Chapter 14
Dove was ecstatic for her evening meal with May later that night.
They had been living together now for about two weeks, but lining up their schedule was difficult.
Dove had fallen asleep quite a few times without May.
She didn’t enjoy that feeling, and tonight she wished to make it a bit of a point during their mealtime.
She hummed softly to the sounds of soft rain hitting their balcony.
The doors were open, the hearth popping with fire and Dove was chopping fresh scallions.
She had joined Eveleen for a walk in the garden earlier, who had shared how strong her and Taylor’s mating bond had been recently, but that she could feel Taylor’s fright most days.
Dove could see the same in May. Neither of the Omegas were usually included in politics as they were to ‘be protected’ by the Alphas’ orders but it was obvious there was something brewing.
“I think Taylor is only calm when I’m by her side.
She spends all her time using our bond to protect me, but she forgets I can and have felt her for two years.
” Eveleen had rubbed her mark on the right side of her neck, looking over to Dove’s unclaimed neck.
She felt self-conscious, bringing her own hand up to rub her unblemished neck.
She didn’t know how she would feel about May’s mark on her yet.
She imagined it would happen, but was starting to realize anything she wanted, May would provide, and only if Dove wanted it.
She put all of Dove’s needs before her own needs and desires.
“When May comes home before bed, sometimes she seems more tense than I’ve seen her.
I thought maybe it was us living together or me being pregnant, but when I start talking or we do things, that’s only when she seems to relax.
” Dove had noticed May’s tense postures when she entered their home, but once May settled in, she was comfortable.
She had laughed at Dove’s poorly told stories and smiled when Dove spoke about her day and she was joyous when they were talking about their future.
“Do things, or do things?” Eveleen gave a funny dance with her eyebrows as Dove rolled her eyes hard at her friend.
She pushed her gently, which prompted a snarl from the guards behind her.
She spun frantically to see one of the older Betas nearing her with ferocity.
She almost cowered before the other guard stopped him.
He whispered in the ear of the Beta and she couldn’t hear what, but imagined it was something about her being the mother of May’s child.
She clutched her belly protectively. The Beta bowed deeply and apologized, but Dove would remember his face.
She may be pregnant, but she wasn’t soft.
“We have not been intimate since that first night, Eveleen. We’ve only really been together for over a month, and we’ve only lived together for two weeks.
When I’ve tried to advance things, she shuts it down.
I think she’s still scared that she doesn’t deserve me.
” Dove pinched the small skin close to her hips.
“There will be time, Dove.” Eveleen had placed a hand on her shoulder.
“When I moved here, Taylor barely touched me until the first few months. She would look at me and talk to me, but she wouldn’t touch me.
Not until that first time.” Dove knew exactly what she was talking about.
When Eveleen had been disrespected by a guard member, Taylor had not only banished him, but made it known to every single member of her kingdom that Eveleen was hers.
As much as Eveleen disliked public gestures, it was what they had needed.
Since then, Taylor barely left her side, but Dove knew it was out of love and not protection.
The Omega had learned to protect herself.
“I want May to process everything in her own time. She’s loved me for years and I’m not going to immediately dive into her trust and love and take it for my own when I haven’t deserved it.”
“You don’t need to take her love, Dove, she’s already giving it to you.” She couldn’t ignore what Eveleen said.
Dove hummed louder as she grabbed the scallions and threw them in the pot with the other vegetables—carrots, potatoes, and beans.
She knew May would love the stew as much as she did.
Dove cleaned up her work area because while May wouldn’t mind, she did, and it would prompt May into a cleaning frenzy for her if she didn’t clean up.
The pitter patter of the rain continued as she looked around their home.
Most of their clothes were ready to be washed as Dove scooped up the dirty fabrics to be taken to the wash.
“Dovely?” May entered the quarters, peeking her head in hesitantly, as if it wasn’t her home too. Dove was facing the wardrobe but continued humming to herself as the strong Alpha approached behind her. “Hello, my sweet Dove.”
May’s arms encircled her waist hesitantly but secured Dove against her.
Dove didn’t know why May was acting so uncertain, but thought maybe Eveleen had spoken to Taylor, who spoke to May.
Either way, Dove wanted tonight to be theirs.
She melted into May’s secure arms. With the height difference, the back of her head always hit just above May’s collarbones.
“Hi.” She spoke softly before turning in May’s arms. “How was your day?” She circled her own arms around her muscular Alpha’s waist. May leaned down and kissed her head.
She snuggled closer into the warm body which smelled a bit like fire.
With each inhale on May’s uniform, she relaxed a little more. She was at peace.
“It will not compare to our evening. Let us enjoy the night?” May gripped her just a bit tighter before moving
towards the balcony. She had her hands on the doors, ready to close them when Dove stopped her.
“Wait!”
“What? Is something wrong?” Both of May’s hands were on the wooden handles.
With the gray armor painting her, she was glowing.
The tan skin and golden white hair were a glowing combination on her.
Dove could sense how eager she was to get out of her uniform.
She didn’t typically wear it each day but today she had insisted on it.
“Nothing is wrong, honey. I just like to hear the rain.” Dove held her hands behind her back as she watched May’s realization form. She dropped both her hands before approaching.
“What else do you like?” She wasn’t being condescending or sexual but was innocently asking about the small things Dove enjoyed.
May loved Dove. She had been around her for years and observed all of her, but those small things Dove enjoyed couldn’t be known unless told.
At least not past the time May went to war.
She understood what May was thinking. She moved towards one of the chairs in front of the hearth but didn’t sit on it.
“You mean besides the sound of rain?” May nodded enthusiastically.
She had never seen May this excited. “I really enjoy classical music. Every year or so when Taylor has a major event, she would agree to get the string quartet together for me to listen to. She said if I ever wanted to listen to them that I could, but I didn’t want to abuse my relationship to the throne.
” May smiled as she sat in the chair in front of Dove listening to her. Her eyes had never shined so brightly.
“I also love the way that the grass feels under my feet when I walk around the garden or outside the livestock pen to tend to the animals.” As Dove went on, listing the things she loved, she realized May was the top of it all.
“One of my favorite things though, is kneading bread. The way the dough folds so easily under my fingers and becomes this crunchy tasteful roll I created is such a complicated thing.” Dove approached May and sat on her lap. “Was that what you wanted?”
May gathered her up in her arms, kissing her forehead. “It was. You smell so good.”
Dove had started to notice small things about May. How she was in love with her scent, the pleasure she got from watching Dove whenever she got excited at her book. The way she folded their clothes at the end of the night with so much care.
“That’s funny considering Taylor said I smell like you.
” She buried herself into May’s side. Her legs dangled off the edge of the chair, while she sat perpendicular to her Alpha.
May’s nose was pressed right above her ear into her hair.
She had taken a bath earlier and used her new hair scrub that smelled quite earthy.
May just sat there, breathing her in like it was the only peace she had gotten all day.
“Will you tell me about your day?”
May’s arms stiffened and she shook her head slightly.
She so clearly didn’t want to discuss her day, yet Dove wanted May to be comfortable coming home and resting.
She tried so hard not to push but it was also who she was at her core.
She was someone who pushed and didn’t stop even when she should’ve stopped.
“What else do you like, Dovely?” May’s head was tucked into Dove’s neck.
“I like when you try to cook our morning meal. I like watching you sticking your tongue out of your mouth when you’re thinking.
The way you pretend you’re not watching me while I’m reading at night.
I like when you get home after I’m asleep and still curl up against me.
” May nodded against her. Dove thought she was crying until May pulled her head back.
“I like watching you read.” She pushed a strand of loose hair behind Dove’s ear. It was clear to Dove that May was overwhelmed, but she didn’t know by what. She tried her best to release comforting pheromones in the air as the pitter patter of the rain slowed down.
“Is that all?” Dove leaned forward, kissing May.
It was soft but it drove Dove insane. She loved May’s lips.
They were always so soft, and so warm. Dove would lose herself in every kiss, but she didn’t want that kind of intimacy right now.
She just wanted to talk to her partner. Well, they hadn’t labeled it yet, but Dove hoped May felt the same way.
“No, I like when you cook too. You are so effortless when you prepare food. You put your entire being into it. I cannot focus when I see you sway while you chop vegetables.” May’s words were barely above a whisper as she stared deeply into Dove’s eyes.
Dove felt as if May could see into her soul.
She wanted to feel the same way and wanted May to know.
“Anything else?” Dove locked one arm around May’s neck, tickling the hairs at the base of her neck. She was trying to find the courage to say how she felt.
“Sometimes before bed, you run your fingers up and down my arm without realizing. It makes me feel warm inside.” May was mimicking her words by running her fingers along Dove’s uncovered arm. It sent sparks into her nerves, making her feel alive.
Dove pressed her forehead to May’s. It was a simple act, but she had never felt more at peace than in this moment.
“I love you May.” She kissed May’s nose before placing another gentle kiss on her lips. “You are my everything.” She couldn’t look in May’s eyes. She knew they had said it once before, but she felt so much right now, it almost hurt.
“You, Dovely, are my whole heart. I love you too.” They held each other for a few minutes, feeling peaceful and content. Dove still felt May’s worry about whatever happened today, but she didn’t want to press. She trusted May to tell her everything.