Page 148 of The Heat of Us

“Play catch with you in the park.”

“Go get ice-cream when you’re sad because you lost your debate club final.”

I glared at them both. “Are you done?”

Remy laid a hand on my shoulder. “Never…son.”

Aleks snorted and they both laughed, inexplicably proud of themselves.

“Oooh.”

We all stared as Hazel put a puzzle piece where it belonged and smiled.

I think they were going to call it if nothing happened soon.

“We tried it your way, now you need to let us do it our way,” is what they would say. I could already see Dr. Baird’s smug face.

Ok, now that wasn’t fair. He was trying to help. Trying to do his job. I imagined what it would be like if I had a patient’s pack barricade themselves into a room for days.

Now I was surprised by the leniency they showed us.

Hazel was sleeping on my purring chest. The others were close by and I was the only one awake. It was late at night. Or maybe early morning. The blackout blinds worked a little too well and it was too easy for the hours to bleed into one another.

I didn’t know what would come next. All I knew was that I wanted to be gentle and patient with her. It didn’t matter to me that some statistic or research paper said that extended feral periods in omegas meant they were more likely to stay that way. I wanted to listen to what my instinct was telling me about my omega. That she was more and more content with each passing day, surrounded by the ones who loved and cared for her.

But I couldn’t let anyone else in here to see that. They were going to stop taking me at my word soon. How was I meant to explain that none of the food they brought was being eaten but Aleks fed her hot Cheetos with chopsticks today? That while she still didn’t really look at us in the eye, her scent has gone from a whisper on her skin to filling her entire nest like her very own sanctuary?

I needed more time and I didn’t know if they would give it to me.

“Hazel,” I whispered. “Is this what it’s supposed to be like? Having a scent match? Having an omega? I think we can both agree it’s a special kind of hell. I know I haven’t been an alpha for very long. But I cannot imagine a life that is not tied to yours. Nothing makes me happier, more fulfilled, more alive than when I am caring for you, loving you and simply being with you.”

She continued to sleep, unaware.

“Your pack is waiting for you. I’m waiting for you.” I wiped a tear from the corner of my eye. “Please come back to us.”

I woke up the next morning and she wasn’t in my arms.

I sat up, relieved when I saw that she was still in the nest. Sitting on her feet, looking almost prim, watching me. She reached over and stroked my stubbled face, as if fascinated by my days of growth.

Then she looked at me.

Her soul struck mine like a flint.

And the best thing I’d ever heard came out of her mouth.

“Hi Ben.”

54

HAZEL

Days of tension, anxiety and fear melted out of Ben’s body in an instant.

“Hazel.” My name was a prayer on his lips. He fell into me and I caught him, arms cradling his head against me as a broken sob wracked his entire body.

“I love you.” He said it once, twice. Pressed his face against my chest and said it again. “I had to be strong for them. I think I was, you know? I think I did ok? But the truth is, I’ve never been so scared in my fucking life,” he confessed.

I caressed the side of his face and his tired head fell back into my hands. I kissed him all over, the bruise-like shadows under his eyes, in his now too-long hair, his rough prickly cheek.

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