Chapter 50
FIFTY
After everything was settled, Sam’s main prerogative was to meet my doctor.
He wanted to know everything there was to know about my condition from a professional and not from the horror stories he read online.
And because the other two don’t want to be left out, they decided to come along for the ride as well.
That’s how we end up packed tight like sardines in my doctor’s tiny examination room. After spending thirty minutes asking countless questions, we’re finally alone again, huddled together and waiting patiently for my hormone levels to be tested.
“What if it’s close?” I speculate, practically biting my nails as I blink at the boring off-white wall. “My scent has been so unpredictable.”
“I know you’re worried about being out in public,” Kit sympathizes. “But we will do this at your pace. If you want to be a hermit in the house until your heat starts, we can do that.”
“And if you need to go somewhere, you don’t have to go alone,” Thatcher reasons, his hand firm on my shoulder. His hulking body stands behind me in the corner, stuffed between the wall and the examination table I’m sitting on. He stands out so much in this tiny office, and the sight makes me smile.
“I think that’s a good compromise.” I grab his hand and squeeze, recognizing his support.
I’m still nervous about the doctor sharing my results.
For all I know, I could go into heat tonight.
At the same time, things aren’t like they were last year.
There won’t be any locked doors or the stale scent of sanitation in the air to drive me crazy.
No, I have my very own haven tucked away for me at home, waiting for me to christen it with my new pack mates. Ones who are eager to bond.
“I think waiting to bond is for the best,” Sam says.
Kit pouts. “I know it is, but I wish we could have our heats together.”
The sentiment makes me smile while shaking my head. “As the only one between the two of us to have had a heat, trust me, we need to wait.”
The other omega returns my amusement and flicks my nose. “You may be able to laugh about your experience, Pebble, but we still haven’t gotten over that little tidbit yet.”
“Agreed,” Thatcher grunts.
Their scents are a mutual mix of anxiety. Their exteriors look calm and patient, but I know they’re freaking out just as much as I am. Still, whatever happens can’t be changed, and my men will learn to accept things the way I did.
“I am going to be like this for the rest of my life,” I tell them, definitively.
They all turn to look at me with a serious expression.
“After we bond, my heat cycles might regulate, but I’ll still have flare-ups.
I’ll still need to take my medication to keep my hormones regulated.
It’s just something that life has dealt me, and that’s okay. There’s nothing wrong with me.”
Sam immediately turns his body and takes my hands in his. “Correct. There is nothing wrong with you. None of us think that. We’re just trying to make sure you have everything you need. I want to do right by you this time.”
His hand touches my cheek and I place my own on top of his.
His green eyes still scream of anxiety, like he’s still holding onto the guilt.
I think he will be for a while because of who he is.
His strive for perfection is still prevalent in his actions, still trying to be the perfect prime and leader.
But he already is; he just needs time to see it himself.
“You already have,” I tell him, and some emotion pokes through at those words. Before I can say any more, there’s a knock at the door and Dr. Wyatt walks in, clipboard in hand.
“Good afternoon, Opal,” she tells me. “I need to double check, but you’re okay with your pack hearing the results?”
I nod. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Great.” She sits on the chair in front of the computer and turns to us. “So, the test shows that your heat is relatively close. I’d predict anywhere from one week to a month.”
“Okay, that sounds right,” I respond. “My scent has been all over the place, and my temperature levels have been fluctuating.”
She nods. “Those are rather common, even for bonded omegas with an upcoming heat. I’d say to start paying attention when the cramps or migraines begin. Those are positive indicators that you’re a few days away from your heat.”
“What about her medication?” Sam asks. “She mentioned that her doctor withheld them the last time she had a heat.”
“Yes, and that was very dangerous,” she says, annoyance in her tone at remembering my old asshole of a doctor. “She needs to continue to take the same dose every morning so she can keep her hormones regulated. Not doing so could result in an even longer and more painful heat.”
“You’ll have to make sure I take it,” I tell them. “We need to move them so they’re in the nest. I don’t know if I’ll let any of you leave once it starts.”
My doctor looks at each of us, professional but also kind. “Do you have any more questions for me?”
“Yes,” Sam says. “We’ve already discussed waiting to bond so we can go through Opal’s heat first and then Kit’s later. We just want to confirm that it’s the correct decision.”
“It’s a very wise choice,” she agrees. “Often, packs with two omegas find themselves very overwhelmed and exhausted by the end of mutual heats.”
I quirk a brow. “There are studies about that?”
“Studies, yes, but I have experience, too,” she says, tilting her head to me. “Finding two omegas in one pack is not as taboo as it once was. I have many clients with packs of varying dynamics, and I’ve had this conversation about mutual heats many times.”
Something about that makes me feel whole, like we’re not freaks of nature.
A part of me thought, for a long time, that maybe my condition brought on the uniqueness of my scent matches, but I don’t think that anymore.
Not after getting to know these men and finding out just how perfect they are for me, regardless of our scent compatibility.
Without that link between us, I don’t know if I would have ever allowed myself to be courted or loved by them. Fate really decided to be my friend in a moment of need.
Sam seems to be out of questions, so after my doctor refills my prescription for another couple of months, we make our way out of the examination room. The guys walk ahead, but Dr. Wyatt halts me for a moment.
She looks at me, delight shimmering in her eyes. “You found a good pack, Opal.”
My smile is immediate. “Yeah. I really did.”
Since I have a few weeks to figure things out, I feel safe enough to meet Stacia and Rory out for lunch. After everything that has happened, I haven’t had the opportunity to come clean about everything.
Not to mention, they’re my best friends, and I’m tired of hiding from them.
When they see me, huge smiles take over their faces. They stand to greet me, hugging me and cheering for my arrival like a couple of goofballs.
Stacia motions toward my seat. “We got you tea. I think it’s one of your favorites.”
And she’s right. The green tea is still steaming in its little cup.
My heart flutters. To be seen is to be loved, or however that saying goes.
When I sit down, I immediately start to cry.
Apparently, I also get more emotional the closer I get to my heat, so that’s cool, I guess.
“Aw, Opal!” Rory says. “What’s wrong?”
“I—” I calm down the tears, trying to blink them back. “I’m just really glad I have you two in my life.”
That makes them both look at me with shining eyes. Rory gets up and gives me another hug, holding me from the side in an awkward position, but it’s so comforting that it doesn’t matter one bit to me.
“I told you that we were supposed to be a trio,” she replies, her arm keeping me grounded before she pulls away to sit back down.
“I know. But I’ve been such a shit friend.”
“That’s not true,” Stacia protests. “Whatever secrets you kept, it was for a good reason. We’re not owed your entire life story, Opal.”
“Still, friends confide in each other,” I say, wiping my eyes with the restaurant napkin that feels so soft that my omega wants to keep it. “And I was so alone. I just didn’t know how to tell you about everything that was going on.”
Stacia’s hand comes over to mine and squeezes while Rory says, “You can tell us now. We’re all ears.”
I look up and see a waiter finding their way toward us. “In a moment. Let’s order something first.”
The place we’re at has a cute cottage vibe. We order a little cheese appetizer with focaccia, berry jam, and fruit. Then we all order different versions of paninis with sweet potato fries. The creativity of our order makes me giddy.
“Gosh, if one of the guys were here, they’d order a cheeseburger and beer and move on,” Rory laughs.
“I love being a girl,” I agree, taking a sip of my green tea in its cute pink cup.
“Okay, so,” Stacia says after a few minutes. “Tell us the tea.”
“Seriously. That rescue mission was fun and everything, but I’ve also been worried about you ever since. Are you and the guys okay?”
I can’t help the grin that takes over my face. “We’re more than okay. They’re my pack.”
Rory squeals and Stacia smiles. “I had no idea that you were scent matched to Sam and his pack. Rory had to explain to me what happened after that hockey game.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry.” I cringe. “I made Rory promise not to tell you until I figured out how to be honest with them about it. In the end, I couldn’t, I had to let my scent do the job for me.”
“I understand. It’s impossible for me to keep a secret. Kendall or Ciro can see that I’m hiding something right away, and I wouldn’t have forgiven myself if I betrayed you. So good call.” She nods. “But… It’s pretty cool to have your scent back, huh? I missed your unique fruity scent.”
I turn bashful. “Oh, shut up.”
“I’m glad you two are settling that secret, but there’s still something else we need to know,” Rory points out.
I wince, remembering them overhearing my conversation with Kit that night. “Have you guys ever heard of Hyper-Hormonal Omega Syndrome?”
They both shake their heads.
“Well, I have that. It’s a chronic illness where I experience uncomfortable symptoms and…” I swallow. “And have heat cycles before being bonded.”
Both of their eyes widen. “Opal, have you had one?” Stacia asks.
“Yes,” I admit. “After I met Sam for the first time. It was another reason why I didn’t know how to tell them. Everything just got so messed up.”
“So, is that why you were sleeping all the time?” Rory asks, thinking back to our time living together.
“Yes. You caught me having flare-ups a few times, but I always said I was on my period.”
Her brows pinch together, like she’s thinking about our entire time living together with a new lens. “I wish you had told me.”
“I didn’t want you two to see me any differently,” I confess, hanging my head. “I finally had other omega friends, and I didn’t want to ruin that by being a defective omega.”
“Don’t call yourself that,” Stacia reprimands me, fierceness in her eyes.
“Okay,” I agree. “I don’t think that anymore. But, at the time, it was still so early in my diagnosis… that’s just how I felt. I didn’t feel normal, and I didn’t want you two to see me that way as well.”
“We never thought you were normal,” Rory laughs, which makes my lips curve with amusement. “But that had nothing to do with your omega and everything to do with your quirks. Your nicknames, and your mug collection, and the patterns you love to wear.”
“And the anime.”
“And the video games.”
“And all the crocheted animals.”
“Okay,” I interrupt their little back and forth with a laugh. “I get it, I’m a weirdo.”
“Yes,” Stacia agreed. “But your weirdness matched ours. And I’m so glad we befriended you.”
My eyes fill up with tears once more. “So, you two don’t care that I’ve been keeping my condition a secret?”
They both shake their heads. “Like I said, you had a reason. What’s important is that we’re all caught up now. And we can help you and your pack if you ever need it,” Stacia says.
I sigh, still a little teary. “I can’t tell you how happy I am that I ran into you both in that bar. I really needed omega friends like you two. It felt like something was finally going right in my life.”
“We’re happy, too,” Stacia agrees. “Seriously, you’re so much fun. And now that there aren’t any more secrets, you can come to us for anything.”
“I’m so glad. I’m done hiding.”
“Good,” Rory says, like the word solidifies it. “So, after your heat and your bonding and Kit’s heat, we’ll have to plan a girl’s night. No! A girl’s weekend!”
I giggle at that. “That will probably be very much needed. That’s a long time for me to be cooped up with masculine energy.”
“Exactly! It’ll be like another rescue mission. We can chill, watch movies, and experiment with our snacks.”
“Experiment with our snacks?” Stacia asks, her brow furrowed. “I’d like to stick with my hazelnut M&Ms, thank you very much.”
“Yeah, and I quite like my pretzels,” I add.
Rory huffs, crossing her arms. “You two are no fun. You can still have those things, but let’s try something different!”
We both shake our heads. “No.”
“Stubborn omegas,” Rory starts as she points at me. “On a different note, I have a bone to pick with you.”
My hand goes to my chest. “What did I do?”
“You told me to watch that pirate anime to find out who Miss Wednesday is. There is no Miss Wednesday. I’ve watched so many episodes. You tricked me.”
I feign innocence. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Stacia laughs. “Isn’t that the anime that has over a thousand episodes?”
Rory’s eyes bug out of her head. “Did you just say a thousand?”
I hide my smile behind my cup. “I didn’t know you would actually start the show. But lucky for you, Miss Wednesday is at the beginning. So just keep going.”
My blue-haired friend looks like she’s going to be sick. “I just started a massively huge commitment. Dax is watching it with me. You know he’s already hooked, right? He loves that rubber dude.”
“That’s the best thing I’ve ever heard,” I say, and I mean it. After everything that happened with Cindy, I realize just how much I needed this time with them. I may have lost a friend, but I’ve gained two new spectacular ones this year, and it’s been the greatest gift from the universe.