Chapter Twenty-OneGrace
Chapter Twenty-One
Grace
I sat on the hospital bed watching another video from the Omega Center’s library as I struggled to understand the social complexities of this world–and my own emotions. Meeting with someone from the integration team validated my feelings, but also brought up some of the challenges I might face.
However, he didn’t address the biggest issue–this wasn’t my world and I didn’t belong here.
Wes came back into the room and slid into bed. He pulled me to him, his scent enveloping me, soothing me. My brain still felt like sludge, and I wanted another nap.
“Is everything okay with work? HR’s not putting you on leave because of the investigation, are they?” I still felt bad about him missing work.
“Nope. Just getting you added to all my stuff, like my health insurance. While we set up a record for you, so you’d have the basic coverage everyone has, Spencer generously provides additional private insurance to employees.”
“Oh, I’ve been wondering how this would get paid for. This is a nice hospital,” I replied. “Thank you.”
“You’re my mate, you should be on all these things–and yes, you and Evan can both be on everything. So, I’ve been getting it all done,” he assured.
“Right, another one of Katie’s action items so you don’t go to jail.” I deflated a little. We’d already signed some sort of agreement between us that Katie had sent over.
“Hey, what’s wrong? Something’s been bugging you. What did Mrs. Beekman say?” He stroked my hair, concern etched on his face.
“Nothing.” My shoulders slumped. She had assured me that I deserved to be with someone who loved and cared for me–and that I loved and cared for in return.
It left me even more confused.
Tomorrow morning, once I was cleared by the hospital, I’d go home with Wes, where he’d take care of me until I recovered and the investigation finished. I wasn’t even hooked up to the big monitors anymore; just a small wrist one, which I’d take home with me.
Then what? What would happen when I remembered? Brennan didn’t want me there, and Jett was doing everything for appearances, since his own career could be in jeopardy.
“Was it the integration team person who said something to you?” Wes prodded, brow furrowing.
“Not specifically. I understand Jett coming by with cookies and Spencer bringing food and giving you time off work. I’m okay with being an action item to them. They don’t know me. I’m an interloper. Bringing me home with you is a big deal.” At least according to what I’d been told.
“They’re going to love you once they get to know you,” Wes soothed. “And you’re going to love them. Even Brennan.”
I wasn’t so sure about that.
“How much of everything you’re doing is because it’s what’s expected of you as an alpha, and how much of it is because you actually care for me?
” I blurted as I looked away, pain blooming inside me.
“I don’t want you to go to jail. But I need to know where I stand.
” Given that I was falling in love with him.
If I’d ever fallen out of love with him.
It was all of the silly things. Him feeding me ice cream. Bringing me Mr. Hippo. Playing games. Talking.
“Grace, Peaches?” He tilted my head toward him and ran a thumb down my face in a way that made my insides shiver.
“I’m not doing all these things just to keep me out of jail, promise.
” He pressed my back against his chest. “It’s not for appearances.
Granted, some things are getting done faster because of Katie’s lists.
But they’d all get done eventually, because I want to do these things for you.
I want to bring you home with me–not because I’ve been told to, but because that’s where you belong .
That’s where you’ve belonged from the very first time I saw you in my dreams and you told me that you were going to marry me. ”
“I did tell you that.” It was the very first thing I’d said to him when I’d seen him in my dreams that very first night.
“You know, I still don’t understand how wedding cake gave you interdimensional dream travel abilities. But I’m so glad it did.” He buried his face in my neck.
I remembered that too. When I was ten, I’d gone to a wedding and someone had given me a piece of cake in a tiny box. They told me that if I slept with it under my pillow, I’d dream of my future husband.
And there he was. So, I walked over to him and told him that one day I’d marry him. Then, I’d seen him in my dreams again and again.
“I’m so glad that you’re here. I want you to be a part of my life.
Evan does, too. I’m sure there will be bumps and squabbles, but we can make this work.
You’re not an action item, you never have been.
You’re the love of my life. Yes, I have Evan, and a pack, and I love them.
But there’s enough love in me for all of you.
I promise.” He leaned in and kissed me, soft and sweet, the first time tentative. The second was more assured.
My very soul absorbed all his words, making them part of me as their warmth trickled through my system, my heart happy. On this level, I knew what he said was true. That he wanted me here–and I wanted this.
Wes pulled away and pressed his forehead to mine. “I’m right here, and I don’t want you to doubt for one second that as long as you’re here, you belong with me and Evan.”
My brain wasn’t as convinced.
“But why? Why do you and Evan want me? Why do I want to go home with you and let you have your way with me? Why does my heart pound when you touch me? Why am I sad that Evan hasn’t been by today?
Your biological imperatives don't apply to me. I’m not from here.
It’s only a matter of time before they figure it out.
Then what?” Tears pricked my eyes. I didn’t want this all to end.
Wes hauled me into his lap, and pressed my head to his chest, arms tight around me.
“How do we know the biological imperatives don’t apply to you?
Just because your world doesn't have definitive designations doesn’t mean that they don’t exist on some fundamental level, even if they don’t manifest biologically the same way. ”
“True. Have we had this argument before?” I calmed a little under his touch.
“We have.”
“Mrs. Beekman asked if we were scent matches. She said it’s like soulmates. Are we?” I buried my head in his chest, getting lungs full of his delicious scent.
“We are. It was something we figured out a long time ago.” He pressed his lips to the top of my head.
“But why? Why would I be your match when I don’t even live in the same world? That’s so mean. What if I never got to you?” I started to cry.
He covered us with the blanket and planted little kisses on my face.
“Why does that affect me? Why do you smell so good?” I sobbed. Everything crashed down on me. “3.14159265.” I sucked in a breath. “3589793238.” I closed my eyes and willed my body to relax. “462643383279.”
“That’s it, Peaches, relax,” he soothed, purring as he put another blanket over us.
“502884197169399375…” It came out raspy, as my chest shook.
“I have you, and you’re going to be okay.”
My breath slowed. “1058209749.” I inhaled another lungful of Wes. “44592307816406.”
For a moment, we lay there in the fuzzy blankets; him holding me and purring.
Finally, the purring stopped, and he turned us so we faced each other, noses touching.
“The obvious is that your theory that we exist in a universe of simple parallel worlds and not a multiverse is erroneous. For some reason, your Wes never appeared in your world, just like my Grace never appeared here, and our biological imperatives were so strong that it pulled us to each other through the dream realm in an effort to unite us.”
I clenched. “Why is it so sexy when you talk science? Even if I stand correct at us not existing in the multiverse. But back to scent matches. I can get behind that. But when I watched a video to explain it, the video stated that it only happens between alphas and omegas. I’m not an omega. I’m not even a real gamma.”
“But I think you sort of are. Even before my test came back as alpha, I felt all those things toward you that alphas feel toward their omegas. You don’t have to be mature to recognize a scent match.
After I awakened, there were so many signs that your omega was in there waiting to blossom, especially in those last months.
My guess would be that because of the differences in your world, it never happened since some of those specific biologics don’t exist. Still, there was no doubt in my mind that you truly were my omega .
You still are. Even if you’re not genetically, you are where it counts.
” Wes pressed my hands to his heart. Heat flooded my body.
“If you’re trying to get into my pants, it’s working.” I leaned into him and stole a kiss, contemplating letting him have me in the hospital after all.
“About time. Want me to put up the door sign? I still need to determine if your pussy tastes like peaches.” Evan stood there, holding a bag, with a look of desire on his face.
I should be mortified. I should apologize, make sure he was okay with what Wes said. Instead, I popped out of bed and launched into his arms. The warmth of his giant body cocooned me, and his lemonade scent wrapped around me, going straight to my needy core.
“Evan.” I buried my face in the crook of his neck. As I wrapped my legs around him, my entire being, soul to brain, gave a satisfied shudder. Because I needed him too.
“Peaches.” Evan pulled me down on the bed, covering me with his body, smothering me with lemonade satisfaction.
“Evan, how much did you hear, I–” Wes’ voice shook.
“Stop.” Evan sandwiched me between him and Wes as he kissed Wes. “I’m going to have to start a fund where every time someone apologizes needlessly we put money in it, and at the end of the year we go on vacation.”