped because my girl’s eyes were red and puffy.
I was down the ladder in an instant, leaning down to cup her face. “What’s wrong?”
Lucy’s plush lips parted, but no words escaped. She was wearing a soft yellow dress decorated with green vines. She looked perfect except for the fact that she was fucking crying.
“Tell me who hurt you, sweetheart, and I’ll take care of it.” A rumble rolled through my chest as protectiveness surged through me. Lucy was pure sweetness, and she moved through the world giving that sweetness to everyone she met. I would be the one to shield her from the world’s harshness.
Her cheeks flushed a gorgeous pink. “Nobody hurt me.” At my growl, she continued. “I have to bring Blossom to the wildlife rescue people and I’m sad to say goodbye.” She laughed, but it was a hollow sound. “It’s my fault for getting too attached. I do that a lot.”
It was only then that I noticed the small bunny curled up on her arm, her nose twitching gently in her sleep. “Nothing wrong with that,” I said gruffly. And I meant it. “She looks happy with you.”
A sad little smile twisted her lips. “She’s made both of us happy.” I glanced down and realized Felix was sitting by her feet. “I hope I’ve taken good care of her, but I need to do what’s best for her.”
Irrational hatred for the wildlife rescue rose in me. “I’ll come with you.”
She blinked. “Oh. You don’t—”
I didn’t let her finish her sentence and instead put my hand on her back and guided her down the street to the clinic. She glanced up at me, confusion filling her bright blue eyes, but I had no explanation to offer for my behavior.
“What were you doing on the ladder?” she asked.
“Cleaning your gutters.”
“Why would you do that?”
Now it was my turn to be at a loss for words. “It needed to be done.”
“Riiiight.” She peered at me like she was trying to figure me out.
James was already in the lobby when we arrived. He greeted us with a smile, and I had the urge to smack the expression off his face. I’d never cared about being charming, but now I wished I had the beta vet’s easy appeal.
“You’re right on time,” he said, gesturing at two women who looked to be in their sixties standing by the check-in counter. “This is Mable and Iris from Maine Wildlife Rescue.”
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Lucy.” She glanced up at me. “And this is Wilder, who is here for…reasons.”
I snorted and Lucy flashed me a smile that made my breath catch.
Iris clasped her hands together when she caught sight of the still-sleeping Blossom. “She looks like she’s doing well.”
“I think so.” Lucy’s voice was steady, but the slight burnt edge to her scent gave her away. I rubbed my hand down her back before I realized what I was doing, my alpha desperate to soothe her.
James opened a door to a small exam room. “I’ll take another look at Blossom’s leg to make sure it’s healing well before we send her to her new home.”
All of us filed into the room. My bulk made it a tight squeeze, but I wasn’t about to leave Lucy’s side.
She set Blossom down on a towel and the bunny immediately hopped back to her. Mable and Iris exchanged a surprised glance.
“You’re okay, cutie,” Lucy crooned, gently stroking the bunny’s tiny ears. “James is just going to check your leg.”
But Blossom just burrowed closer to her.
“How long has she been acting like this?” Mable asked, eyes wide.
“Like what?” Lucy asked, glancing back at the women. Just then, Felix startled all of us by jumping onto the exam table. I hadn’t even seen him enter the room. The cat stood over Blossom, his fluffy paws bracketing her on either side.
“So…cuddly,” Iris said, bewildered.
“Oh. She’s been like that since I brought her home. But that’s not weird, right? Wouldn’t she want to cuddle instead of being alone?”
Iris squeezed past me so she could get closer. “It is rather odd, actually. Wild bunnies stay skittish around humans, even at our rescue. She actually might be a domesticated variety who got out. Sometimes it can be hard to tell them apart, especially when they’re little. Let’s take a look at her.”
Blossom was wrapped around Lucy’s wrist so tightly she had to be pried off.
“Well, it looks like her leg is much better.” Mable chuckled.
She inspected the bunny until she saw something that made her eyebrows shoot up.
“Well, that makes sense. Blossom here is indeed a wild bunny, but she’s exceptionally rare.
” She handed her back to Lucy, who tucked her to her chest. “Blossom is an omega.”
Lucy’s jaw dropped. “What? I didn’t know bunnies could be omegas.”
“Most people don’t. The first research paper confirming the existence of omega designations in bunnies and rabbits was published just a few years ago.”
Mable’s eyes were bright with excitement. “This is incredible. We haven’t had a documented case of an omega bunny in New England because they usually die really young.”
“Why?” Lucy breathed, holding Blossom even closer.
“Wild bunnies tend to be pretty solitary, and omegas need packs. Luckily, Blossom found hers.” Iris looked between Lucy and Felix.
“We’re her pack?” Lucy’s scent was a riot of emotion, and I couldn’t stop myself from wrapping my arm around her shoulder. She leaned into my chest and her scent settled.
“It seems that way. What would you think about keeping her? If you can’t, we can still take her, although I worry that without a pack—”
“She’s staying,” Lucy blurted out. I hadn’t realized how much tension she was holding in her body until it released.
Her shoulders loosened and a radiant smile spread across her face.
“It sounds like you’re stuck with me, Blossom.
Is that okay with you?” The bunny did a sleepy stretch and then flopped back down to sleep.
“This is amazing,” James said with a clap of his hands. “Could you show me how you identified Blossom as an omega in case I run into this situation again?”
Iris gently took the bunny from Lucy and launched into an animated discussion with James and Mable about the latest research.
“Are you happy now?” I murmured to Lucy.
She beamed. “Yeah.”
“She’s lucky to have you.” Fuck, I sounded like such a sap, but seeing Lucy happy was everything.
Mable and Iris gave Lucy instructions for the bunny’s care and promised to keep in touch.
When we finally left the clinic, Felix purring as he strutted ahead of us, the energy couldn’t have been more different from our way there.
Lucy was practically bouncing, her gold hair caught in the wind as she told Blossom all about the nest they would make for her.
When we got to her place, she hesitated as she glanced up at me. “Thanks for coming with me.”
When I kept standing in silence like an idiot, she continued. “Um, and you don’t have to clean my gutters. I’m sure you have lots to do. Are you working today?”
“No. My next stretch starts tomorrow.” I took a step forward. Slowly raised my hand. When she didn’t move away, I ran my fingers down her arm until I captured her hand. “I didn’t explain myself well yesterday. I need you to know I would have come to craft night if I could have.”
She squeezed my hand. Her blue eyes were equally stunning and piercing, leaving me with the distinct impression that she could see straight through me.
This was when I should tell her everything about my diagnosis and why we could never be truly together like an alpha and omega should be, but the words got stuck in my throat.
“Wilder, I…”
“You don’t need to say anything, sweetheart. Just know that I’m here for you, and I’m going to keep being here until I win back your trust.”
Her lip trembled and she looked away.
“Can I give you a hug?” My words came out rough and broken.
She let out a shuddering breath and fell into my arms. I wrapped them around her, being careful not to crush Blossom, and kissed the top of her head.
Later, once her gutters were clean and I was back in my cabin, I could still scent her on my shirt.