31. Odie
We all sat at the table inside, eating blackened salmon and green beans. It was delicious as always, but Ellie dumping hot sauce on her salmon made me a little queasy. Mine didn’t bat an eye and even tried a little bit of it. She didn’t vomit on the table, so I took that as a good sign, but I couldn’t get myself to taste it.
“Come on, Odie, it’s good!” Ellie tried shoving a fork full at me, but I dodged her.
“Never.”
“But it’s just a spicy salmon. You like spicy things.” Ellie pouted, but I was not giving into her this time.
“Nope. I’ll accept a regular spicy salmon with a chipotle sauce or something like that but not salmon slathered in Tabasco.” I scrunched my nose and tried to eat my own salmon without thinking about the abomination she had created.
“It’s chipotle Tabasco. It’s basically the same thing.”
“Not happening.”
“I’ll try it,” Cy said, taking the hot sauce and dabbing some on her plate before dipping some salmon in it and popping it into her mouth. “Oh, that’s not what I was expecting.”
“But it’s good, right?” Ellie said with hope shining on her face.
Mine watched the interactions with a small smile across from me, enjoying the food without disgust.
“It’s… not good but not because of the flavor. Flavor wise, it really works, but the texture is all wrong. Maybe a creamy chipotle sauce. I’ll have to try that next time.”
We all fell into comfortable conversation about what sauce worked with salmon and which ones didn’t, and we all agreed that a salmon and sauce taste test would need to be held at some point. Of course, there was also some debate about the best way to make salmon and if certain sauces worked with specific cooking styles but not others.
It felt like a normal night again, and a part of me was at peace, but one thing was grating on my mind. Vaila was not responding to either of us, and I hated to admit that I was getting worried. Part of it was for her safety, but the main part was for Mine’s. We had enough bandages for now and could easily get more, but I knew she was worried about the curse and showing signs of a heat without suppressants to manage it.
I drank the rest of my lemonade before grabbing my phone and texting Vaila again. Cy and I had taken turns pestering her over the last few days to no avail. This time, though, the three little dots appeared seconds before she messaged me back, stating that she would be by soon and getting one of the ingredients was harder than anticipated. She was a busy person, and I knew that, but something didn’t feel right.
Vaila knew how important this was and what it could mean for the community, but I also didn’t know who her other clients were. She was well loved, and the council seemed to rely on her to some extent despite their opinions about Witches.
I took another bite of my salmon and brushed it off for now. Vaila had never given us any reason to suspect her, but I wouldn’t make the same mistake that my father did with Lucinda. Blind faith would not be in my repertoire.
Vaila would have to go over everything she gave us so I could watch for any tells that she was lying. Meeting Mine gave me a small bout of regret for my past, but I knew Vaila well enough to know if she was hiding something, and that made up for it.
I didn’t know exactly where this anxiety was coming from, but I trusted my gut and wasn’t going to risk anything happening to Mine again. She had already been through too much, and we still had so much to make up for.
After dinner, Mine showed us her nest. It all came together so well, and I couldn’t wait for her to get her hands on the other rooms. She made it all look effortless. Everything merged with the new style and the old. There wasn’t much we could do about the base cabin aesthetic, but Mine didn’t seem to have a problem with that since her style leaned more nature based.
A piece of me settled at being in here with Cy and Mine. Everything was falling into place and couldn’t wait to see what the future brought us.
Cy plopped down into one of the beanbag chairs and relaxed into it. She was the reason we had the others to begin with.
Ellie and Mine jumped on the bed and started showing us the different pillows. My favorite was the little bumble bee that sat up front. I let out a sigh of relief, knowing this was done and Mine had a place to call her own.
Her behavior had definitely changed recently. She was a little more… not childish per se, but in that realm. I wondered why that was, but it would make sense with her Omega side coming out and her past trauma needing to heal. She needed to have childish moments with someone who behaved at a similar age, which was Ellie. She had her moments of seeming younger, but compared to other teenagers, Ellie was far above them, so they met in the middle at times. Other times, it was definitely more older sister and younger sister with a few of them even feeling like mother and daughter due to Mine’s past forcing her to grow up far more quickly than anyone should have to.
Their bond was special, and I was so thankful that Ellie had someone like Mine in her life and vice versa. I only wished they had some friends that truly were their own age and were going through similar things, but that wasn’t possible. No one was going through what Mine was, and few people were going through what Ellie was. Even if we found someone to befriend Ellie, they’d be dragged into our other nonsense and might spill our secrets.
Until things settled and Mine was fully settled into being an Omega, this was how it had to be.
I’ll be right back. I realized what this place needs.
Mine shoved her notebook at me as she walked out the door before returning a few minutes later with a pillow she had brought up from her room where we had been sleeping. I quirked a brow at Cy, wondering if this was a sign of a coming heat or Mine being an Omega who likes smelling her Alphas.
It wasn’t enough to panic yet and demand Vaila get her shit together, but I would feel a lot better if we had all the supplies now.
Mine took back the notebook and wrote, Can we set up a TV in here and have a movie night?
“If you want us in your space for that long, yes, we can make that happen.”
“What are we up to now?” Cy asked, standing up. She would have to be careful in here. The fabric brushed the top of her head even with her shoulders slumped over to give her some head room.
“Movie night in the nest.” I shrugged. It wasn’t the worst idea to break it in. Our scents would be all over the place, and she’d feel more comfortable here in the long run.
Cy and I got to work, creating a makeshift movie room along with popcorn and some other snacks. No one was super hungry because we had just finished dinner, but popcorn was a must. I made multiple bowls loaded with butter and salt.
Halfway through the movie—a rom com about how to get a guy to break up with you—Vaila messaged us. She was outside with everything we had been waiting for.
“You two stay here. Vaila is dropping off the supplies. We shouldn’t be long.” I kissed the top of Mine’s head and headed for the door with Cy copying my movements.
Mine, however, also followed along.
Neither of us said anything, and we also weren’t surprised when Ellie showed up behind us as well.
We opened the front door, greeting Vaila as a group.
“Come in,” I said, eyeing the large box she had in her hands.
As she walked by, she handed it over with a smile. “How is everything going? How’s your arm, Mine?”
My eye twitched. I hadn’t been around anyone who called Mine… well, her name besides us, but something about it ticked me off. She was mine, and the whole nickname was going to be an issue I stuffed deep down because I knew it was just a name.
“We got her nest ready, and her arm is good,” Ellie answered for us.
“Mine can speak for herself.” I shut the door behind us and set the box on the counter.
“If we are talking about technicalities, she cannot. She can write for herself and sometimes sign for herself, but she cannot speak for herself,” Ellie shot back.
It irritated me, but Mine laughed, so I let it go. Mine also grabbed a notebook and wrote something to Vaila.
“Yes, I brought that too.” Vaila dug into the box, searching for something.
“What are you talking about?” I leered over her, waiting for her to find whatever she was looking for.
“It wasn’t just you and Cy hounding me for things. Mine texted me through Ellie and asked for some things too.”
“And what are those things?”
“Birth control, because apparently you two didn’t think to ask for that, and a salve for her arm to help it heal.”
“Oh, yeah, that definitely slipped our minds.” Cy chuckled. “Good thinking, Mine. I don’t think any of us are ready for that adventure just yet. It’s already a little crazy around here.”
I let Cy speak for the both of us, but truthfully, I wouldn’t mind it. Mine wasn’t ready, so I wouldn’t pressure her, but it hadn’t crossed my mind as an issue.
“Here it is,” Vaila said, pulling out a tray of a few small vials. “You take one when you notice a heat coming on, but wait as long as you can. It will last for ten days to cover you through the heat. These will be good for a year. And here are the suppressants.” Vaila paused while taking out a bottle of pills. “Take one every day. It works like Human birth control in a way. It will prevent heats until you’re ready. One might not come immediately after stopping, but it also might, so be ready. We also don’t know how you fully work, so please take them correctly and hope they have the same potency for you as others. If they don’t seem to work at first, take another. Just don’t go too crazy with them.
“Now, the thing you’ve been really waiting for!” Vaila started pulling an array of items out of the box, setting them on the counter.
There was a jar of insects, some others that looked like ash and spices, and I didn’t know what else.
“The cure for the curse has to be fresh, plus I need some of your blood to make it.” I cringed, not wanting to see Mine bleed again, but we had to go through with it. “Well, let’s get started!”
I had been watching Vaila the entire time, waiting to see a tell of some kind, but nothing ever showed, and relief washed over me. Vaila was exactly who she had always been, and I was thankful for her help.
She got to work on the cure, working at warp speed in the kitchen, boiling the concoction up with a few drops of Mine’s blood mixed in. It looked like disgusting goop, and I was not envious of Mine who would have to consume it.
“Now, you’ll only have to take a mouthful of this, but you’ll have to hold it in there for a full minute before swallowing. I won’t lie. It’s revolting, and you will be tempted to spit it out. A minute will feel like a lifetime, but once it’s over, that’s it. The curse will slowly dissipate over the next few days, and you’ll be bad luck free.” Vaila continued to stir it, and the color changed from a dark blue to purple, then nearly black.
“I’m so sorry, Mine.” Ellie looked over Vaila’s shoulder and nearly gagged. “I’m out. Good luck. I’m locking myself in my room with some headphones on. I will not hear gagging, thanks.” Ellie practically ran away with our laughter trailing behind her.
“It’s almost done. Are you ready?” Vaila asked Mine, who stepped up beside her with a sharp nod.
This curse had caused her so much pain, and I knew she would get through this to have it gone for good. I couldn’t say the same for myself, but my Alpha father died from nothing related to a curse, and my Omega father and sister were perfectly healthy but dramatic in many areas.
“Open up.” Vaila held out a large spoon full of the jelly-like black goop to Mine, who frowned, then took the whole thing in her mouth. Vaila started a timer and said, “One minute, starting now.”
Time ticked by, and Mine looked like she wanted to throw it all up. I didn’t blame her, but she held strong, and after the minute was up, she swallowed before coughing and gagging. I passed her some lemonade we had left on the counter, and she chugged it down.
Mine signed, Done? I translated, and Vaila nodded with a smile on her lips.
“Done.” Vaila clapped her hands together with a mischievous grin. “Now, tell me how this whole mate thing has been going. I’ve been dying to hear the gossip, and Ellie refused to tell me anything.”
Mine cringed, but Vaila didn’t see. I was about to tell her we wouldn’t be getting into it, but Mine grabbed her notebook and gave her all the details or lack thereof.
“Oh, well, going slow, then?” Vaila looked around at all of us, and we shrugged in unison.
“And?” Cy asked, crossing her arms. “Did you think we were going to pressure her into anything? We aren’t horny monsters, Vaila.”
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it. Neither of you ever took things slow—” Vaila’s words were cut off by Mine’s fist slamming into her nose.
“Oh, fuck!” Cy pulled Mine back, and I covered my mouth to hide my laughter.
Vaila had it coming, and I had never been prouder of Mine.