Chapter 30
thirty
Jo
“It shouldn’t have been possible.” Nurse Helaena looks between the two of us as she digs through her supplies. “I wonder if the venom worked as a neutralizer for the medication…but…then a bond would have been initiated when there was that accidental alpha-bite five years ago…”
“Do you think it’s because we’re a true scent match?” Hayden asks, running a hand through his hair as his arm tightens around my shoulders.
She pauses, her mouth agape. “A true scent match? Those are so rare…” she trails off, and I feel guilty for dragging her into this mess.
After Hayden’s knot had gone down, we both panicked, unsure of what to do.
Our scents are so strong, we were stuffing towels under the door just in case.
Betas may not be able to smell as well as we can, but this shit is pungent as hell.
Luckily, Kole came looking for me not long after and we were able to tell him through the door to go find Nurse Helaena and ask her to come here.
Poor thing was terrified until she realized where he was taking her.
Now, Kole is waiting just outside our door as the beta nurse intently goes through her supplies for plain ol’ scent suppressing cream.
I feel guilty, but I can’t let him scent me without the suppressants. He’s already so possessive, but if we happen to also be a true scent match on top of everything else, he’ll claim me right then and there. Another mating bite is not something we need to throw into the mix right now.
Based on my reaction to Lars’ threat, you’d think I’d be freaking out. But I’m not. This is Hayden. The alpha who lets me boss him around and man-handle him even though he’s twice my size. Hayden would sooner cut his own balls off than hurt me.
So something in me has…settled. I can’t help but think that maybe, despite the drugs pumping through both our systems, we recognized each other on a baser level. That’s the only explanation that I can think of for why I was so desperate for his bite.
“True scent match…” Helaena shakes her head as if to clear it.
“I suppose. There are so many things that science and medicine haven’t uncovered about the nuances of the true scent match.
It could…when your venom was injected into Jo…
your very DNA could have worked with hers in a way that could have counteracted the drugs they’ve been giving you. ”
“What happens when they give me my next dose?” I ask, trying to keep my voice from wavering. “Will my omega go back in her cage? What will happen to our bond?” The thought of losing this connection to Hayden so quickly after forming it has my stomach twisting in dread.
Helaena frowns as she rifles through her bag. “I’m not sure, sweetie. If the medication takes effect…I’m sure the same logic would still apply. I would assume that another bite from your mate would counteract it.”
Both mine and Hayden’s shoulders relax.
“But…” she trails off thoughtfully, “I would be careful until I can get my hands on heat suppressants for you. I don’t know exactly what they put in the medication, but part of its function was to suppress your heats. Without it in effect…”
“I’m not too worried about it.” I shrug.
“I’ve never had a heat, even before I went on suppressants.
” Though, to be honest, I don’t know if bonding Hayden will have any effect on that.
Or if finding my scent match in him will kickstart things.
Helaena gives me a look like she envies my ability to not be concerned about very serious subjects before turning back to her bag.
“Found it!” Helaena cries, holding up the tub.
It looks like a container of hemorrhoid cream to be honest, and seems like it could be at least ten years old.
“Everything is injected here, so I haven’t had a use for this stuff in a while.
” I suppose, if she hadn’t been able to find it, we would have had to go with the injectable stuff, but I’m pretty sick of doctors poking needles in me.
“Thank fuck,” I mutter, taking it when she hands it to me.
“Lather up, Darlin’,” I tell Hayden, slapping a dollop of the cream into his hand.
He wrinkles his nose as he starts to slather it across his skin.
We had only bothered to get dressed in our underwear, and I’m thankful that Helaena keeps her eyes to herself.
Would be a shame to have to pluck the eyeballs out of the only person of minor authority I can trust around here.
“Can I come in now?” Kole’s muffled voice sounds from the other side of the door.
“No, you wait for us, Sugar Bear,” I huff, rubbing the cream until it’s soaked into my skin.
Then I pull on my jumpsuit, holding my hand out for Turnip, who is hanging out on my dresser.
She makes a home in my pocket as I turn to the door.
“This room is absolutely saturated in apples, cinnamon, pepper and smoky goodness.”
Kole makes a grunt that sounds an awful lot like “Fucking hell,” but he doesn’t argue.
“You’re not bothered by him being out there?” Helaena asks my alpha, a curious look on her face.
Hayden thinks for a second, but then shrugs. “No, why?”
“Well, you’ve just bonded, and…” she trails off, almost like she doesn’t want to put any ideas in his head.
“Never mind.” I know why she’s asking, and I’m suspecting the same thing.
Then she hands me a little tube that reminds me of toothpaste.
“If you’re not ready to find out about Kole yet…
this is called alpha-gel. You put it under your nose and it keeps you from scenting anything. ”
Swallowing, I nod, and apply the gel. I’ll use it…just for tonight.
Two more minutes, and we’re both cracking the door open to slip out of my room, Helaena closes it behind us.
“Well?” I put my hands on my hips in front of Kole and turn in a circle. “Can you scent me?”
Kole leans forward and sniffs a few times before a dejected look takes over his face. “No.”
“Me?” Hayden asks with a grin, and Kole rolls his eyes.
“Not you either, Pyro.”
“Alright.” Nurse Helaena looks between us. “Just keep that on and try to keep all…reactions…under control.”
“Yes ma’am,” Hayden gives a salute. Before turning to us. “Come on, I think we still have time to grab some dinner."
Part of me hopes the alpha-gel fails, and Kole’s fresh rain and gunpowder scent will fill my senses and solidify the connection that I’m ninety percent sure is there.
But…what if it’s not? Logically, I know that we can still be pack even if we aren’t a true scent match.
Hell, it’s so unusual that people don’t even know a whole lot about them.
But…I want to hang on to the way things are a little longer.
On the way to the cafeteria, Hayden is constantly touching me in some way. A hand on my back, a pinky looped through mine, or an arm around my shoulder. My omega preens under the attention, and it’s strange having her back, front and center, after so long.
When we finally reach the cafeteria, we take one step in, and my hackles immediately go up.
We’re face-to-face with Tilly-the-bitch, who gives my alpha a look that makes me want to rip her eyeballs out of her head.
Hayden also stifles a growl at some random alpha, who gives us a wide berth.
Kole immediately shoves us both back into the hallway.
“Go to the…craft room,” Kole orders, a dark look on his face.
“Both of you. Nobody goes in there after dinner, and the cameras in there have been down for a few weeks. I will get your food, and by tomorrow morning, the two of you need to have this bond locked down.” Fuck. He’s so damn hot when he’s bossy.
“They haven’t fixed the cameras yet?” Hayden asks in surprise.
“Nobody has reported them broken yet, and unless they have a reason to go back and look at footage, they won’t even know they aren’t working.” Kole smirks before heading off to grab our food.
I haven’t been to the craft room yet, but I think it’ll be perfect, considering there’s no working cameras and I have a special project I want to work on. Hayden guides me there, and it takes everything in me to not pin him to the nearest wall and mount him like a damn horse.
Shit, this bond is crazy.
I can feel Hayden’s emotions like they’re my own, and his answering lust surges as his fingers squeeze mine. “Fuck, I want you,” he mutters, shaking his head.
I can’t help my grin as I trail behind him. “Maybe if you’re a good boy you can knot me later,” I purr, running a hand down his spine.
“Oh, I’ll be good,” he groans, his head falling back. “I’ll be so fucking good, Fireball, you’re gonna give me a damn gold star.”
“‘Fraid I’m fresh outta gold stars, Darlin’.” I lick my lips, “but I can see if this craft room has anythin’ gold I can put on my lips for when I—” I run straight into Hayden’s back as he comes to a halt in a doorway, and I peek around him to see Sam and West—their backs to us.
I brace for the same growl he gave that alpha in the cafeteria to make an appearance, but instead, his shoulders relax. “Hey guys. What are my favorite orderly and therapist doing in the asylum craft room at seven on a Wednesday?”