Chapter 45
One of the students shot their hand in the air. “What happens if we accidentally bond a client?”
“That’s a great way to get your license revoked and have charges pressed against you.”
“Oh, shit, really?”
“Of course, really. Omegas in your care are trusting you, and if you can’t keep control of the situation, that’s not going to fly from a legal or ethical standpoint. If it happens once, you’ll never be trusted to be a heat helper again, and depending on how magnanimous your omega is in that situation, you could face some hefty prison time. Omega safety is not taken lightly.”
A few of the faces around the room paled. I glanced over at Allie where she was perched in the front row, watching me with rapt attention until it was time for the Qamp;A.
“Not to scare any of you, but I feel like my situation might be valuable information for you. I accidentally bonded a previous client. She hadn’t been a client of mine for several years, but something that isn’t generally covered in any educational system because of its rarity is the concept of ideal mates. In some ways it’s quite dangerous for the people involved because you don’t have any control and you don’t know when a spontaneous heat could be triggered in the omega. You absolutely have to be diligent about your safety equipment. Never forget your cuffs and collar when you’re with an omega, especially a client. Those should all be on as soon as you get to their place or they get to yours.”
“Why are you teaching this class if you bonded a client?”
“Because he was killer at his job when he did it,” Allie announced, the class swiveling their heads to look at her and she gave a sheepish wave under their scrutiny. “Hi, I’m the client he bonded.”
The classroom erupted in questions, hands rising all over the place, half of them too impatient to wait and blurting out what they wanted to know. Apparently the Qamp;A session was going to be starting early.
I set my mug down hard on the desk, the sound snapping them all to attention. “Quiet down. You can all ask anything you like, but we’re going to do it in an orderly fashion. I also want to make it extremely clear to all of you that if there is ever a client you think about long after their heat is over, there is a possibility you could be ideal mates. That’s not a guarantee, some people just attach to others more readily, but if that is not your normal, please exercise caution if you are ever with that omega again.”
Allie joined me at the front of the class, sitting on the edge of my desk while they peppered us with questions, absolutely ravenous for information that no one else would be able to give them. I had done plenty of research since the bonding, and so had Dr. J. From the literature it seemed like ideal mates were popping up at a rate of one match per thousand, and while it felt small at a glance, it certainly wasn’t small enough to be brushed under the rug.
“Open and honest communication is an asset in this career, both with your partners and with your support network at the clinic. Speak up if you’re unsure about anything. Don’t let yourself be overconfident and risk the safety of yourself or your clients. This is not the place to feel superior.”
One student raised his hand, a cocky smirk on his mouth. “What happens if all the omegas fall in love with me? I’ve already got a lineup of them a mile long, so what am I supposed to do with the clients when they fall for me?”
“What’s your name?” Allie asked.
“Randy,” he replied, grinning back at her like he thought he was the best thing since sliced bread.
“Well, Randy.” Allie very pointedly looked him over from head to toe. “I honestly wouldn’t worry. I’m sure your personality will cure them of that in short order.”
I covered my laugh with a cough. “In any case, it’s illegal to date or be sexually involved with clients outside of your contracted time with them until two years have elapsed from your last contracted period.”
“What happens if I lose my boner?” someone asked.
“Toys, obviously,” Allie replied.
“Exactly,” I added. “It’s unlikely with all the hormones you’ll be exposed to, but the possibility is there. Toys are teammates during a heat. Don’t be afraid to discuss them with your clients.”
“What happens if I run out of juice?”
Allie wrinkled her nose. “What kind of juice are we talking about here?”
“Baby gravy.”
“One, ew, don’t ever call it that again. And, two, you’re not trying to knock up your clients so it doesn’t matter if you dry up that well.”
“Is it true omegas totally lose their marbles during heats? Like, how bad is it actually?”
“Okay, let’s try to keep things more professional,” I chided the class.
“Omegas lose total control during the heat haze. I don’t even remember it, and neither do any of my friends, so it’s a super vulnerable time.” Allie swung her feet side to side. “Honestly, it’s kind of scary sometimes, knowing there’s nothing you can do during that phase to keep yourself safe.”
My eyes narrowed as the scent of one of the students sharpened, arousal sinking into the air. I followed my nose and stopped in front of Randy. “Get out.”
He stared up at me. “What?”
“If you’re getting aroused over the idea of omegas not being able to remember their time with you, of them being afraid, then you have no place in this program.”
“Wha—? That’s not fair!”
“Yes, it is. You’re not a good candidate to be a heat helper and as of right now you’re no longer welcome here. Leave, or I’ll have to call security.”
He fumbled his notes as he hastily left the classroom and I turned back to the sea of eyes staring at me.
“Sorry about that. Omega safety is the most important thing I’ll ever stress for you. If I don’t feel like you can be trusted with them in their most vulnerable state, you will not be continuing. I know it might seem harsh, b?—”
“I get it,” one of the few female alphas told me. “I’d want the same consideration made for me if I were in the omega’s position. It’s kind of a relief you take it that seriously.”
The tension I’d been holding loosened. “I appreciate that. Feel free to continue with the Qamp;A.”
“The cuffs and collars only protect your throat and wrists,” she pointed out. “What about the scent glands on our thighs?”
“You’re right. Those are unprotected, and the reason is that most omegas are not going to be getting their mouth anywhere near those during a heat. Their first instinct is to go for the throat, and the vast majority of omegas are functioning exclusively on instinct. The heat haze is the most dangerous time for everyone, both because the hormones are the strongest, but also because you’re fucking exhausted and it’s difficult to think. Show of hands, how many of you have participated in a heat before?”
Only two people in the class raised their hands.
“How would you describe the experience of the heat haze?”
“Like I was high off my ass and running a marathon at the same time.”
The class chuckled.
“Exactly. That’s why I’m urging you to take all the safety precautions before you need them.”
The Qamp;A lasted about an hour before they finally calmed down with the promise that we could schedule Allie to come in again for another Ask-an-Omega session later on in the program once they had a deeper understanding of everything.
We took a short break, the students filtering out to stretch their legs and get refreshments.
The door to the classroom opened and Carla appeared, rolling her wheelchair toward us. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a half ponytail, and her tank top showed off the multitude of tattoos decorating her skin.
“Hey, stranger! I wanted to peep your first class. How’s it all going so far?”
Allie’s cheeks burned bright pink when recognition flashed in her eyes. “Hey, Carla. Nice to see you again.”
“Allie!” Carla beamed. “Glad to see you looking so well. Are you checking out the class, too?”
“She’s helping,” I added. “The students were very excited to have an omega to ask.”
Carla laughed. “Oh my god, I bet. That would have been wicked helpful when we were in training. You should absolutely get them to integrate that into all the programs.”
“I’ll make sure they all include their opinions on it in the teacher reviews at the end of the class. Hopefully there’s enough interest in it that I can approach Dr. J to suggest expanding it.”
Allie’s phone alarm went off, startling her. “Sorry, that’s my timer to head back to work. I only had a couple hours off to hang out.”
“No worries. I hope you have a good rest of your day.” Carla smiled and the two of them hugged before Allie stood on her toes to kiss me before departing. Carla turned back to me once Allie had disappeared through the doors. “Bonding looks good on you.”
My cheeks warmed. “Feels good, too.”
“Help me up so I can hug you.” Carla used my arm to hoist herself up, hugging me tightly. “I’m so happy for both of you.”
“Feels like a dream half the time.”
“I mean, you did bag a cute patoot, so that makes sense.” She lowered herself back down while I stood still to be her anchor. “I have good news!”
“I love good news. What’s going on?”
“You’re looking at a packed-up woman.” Carla grinned. “Iris is finally making honest alphas of us.”
“Oh shit, that’s awesome! That didn’t take nearly as long as it did for Javi and Rex to convince you to date them officially. You’re speeding up on the relationship timelines in your old age.”
“Fuck off,” Carla said with a laugh. “That was a totally different set of circumstances.”
“True enough. Hard to date when you’re a heat helper.”
“Exactly.” She nodded. “Things are good now with the tattoo shop, and Iris is almost done with her master’s. Feels like we’re actually settling into a great life together.”
“You deserve it.” I hesitated for a moment. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Absolutely. What’s up?”
I settled into the chair nearest to her. “I’m trying to be really cool about things, but Allie has a date this weekend, and…”
“Oh, she’s looking to pack up?”
“I guess? It’s just because things have been so weird with the bond. I don’t think she’s sure about me.”
Carla tilted her head, scrutinizing me. “Are you sure about her?”
“I…yeah. I want her to be happy and have anything she wants.”
Carla set a soft hand on my arm. “It’s okay if you want to be the only one she wants. Pack life isn’t for everyone.”
I shrugged. “Maybe I’d like it if I gave it a shot. I’m just feeling…” I stared down at my hands, flexing them to relieve some tension. “Territorial isn’t really the right word, but I’m not sure what else to call it.”
“I mean, she is your mate. It’s different than if you were just casually dating, even if you didn’t pick the order of things. I’m not surprised you’re feeling weird about it. Have you talked to her about this?”
“Not yet. I was going to see how the date went first. Maybe I don’t even have to worry about it.”
She gave me a skeptical look. “You’re already worrying about it.”
Carla wasn’t wrong. I’d mostly been doing my best to avoid thinking about it at all, but Carla’s news about her pack had forced the thought to the front of my brain again. I kept mentally wrestling with the idea that maybe I wasn’t enough for Allie, but that wasn’t fair. That wasn’t what having a pack was about. I couldn’t let myself get tangled up in the worries of bringing in anyone else that would be loving support for my mate.
“If she does pack up,” Carla added, giving my arm a comforting squeeze, “remember that the pack is there for you too. It’s not about anyone stealing her from you; it’s all of you building a life together. It can be difficult to navigate, but you’re so fucking chill as a person that you have a better chance than most at making it work. Talk to her if she wants to explore pack life, set up boundaries so you’re both comfortable, go out on some of those dates with her and meet your potential packmates. There’s no reason you have to sit at home worrying like a mother hen watching her chick run off to the fox den.”
I snorted. “I know you’re right.”
“I usually am.”
“I’ll work around to it, figure out what I want on my end before I dig into it all with her.”
“Fair enough.”
Students began filtering back in and we were forced to abandon our conversation for the class to resume. During our lunch break I slipped away and picked up a chocolate milkshake for Allie, adding in a strawberry one for Luna for good measure.
Sidney:
Treats downstairs
Allie:
!!!!!
COMING
The sight of her dashing off the elevator and slamming against my chest was enough to stop the breath in my lungs. It was honestly unfair how bright her smile was, how her hair shone in the light, and the warmth of her wrapped around me.
“I love surprise treats.”
“I thought you might.” I passed her the milkshakes.
“Two?”
“I didn’t want Luna to be left out.”
“You’re really angling to be her favorite alpha ever. Meg’s going to be so sad she has competition.”
“Meg can keep her top spot. I’m happy to be number two. I just want your friends to be comfortable around me.”
“You are way too sweet. I was just about to call you.”
“Oh yeah? About what?”
“I’m up for a promotion!”
“That’s amazing!” I squeezed her tightly, lifting her right off her feet. “I’m so proud of you.”
Her cheeks flushed pink.
“What’s your new job title?”
“Architectural consultant. No more junior! I don’t technically have it yet, but it’s between me and one other person. We each have one project to do to impress the boss, and considering the other work I’ve seen from this person, I feel like I might be a shoo-in.”
“Is there anything I can do to help with the project?”
“I’ll definitely have you look at it as I figure out all the details. God, I hope I get it. I’ll get a fancy office. We could get freaky at work!” She burst into giggles.
“Well, I was hoping you would get it anyway, but now I’m doubly invested. Are you nervous?”
“A little.”
“How would the job be different from what you’re doing now?”
“I would get to work on more fun projects. Stuff like libraries and art galleries, instead of basic strip malls. And I could have a team for big projects!” She bounced on her toes, her excitement manifesting in her movements.
“You’re all ready to make your mark on the city. That’s a really cool legacy to have.”
“I think so too. I know some people get kind of weird about legacies, and I don’t think I had fully thought about it when I went into this career, but as soon as a building exists that you designed, it’s the wildest feeling. Not that I know what being a parent is like, but I imagine it’s similar. Every so often I do drive-bys just to see what’s being housed within those walls now.”
“That’s adorable as hell. We should do a drive-by together, maybe include a photo shoot, put together an album of all the things you’ve helped create.”
She looked up at me with wistful, shiny eyes. “Really?” Her voice cracked. “I would love that.”
“I’ll get it organized, then. Do you want a professional photographer or do you want me to take the photos?”
“Meg has done photography before. She took classes and everything.”
“All right, I’ll coordinate with her.”
When I finally had to head back for the afternoon portion of the class, I kissed Allie softly, mindful of her work’s restrictions on PDA. She looked so happy as she retreated, waving to me from the elevator before disappearing.
I pulled out my phone as I walked.
Sidney:
Would you be interested in helping me with a photo shoot for Allie?
Meg:
Absolutely
What did you have in mind?
I explained the concept.
Meg:
That’s so sweet
She sent me an invitation to view her calendar app.
Meg:
Pick any time I have free
There weren’t a lot of empty blocks, but a few hours were open this upcoming Saturday, so I stole those for us. At stoplights I looked up a hair and makeup studio, booking a spot for Allie a couple of hours before Meg’s time slot.
Sidney:
Do you have an outfit in mind or do you want to go shopping?
Allie:
You can never have too many cute clothes
I couldn’t help but smile. I got through the afternoon and went to pick her up at the house. All the puppies were fed and comfortable, giving us a bit of time for the task at hand. I took Allie straight to a street lined with boutiques my mom and Nicky had raved about a while ago. Hopefully Allie would be able to find something she liked.
“These places look fancy,” she said, her face pressed to the glass of her door.
“If you don’t find anything you like, we’ll go somewhere else.”
In the first boutique she beelined to a small section of red dresses. I held her purse for her while she tried on an armful of them, modeling each one for me in turn.
The first was a high-collared bodycon dress that hugged every curve and had a split that went so high I would dub it indecent. I dug my fingertips into the leather chair in the waiting area, breathing long and slow as she spun in place and bent over, forcing the hem of the dress to ride up to the curve of her ass. The next was a sweetheart neckline with a nipped-in corseted waist and full skirt that showed just enough cleavage to tempt, while having a sweet whimsy that brought the brightest smile to her face. The third was a strapless number that showed off her legs, and the final had one strap with a skirt that went all the way to the floor and looked more at home in a ballroom. Every bit of her body was highlighted differently in each dress, all of them making me salivate over the way they clung to and accentuated her curves.
The bliss on her face was intoxicating. She was a different shade of beautiful in every dress, and I could never get tired of watching her.
“Which one do you like best?” she asked, poking her head between the curtains.
I had looked up the names of the different styles in between her showing off her outfits so that I could comment properly. “The sweetheart neckline. What do you think about getting a petticoat to fill out the skirt?”
“You’re so right. That would be super cute.”
I flagged down one of the staff members and they found Allie a petticoat to match with a red satin ribbon trim. The smile on her face when she emerged wearing it with the dress was almost enough to make me propose then and there. She stuffed her hands into the pockets and did the cutest fucking twirl, her feet dancing in place like she wasn’t capable of containing her joy.
I might’ve been able to restrain myself from dropping to my knees and begging her to be mine, but I certainly didn’t have the willpower to stop myself from kissing her until I could barely breathe.
A not-so-subtle cough from the staff member had me pulling away, but I kept my arm looped around Allie’s waist.
“I think that’s his way of saying we’ll take it,” Allie said with a laugh.
“Damn right.” I handed the staff my card to bring up the dress and petticoat while Allie changed.
Next up were shoes. Allie gravitated instantly to a pair of black patent pumps with red soles on display.
“Holy shit, these are pretty.”
“Try them on.”
“You can’t be serious. The price tag on these is ridiculous. I shouldn’t even be breathing next to them.”
“Try them on,” I repeated.
Her perfect bottom lip jutted out.
One of the staff members discreetly hovering nearby slid over when I turned to them. “Could we please have these in a size six?”
“Of course, one moment.”
“Sidney!” Allie hissed. “They’re too much.”
“You let me decide what’s too much.”
The staff member returned with the pair of shoes and Allie looked like she was about to weep as she slipped them onto her feet.
“Oh my god, I feel like I’m walking on a cloud. They’re so beautiful.”
“I gather you like them?”
“I love them, but?—”
“We’ll take them,” I told the staff member.
“Sidney…”
“If you love them, you should have them. I assume by your reaction you would never buy them for yourself.”
She nodded, tears just about spilling over her lashes as her gaze flickered between me and the shiny shoes on her feet.
“Then the only option is for you to have these incredible shoes. They obviously mean a lot to you, so let me buy them.”
“But—”
“No buts. You deserve the best life has to offer, and while I can’t entertain shopping sprees like this every other weekend, I can do this for you now. Please let me.”
She sank into my arms, leaning her forehead against my chest. “I don’t des?—”
“You’d better not be about to say what I think you’re going to say.”
Allie sniffled, looking up at me. “This is way beyond taking care of me.”
“Maybe I get joy out of giving you more than you need. Now let’s get those shoes boxed up and we can pick you up something for under your dress before we head home.”
She handed over the shoes to the staff member like they were made of glass and clung to my arm as we exited the store, box in hand.
“I can’t believe you bought me those. Those are like the shoe of all shoes.” Her laugh was perfect.
“You’re seriously tempting my self-control today.”
“All the more reason you should take me home and stop holding yourself back.” She curled her fingers in the collar of my shirt and pulled me in. “I did my homework and thought of all the ways I’m going to play with you tonight.”
Heat roared up my spine. “Get in the car.”
She grinned. “Yes, sir.”