Chapter 29 #2
I can only imagine how Mirabelle feels after tonight.
She appears in the doorway in a pair of forest green sweatpants I bought her and one of my hoodies. My heart thumps in my chest, just like it always does when I see her wearing my clothes.
When I was buying her clothes, I only bought her one hoodie of her own and to my absolute delight, it’s remained untouched in my closet since it arrived.
“You ready to go?” I extend my hand to hers and she takes it, weaving our fingers together in a way that seems to settle the anxious part of my brain that’s been on high alert.
“Yeah,” she nods.
“You good to walk?” I ask as I hold the door open for her.
“Mhm.”
I guess she’s not in her usual chatty mood. Makes sense, given the circumstances.
Even though she seems to be walking fine, I still make the executive decision to grab one of the golf carts so she doesn’t have to walk to the stable.
“Rowan!” My Uncle Jerry calls out to me, standing outside the supply trailer.
The last thing I want to do is talk to any of my family, including my Uncle Jerry, even if he’s mostly harmless, when it comes to me, but the Doc is standing next to him too.
I let out a soft groan as I steer the golf cart towards them.
“Gotta make a pit stop, sorry, Sugar. Know you’re eager to see the guys.”
“It’s okay,” she mumbles, playing with the hem of my hoodie.
“What’s up?” I ask, putting the golf cart in park in front of the two alphas.
“Just wanted to say congratulations, my boy!” Uncle Jerry says, coming towards me, his arms wide as if he expects a hug. “You had a massive success tonight!”
I pat him awkwardly on the back as he slams his meaty hand into me. Good thing my ribs are feeling better from the beating I got from Jett last month or that would’ve fucked me up.
“Yeah,” I say, awkwardly, not really sure what to say. I turn my gaze to Doctor Stetson, who’s gaze lingers on Mirabelle’s. “Hey Doc.”
“Hey, Rowan,” he nods.
“You gonna check out the dogs with the doc, Son?” Jerry asks.
“Yeah.”
“Surprised you’re bringing the omega with you.”
My knuckles whiten on the steering wheel and I fake a casual shrug. “Thought it’d keep them docile while the doc looked at ‘em. I know they’re pretty banged up tonight, so it’s probably important they stay still and shit while he does his job.”
“Makes sense. I’ll leave you to it, then.
Good job tonight, son. Seriously, whatever magic you’re doing with your training, keep it up.
” Jerry offers me one last slap on the shoulder before heading back into the office trailer to do some of the paperwork that always has to be done after fight night.
Most of the times, it would’ve been my job, but I guess I’ve been promoted.
“You ready to go Doc?” I ask, jerking my thumb over my shoulder and towards the back row of seats.
“Yeah,” he says, picking up his briefcase of supplies. Now that my uncle is gone, he doesn’t hide the open concern on his face for Mirabelle. “You doing alright, Mirabelle?”
She just gives him a wordless, jerky head nod.
“Watching the fight was rough on her,” I explain, trying to fill the silence as we drive over to the stables.
Normally, Mirabelle is the one to do so, so her being all quiet now makes the silence even heavier.
“You brought her to the fight?” Dr. Stetson asks, scrubbing a hand down his face in disbelief.
“Yeah,” I sigh. “Dad and Jett insisted.”
I leave out the fact that they forced Mirabelle to wear a ridiculous getup and be dragged around by a leash and collar. The Doc’s alpha dad mode would probably kick in and I need him focused on the fighters if we’re going to make any progress here tonight.
Mirabelle needs to see that they’re okay.
“Took you long enough,” Ash snaps, the second the three of us step foot into the barn. His gaze cuts to Mirabelle, who stares up at his bruised and battered face with wide, teary eyes and he pales. “What’s wrong?”
“Are you okay?” Mirabelle whispers, shuffling towards Ash’s stall.
“I’m fine, Shortcake,” Ash grunts. “Nothing I’m not used to.”
His words make a small, strangled noise leave the back of Mirabelle’s throat, putting all of us on edge.
She’s the picture of an omega in distress right now, from the set of her shoulders to the bitter thickness of her normally sweet perfume.
“You—you’ve had to fight like that for years?” She croaks out, clinging to the bars of Ash’s stall.
“Nothing you have to worry your pretty little head about,” Ash says, softening his tone. “You should be excited the three of us managed to kick ass and win against a team of four.”
“You can fuss over me all you want,” Griffin says, his voice strained as he leans up against his stall door.
Mirabelle spins, shuffling over to him, her eyes roving over the parts of his body she can see like she needs to confirm he’s okay.
Griffin even does a little silent spin and gives her a smile that’s a little lopsided because of his split lip.
She wordlessly hurries to Rage’s stall, where he stands silently, like he was waiting for her.
“You guys are all hurt,” she whimpers, burying her face in her hands. “I—I’m so sorry, this is terrible. You guys don’t deserve this.”
“That’s what I’m here for, Mirabelle,” Dr. Stetson says, stepping up with his briefcase. “I’ll make sure they’ll be patched up good as new.”
“You will?” She asks.
“Dr. Stetson’s the best for this kinda stuff,” I nod, stepping behind her and lacing my fingers with hers.
I need to touch her, to try and offer her some reassuring physical contact, especially after tonight, where I wasn’t allowed to touch her at all, unless it was to put on that stupid show.
I know I’m not an alpha, but from what I’ve learned, physical contact in general is a big thing used to help with omegas in distress. And Mirabelle is definitely in distress.
“Dunno about the new guy,” Ash says with a teasing huff towards Griffin, “But Rage and I have survived worse. Like I said, you’ve got nothing to worry about, Shortcake.”
“Hey, I pulled my weight during that fight, doesn’t that mean I’ve graduated from the ‘New guy’ label?” Griffin snorts in response.
Mirabelle watches anxiously as Dr. Stetson patches all three of them back up. I don’t think she takes a full breath until the doc finishes up patching up Rage and gives the all clear.
Even though she seems to be a little more relaxed, now that she’s seen and spoken with all the guys after the fight, I know that I’m not bringing her to any of the other fights.
If only I knew how badly that would backfire on us.