Chapter 14
Charm
Hestia’s behavior has been off since we corrected her about not having an omega.
She was quiet on the walk to the town square. I tried to make conversation, but she only gave me one-word answers or hummed noises of acknowledgement. I ended up carrying on the conversation by myself.
Hestia isn’t an agitated patient that I need to soothe. She’s allowed to be left to her own thoughts, but I couldn’t help myself from trying to fix whatever’s bothering her.
I never even thought to mention that we don’t have a mate.
Orion filed the paperwork to close our pack years ago, though it’s a formality that can be easily undone.
Even if I had thought about it, I would have dismissed it as creepy to specifically tell our omega trainee that we don’t have an omega.
It’s nice that HR gives us employee bios so we know who we’ll be teaming up with, but I can’t help but be annoyed with them for causing this misunderstanding.
I’m worried Hestia only felt safe joining our station because she thought we already had an omega, and now she’s uncomfortable.
What if she wants to leave us?
I wouldn’t stop her, but I don’t want her to go.
We’ll just have to continue being as professional as possible so she feels comfortable again.
While living and working together and spending our time off together.
I sigh and rub my face.
I’m not sure going ice skating was the best idea after that revelation, but it’s too late. We’re already tying on our skates.
Hestia has one on, but she’s struggling with the laces on the other. I’m barely holding myself back from helping. Since she’s been so closed off, I don’t want to invade her space.
Her silence apparently doesn’t bother Magnus, because he gets on his knees and reaches for the troublesome skate.
Hestia holds her foot out, and he makes quick work of the knots.
She doesn’t seem nervous around him.
When I helped her untangle her scarf a few minutes ago, she pulled away immediately afterward. I thought that meant she wanted us to keep our distance, but maybe it’s only me she doesn’t want help from.
Magnus helps her walk to the rink, and she holds onto him as they slide onto the ice.
I watch from the sidelines, squeezing the railing as he steadies her.
Hestia and I have been getting along fine. There’s no reason to think she doesn’t like me. I’m sure she’s just embarrassed about the misunderstanding.
The skaters whirl past, their movements nowhere near as fast as my thoughts.
Cato puts his hand on my shoulder, making me jump.
“Shouldn’t you get out there to catch her before she falls?” he says with a smirk.
“Magnus has it covered,” I say.
“Extra hands are always appreciated.” Cato licks his lip.
I roll my eyes and look away, gaze drawn immediately back to Hestia. “The academy trains everyone to skate, she’ll be fine.”
Magnus is holding her hands now, skating backward while she follows him, legs wobbling like a newborn foal.
“She can skate, right?” I mutter.
“Go support her backside,” Cato says.
I glare at him.
“Why are you still here? Don’t you have things to take care of?” I say.
He just smiles, expression as enigmatic as his end of the bond.
Interrogating Cato has never gotten us anywhere, so I leave him to his own devices and join the others on the ice. Not that I plan to grab at Hestia’s back end like he’s suggesting.
If Cato keeps acting like this, Orion will need to set more boundaries.
He wasn’t like this with other trainees. I hoped his teasing was playful, like a brother who enjoys being annoying, since that’s how he is with us. I’ve been willfully ignoring Cato’s sexual interest in Hestia, but I can’t overlook it anymore.
I’m sure he just needs to blow off some steam, and then he’ll be able to treat her like any other coworker.
Except Cato is still hanging around when usually he’s long gone by now. I’ll have to keep him away from her until he gets bored and finds entertainment elsewhere.
I trail after Hestia, who is watching her feet as they skate around the edge of the rink. Magnus is still in front of her, going slow, weaving between the other couples.
He seems to have things covered, but I’m here for her too.
A father and his young daughter slowly speed past us.
Eventually Hestia gets her feet under her, and they pick up the pace. Magnus returns to her side, but she holds his hand in a tight grip.
Music pumps through the speakers, and the song “Holly Jolly Alpha” comes on.
The skating rink is next to the giant Yule tree they put up every year. It’s covered in so many lights it makes the streetlights unnecessary at night.
Garlands cover the lampposts and statues, and more lights are strung around the edges of the rink, the gazebo, and every other surface in the park.
It’s hard to be upset in a magical place like this. My concerns about Cato’s behavior and fear that Hestia wants to leave fade. The only thing that remains is enjoying our time together.
We skate on frozen ponds up in the mountains, but it’s been a while since we visited the rink in town. I’m glad we’re showing Hestia around, it feels good to spend time in the community. I enjoy our relative solitude, but it’s nice to visit sometimes and—
Hestia drops suddenly, and I dart forward.
I catch her before she hits the ice, hands on her hips, chest pressed against her back. Magnus mirrors me, his face (well, more his neck) in front of mine, Hestia squished between us.
She’s breathing hard and I can feel her heart racing almost like it’s inside me, pounding next to mine.
“Are you alright?” Orion asks, quickly skating over.
“I’m okay. I think. I saw sky for a second, but I don’t think I hit the ground. I didn’t, did I?” Hestia says, blinking up at us.
“No, they were all over you too fast for that,” Cato says.
I glare at him, and he smiles back.
“I think I need to practice my skating a bit more,” she says, laughing shakily.
“You’re doing great. You must have hit a slick patch,” Henri says, brushing her hair out of her face.
I suddenly realize we’re holding her up, Hestia’s feet dangling above the ice. I nod at Magnus and we carefully set her down. She holds onto his coat as she finds her balance. I keep my hands on her hips but put some space between us.
When she’s ready, Magnus leads her to the edge of the rink, the rest of us following behind.
Hestia’s eyes are wide, and she’s blinking a lot.
I rub her back and ask, “Do you want to stop for now? Get some hot chocolate?”
She twitches at the mention of chocolate. I figured that would get her attention. She blinks a few more times and takes a deep breath, her big brown eyes finally focusing on us.
“You don’t have to stop on my account. I’ll get back out there in a minute,” she says.
“I could go for a big hot chocolate,” I say.
“With lots of cream,” Cato adds.
I elbow him, but he darts away before I connect.
“That does sound good, if you’re sure you want to stop,” Hestia says.
“Of course. I’m ready for a break,” I say with a smile.
Hestia smiles back, melting away the last of my worries. Whatever her thoughts since we left the coffee shop, at least she doesn’t seem to hate me.
We aim for the exit, me on one side and Magnus on the other.
Hestia’s hand brushes against mine. When it happens again, her pinky curls around me, and I wrap my hand around hers. I hold it tight until it’s time to take our skates off.
The five of us hover around Hestia as we get in line for hot chocolate.
It’s not just Cato that’s behaving differently. Have we ever been this…attentive with other trainees? Or even other omegas back when we were dating?
No my alpha whispers, but I ignore him, not ready to face the truth.