Chapter 8
A one-hundred percent perfect match that only happened when the stars aligned, and the cosmic council got together to decide such things was something Felix never considered being decided for him or his pack, especially now.
This felt more like a personal attack by the universe than a last-ditch attempt to keep the pack together.
Maybe the stars above needed a good laugh, because there was nothing more ironic than this shit show.
Felix didn’t feel like laughing now that he was standing outside the conference room where Dr. Avery was preparing to grant them an official meeting.
Everyone looked like a mess. Zayden in particular.
In fact, Felix hadn’t seen him looking this miserable since the night everyone agreed they wanted to part ways.
Kai’s reaction was no surprise. At least, not to him.
His face was forced into a permanent scowl, and if Felix didn’t know any better, he was pacing to control his urge to run away.
He, more than the rest of them, was good at that.
And Jude… Felix raised an eyebrow. He was bouncing on his feet and smiling so wide that Felix almost considered calling a doctor for him.
If someone other than them in this pack was watching him right now, they’d probably assume he found a bag of crack.
It definitely wouldn’t help with the rumors circulating around.
Felix wondered if she had read these rumors. He wondered what the little omega thought of them. She had to have some sort of opinion, seeing as she knew them well enough to attend their concert, but attending a momentary event was different from a lifelong commitment.
A lifelong commitment.
He liked the sound of that.
His alpha chuckled.
Are you done assessing everyone? We should at least keep our high and mighty opinions to ourselves when we’re around her.
Felix rolled his eyes and tapped his foot quickly. He could hear footsteps on the other side of the door and smell the burnt edge of powdered sugar and spoiled cream.
Are you even going to speak, or will you stay mysteriously quiet?
Mystery is my charm.
Coward.
Hmm.
Dr. Avery opened the door, and Felix instantly noticed how hopeful her gaze was, but her stance was tall and firm. She made it clear earlier that her duty was to her patient, the omega. Sonnet.
Dr. Avery motioned towards the conference room, and Felix barely stood up before Jude bolted inside, Zayden hurrying after him like an embarrassed pet owner chasing after their untrained dog. Kai was surprisingly quick to follow in pursuit. This would be an interesting meeting.
More interesting than when we met Juliana?
No.
But she was not Juliana. She was their mate, and she was beautiful.
Sonnet sat at the far end of a long rectangular table, her partners in crime standing firmly behind her.
Her friend, Scarlett, who earlier spent her time interrogating them, had immersed herself in her role as protector.
Sonnet’s sister, Summer, definitely lived up to the detailed description Zayden gave earlier.
She looked like a tsunami ready to drown her victims.
But Sonnet? She was like no other girl he had seen before, with her bubblegum pink hair, a round face, and gentle blue eyes.
There was something familiar about her, like coming home after a long day at work, strawberry shortcake on the dining room table, a few candles lit, and the back door cracked open to let the sound of frogs and crickets inside the room. She was the embodiment of the future he had been waiting for.
The scent of strawberries turned into a rotten, overripe smell as her eyes darted to each of them.
She’s scared.
Well, look at Kai. I would be, too.
Maybe he’s just intimidated by her. Not everyone can be perfect, and yet here she is.
With her brightly colored hair, to add.
She didn’t look much like a punk rocker. Her round face, doe eyes, and button nose screamed fairy princess. She looked far too kind to listen to their music, but then there was that flash of something. Mischief, stubbornness? He wanted to find out.
Jude might beat us to it.
He flung himself forward, once again like an overly excited dog trying to pounce on a stranger who was just trying to mind their own business.
“Hi! I’m—URK!”
Zayden grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him back. “Abrasive,” he growled, rolling his eyes and shoving Jude and Kai into chairs at the table. “And impolite. I’m sorry.”
Sonnet’s lips formed a small, amused smile. “It’s okay.”
“I’m not being impolite,” Jude whined before giving a winning smile to their omega. “I’m just excited. There’s a very big, important difference.”
“Intolerable. I think that was the word Zayden was looking for,” Kai mumbled. “Maybe insufferable?”
“I don’t think Sonnet needs all the words starting with the prefix in, Kai,” Felix growled, glaring down at him from his very comfortable spot leaning against the wall. When he looked at Sonnet, his eyes softened. “I’m sure you’re more interested in getting to know us.”
“Ask anything,” Jude blurted. “Anything you want to know is yours.”
Zayden cleared his throat, looking like an embarrassed big brother, but Jude was oblivious. His eyes were transfixed on Sonnet, but so were Felix’s.
Her cheeks flushed, and she looked at her friend and sister for help. It probably wasn’t easy being put in the main seat; all eyes focused on her. She looked more like a fish out of water than an omega. A cute, pink fish.
“I don’t know what to ask,” She admitted.
Her beautiful voice gut-punched him, and it had the same effect on the others, too.
There really was no need for a test. It was clear that this girl in front of them was meant to be their omega.
He wanted to skip the awkwardness and pleasantries and take her home, cook her dinner, and read her passages from his favorite books.
He could see it. He could see her wrapped in his bedsheets, wearing his clothes, opening her arms for him so that he could hold her.
Felix cleared his throat and pinched his shirt collar. It was getting stuffy. He wished he could chance out of his tight, leather clothes and into one of his mor comfortable sweaters.
If only people knew what a sap you were.
Be quiet.
“I only know you as the voices on my playlist. I still feel more like a fan than…” She pursed her lips together, not finishing the sentence, but he wanted her to. He wanted to hear her calling herself their mate.
Kai scoffed. “We have a lot of fans. Some are batshit crazy, so I want to know, are you?”
“What is wrong with you?” Zayden growled, reaching to grab Kai to wring his neck. Felix was tempted to do it himself, but there was a long line. Scarlett, Summer, and even Dr. Avery seemed to want a piece of the action as well.
Sonnet’s eyes narrowed. Was she pissed?
In a cute, angry bunny kind of way.
Sonnet turned her head towards Kai and made a scolding, tsking sound. “I might be a fan, but I also read what the tabloids say about you. You specifically, Kai, and if you talk to me like that again, I’m going to think all the rumors are true.”
Jude whistled. “Damn, I think I like her even more now.”
“Maybe they are true. So what?” Kai scoffed.
“Oh. Wow.” Sonnet touched her heart gently and faked a dramatic gasp. Felix held his breath in anticipation. “Your attitude is connected to being insecure about your ability to please a woman because of your insignificant penis size? That might be a problem if we’re going to be mates.”
The room was deadpan silent, all their jaws on the floor.
Scarlett was the first to laugh, with Jude following.
Summer and Zayden looked proud, Kai’s face was quickly turning a deep shade of red, and even Felix couldn’t contain a smile.
He had to glue his lips together to keep from joining in on the laughter.
She’s good.
She’s perfect.
“I can’t believe you said penis,” Summer said, choking back a laugh.
Sonnet’s eyes were narrowed, as if daring Kai to say another word. “Why? Penis isn’t a bad word.”
“You don’t curse?” Felix asked.
She shook her head adamantly. “No. Never.”
He nodded his head. “I’ll make sure to remember that.”
“Me too!” Jude shouted. “I swear right here and right now, I’ll never say another terrible word again! Except, maybe for ass or hell, but those aren’t that terrible. Are they?”
“Oh, for the love of—”
Zayden pinched Kai’s ear. “We’ll all try harder not to curse, then. Is there anything else we should know?”
They all listened intently as Sonnet spoke, and the more she got into the conversation, the more confident she became.
She talked about music, and it was clear they weren’t that special.
Their omega had a wide range of musical tastes, such as country, folk, and Broadway.
Maybe the next time Felix was taken to New York for a modeling gig, he could take her to a Broadway show.
She loved animals and plants, ate mostly takeout since she didn’t like to cook, had a major sweet tooth, and, in her own words, lived a very cheerful and whimsical life.
Jude wrote everything down in his sloppy, childish handwriting only he could read.
Then, he went on to spill every surface level thing there was about himself and the pack.
He yapped about Zayden’s obsession with fixing up a motorcycle he’s had for the past three years, Kai’s soft sport for dogs, and took a jab at Felix for being incredibly introverted and an old soul.
“I don’t know why we call Zayden old man when really, it’s Felix,” Jude finished, taking a deep inhale. “Honestly, we should get a dog just to bring more life to our house.”
Scarlett and Summer look exhausted, but Sonnet was smiling and soaking in every word. Her spoiled scent was now completely sweet.
“I’ve always wanted a puppy.”
“What kind of puppy? Maybe we could get one for you as a welcome home gift.”
Oh, Jude.
Sonnet shifted uncomfortably, and her confident smile shrank into something small and uncertain. Her eyes darted around again, looking at her friend and sister for guidance.
Zayden growled softly at Jude. “Now is not a good time to talk about puppies. But…” They all looked towards Dr. Avery. “It’s getting late. I’m sure we do need to talk about heavier subject points like living arrangements, don’t we?”
Dr. Avery, who had been respectfully quiet the entire time, finally cleared her throat and clapped her hands together. She stood right between Sonnet and them, eyes darting back and forth between the two groups.
“Indeed.” She began passing out multiple pamphlets on omega health, Links, bonding rituals, and other necessities.
“I know it may be difficult to discuss these things as strangers, but as you’ve said, it is time to move on to serious subjects.
I must make sure you leave my clinic with everything you need to make some big decisions.
Which leaves this last pamphlet on choosing or rejecting the bond. ”
“Rejecting?” Felix frowned as Sonnet took the pamphlet with shaking hands. “That is a choice?”
“Yes. But not one without consequences. It is rare, but some matches have decided to reject the bond. You have until her next heat cycle to seal or reject it but do your research. Rejecting the bond results in biological consequences. You will not be able to pursue anyone after. Your bodies and your alpha or omega will not allow it.”
Silence stretched in the room as they all held the weight of the pamphlet and burden of the bond in their hands. Kai looked like he was going to crumble from the weight of it.
He wanted to escape them, find his own way, his own mate. What would he do now?
Zayden looked at Felix, the same fear lurking in his eyes.
Felix cleared his throat and took a slow seat. “What you are saying is that we are to be with her, or no one at all?”
Dr. Avery nodded her head. “Correct. While a rejection from a bond is painful and will always have biological consequences, packs and omegas can recover and move on if they wish. However, that is only for bonds that are not a Link match. At 100%, you’re only destined for one another.
There would be no moving on with anyone else if you reject it. ”
No one said anything. Everyone was too busy trying to hold up the weight of this decision.
Dr. Avery allowed the silence before continuing.
“Until your decision is made, proper care needs to be considered and taken seriously. I would suggest merging living arrangements. An omega can become very ill when apart from their unbonded alphas for too long, and vice versa. Long periods of separation can trigger heat spikes or ruts. Emotions will be high; urges will be stronger. It's all due to your bodies adjusting to being in proximity with your other half. All of this is talked about in the pamphlets I’ve handed out.”
“We’re supposed to make all of these decisions based on these pamphlets?” Kai snapped.
The room erupted into a roar, everyone at everyone, and Sonnet cowering in her own little world. She stared down at that one little pamphlet in her hands, and Felix could see it, the world crushing her shoulders, and that’s when he found it. His courage.
He strolled quickly over to her, his feet walking on air, and kneeled down.
He tucked his fingers under her chin and turned her towards him.
He couldn’t find his words, but his alpha found them for him as he began to purr.
The sound was a low, comforting rumble from the center of his chest and reverberating up his throat.
Her eyes centered on him, and even though there was slight apprehension and fear, there was also comfort. She leaned into him, and a small smile tugged at her.
“I’m sorry.”
He frowned and gently tucked some loose strands of pink hair out of the frame of her perfect face. “Why?”
“I don’t think I’m doing a very good job at…this.”
“I think you’re doing perfectly.”
Her lips twitched until she finally formed a bigger smile, before he saw it again. That flash of mischief. “You’re not just saying that so that you’ll be my favorite?”
He grinned. “Did you have a favorite? Before you knew we were your mates?”
Her eyes twinkled, and she brought her finger up to her lips and shook her head. Before Felix could attempt to tease the answer out of her, the room was brought back to order as Zayden cleared his throat.
“She should come home with us. If she’ll accept.”
She looked at Zayden, then Kai, then Jude, and finally at Felix. Her smile didn’t fade, only grew. “I guess it would be easier to figure all of this out if we were all living under the same roof, so I guess I accept the offer. Especially if we could reopen that conversation about getting a puppy?”
“Ha!” Jude’s eyes sparkled with pride, and so did Zayden's.
Whatever she wants.
She’s going to be one spoiled omega.