45. Leo
Chapter 45
Three Months Later
I lead our omega down the hall. She knows we're at the clinic, because I didn’t blindfold her for the trip over, but I did once we were in the building. Everyone is playing along, and I appreciate it. Laura wasn’t happy that I am bringing Candice in for this, she thinks if I’m in the office, I need to be working, but this is important. Also, I hate to say it about anyone, but Laura is kind of a bitch.
Maggie is standing by the kennels with Dr. Stephanie, bouncing up and down on her toes and they both have huge smiles on their faces. I have both of Candice’s hands in one of mine, as I lead her to the cat cages. We’ve had a lot of strays recently, and one momma cat who’s kittens are almost ready to be adopted out, I wanted to make sure Candice got first pick of the litter…not that she knows.
I stop and put my hands on her shoulders, before untying the blindfold, and stepping out of the way. She blinks up at me before focusing on the pen full of kittens in front of her .
“Oh my god, they are so stinking cute!" She does a full body wiggle.
“I know that you loved Sunny, and nothing can ever replace him, but…if you want to, I thought maybe you could pick out another friend or two, but only if you want to, no pressure at all." I rush through what I wanted to say, suddenly worried this was a stupid idea and she’ll think I am trying to replace her deceased cat.
She looks up at me, tears in her eyes. “Shit, sorry, this was a bad idea. We…shit. Never mind. How about ice cream, I can take you out for ice cream?” I stammer, trying to salvage the situation.
She sniffs and wipes her eyes. “Well, while I would love some ice cream, thank you…let’s pick out a couple of new family members first. How much longer do they need to stay with their mom?" She looks back down at the litter of 7 kittens, all different patterns, but we will get the mom altered once everyone is weaned and send her back to the colony. With luck we’ll find loving homes for all the kittens, and adoption fees include shots and alterations on them as well.
Candice reaches down and rubs a tiny black ball of fluff behind the ears, and it hisses and tries to scratch her with its little needle claws. She holds the back of her hand down into the pen until one of the kittens comes over and rubs against it, purring loudly. She picks up the tiny ginger, tears in her eyes.
”So, do you wanna be Sunny two?" The kitten paws at her nose and closes its eyes, leaning into her .
She rubs her face against it. The little black kitten she originally tried to pet is now meowing loudly looking up at her, so she scoops it up and holds them together against her chest, their dual purrs loud enough for the entire room.
“And you can be Moon, how’s that?”
I fill out the paperwork for the two kittens while Candice plays with them and a feather, then she kisses them each on the nose and promises to come back soon. The mom and kittens will go back into solitary to keep everyone healthy, and Candice makes me promise to bring her back in a few days so they won’t forget her.
We stop by the house and get Jacks before heading out for ice cream, because he’ll pout if he finds out later. He hand’s Candice a tiny box with a shy smile, and she opens it looking perplexed. Even I’m a bit mystified because laying inside on a pile of tissue paper is a fucking cassette tape. Who even owns a cassette player anymore? But Candice has more tact than I do, and just smiles and thanks him.
Jacks laughs; he’s laughed more in the last three months than he has in years, and it feels good to hear it.
“It’s a mix tape, Xan and I made it for you, it has all those weird old songs you listen to when you dance around the house and don’t think anyone's watching.” Her responding laugh is loud and bright, like her.
“Thank you, both of you, but I’ll need to find a tape deck, I don’t think I have one." He just keeps smiling at her and brushes her hair off her forehead .
“No worries Little Lion, we have one at home, obviously, since we made it…but there’s also one in your car." She shakes her head, still smiling.
“No, no, I think I would know if there was a tape player in my car. Still, I appreciate it, and I can’t wait to listen to it later." She leans over the seat to give him a kiss and a hug. “Though, I’m kind of curious why, I mean, what did I do to get gifts?"
But before he can answer and ruin the surprise, we are pulling into Gabe's Garage. Sally waves from the first bay, and calls into the back–soon Gabe wanders out from the front office. Candice undoes her belt and hops out.
“Hey, we’re going for ice cream, you wanna come? You can have the front seat.” She sing-songs that last bit, waggling her eyebrows, but our pack leader just chuckles, pulling her into a hug.
“Maybe later, love. I need to get some work done. But I think Xan wanted to talk to you." Just then Xan appears around the side of the building, driving an old Ford Mustang.
I know nothing about cars, but I recognize the hood ornament. Candice on the other hand gets super excited and runs over to him.
“Wow, this is beautiful. I haven’t seen it around town before." She reaches out like she wants to touch the faded paint, but pulls back her hands looking guilty.
“Oh, yeah, well, it’s been sitting under some tarps in the back for the last few years. Gabe and I pulled it out of a guy’s field so I could rebuild it. The motor runs great now, and I might even be convinced to redo the paint…for the right price." He grins lasciviously and waggles his eyebrows, but Candice is looking down at the car, rubbing her hand across the hood.
“Well, you did an amazing job, both of you.” She looks over at Gabe and smiles. He just smiles back and shakes his head at her.
“Aww, don’t be like that baby, I’ll even let you play with the gearshift if you ask nicely." Xan tries again with no response other than her looking longingly at the car.
With all of us standing around staring at Candice as she stares at the car, Jacks finally has enough, and goes over and slaps Xan in the back of the head, earning himself a glare.
“Oh my god…you! You are the owner…fuck. Candice, I’ve had this fucking car under a tarp for two years…you think I suddenly got off my ass and fixed it for anyone else?" Xan sounds frustrated, but he’s laughing by the time he finishes.
Candice turns towards him with tears in her eyes, and he trips over his words trying to explain. “Shit, I’m…I’m sorry, baby. I been busting my ass trying to get it ready in the last few months, and with the new hires and everything going crazy, I haven’t had time to paint it, and...I’m sorry." She is crying fully now and Gabe lets out a loud growl as Xan wraps her in his arms rocking from side to side and making shushing sounds.
“I’m sorry…I just…no one’s ever done anything so nice for me before" She sobs against his chest. Clearly she doesn’t count the kittens I just gave her, but we haven’t brought them home yet, so fine, I’ll allow it.
“But…why, why the kittens, and the tape, and the car…what's the occasion, did I miss something?" Jacks bounces over.
“It’s our anniversary!” Candice eyes him skeptically.
“No, we met just less than 5 months ago." He hugs her, sandwiching her between himself and Xan.
“Three months ago, you told us you love us, and let us bond you…though I’m still waiting for you to mark me back." He kisses the top of her head, and she cries harder against Xan. Her words are muffled against his chest.
“Thank you, all of you, for loving me back."
But we can’t stay like that, the guys really do need to get back to work. So Xan pulls the car back behind the shop to finish getting it ready. Gabe goes back inside after claiming several kisses with promises for more later. Candice, Jacks, and I go out for ice cream, then home for Jacks to make dinner, and Candice to finish repainting the den so we can move the nest downstairs before her next heat. She already promised to give us each our own bonding marks during that one.