Chapter 40
Wren
My brush moves swiftly, the gilded prison on the canvas reaching its final demise.
Warm light from the sun shines through the window behind me, illuminating my piece in a way that seems almost prophetic. With each brush stroke, the chains of anxiety wrapped around my chest seem to loosen, making me anticipate a freedom that’s just out of reach.
Once this painting is in the hands of the ones who kept me caged for so long, maybe the chains will finally clatter to the ground.
Now that I’m here, I’m not sure I could have done this painting anywhere else.
This room, it’s so…Maverick, that an immediate sense of safety overwhelms me.
A soft but sturdy couch sits against one of the walls, dark shelves filled with books line another.
A brick fireplace makes me think of cozy winter nights, and a part of me is a little sad we won’t get to stay in this house.
A knock on the door has me looking up, and as the doorknob turns, I put down my brush. One of the guys must be telling me it’s time for lunch.
However, when the door opens, it’s not any of my guys that greet me, but Maggie.
“Wren!” she greets before striding over and wrapping me in a tight hug. “You’re so brave, facing off with your parents like this.”
Did she even look at me before hugging me? “Thanks, Maggie, but, um…”
She pulls back, looking at me with furrowed brows. “What?”
I glance down at my paint-covered overalls. “You might have…a little bit…”
She looks at her shirt, bursting out into a laugh. “Well, that’s what I get, I suppose.”
Smiling, I shake my head. “Not that I’m not happy to see you, but…why are you here?”
Maggie huffs in exasperation. “Did that ass-wipe not tell you I was coming? I swear, Wren, this has been happening our entire lives—”
I grab my phone from the small table where I had left it when I started painting a few hours ago. Oops.
“Nope, he told me.” I grimace, opening the group chat from the guys. “I was just…very into painting.”
Mavericks’ message fills the screen.
Daddy Bear
Maggie is coming over to check you out as a precaution before we see your parents tomorrow.
Wincing, I type my message in.
Me
Oops. Just saw this. She’s here now.
Bossy Bear
Maybe turn your phone ringer on when you’re painting from now on *tongue sticking out emoji*
I frown. That’s a thing? All their phones are always quiet, just vibrate-y. Putting the phone back on the table, I turn to Maggie. “Sorry about that. Apparently I need to…turn my phone ringer on?”
She chuckles, shaking her head. “No worries. Here, let’s go to the couch and I’ll take your vitals.”
We settle on the couch, and I was totally right—it’s just the right amount soft.
The alpha starts pulling her equipment out of her bag. “How have you been feeling? Have you had any spikes?”
“I…” I falter. Is it weird to talk about this when one of the men I’ve been furiously fucking is her brother? “Can we pretend like you and Maverick aren’t related for a moment?”
Maggie pulls a face. “Definitely.”
A nervous laugh leaves me. Alright. Better to just get it all out in the open.
Maggie is a doctor, I’m sure she’s heard worse than what I’m about to tell her.
“Okay. So…I’ve been really sleepy, but also having sex, like a lot?
For instance, yesterday, Ethan and I finally took that last step, and then I fell asleep, and then when I woke up, I was with both Teddy and Ethan… and then when we got here…Maverick.”
“How were you feeling after all of that?” She puts her stethoscope around her neck. “Still tired? Did you ever have a fever? An intense need for a knot?”
“Well…” I bite my lip. “After Maverick…I kind of went insane.”
She frowns. “Insane…how?”
“I…I whined, and then it was like my omega took over. I stole all their dirty clothes, and made his bed into my nest. I was absolutely psychotic, the guys looked so scared.”
Maggie is silent for only a second before a laugh bursts out of her.
“What?” I try not to feel hurt.
She shakes her head. “Wren, honey…that’s all a normal part of being an omega. It’s good that you’re nesting, that means we have a clearer indicator that your heat is on the way. I’m just laughing because…well, it’s funny, imagining those four alphas being scared of anything.”
Oh.
“This is all normal, Wren,” she reassures me. “Besides what happened last night, have you had any fevers or need for a knot?”
I shake my head. “Not that I know of. I mean, I wanted…a knot,” my cheeks flush, “but it wasn’t an intense need like you’re describing.”
Maggie nods, grabbing the end of her stethoscope. “Okay, noted. Now, take a deep breath for me.”
She monitors my breathing for a moment before nodding to herself and grabbing her thermometer. It beeps as she scans my forehead, and she frowns, looking down at it.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, shifting in my seat.
“Nothing,” she says quickly, “I’m just going to scan you again.”
It beeps again, and her frown only deepens. “Huh. It says you’re at a hundred. But you feel okay?”
“I feel fine,” I frown, “does that mean…am I having a spike right now?”
“You’d know it if you were.” Her brows furrow. “I wonder…”
Great. My case is so peculiar, I’m making a doctor “wonder”.
“What?” I ask again, feeling like I might explode under my skin.
“Well, in the cases of typical heat spikes,” she says slowly, taking off her stethoscope, “they last until the need is sated, and the fevers get high—around a hundred and six degrees. As I’m sure you know, that kind of temperature could be fatal for an alpha or beta, but for an omega, it’s just biology.
So…think of heat spikes like sprinting towards the finish line—the finish line being your heat.
Short bursts of high intensity. What your body is doing, however…
well I’m actually pretty sure it’s taking the ‘slow and steady’ approach.
So, while you don’t have SOHS, your body is still taking an…
unconventional approach to get ready for your heat. ”
Slow and steady? “So that means…?”
“If I’m right,” she puts the stethoscope back in her bag, “your temperature will continue to slowly rise until you reach around one hundred and six.”
“And then?” I swallow roughly.
She gives me a kind smile. “I think you know. But Wren…these guys you’re with…they’re the good ones. You’ll be taken care of, I would bet my life on it.”
Her words, even though I had never doubted my alphas for a second, settle me. Nodding, I sigh. “So…how long do you think I have?”
“I’ll direct the guys to check your temperature every hour or so after I leave here. If there isn’t any drastic change by mid-day tomorrow, you should still be good to have dinner with your parents.”
I really hope my stupid heat doesn’t get in the way.
Something like…sadness takes over Maggie’s face for a moment before she stands, putting her bag over her shoulder. This—the sudden look of heartbreak—happened last time too… “Hey Maggie?”
She pauses, looking up. “What’s up?”
“You can tell me if I’m overstepping, but…why don’t you have a pack?”
Her expression freezes. I’m worried I’ve horribly miscalculated the level of our friendship.
But then she sighs, sinking back into the couch. “Do you know, statistically, how rare female alphas are?”
I shake my head. “No, but you’re the first one I’ve met.”
“For every hundred alphas that present, ninety-nine are male.” She huffs. “So, about one percent of alphas are female. That means that when we look for a pack…most men wouldn’t be happy allowing a female into their pack that didn’t want to be shared.”
Oh.
“Not that I wouldn’t be open to it with the right people. Especially considering I’m bisexual. I just…my omega would come first, you know? And mens’ egos…at least the men I’ve met, well, they don’t handle that very well from a female. So I’ve kind of given up for the time being.”
The way she talks about it—her omega coming first—it makes my heart ache.
“Maggie…” I grab her hand in mine, feeling the overwhelming need to comfort the alpha. “Have you gone to the OMS? I’ve heard they’re a good resource—”
She shakes her head. “There’s not an option for single alphas.
You have to be a part of a pack first. I know that some heat clinics take volunteers, I just…
” she sighs. “It’s so discouraging, Wren.
All I want is an omega to take care of, whether that’s male or female, and I just…
” she grimaces as she wipes the tears from her eyes.
“So thank you for letting me be an overbearing older-sister for a little bit.”
I smile, despite my heart breaking for her. “Are you kidding? I’ve been on cloud nine, suddenly having so many people care about me. You know, the guys and I…we’re going to Starbrook City. You could come with us.”
She barks a laugh. “Thank you. But…my practice is here. I’ll come visit though, I promise.”
Unable to resist the urge to hug her, I lean over, wrapping my arms around her neck. “You’re going to find the perfect pack one day, Maggie,” I whisper, my voice choking, “I know it.”
Another watery laugh leaves her as she returns my hug. “You’re sweet. I won’t get my hopes up, but…thank you.”
Maggie gets ready to leave, packing up her stuff and declining the invite to stay for lunch. As she passes by my canvas, her jaw drops. “Oh my gods, Wren,” she gasps, her eyes going wide. “This is…”
“For my parents,” I grin, walking over and standing next to her, “think they’ll like it?”
“Oh, they’re gonna hate it,” she laughs, “it’s perfect.”