Chapter 39 Ben
BEN
It’s been amazing having Thea at the house this week.
I was shocked at her and Keelan bonding so quickly but it’s turned out for the best. She seems less weighed down by everything.
I still catch her with that torn look in her eyes but not nearly as often as before.
As we clean up dinner, Parker announces, “I need to talk to everyone tonight.”
Another pack meeting. What happened this time? I look to Thea but she has her back to me as she grabs Parker’s hand. What could be going on with him that he needs her support? I sigh to myself as I finish the dishes, I guess we’ll find out soon.
As we gather in our default room lately, the living room, Parker stays standing with Thea still at his side.
My own anxiety is rising. Eli is the last to come in and we all look to Parker, who ducks his head as if he can escape our attention.
I know all the attention isn’t comfortable for him.
He’s always been like that, even when we were kids.
He looks down at Thea and his expression softens and his posture straightens.
“Thea and I bonded today,” he says bluntly.
Just like Keelan’s announcement, the room is silent.
That is until Eli jumps up yelling, “Congrats!” He gives Parker a big hug that has Thea smiling softly.
Parker is full-on blushing now. There’s no doubt in my mind this was a similar situation as Keelan, in that she bit first. I look at Keelan to gage his reaction and he has a small smile on his face.
His thick beard makes it hard to tell, but I catch it.
We all should be happy she’s bonding with more of the pack, and we’re one step closer to being complete.
On that note I look at Micah, whose sour expression is worse than ever.
Thankfully he doesn’t spout off any bullshit like he did the other day.
“Was it another mini heat?” Liam asks, getting right to business.
Thea looks to Parker who seems unsure himself. “I think it was. It didn’t start out that way. But towards the end I think my temp spiked and I felt the same way as I did during the one with Keelan,” she says.
“And after, any lingering high temps or heat cramps?” Liam follows up.
“Is this really important? We should be celebrating,” Eli says.
“Yes Eli, this is important. It could help save her life when her heat comes,” Liam bites out.
Thea looks to Keelan and some kind of communication passes through them. Jealously rises in me but I squash it quickly. I know we’ll bond at some point. It’ll happen.
“No I don’t think my temp was still high after. It’s not like we measured, but I felt good overall,” Thea answers Liam’s question.
Liam gets up from his spot on the sectional and begins to pace.
There isn’t a ton of floor space for that in front of the sectional.
Parker and Thea sit down and we all wait for Liam to work out whatever he’s thinking.
Micah moves as if he’s going to leave but Eli clamps his hand on his shoulder, holding him in place.
Eli’s expression is as dark as I’ve ever seen on his normally upbeat face.
“Thea you can’t bond with anyone else before your heat,” Liam says as he finally comes to a stop.
“What?!” Eli and I say at the same time. Jake has been completely silent during all this. Having an ex-FBI agent in the pack can make it hard for even us to read him sometimes.
“It’s a theory but based on these two events, I think it’s sound enough to move forward.
As I’ve said before, the biggest risk with your upcoming heat is your temperature getting too high as a result of the long-term suppressant usage.
However, during your mini heats where your temp is spiking as it likely will during the heat, bonding is cutting off the spike.
Basically extinguishing it. These mini heats are short in duration, however many you have between now and the heat need to be dealt with sex or ice baths, possibly both depending how bad they get.
But absolutely no more bonding,” Liam explains, looking frazzled at his own revelation.
“I don’t understand why we have to wait for the heat,” I say.
Running a hand over his face in frustration, Liam clarifies, “Her heat will be the most dangerous part. If bonding is quelling the worst of the temperature spikes, we need to wait to bond during the heat when she would need it most. Even with that it might not be enough but I think it will give us better odds. There was one case I saw where the omega bonded one alpha during the heat and it helped. She still ended up in the hospital, but if we have five people left to bond spread out over her heat…”
“Not very romantic,” Eli mutters.
“Better she survive her heat and you have the rest of our lives to romance her,” Jake says surprising all of us. It shut Eli up.
Thea looks overwhelmed. Her hand is gripping Parkers tightly. “How do you feel about all that Thea?” I ask. She deserves a say, no matter what Liam says.
“It makes sense. But…” she begins but stops suddenly.
“Continue,” Micah says, making her jerk her head in his direction in surprise.
“But what if I don’t feel ready to bond with everyone when my heat hits?
I’m not saying never but we’re all on different levels still of getting to know each other.
” She pauses and looks at Micah before continuing, “I know I’m pack and I’m not rejecting anyone.
It’s just a big deal and I’d like to feel like I know the person I’m bonding to better. ”
There’s still a sliver of suspicion in Micah’s expression, but he’s the first to turn away from her stare. I smile a little at that. I knew our omega was tough. Staring down Micah after everything he’s said to her was ballsy.
“Of course you should only bond with those you feel ready to take that step with. You already know the rest of us are ready when you are.” I turn to Liam. “Why don’t we continue courting as we have been, and before the heat starts, Thea can let us know who she is okay bonding with?”
He considers it but really the answer will be yes, none of us would force a bond. It likely wouldn’t work, since bonding has to be a consensual act—you’re letting someone connect essentially with your soul. No one can force that.
“That works. Your previous bloodwork estimated your heat hitting in late January to early February but with these mini heats happening so quickly one right after another, I’m positive that timeline has moved up.
If you can be separated from these two long enough to come down to the office tomorrow, we can run new labs so we can get a better idea,” Liam says.
A deep growl rumbles through the room. All of us look to Keelan who’s looking at Parker in shock. Wait, no, that couldn’t have been him. We look to him and Thea now firmly in his lap with his arms around her, holding her close to him and looking at the rest of us like we’re about to steal her away.
“Parker!” Keelan barks out. After a moment Parker’s expression clears and embarrassment takes its place.
“Or in a couple days we’ll have you come to the office,” Liam adds on to appease Parker’s long dormant alpha side.
Guess bonding an omega brought it out. This day has been full of surprises.
Thea starts laughing at his comment which seems to be a chain reaction for the rest of us.
I even saw Micah crack a smile. Slowly, but surely, he’s softening up to her.