Chapter 25 Thea
THEA
Bang. Bang. Bang.
I wake up with a start from where I fell asleep on the couch.
Bang. Bang.
Realizing I fell asleep before I could set any alarms, I shuffle to the front door, still feeling half asleep, I open it to Liam’s concerned face. He always looks worried or pissed off.
“What’s wrong? You’re still in the same clothes as last night. Did something happen?”
I can’t help my eye roll as I turn from him and head to the bathroom, hearing him enter and close the front door.
Thankfully he doesn’t follow me. I feel like I have a hangover even though I didn’t drink.
Yesterday really did drain me mentally. Going to the bathroom quickly and washing my face to help wake me up has me feeling a little better.
Though my head is still pounding. When I exit the bathroom, Liam is braced against the opposite wall.
“You know it’s kind of creepy when you want to listen to me pee. ”
That seems to fluster him and I can’t help but smirk at it.
He’s so easy. Is it normal to want to mess with your scent match so much?
Wait, am I accepting this scent match madness?
I frown a little. I…guess on some level I am.
I fell asleep researching last night and turns out I was wrong.
They are real. What I’ve noticed of their scents and how I feel around them lines up with it.
So did Connor. I ended up down a rabbit hole wondering if we were scent matches without realizing it.
Part of me thinks he knew. He’d sometimes call me his perfect match or things along those lines.
Sophie would know if Connor was aware of this or not, but I can’t talk to her until this stalker issue is resolved.
If it ever is—no, don’t go down that road.
Liam is mumbling something behind me but I’m too lost in my head to pay attention. Entering my room, I hear him follow me and turn to look at him. He stops short at my expression. “What?”
“I need to change.” It takes a second then there’s the lightbulb moment and he rushes out, muttering to himself as he closes the door behind him.
He’s such a weirdo. I just want to be comfy today.
My eyes linger on the drawer in my dresser that has some of Connor’s clothes in sealed bags.
I wanted to open one yesterday for the anniversary and hope they still have his scent, but with everything that happened I didn’t get a chance.
One of them is his favorite hoodie. Connor was so big his hoodies also fit me comfortably.
I wanted to wear it so bad but then the scent would fade.
I’m not ready for that. Instead, I put on a pair of black leggings and one of my own hoodies.
It’s my favorite, extra baggy and goes almost to my knees.
I usually like to wear it just around the house but my instincts are driving me to be wrapped up in soft fabrics.
This is the closest I can get without actually being in a nest. Plus, if these guys don’t like what they see when I’m in no makeup and baggy comfy clothes then that makes the decision for me.
I’m not going to try and impress them. I don’t want a relationship.
Nothing I read said scent matches have to be romantic.
Platonic soul mates is totally a thing, right?
I exit my room, finding Liam sitting on the couch this time instead of waiting right outside for me. He stands when he hears me approach. “Are you okay?” he asks sincerely.
I could continue messing with him but I’m not up for it. My mask seems to be getting heavier especially around them. I blame their scents for putting me at ease. It’s cheating. I look up at him, meeting his green eyes. “Not really.”
He looks pained at my response which I don’t know how to take.
His hand raises and cups my cheek so softly.
My eyes close on reflex and I lean into his touch.
You’re just touch-starved, it doesn’t mean anything.
Neither of us says anything, just living in this moment of connection.
Maybe he needs it as much as I do. When I open my eyes, he’s looking at me so intensely I can’t help but look away.
His thumb moves back and forth in a soothing pattern before it drops to his side.
We don’t acknowledge the moment, for which I’m grateful.
He clears his throat. “Ready?”
“Yeah.”
“After you.” He gestures me ahead of him as we leave the house.
“Thank you,” I say, hoping he knows what for.
Seeing their pack house in the light of day has me speechless.
It’s huge, I mean I figured based on the inside and the number of people in their pack.
There’s a wraparound porch on the first and second floors.
There looks to be a third floor as well.
The garages I saw last night line either side of the driveway before it curves in a circle in front of the house.
As I take the few steps onto the porch I notice beautiful carvings on the posts, similar to the ones in the lodge.
Keelan. Brushing my fingers against a bear figure, I can’t help the smile that forms. Such a gentle giant who can create art like this.
I wish I had half his talent and passion for something.
Liam clears his throat again from where he’s standing at the front door.
Guess he’s anxious for us to start. Realization strikes me just before we enter and I grab his arm.
He looks at me questioningly in response.
“Do they know about my heat and the complications?”
He looks conflicted. I don’t know why I’m so shocked but my hand drops quickly like he’s lava and I take a step away unknowingly.
“No, they don’t. They know something is going on with your health but no specifics,” he rushes out.
“I would never violate your privacy like that, even with my pack and knowing you’re our omega. ”
Our omega. That rings in my head. I hate how a part of me loves hearing it.
They don’t even know me and I don’t want to be anyone’s omega.
That future isn’t for me anymore. I feel better knowing he didn’t tell them.
Maybe they should know. I don’t want to be dishonest about what’s going on and he did say it’d be impossible to go through my heat on my own.
I have scent matches. I can’t ignore that as much as I’d want to.
I’ll just tell them I can’t do anything romantic right now.
I just mumble an okay in response to Liam and continue into the house.
There’s so much natural light filling the space.
Off the entryway to the right is a small lounge with a fireplace.
I’m not sure what’s in the room to the left.
The stairs are straight ahead, and just behind them there’s a long hallway that seems to stretch from one end of the house to the other, from left to right.
I know from yesterday if we keep going straight we’d end up in the living room.
Liam guides me to the right hallway with an almost immediate left into the kitchen where chaos is reigning and I can’t help but laugh, causing all of them to freeze and look at me.
Keelan is holding a plate of something in the air so Eli can’t get it even though he was jumping and trying to reach it.
Ben is cooking at the stove like none of this is going on.
Parker has headphones on, likely to block out all the noise while working on a laptop at the kitchen island.
Jake was yelling at Eli and Keelan to stop and helping Ben carry in the food.
He has three big plates of food in his hands that are balancing precariously.
I’m full-on belly laughing at the scene in front of me, and soon I hear the rest of them start to laugh as well.
After a minute it dies down. Parker hops off the bar stool and pushes his headphones down as he approaches, being the first to greet me.
Suddenly I’m engulfed in a hug. I didn’t expect that.
After a few seconds of awkwardness, on my part, I wrap my arms around him and return his hug.
It does feel good. His sweet peach scent is surrounding me and I may or may not nuzzle closer into him.
All the guys are at least six feet tall if not taller, Parker included.
He bends so his face is in the crook of my neck, taking in my scent.
I don’t notice how silent it got until we pull away.
Everyone is looking at us, while Parker seems unbothered.
“I’m so glad you’re here. It’s going to be the best day.
” He smiles, eyes twinkling. He’s just so happy it rubs off on me and I return his smile.
He links our hands and brings me into a room off the kitchen—their dining room.
There’s windows everywhere along the two exterior walls, as well as two glass doors that seem to lead to a deck.
Micah is already seated at the table reading something.
Parker directs me to a middle seat on the opposite side of Micah.
Parker doesn’t sit next to me. Instead, he goes to sit across from me. Odd.
The rest of the guys slowly trickle in, setting the table, and I feel like I should be doing something.
As Jake brings in more plates for the table, I move to get up and help him set it.
He doesn’t say anything, just gives me a barely-there smile.
His dark beard nearly hides it. But I catch it, his eyes give it away.
They’re a deep blue but it’s like happiness radiates from them, lighting them up from within.