Page 16 of Briggs
I smiled. “Thanks. Yeah, that’s what he said his name was. He had dark hair, bright blue eyes, tall and slender like all warlocks. I’ve not seen him before, but he showed up when I went to the transport building to come down here.”
Dr. Braun blinked at me, then shook his head slowly. “Do you honestly not know who that was?”
“No. Should I? Is he one of Master Edison’s warlocks that I just insulted in some way?”
Dr. Braun laughed but quickly sobered. “No. That was Thomas. He’s a fate.”
My eyes widened. “What?”
“Yes. Thomas and his Chosen, Canyon, are the ones who are specifically responsible for pairing mates. He and Canyon are who paired you with your mate.” My mouth dropped open, and I reached for the wall in the hallway. Dr. Braun smiled. “You did not know?”
I shook my head. “How could I? He only said his name was Thomas.”
“Come on in and we’ll talk,” Dr. Braun said as he reached for my arm. He held it firmly, offering me his strength to walk through the doorway we’d been standing just outside of. He went to close the door behind us, then stopped. “Are you all right with it closed?”
I nodded. “I know you wouldn’t hurt me.” I sighed. “It’s one of the reasons I needed to come here so quickly.” I all but collapsed on the giant beanbag that Dr. Braun had in his office. I loved the thing, and although Dr. Swift didn’t have one, I sometimes saw this one when I was walking by after my appointments.
“No, I wouldn’t. Tell me what you want to discuss.” Dr. Braun sat down on an oversized chair, which looked soft. When he crossed his legs in front of him, I smiled. He was incredibly approachable despite being a dragon shifter. Sure, he was an omega, but he was still tall. But I think his being an omega was what helped make him seem so comfortable to be around.
“In short, sex,” I said. “I’m terrified. I know I shouldn’t be, but I am. I’ve obviously had sex, but never because I wanted to. And Briggs…he’s hot. And my cheetah really wants to do things with him. I know he’s my mate and he would never hurt me. But, well…sex. It comes with mates.”
Dr. Braun sat there with a comforting look on his face. “Yes, it does. But do you feel that Briggs is going to push for more than you want to offer?”
“No. He’s already been very much a gentleman. But sex, Dr. Braun. I don’t know if I can do it. What if we’re getting it on, and all of a sudden, my brain decides I’m back in that compound and I’m not with Briggs? What if I swipe out and hurt him? I’d never be able to forgive myself.” I shook my head. “And let’s not even talk about the fact that I still don’t have my brother and sister with me. John wants to live with me, but new mate. That’s a lot to ask. Tracy really seems like she’s more than happy to stay where she is.”
Dr. Braun held up his hand. “One issue at a time.” He nodded, and I mirrored his gesture. “First, sex. I cannot speak from experiences such as yours, but I can from being with a fated mate. I’m not young, nor is Castiel. Neither of us were virgins when we met. We both agree that being intimate with your mate is so much more. It’s a completely different experience. It isn’t just the two of you, but all sides of you. There is a connection there of your other halves as well. They recognize the meaning of being with that person and help guide what is happening.”
I thought I understood, but maybe not. “You’re not saying we have to do it in our shifted forms, are you?”
Dr. Braun started laughing. “No, not at all. But there, just inside, just…do you know that feeling that you experience when you’re talking to your cheetah and he wants to come out for a run? That one that is just before he takes over, and then you’re furry and walking on all four legs?” I nodded. “That right there,” Dr. Braun said while pointing at me. “He will be there like that. He won’t stay, but he’ll be there, making that connection with Briggs’s other half. If I remember correctly, he’s a wolf shifter?”
“Yes.” I smiled.
“Your cheetah and Briggs’s wolf will be there for a fleeting moment to connect, then they’ll back off. But they’ll still be there in the background, simply because they’re part of who you are. They will help you during that time and again when you have your heat. My dragon is there. Every other omega I’ve talked to about it, their other half was there during that time. Why? Because we’re vulnerable, and we know we can trust our other half to watch out for us.”
I sighed. “All right, so what do I do? Just tell him to claim me?”
Dr. Braun smiled. “If that is what you wish, then yes. I’m not going to tell you to avoid intimacy, especially not with your mate.” Dr. Braun became serious. “Have you been with anyone since you’ve been rescued? I know it’s only been a little over a year. I’m just curious if you’ve taken that step yet.”
“No. Honestly, I’m so behind on everything. I didn’t get to go to school or do anything, really. So when I came here, when I wasn’t seeing Dr. Swift or working, I was trying to learn how to drive. Then I needed to start studying because…” I took a deep breath. “I can sort of read. I’m not the best at it, but I can get most words. But I’m not great at math, and we weren’t allowed to have electronics in my pride, so I know nothing about computers.”
Dr. Braun nodded slowly. “So you’d like to finish schooling? What if we arrange for you to be tutored in computer basics? Is that something you’d like?”
“I would. Dr. King realized all of this after we had a talk. He’s already asked at the council about it.”
“You haven’t mentioned it before?”
I shook my head. “I didn’t think it was needed. I probably should have, but I thought I’d be all right without certain things.” I groaned. “Then it was suggested I fill in for Cecil. But Cecil isn’t coming back, is he?”
Dr. Braun shook his head. “Most likely not. He is very happy at home with his twins, from what I understand. Don’t quote me on that though. But no, I don’t think he has plans to return.”
“So either I figure it out, or Dr. King will find someone else. The thing is, I don’t dislike my job, but I struggle with the computer. I don’t know how to type without hunting for the letters. And I can’t remember the steps for things most of the time.”
Dr. Braun nodded slowly. “We’ll work on getting you a cheat sheet or two. That’ll help. Also some tutoring lessons.” He sighed. “I really wish you’d mentioned all of this before. I understand why you didn’t, but it does help to start all of this as soon as possible.” I nodded. “Your siblings, they are your family. I’m sure that Briggs will be happy to either help raise them or continue to check in on them when you do. You aren’t the first to be raising younger siblings and sadly won’t be the last.”
“How can you know though?”
Dr. Braun smiled. “Because you’re his mate. Alphas are wired that way. They want to care for and protect their mates. They want to please them. And with you come siblings. His protective instincts will take over, and he will now become big brother to them, just as you are. It’s just how they are.”
