Page 20 of The Heat of Us

I was overjoyed for her. Juno and I were joined at the hip during the active stages of the bond dissolution trials almost four years ago now. Cheersing the tiny paper cups rattling with pills like we were at cocktail hour. Waiting nervously while the other got their bondmark injections.

Going out to eat after group therapy sessions was our saving grace. Chocolate was usually involved during the most taxing ones where we had to focus on our bond and visualise it breaking.

Even with her own mountain-load of baggage she was there for me during the worst of it. I think she believed she was a burden because of how fragile she was in those early days.

But the truth was, I only got through everything because of her.

Juno welcomed me inside her house and brought me over to a few other omegas we had known from our time living in the Omega Village.

“Hey Hazel!”

“Addie!” I rushed over and gave Adeline a hug. She was the only other unbonded omega there who had been through the trials too, albeit with a much later group. Nevertheless, I felt an automatic sense of kinship with her. “I didn’t know you were coming!”

“The baby’s getting quality time with my Appa and Umma.” Adeline grinned, before checking her watch. “I can’t stay super late but it’s so nice to get out and have actual adult interactions.”

I greeted the other omegas, catching each other up on our lives. Alice and Tilly had had a much smoother route as omegas, living in the Omega Village as regular residents while they courted packs. Tilly had a fairytale courtship when she clicked immediately with three alpha brothers at her very first gala. None were scent matched but were very happy regardless. Alice went through an entire season unsuccessfully before deciding to give the scent matching department a try. She was still embarrassed about how, er, excited she got when she scented her alpha’s card, even though the omegas who worked there assured her any and all reactions were completely normal.

Alice and Tilly were in the middle of complaining about the Alpha Brotherhood. Thankfully, it didn’t sound like their alphas were supporters.

“I keep telling Val she has to stop watching their videos and her Looptok algorithm will correct itself,” Alice complained.

“Oh my gosh, yeah! Don’t give them views!” Tilly said, shaking her head.

“I know, but it’s like a car wreck situation. She can’t look away. At least after Juno’s interview there’s way more people stitching that nonsense to call out their lies.” Alice expelled a relieved breath.

“I wish those videos were the ones my father-in-law got,” Tilly sighed. “My boys are this close to freezing out their dad completely because of all his rants about bond dissolution taking away alpha rights.”

Alice made a snipping motion with her fingers. “Cut him off from SSNN.”

“He would die, that man lives and breathes that stupid channel.”

I vaguely remembered something Tilly had mentioned before about her alphas’ family. “How many ex-wives does he have again?” I asked, amused.

“Three!” Tilly threw up her hands in exasperation. “All betas so of course their bonds dissolved easily once the relationships fell apart. You’d think that would make someone empathetic but noooooo.”

Adeline looked between us all clearly feeling out of the loop. “Henry’s really close to walking,” she added lamely, before her head drooped defeatedly. “God, the baby bubble is real.”

I patted her arm reassuringly. “Henry sounds like the perfect man to have by your side during this whole mess,” I told her, earning myself a grateful smile.

“What about you, Hazel? Any alphas sniffing around?” Alice gave me a playful jab with her elbow.

“What are you talking about, of course she does,” Tilly tittered. “Hazel always has the best stories about yummy heat services alphas.”

“Who’s your flavour of the week, Hazel? You have to give us practically married folks something juicy!”

Before I could concoct a socially acceptable lie, Juno appeared and saved me.

“Want to meet my brother?”

7

BEN

I was fucking boiling.

What temperature did Juno set the thermostat at? No one else at my little sister’s party seemed bothered.

Just me.

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