Chapter 53
Ugh, these two are just sickeningly sweet together.
Spence stares down at my omega with an expression akin to wonder, almost like he can’t believe she’s actually talking to him.
Maybe he can’t. There does seem to be a shortage of omegas around here.
Not that you see them out in the wild that often, not without a pack or family around, but I hope this isn’t just a novelty for the big guy.
She seems to really like him, and he really can’t be any worse than that absolute dick waiting back home. Speaking of which.
“Sarah, honey. I don’t want to burst anybody’s bubble.
But, if you plan on starting anything with any alphas, I think they have a right to know that you already have a scent match.
” My girl’s eyes flick between me and Spence a few times as his face falls into a look of dejection.
I don’t want to fuck this up for her, but he has a right to know what he’s getting into.
Her voice is still happy though, not quite getting what I’m laying down for her, or not realizing how upset he is now.
“Oh, right. But they’ve all met you. I guess that hasn’t come up.
Big Moose, this is Greg, he’s my scent-matched beta, so anywhere I end up, so will he.
So don’t go getting any funny ideas about not having him in your pack.
” While that is very sweet, and I appreciate her making me feel included, I don’t like her leaving out the rest.
“I meant the douche-canoe back in L.A. You know, the one who couldn’t be bothered to let you spend your vacation with him and his pack?
” Sarah swallows convulsively, and I belatedly realize that she completely forgot about him until now.
I hate that I had to say anything, but if she wants to move forward, it needs to be with cards on the table.
“John? Yeah. I don’t particularly like him, but he has been half-assed courting you, so it’s not fair to Spence to not know. ”
I’m enjoying the fact that she didn’t remember he exists; he doesn’t deserve her time or attention, but I hate how her voice sounds when she talks about him.
“Yeah…I. I have a scent match back home. I met him and his pack right after Thanksgiving, and he said he wanted to court me.” She’s looking up at Spencer, basically just repeating what I already said, and he bites his lower lip to stop it from shaking.
“But he doesn’t want to. Not really. I’ve only seen him a couple of times since then.
Right before Christmas break and then a few weeks after we got back when he told me I couldn’t spend spring break with them.
It’s been almost two months now so I don’t know if he still plans to court me, but I don’t like how he makes me feel—like I’m not worth his time.
I know he’s supposed to be mine, but…it doesn’t feel like that’s what he wants.
” Her head drops, so she’s staring at the floor as she mumbles this last bit.
Spence hunkers down so he’s squatting in front of her, his big hand coming up and hooking his knuckle under her chin so she has to look at him.
“Ok, but what do you want? Sarah”—her whole body shudders when he says her name—“I like you, a lot. But I don’t want to step on anybody’s toes.
” Spence looks resigned, but he’s trying to offer her a smile.
“If you want this other alpha, and he’s willing to give it a shot for you, then by all means, he’s yours.
I’ve talked to Teddy about how strong a scent match is, so I can only guess that even being separated from him must hurt really bad.
I’m glad you have Greg as a match too; he seems like a cool guy to have around, even if you weren’t banging him.
” My girl lets out a startled watery laugh.
“I’m not saying this to get in your pants, but like I said, I like you, and I don’t like my people getting hurt.
If he doesn’t treat you right, you don’t have to put up with it.
I don’t care if he is your scent match. Nobody should be able to make you ever feel like you’re not enough.
You are more than enough. And I’m pretty sure your beta here would agree with me. ”
Tears are running down Sarah’s face as she searches his eyes for the truth.
I don’t have a clear view from my position, but she must find what she’s looking for because a moment later, her arms are around his neck and he makes a strangled noise as she drags him out of his crouch, causing him to land hard on his knees.
I wonder if she’s thinking about more than just the asshole alpha.
She won’t say anything about her family, but if I’m being honest, I wanted to slap the shit out of a few of them for the gaslighting bullshit they were doing.
I’d like to think it wasn’t intentional, ’cause who would do that shit on purpose to their own kid, but it’s hard to imagine that much tomfuckery being an accident.
Spence finally gets his feet back under him and stands up, his arms looping under her as she buries her face in his neck.
Her back is shaking with the force of her sobs, and he rubs his hand up and down her spine, making soothing shushing noises.
A loud snarl makes me spin around and see Teddy marching purposefully across the floor from the front desk.
But my girl needs this emotional release.
She keeps everything locked up so tight under a sassy mask, never letting anybody see how much she hurts.
I meet Teddy halfway, and while he’s not happy about it, he does stop long enough to ask, “What the fuck did he do? Why is she crying? I didn’t see anybody else talking to her, so it was him, right?
Fuck! What happened, Greg? I’m tryin’ hard not to jump to conclusions here, but come on.
” He huffs and puffs like a freight train as he stares at them.
Spence is just standing there holding her, his legs shifting, swaying his huge body back and forth while he rubs her back.
You can tell the exact moment his purr starts up because the man sounds like an airplane engine. Plus, his face turns bright red.
Teddy finally stops glaring to focus on me so I can explain.
“He told her she was enough, and anybody who didn’t agree wasn’t worth her time.
” The big omega looks surprised for a minute, then hurt and indecisive, like he wants to go over and say something, so I continue.
“You had to wonder why she brought her beta along on this little excursion instead of the alpha she matched to. He hasn’t exactly been a font of affection or understanding.
Plus, you lived across the hall for years—were you ever subjected to her family?
Even short term.” His entire body shudders, and that in itself is answer enough.
Teddy’s voice is quiet as he leans closer to me, trying to keep her from hearing him.
“I knew they were assholes. Fuck, one of her sisters was still at the center when I arrived. They didn’t hang out together or anything, thank goodness.
I don’t think I could have stomached being around her.
She was a fucking harpy then, and it’s probably gotten worse.
I didn’t even think of that shit. I mean, it’s not like I could have stayed there after finding Sam and Kelly, but I should have checked in more. I knew those people were horrible.”
“I don’t want to say that Sarah’s not your responsibility, but we both know she wouldn’t tell you if something was wrong.
That’s kind of how we ended up…here. Her alpha that she matched to isn’t interested…
or he is, but it’s complicated.” I make air quotes around the last word.
“From what I can tell, his pack didn’t match to her, and I’m not sure if that’s causing him hesitation, or if he really is just a stuck-up piece of shit who refuses to commit to her for some reason.
Honestly, he has a stick shoved so far up his ass, it’s a wonder it’s not poking out the top of his head.
God knows that might mess up his perfect fucking hair.
The guy gives me bad fucking vibes, and it feels like he’s hiding something.
Though I can’t say that to her because he’s her alpha. ”
Teddy nods along, looking like he wants to add to my tirade a few times but waiting until I finish.
Instead of asking about my rant, he nods to Spencer, who’s still rocking back and forth with my omega.
She might have fallen asleep on him again, it’s hard to tell from this angle, but at least she isn’t shaking anymore.
“So, what do you want me to do about that?” His voice is quiet, as if he doesn’t want to wake her up.
“He’s on the clock, and while I’m good with him helping her out, I know he’s going to want to stay longer to make up the time.
He hates feeling like he’s taking advantage of us.
He doesn’t realize that a big part of the reason we have so many clients is because of him.
Everybody likes the guy and he’s always talking us up.
I can’t even count how many people come in here starting memberships because he talks about this place to everybody.
Kelly was worried when we hired him that we wouldn’t be able to afford to keep him on if business didn’t pick up, but he’s the reason we’re doing so well. ”
I chuckle lightly because, somehow, that doesn’t surprise me in the least. I don’t know what it is about him.
At first, I thought he was kind of an idiot, but even then a likeable idiot.
He’s not though, he’s just gormless...but even that isn’t quite accurate.
He doesn’t seem to have a mean bone in his body, and it’s refreshing as hell.
Spence finally shifts his attention away from Sarah, seeing Teddy standing with me.
He looks panicked for a moment before Sarah’s head moves, burrowing against his throat, and his attention drops back to her.
Teddy taps me on the arm. His voice is quiet.
“Come on. We have coffee and snacks in the break room. I’ll fill you in on a bit more about the big guy over low-carb muffins.
” He makes a gagging face. “Vee keeps making them as a healthy option for work, but I’m the only one who loves him enough to suffer through the taste.
You can choke one down while I let you pick my brain about Sarah or Spence.
” Well, I’m not gonna get another offer that good, probably… what the fuck is a low-carb muffin?