Chapter 66 #2
Theo is in charge of picking up Wren today.
They’ve both texted and should arrive not far behind us.
But we’ve already started on the usual routine of food prep.
It could almost be a full-time job in itself making sure the fridge is stocked with all the right team dietitian-approved meals to keep us fueled.
It’s a strangely familiar scene. Domestic snippets of life that we’ve lived together for a long time now since we’ve been teammates and roommates.
Now, we’re doing the same routine, but in Theo’s house.
This whole pack business has expanded on what we already had, and something in that feels comforting.
Parts of our world might have been completely flipped upside down, yet this… us… still feels like it always has. We can hang out and cook with music playing in the background and it’s a comfortable sort of rhythm.
Sure, some guys will pay for this to be done for them—hell, it’s common for athletes to outsource all of this—but I genuinely enjoy cooking. Ace feels the same way. So we’ve always made time in our training schedules to fit this in.
Of course, having the two of us in the peak of training and playing now that the season is underway, there’s no escaping the day-to-day necessities of life as athletes.
Our food bills have always been eye-watering, and while Theo might not be playing anymore, he’s still a big guy himself so it’s been only natural to add him to the routine.
Tonight is yet another of our usual meal prep nights, with two pro rugby players basically turning this kitchen into a conveyor belt of portion prepping.
Carbs, protein, fats.
The line of containers spans the length of the kitchen island as I dish out pasta like I’m a line cook. Ace follows behind with grilled chicken and vegetables.
We’ve just finished putting everything away, and I’m in the midst of a final few wipe-downs of the kitchen counter, when I hear the front door open and close.
Already my senses are settling, knowing my scent match is here before I necessarily can even consciously tell it’s Wren.
That calm washing through me eases a tension that has been rolling around inside my gut all day.
It makes me wonder what it might be like to be properly bonded.
To be able to feel her all the time and know without a shadow of a doubt that she’s okay without needing to text her five hundred times a day.
“Oh my god, it smells amazing in here.” Wren barely gets the words out before I’ve wrapped her in a big hug, lifting her off the floor.
I want to tell her that it’s nothing special, that tossing lasagna in the oven is hardly worth gushing about, to remind her that she’s the amazing one in this pack… but instead I kiss her hair and steal a much-needed inhale of her peachy fragrance.
“I missed you, Bambi.” My murmur is met with the best sensation in the world, my girl squeezing me tight in return, while sighing contentedly. Yeah, this would be even better if I could truly feel her emotions too.
As of this moment, my clinginess officially wants that more than anything.
“Tell me about your day while I get dinner ready?” I set her down.
“Give me five minutes… I want to get changed first.” She grins up at me.
“Take as long as you need.” Theo plugs his phone in with his charger at the kitchen bench, Wren disappears in the direction of the bedrooms, and he turns to me. “Anything I can help with?”
“We’re all set here.” I rub the back of my neck. “But I think we could all maybe benefit from a moment to chat… between all of us, y’know?”
“Sounds serious.” Wren walks back in, midway through scooping her hair into a high bun.
“Well…” Instead of having some meaningful, well-thought-out discussion prepped, I stall.
“I’ve got something to start with.” Theo pushes a thick envelope across the kitchen island in Wren’s direction. “This is for you.”
She gives him a wary look.
“Go on.” He leans on the edge of the counter.
“Why are you giving me… ohmygodyoucannotgivemethis.” Her voice pitches into a squeak as she waves a key fob in the air like it’s a bomb.
“Yes. I can. We can.” Theo shrugs.
Wren sets it down and lifts both hands, backing away. “Nope, that is too much—”
“It’s really not,” Theo says softly. “Think of it as a way to help keep us feeling sane. This way, you can be more independent with getting to and from campus, but it has built-in tracking, which pairs with your phone. It’s a model specifically designed with customizations for Omega drivers.
If you ever need anything at any time, we’ll know where to find you. ”
Her lips part, eyes going a little bit misty. “It’s a car for Omegas?”
Theo taps a forefinger on the island. “The customer features are. The windows can black out with a switch if you need to curl up and wait in case of a heat emergency, so you’ll be shielded from light sensitivity.
Built-in heating pads and cooling systems for temperature regulation.
Scent-blocking technology, with deodorizer filters if you need to get away from a scent. ”
“I don’t know what to say.” Her arms wrap around herself.
I knew Theo had been planning this. I wasn’t sure when we would give it to her as a pack, but now seems like as good a time as any.
Scooping her into a cuddle, I drop a kiss on her temple. “Nope. No need to say anything, Bambi. All you need to do is use it, and we can spend our days marginally less stressed about you.”
“Marginally, huh?” She giggles.
I drag her with me to the living room amid her soft laughter. “Oh, trust me, I’m still gonna be a completely besotted fool. You can’t get rid of me that easily.”
“Will it successfully prevent you from turning up at my classes?”
I pinch my finger and thumb together and peer through the gap. “A tiny bit. No promises, lass.”
“We can’t overlook the ongoing concern about this reporter.” Theo follows us and joins us on the opposite end of the couch. “I’ve been talking to as many contacts as I can to get ahead of any potential story being leaked. There’s only so much I can do, but I’ve got ears listening out for whispers.”
Wren nibbles her bottom lip. “It’s all so utterly stupid because I don’t get to choose who my scent matches are, I can’t control my heats, so why does the world make it into a big deal?
When forming a pack with the type of bonds we share might be unexpected, and it might be unusual, but it’s not harming anyone. ”
“You’re exactly right, beautiful.” I rub my thumb over her hip.
“Why do these systems have to be so archaic? It’s like these rules are made by people who don’t understand…
or aren’t willing to understand. I’m not trying to be disruptive or somehow get ahead with preferential treatment.
If anything I’m so disadvantaged. I can’t work a ‘normal’ job and I always have to think about where I am, or what I’m doing… ”
“And that’s why we’re here to help support you through all of that. We’re going to make it through this,” Theo reassures her. “Your car will be delivered in a few days, and we just need to keep our wits about us until the moment we can finally be open about our pack.”
I play it over in my mind. What do we all want once this comes out? How are we gonna juggle it as pro players? The fact of the matter is that things are going to change for us all.
Wren’s life will be scrutinized harder for more reasons than just being an Omega.
Theo gets to his feet. “I’m going to plate us all something to eat.”
Our girl immediately moves to help, but he stops to give her a kiss, then shakes his head.
“Stay right where you are.”
As he disappears to the kitchen, Ace joins us. Quietly taking up a spot on the floor, he begins using a foam roller on his spine.
“God, I need to do that before bed tonight. Nobody let me forget.” I don’t want to admit that I’ve forgotten about spending time on recovery because of my pretty little Omega, who I’d much rather work out all my tension on.
“Here,” Ace grunts and tosses his massage gun onto the edge of the couch for me.
This feels like comfortable, familiar territory. The two of us spending our evenings watching something stupid on TV, after a session of meal prep and foam rolling.
It might not be a formal sit-down conversation, but it feels like the closest thing we’ve come to acknowledging that this is our life together. Even if it’s hard to define what that life is, as maybe a relationship? A pack?
“Thank’s princess. This thing always murders my delts.” I groan, but stretch out to pick it up and switch it onto the setting that will be least likely to make me sob like a little bitch in front of my girl.
We end up lying together lazily on the couch, while I start using the massage gun.
“Why Vermont?” Wren watches me, and her eyes sparkle when she sees me wince.
“Why do you enjoy watching me in pain?” I grit my teeth.
“Because you’re extra cute when you show me all your weaknesses.” She smiles sweetly. “Now answer my question, please.”
“Why did I end up in Vermont?” I shrug. “It’s not so different from Scotland, I suppose. Less castles. Less kilts. But it’s not like living in the devil’s armpit when summer arrives down in the south. The beer’s shit, mind you, and the obsession with maple syrup creeps me out sometimes, but shhhh.”
“A torment you must endure.” Her giggles are infectious. I find myself grinning broadly. “Don’t want the Maple Forest elders to spirit you away as punishment for desecrating their treasure.”
She pokes at my dimple.
I fall harder for her.
“Besides…” I clear my throat hastily, eyes drifting to Ace for a moment, before returning to her. “Might have found a reason to like it here even more than I already do. There’s this American lass who makes up for all of that.”
Wren rolls her eyes at me, but a wave of her peachy perfume gives away how she really feels. “Oh, really? I wonder if I’ll meet this mystery woman one day,” she taunts.
Theo walks back in, wiping his hands on a tea towel, before throwing it over his shoulder. “Food is ready. And before I forget, remember the extra scent blocking tomorrow.”
I sit bolt upright. “Wait…what’s happening? Are you coming to play with me tomorrow?” My finger hooks in the hem of her T-shirt.
She laughs and dances out of reach with a mischievous expression.
“Don’t you worry your pretty little Scottish head, lass,” she mocks me in the most adorably awful Scottish accent. “But boy oh boy do I have a treat in store for you.”