22. Twenty-One
Twenty-One
Micah
When the door to my office burst open, the overwhelming scent of Cozette’s perfume hitting me like a wave, I was completely taken aback. Her territorial growl when she caught sight of my patient was even more surprising, and with every step she took towards me, my head became increasingly dizzy, making it a struggle to stay composed as her thick, sugary sweet and tangy scent filled my office.
I’ve tried so hard to remain professional every time Cozy and I are together for her sessions. To subdue the nearly overwhelming feelings that surge through me whenever she’s around me. To stop the thoughts of her that constantly occupy my mind when I go to bed, no matter how hard I try to think of anything else. Despite the ache in my heart, I’ve pushed my emotions aside for months since meeting her, focusing on maintaining a strictly professional relationship with her because that’s what she needed. What she still needs .
She needs someone to listen and help her navigate life after being held hostage. Someone to help her work through the memories in a safe environment to combat the panic and anxiety she now has after everything. And I was fine with being that someone for her and nothing else.
I was fine with pretending that my heart doesn’t skip a beat every single time she looks at me. Fine with pretending that her news of scent matches didn’t devastate me, knowing she would eventually be with those alphas if she decided to give them a chance. Fine with pretending that I didn’t hate the knowledge that those alphas would get to take care of her, tend to her every need, but I never would. I was fine with just being her therapist, her friend.
Until she curled into my lap when I caught her.
Until she straddled my leg and pressed kisses along my neck.
Until she fucking moaned in my ear.
Until she told me that she wants me just before pressing her lips against mine.
The moment I kiss her back, a groan slips out of me, unable to be contained. The touch of her lips against mine is pure bliss, and when she delicately brushes her tongue along my bottom lip, all rational thought nearly flees me. Her scent is thick around us, threatening to send me into a rut right here in the emergency room.
Ignoring the whine of frustration that escapes her, I pull back, feeling a clenching in my gut as every instinct inside me demands that I fix what’s wrong with the omega in my lap. That I take care of her, make her feel good until she feels nothing but pleasure and no pain.
I let go of her hands and reach up to cup her cheeks, needing to look into her eyes and make sure she understands what I’m about to say.
“Cozy, if we cross this line, I can’t be your therapist anymore. Do you understand?”
My heart hammers in my chest as I wait on her to respond, to let me know she hears me and understands what I’m saying. I swallow around the lump in my throat when I realize how badly I need to hear her say again how she wants me because this doesn’t feel real.
There’s something about Cozy that my alpha instincts recognize, even though it doesn’t make sense. Despite not being scent matched, there is no doubt in my mind that she is the only omega for me.
Maybe Mother Nature really does know what she’s doing.
I’ve been around plenty of unbonded omegas in the last several years, attended heats for the Omega Center when called, hoping that maybe one of them would be my perfect match. But never once have I struggled with my composure the way I do when I’m around Cozette. Never once has any of them called to the alpha part of me the way she does.
“I’m okay with that as long as I’ve got you,” she says, her breath catching the longer my eyes hold hers.
As I open my mouth to reply, the sound of a knock on the door breaks the silence, causing us both to pause. I gently guide her onto the bed, ignoring her protests, despite every fiber of my being, urging me not to let go of her. I rise from my seat when the door opens, and Dr. Reeves and Valley make their way back inside. When Dr. Reeves steps up to us, I notice Cozy’s eyes narrowing as she closely watches the woman’s every move. I cough to mask the laughter threatening to burst out of me, because hell if she’s not the cutest fucking thing when she’s jealous.
“Cozette, I’m Dr. Reeves. How are you feeling?”
Cozy’s nose scrunches as she shakes her head like she’s trying to clear it, and I’m silently thanking the gods that her perfume isn’t suffocating us all at the moment in such a small room. It was already a feat to get my cock to go down when Valley burst into my office.
“Everything hurts, and it’s too noisy here. I want to go home,” she mumbles, fidgeting with the sheet on the bed.
“Yes, I’d imagine so. I’m not sure if either Valley or Dr. Tate told you, but you’re in heat. However, due to your history and the way this is coming on, I’d say this is just the beginning for you, I’m afraid. Your body seems to be making up for lost time. The only thing I can’t figure out is what triggered it. Can you tell me if you’ve been around a lot of unfamiliar alphas recently?”
Cozy sucks in a breath and looks at the doctor with wide eyes.
“I’ve, um… I found scent matches and have been spending a little time with each of them to get to know them,” she says softly, nibbling on her lip as she glances over at me.
I give her a reassuring smile so she doesn’t think she’s done anything wrong. Because she hasn’t. It’s perfectly natural for her to explore the connection between her and these new alphas of hers.
Dr. Reeves smiles gently at Cozy and pats her shoulder affectionately.
“That’ll do it. Do you think they’d be willing to help you through this? I’m sure everything is still new, but it would make this a lot easier on you if they could. The only other option is for us to sedate you until the heat breaks, but I can tell you that it’s not exactly a pleasant experience, and it’s possible the next heat will be even worse if this one isn’t fulfilled.”
“Oh, um…” Cozy glances at Valley, who’s frowning in concern, before she looks at me and flushes, her scent picking back up until she looks away.
“I-I don’t know if I’m ready for all of that just yet. We’re all still getting to know each other, but…” she pauses, biting her lip and closing her eyes briefly before looking worriedly over at Valley again.
“There is one alpha that’s not so new to me that I trust. And one other person who’s not a match that I’d feel comfortable with.”
Valley’s brows raise in surprise, but she says nothing.
“That’s good. Do you think they could make it to you soon?”
As Cozy looks at me with a helpless expression, I clear my throat, and the other women in the room shoot me curious glances with raised eyebrows.
“I need to call and reschedule a few of my appointments, but I can be quick.”
Dr. Reeves looks at me in surprise before turning back to Cozy.
“Is Dr. Tate one of your scent matches?”
“No. I just really trust him,” Cozy says, her voice soft as she looks up at me with a sweet smile that makes my heart trip over itself.
“Well, then. Good. It’s good to have people you trust around you when you’re in such a vulnerable state. I’ll have the nurse bring in your discharge paperwork so we can get you out of here.”
With Dr. Reeves gone, it’s just me, Cozy, and Valley left in the room. Valley moves over to the bed and takes a seat beside Cozy, who’s engrossed in her own thoughts, staring down at her lap and anxiously picking at her nails.
“Are you mad at me?” Cozy asks, her voice small and fragile, making my chest ache.
My alpha instincts urge me to scoop her up and cuddle her, to make her feel better and reassure her, but Valley beats me to it.
“Of course not! Why on earth would I be mad at you?”
“Because I’m not ready for Ridge and the others to help me through this yet. Because I have another scent match I didn’t tell anyone about.”
Valley grabs Cozy’s cheeks and makes her look at her, motherly love and concern shining out of her eyes as she takes in Cozy’s glassy eyes.
“Oh, sweet girl. Why would I be upset over you having another scent match out there? I think it’s wonderful news that you’ll eventually have so many people to care for you, and I’m just glad there’s at least someone you trust enough to help you through this. I don’t think my heart could handle leaving you here to be sedated for however long this lasts.”
Shuffling on my feet, I can’t help but feel like I’m intruding on their private moment. My bones tingle with urgency, pushing me to organize my affairs so I can rush back to the omega before me, unable to stand the thought of being away from her for too long when she’s in the state she’s in. When Valley glances over and smiles at me, something about the look in her eye helps me relax slightly, and I step forward, crouching in front of Cozy as I grab her hand.
“I’m going to go get my appointments rescheduled and run home to get some things. I’ll be as quick as I can, okay?”
Cozy’s lower lip trembles, causing her to hold my hand even tighter, and a wave of emotion washes over me, making my throat feel constricted. I have to quickly avert my gaze and focus on Valley, so I don’t give in to the temptation to abandon my patients and leave them to manage on their own.
“I assume we’ll be doing this at your house? Cozy mentioned you all built her a nest at one of our sessions.”
Valley pets Cozy’s hair, rocking her side to side in a soothing manner as she nods at me.
“Yes, if that’s where she’d feel most comfortable. Is that okay, Cozy?”
Nestling deeper into Valley’s embrace, Cozy whimpers, embarrassment coloring her freckled cheeks.
“I don’t want to make things awkward for you or the dads, but I love my nest and it’s where I really want to be right now.”
“You’re not going to make anything awkward. The dads and I can stay in the little loft they put in when they built their gym while you ride this out. Besides, I’d feel more comfortable knowing you’re at home since I’m not too familiar with these new alphas of yours.” Valley stops and looks at me apologetically with a shrug. “No offense.”
A soft chuckle escapes my lips as I shake my head in amusement.
“No offense taken. It’s good she has so many people that care about her and want to make sure she’s safe.” I stand, bending to kiss the top of Cozy’s head. “I promise I won’t be long.”
I can tell she doesn’t want to let me go, but Valley distracts her long enough that she eventually does, and I quickly slip out of the room, my steps hurried as I make my way back to my office. Once I make all the necessary calls to my patients and inform my boss that I’ll be taking a leave of absence for a few days, I leave the hospital in a rush to get home, making a mental list of everything I need to pack the entire drive. Nerves threaten to consume me as I shove things into the two duffle bags on my bed, my brain still trying to comprehend that this is happening.
Once both bags are packed tightly, I heave them onto my shoulder and take in the sight of the disheveled sheets and comforter on my bed. I don’t hesitate, quickly yanking them off the bed and gathering them into a tight bundle in my arms, content that I have everything, and practically racing back to my car after anxiously locking the doors. With a rush of adrenaline, I quickly fling everything into the back seat and leap into the car, backing out of my driveway with only one thought circling around my mind on an endless loop.
She chose me.