Bonus Epilogue
"Dels, can we turn this off yet?"
I'm sprawled out on the soft red leather couch in our Tribeca loft, my feet resting on Seb's thighs, my head on Zeke's lap as he idly strokes my hair and tries to get me to change the channel.
Even though he's been featured in just about every episode of Heat Helpers this season, Zeke still isn't comfortable seeing himself on the screen.
"I mean—I need to watch it so I can make sure the messaging on the Supporter Support website and socials is consistent with what's in this episode. I won't be too much longer, if you want to go and do something else for a bit—"
"I'm good!"
I bite back a smile.
The late morning sun is filtering in through the sheer curtains that cover the floor-to-ceiling windows and hide the view of downtown Manhattan.
The warm light settles softly on the dark hardwood floors.
The TV's on, with the final episode of Lauren's season of Heat Helpers playing, drowning out the faint sounds of the city that slip past the double-glazing.
Lauren's first post-heat interview is on the screen, her voice lilting in her movie-star purr.
Ralph, James and Allen are away on location, supporting Pack Zed while they film their new season.
I've told them they better be ready for me reclaiming my pack when they get home, but Ralph assures me they're all making sure they still smell like each other when they aren't dealing with laundry or low supplies or treating minor injuries.
Allen told me one night during our call that I don't need to claim them for them to be mine, which made me feel way better than I thought it would.
"… whilst I always had the utmost faith in Pack Zed, it was…
hard to let go of old wounds. To be honest, I put off my heat rather longer than I should have as a result.
But knowing that my supporters were being supported like the professional caregivers they are, just gave me that little bit more…
confidence in the whole thing, I think? If people are treated like professionals, I suppose it's much easier to act like one. "
She looks away from the camera, then looks down, like she's let slip more than she meant to.
God, she's good.
The show cuts to Zeke's final interview. He squirms uncomfortably and mutes the television. "I didn't say anything that would affect your socials," he mutters. "And I still can't believe they insisted on making so much merch with my face on it."
"That merch single-handedly funded the case to allow heat support workers to make workers' comp claims. So thank you for letting them." He huffs an embarrassed sigh, but I can feel his pride radiating through the bond alongside his shyness.
They both jump as the door bursts open. Zeke's face stiffens into a wooden expression.
"Ezekiel! Sebastian! You both promised you would wait until I got back so we could finish the episode together.
I'm disappointed in both of you." Johanna strides through the door, plopping the tray of coffees on the table and slumping down into her favourite armchair in a huff.
"Not you, Adeline. Sorry, dear. Dellie," she adds as an afterthought.
"I know you've been flat out planning the gala. "
She sighs, and passes each of us a coffee.
I let a little hint of smugness slip through into their bonds. Seb rolls his eyes.
"You and your pack are still coming, right, Jo? Second Friday of next month?"
She grins at me. "I wouldn't miss it for the world. Supporter Support is doing such great things. Even if you weren't my boy's omega, it's still a very important cause. Oh, but a few of my friends couldn't make it over from LA—"
I wave my hand. "Thanks so much for trying, Jo. It's so thoughtful of you."
She clears her throat. "So I got them to write cheques that would have covered their entry tickets, as well as what I know would have been a very generous donation. And the cost of their new designer dresses they would have bought to go. And shoes and tuxedos and whatnot."
I laugh, sipping my coffee, and pull myself up off the couch. The belly makes it a little awkward, so Seb helps pull me up. I wince as I'm jabbed in the bladder by a rogue elbow—or maybe a knee? I can never tell. I waddle over to Johanna and hug her around the shoulders.
"Really, Jo. Thank you."
She pats my arm. "You're welcome, Dellie. I'm just so pleased… well, with everything. And I can't wait to finally meet this Lauren you've all told me so much about. She's promised to make sure we're on the same table."
My face freezes. Seb snorts and Zeke looks away, our bond radiating humour.
My mouth opens and closes silently as I try and think of what to say. Seb's smug satisfaction in the bond makes it hard not to burst out laughing.
My phone rings.
Saved by the bell.
"Trix? Hi, what's up?"
"Um, heyyyyy, Dellie." My sister's voice sounds worried.
"You okay? What's wrong? Did Patrick Townsend have another go at you about that post on the omega PA subreddit—"
"No, all quiet on that front for months now. But… um. So… uh… Oversteeped told me I should just tell Loz, but I don't know how to…"
"… Trix? Tell Loz what?" I can feel a growl creeping into my voice.
"I… uh, may have screwed up a little…"
I frown slightly. "Is anyone dead?"
There's a pause. "Uh. No. Well… not yet?"
"Ugh, Trix, don't make me play twenty questions here. Personal or professional?"
There's another pause. "Uh. Maybe both?"
I groan. "Trix! Does it actually involve Loz?"
"… yes." Her voice is small.
I take a deep breath and mute my microphone. "Bondi, could you and your sexy butt grab me another coffee, please? And maybe a chocolate? Or, like, four? I think I'm going to need them."
Seb laughs. "Sure thing, Balga," he whispers, pushing himself up off the sofa, and disappearing into the kitchen.
I blow him a kiss, then turn my attention back to the phone, brace myself, and unmute my microphone.
"Trix, you've been working for Loz for nearly a year.
Talk to her, face to face. Whatever it is, it'll be okay. She rarely murders anyone."
"Definitely not more than once," Seb mutters from the kitchen. I poke my tongue out at him.
"Uhhhh…" There's a deep inhale. "You know how Pack Zed wasn't available for her heat this month…? And she said to just… book who was good on Heatseekers? But to make sure it was a pack who'd been supporting your research and who'd signed up to follow the voluntary standards?"
I nod, even though she can't see me. "Uh huh?"
"And you know how… how Christopher Townsend reported everything to the police and quit Pack Townsend when those heat photos of Loz got leaked?"
The faint tingle in my skull makes me wonder if a migraine is about to knock me off my feet for a day. "… uh huh…?" I pinch the bridge of my nose.
"Um… and you know how Ben got packed up last year? And… and how he wouldn't tell us who he packed up with…?"
"Yeah. He's occasionally a crappy brother and usually a terrible communicator. I hear military service does that to people. But what's that got to do with—"
"Um. So. Uh. You know how Heatseekers was founded by Gillie McCormick?
And they've signed the platform on to the voluntary standards your lot developed…
and changed the setup on the platform so it can handle pack supporters as well as heat support packs…
? Um, and, and, how Heatseekers brought in workers' comp coverage…
and, and how he and his pack did a few Go Sees as, uh, as a heat support pack to work out how to make the voluntary standards work for their platform…
and ended up with a rep for being really, really good… "
I sigh. "Trix, please get to the point."
"Um. Well. So… funny story, really, if you think about it…
Pack McCormick have done so much, you know, heat supporters and pack support…
and… they had an opening. It lined up perfectly with Loz's heat.
Uh, I checked their reviews and I talked to them, like four times, and they seemed perfect.
They just needed us to find them a support pack. But…"
Something in her voice sends a cold trickle down my spine. I shiver. "Oh… Trix… no…"
She lets out a high-pitched wail. "I accidentally booked Lauren's heat in with Ben and his pack and now they're here and their pack supporters didn't show up…"
She inhales deeply. My stomach drops.
"... and the only backup pack supporter available is Christopher Townsend and now I don't know what to do!"