22. Cole
Chapter 22
Cole
Being unemployed is far more enjoyable than I thought it would ever be. Truthfully, I’d been working since I got paid under the table to bus tables at twelve, left for the Air Force at eighteen, got my commercial pilot’s license at twenty-one, and then took various jobs as a pilot.
Granted, my last stint with a budget airline wasn’t my favorite, it was necessary. I typically only did East Coast flights. The one time I took a transcontinental flight to cover for a fellow pilot, I landed the Omega I didn’t know I needed.
The one who’s currently making unemployment very much not a nightmare. I have one hand on her scooter as we cross the street carefully over to the physician’s building. A car stops suddenly at the red light, too fucking close for my liking. I bang on their hood and give them the finger.
“Watch where you’re going, you fuckin’ jerkoff!”
The man flicks me off, rolling down his window as a woman standing next to Shiloh gives the driver a shitty look.
“Stay in your car and learn how to drive, motherfucker,” she says.
The man rolls his eyes, but doesn’t escalate any further, just mumbles curses out of his window.
In a moment of insecurity, I wonder if Shiloh will be freaked out or scared from my outburst, but when I look at her, she’s smiling and shaking her head.
“God, I missed home,” she says softly.
I flip the man off behind Shiloh’s back as we get to the building and we check her in and take a seat in the waiting room.
“I really hope they can take this off today and give me a boot,” she says, itching the skin around the top of the cast.
“I hope so too,” I tell her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder; it all feels so comfortable and right.
Never in a million years did I think I’d actually have an Omega. Honestly, I thought eventually Jonah would have enough and decide that he couldn’t be in the pack anymore. I would’ve understood his decision, but I just never thought I’d be ready. Not with my past always catching up with me. Mack was stuck with me forever, but Jonah didn’t have a reason to stay, besides how much he cares about us. Shiloh would be the glue, and I’m not even sure she realizes it.
Truthfully, I never gave any of those Omegas a chance. Yet, the moment I met Shiloh, something completely changed in me. She made me realize that I can be an Alpha deserving of an Omega, which truthfully I never thought I would be.
The idea of caring for an Omega brings up so many rough memories for me.
How could my father ever hurt my mother? His job as an Alpha was to take care of her, treasure her, and all he caused her was pain. It’s unfathomable to me, and without a doubt I know now that I won’t be anything like him. The mere thought of harming Shiloh makes me sick to my stomach. She’s so soft, small, kind, and sweet. She deserves the best, and we sure as fuck are going to give it to her.
Hell, even Mack is trying. Part of the reason I’m taking Shiloh shopping after her appointment is because he has plans for her.
I don’t want to rush things, but if she asked me to bond with her right now, I’d ask her where she wanted her mark. That’s how fucking sure of this I am.
Her name is called and I don’t even ask if she wants me to come back with her, I just follow behind the nurse.
“We’re going to take some blood work to see how you’re doing post-heat. How are you feeling in general?” the nurse asks Shiloh.
My Omega glances at me before holding her arm out to the nurse to draw blood.
“I’ve been feeling really content,” she tells the nurse, who charts her information and leads us to an exam room.
I help Shiloh sit on the table, the paper crinkling underneath her as she shifts and we wait for the physician. Luckily, he comes in relatively quickly. He’s an Alpha, but his scent is contained as he introduces himself and gets some history and information from Shiloh.
He flips through her X-rays and looks at her ankle.
“I think we can switch you to a boot, for more mobility, but if you have any bursts of pain, I would want you to come right back in,” he tells her and she nods enthusiastically.
He calls in his nurse and they saw off the cast. Shiloh’s cheeks pinken as we notice the discrepancy of hair between her two legs.
Excitement shines in her eyes as the doctor pulls out the new boot. I’m guessing it’s not as ugly and big as she assumed it was going to be.
“Now, I do want you to wear this all day and at night so we don’t cause further damage. You can take it off to shower. We’ll go over your blood panel and if there are any concerns, we’ll give you a call,” the doctor says.
I clear my throat. “The physician at Heat Haven said he was worried about her heat. She had to be medically sedated from the injury,” I say, not wanting to broadcast the rest about her ex-pack, mostly because it will just piss me off.
“Yes, I saw that note. Your blood work will let us know what your hormone levels are. If you start to notice any nesting behavior outside your norm, or feel feverish, you can give us a call, but I assume you would either go back to Heat Haven, or have your own plan for having a fulfilling heat?”
“She does,” I answer for her. The doctor gives me an irritated look, but then glances back at Shiloh, waiting for her response.
“Yes, I’m covered.”
“Okay, well, heats are unpredictable little buggers. Having a plan in place makes a world of difference. So as long as you have an Alpha or pack to help get you through it, you should be fine.”
“Thank you. What about the scooter?” she asks, pointing to the device.
“As long as you aren’t feeling any pain, you don’t need it. If you’re feeling any discomfort, I would suggest using it, as well as long stints of activity.”
“How long do I need to wear it?”
“I think another three weeks or so and then we can take more imaging and your pain level to discuss not needing further aids.”
Shiloh thanks him again, and we’re quickly on our way out the door and headed to the best boutique in Philadelphia—according to Jonah’s baby sister.
Thankfully, all I had to do was toss around the fact that they would be dressing someone in the S?rensen pack and magically a slot for today became available. The shop is slightly pretentious, but the excited look on Shiloh’s face says it all. She loves it.
She used her scooter to get into the store, but we take a seat at the pedestal and wait for our sales associate.
“Welcome, I’m Christina. I’ll be taking care of you today. What kind of dress are we looking for?”
“It’s for a black-tie fundraiser. Ideally I’d like something that covers this,” Shiloh says, lifting her booted foot.
“We can absolutely do that. You’ll look so good in the dress people won’t even look down at your feet. Do you have any color preferences?”
“Not really, probably not white or black.”
“Excellent. Let me pull some options and Hannah will get you some champagne.”
The associate walks away to leave and Shiloh turns to me.
“Thank you for planning this and getting me an appointment.”
“You’re more than welcome,” I say, grabbing her hand and holding it in mine. “It’s also probably best to grab a few options. Never know when a gala or some shit might happen,” I say casually.
“Like, how many dresses?” Shiloh asks.
“The whole store if you want. Also, here,” I say, pulling out the card and placing it in her palm. “It pulls from our pack account. Use it for whatever you need, no limit.”
She glances down at it, her sparkly nails contrasting against the black card that has her name, and Pack S?rensen right below it.
“You sure you want to give me this before I meet Jonah’s family?” she jokes and I kiss her shoulder.
“I already told you, it doesn’t matter what they think, but you truly have nothing to worry about. They’re a lot, but they’re good people, the best, actually.”
She turns it around in her hands, like she’s in awe.
“What?” I ask her.
I know there’s more about her past she hasn’t divulged and I’m not about to press her for more information until she’s ready.
She just shakes her head, leans over, gripping a fist full of my shirt and kissing me softly.
“Thank you,” she says softly against my lips as the sales woman clears her throat.
“Miss Hansen, are you ready?” she asks.
Shiloh stands, testing out her boot more, leaving the scooter behind. She definitely walks with a slight limp, but I can tell she’s happy to be up and moving.
After a few minutes, Shiloh comes out, a wide smile on her face as she leaves me speechless in a midnight blue gown. It presses her tits up high, exposing her shoulders and slender throat. There’s a slit up her leg, the other side of the dress hiding her boot.
“We can definitely find you a flatter shoe that doesn’t scream grandma to go with your boot. Plus, you look so great in the dress, no one will even look at your feet,” the sales lady tells her, and I’m happy she’s going to be getting a hefty commission today.
“What do you think?” Shiloh asks, flattening down the dress at her trim waist.
“You look incredible. We’re definitely getting it.”
“I still have a dozen dresses to try on,” she says timidly, and I wonder if she thinks I wanted to be in and out of here quickly.
“Like I said, buy as many dresses that you like. Show me the next one.”
Every dress she tries on fits perfectly, some more modest than others. Some cling to her body like a second skin, while others flair out at her hips. No matter the design or color, she looks stunning in them all.
I’ve never had patience for this kind of shit, never thought I’d care for spoiling someone. But Shiloh?
I want to give her the world.
The sales associate is bagging up her dresses as Shiloh comes around the corner, clearly ready to be off her feet. She surprises me by sitting on my lap, her fingertips playing with the hairs on the nape of my neck, before her nails trail over my beard.
Her brown eyes connect with mine.
“Thank you for taking care of me today, Cole,” she says softly before kissing me tenderly.
An immense amount of Alpha pride fills me. She trusts me to take care of her. She wants me; she wants this pack.
It’s a weird feeling, like I’m breaking a generational curse. Turning away from violence and malice and leaning into tenderness and joy. It’s not something I thought I deserved.
Truthfully, I probably still don’t deserve Shiloh, but it’s too late now. I’ll be the selfish bastard I need to be to keep her.