Chapter 23 Thea
THEA
Scent matches. That can’t be right. Yeah, I’ve noticed their scents seem special, like Connor’s was special, but that could just be like super scent compatible, right?
I look around the room, taking in how their expressions range from curious, expectant, worried, angry, and cautious.
Suddenly their scents feel overwhelming, at least that’s what my head is saying.
The rest of me is relaxed and wanting to sink further into them.
Safe. Protected. Peace. Joy. Hope. Free. Is that part of the scent match?
Liam is looking at me expectantly—right, he asked me what I thought of their scents.
Part of me doesn’t want to admit that there is something special to them.
This can’t be real. I don’t want scent matches or a pack.
That dream died with Connor. I open my mouth to say something but nothing comes out.
I don’t know what to say, and running at this moment would not be a good idea.
Keelan would surely chase me if I did, if I can even get out of his lap.
“Are you feeling overwhelmed?” Parker asks, looking up at me from his spot on the floor. I nod.
“Why don’t we all talk more about this tomorrow morning? Give you the night to process this and start fresh in the morning,” Eli says, giving me a much needed out.
That sounds perfect. I can look up scent matches tonight and see what they really are and if they’re right. “Yes, let’s do that, please,” I respond eagerly.
“I’ll bring you home, you shouldn’t drive if you still might pass out,” Ben offers.
I move to get up and out of Keelan’s lap but he holds me to him. Huffing, I look at him exasperated. “I’ll bring you to the car,” he says with finality.
“I can walk just fine and I’m too heavy for you to carry,” I say sternly.
He actually laughs at that. “You’re perfect.
How do you think I got you here earlier?
” I wasn’t saying it to be self-deprecating, it’s just a fact.
I’m surprised, I didn’t actually think of how he got me from the woods to their pack house.
Looking at him in a new light, I know he sees my realization and a smirk comes across his face. I roll my eyes at his smugness.
I’m carried through their house and out to a circle driveway where a bunch of cars are parked haphazardly. I give Ben a questioning look as we head towards what I assume is his car.
“Keelan told us it was an emergency and to rush home.” He shrugs. Ben opens the door and Keelan gently places me into the passenger seat, even buckling my seatbelt. I’m smiling internally at this gentle giant’s actions.
Looking up, I see the rest of the pack gathered on the porch watching us leave.
Exhaustion is pulling at me. Ben gets in silently and we’re quickly pulling away and down a long driveway that has a four-car garage on each side.
I guess that’s needed for a pack their size.
We sit in silence, but it’s comfortable.
I can’t help but ask, “You really think we’re scent matches? ”
His gaze turns to me quickly before returning to the road. “Without a doubt in my mind we are scent matches.” How is he so sure?
“It could be scent compatible—” I begin.
He cuts me off. “No. That is not what this is. Some of us have experienced a scent compatible connection with an omega. This is a completely different level.”
It absolutely should not bother me that it sounds like they courted an omega before and were scent compatible with her. Get it together Thea, you don’t even know them. I didn’t expect him to be so forthright about this.
We arrive at my house within a few minutes. He gets out and walks me to the door. “Are you going to be okay?”
A tense laugh comes out of me. “After today of course I won’t be. Physically though for now I’m fine. Thank you for bringing me home.”
“Of course. I just realized your car is still at the lodge. One of us can pick you up tomorrow morning and after our talk bring you to the lodge to get it.”
“Okay. Good night Ben.”
“Night Thea.”
After closing the door and hearing his car pull out of the driveway, I collapse onto the couch.
I need to look up scent matches. It’s not that I don’t believe them but I can’t handle this right now.
First my heat, and now this. Oh Gods, will they want to be the ones to help with my heat?
I can’t think of all that right now. Pulling out my phone, I begin researching.