Page 4 of Briggs
Banner: I was only laughing because I was late too. Luckily for me, I work in the bakery. Yes, I’ll put something together for you. Just come to the side and grab it.
I smiled. Banner had been with me in that jungle, and it probably wasn’t completely healthy with how close we still were, but we had found that it helped both of us when it came to dealing with everything we’d gone through.
Me: Thanks. I’ll leave money on the counter for it. I really appreciate it.
I slid my phone into my pocket and left the house. I was only about a ten-minute jog from the council building, and the omega clinic was directly behind it, with the bakery just off to the side. It would only take a few extra minutes to swing by the bakery, and I knew that Banner wouldn’t be upset that I didn’t have time to hang out and chat. We spent a lot of time together in the evenings anyway, so I’d make sure I did something nice in return.
As I was hurrying along, I thought of my new worry: John and Tracy. I owed it to my siblings to be the one raising them. They’d been found, and thankfully, they hadn’t suffered the same fate I had. If there was anything to be thankful for, that was it.
I had tried when they’d first been brought here, I honestly did, but my demons still had too much control over me, and after I had woken up in my cheetah form swiping at John one morning, I had asked that the council find somewhere else for them to stay. At least for a bit. Thankfully, John had seemed to understand, and Tracy honestly barely remembered me and seemed to enjoy staying with Alpha Babak and Alpha Mate Mina. Yes, my siblings were staying with the created cheetah and his mate. How was this my life?
It hurt that I wasn’t the one taking care of my siblings, and I knew I was letting my parents down. But I needed them to be safe more than for them to be with me. I spent time with them almost daily, and now that John was shifting, he and I would often go running with Banner in the evenings before I returned him to Alpha Babak’s house.
Somehow, my life was a mess, and I didn’t know how to fix it. I glanced down at my phone and realized I’d been so lost in thought that I’d slowed down on my trek to the bakery, and I was really short on time before I needed to be at work. I took off, all but running the rest of the way to Council Square.
I could smell the bakery from the other side of the council building, but that wasn’t anything new. Not all shifters had a super sniffer, but I happened to be one who did. It had been somewhat of an asset while held captive, but in the end, it didn’t help me too much. I could evade them for a bit, but they always cheated and would use tranquilizer guns when they couldn’t catch us. I shook my head, trying to keep it here in the present. Dwelling on my years spent in a cage never brought about good days, and I wanted today to be a good one. It was Monday, and those always seemed to be overly hectic.
From outside, I could see all the people inside the bakery and wondered just how Banner had time to reply to me if they were that busy. When I opened the door, there were at least fifteen, if not more, people waiting. Some were standing in line to place their orders at the counter, while others were off to the side waiting.
Banner happened to see me, pointed toward the far wall, and I quickly crossed the room. I smiled at Tate, who was standing at the end of the counter while pulling out several pastries and donuts for one of the enforcers.
“It’s back here,” Tate said. “Just crouch under and grab it.”
“Thanks,” I said. I did as told and found my coffee and a small box. I wanted to moan at what I was sure was pure bliss in that box, but I didn’t. Instead, I pulled out the twenty I had in my pocket and placed it on the counter where the box and cup had been.
“Thanks, Tate. If you guys calm down, tell Banner thanks for me too.”
“I will. Give us an hour though,” he said while chuckling.
I grinned back at him while ducking under the end of the counter. A glance in Banner’s direction showed him talking to two others, completely occupied with what he was doing, so I left the bakery. I received a few glances on my way out, but I ignored them because I wasn’t going to let anything get to me today. I needed to have a good week because lately things had been extra rough. It was probably time to schedule another appointment with Dr. Swift, one that was beyond my normal monthly appointment.
Thankfully, I was able to recognize that. There were many different things that could cause it, and despite my trying to focus on myself and see if I could pinpoint what exactly the issue was, I was coming up with nothing. I assumed it was most likely all of the stress of trying to do everything I felt I needed to do, but I didn’t know how to not worry about it.
I walked around to the back of the omega clinic, staring off at the enforcer housing that was off in the distance behind it. At times, I wondered what happened with the enforcers who got us out of there. I knew they were here somewhere, at least I thought they were. I, like many others, had been so out of it when we’d been rescued that I didn’t really know up from down at that time. It had been a while for me to even shift back into my human form, and when I had, it had taken me a bit to trust those who were trying to help us.
I wasn’t sure when I actually had that moment that I finally felt safe with those in the council. I knew that despite everything I’d been through, I’d not had it as bad as others. And even if I woke up drenched in sweat every so often, I knew I was safe here. It just took some time to get my brain to realize that in the middle of the night when I was suddenly awake and terrified.
I shook my head, once again lost in thought. I needed to get to work, and now I was dreading it. That was never a goodheadspace to be in when I was trying to organize Dr. King’s schedule.
I pushed open the door and immediately scented not only tea but coffee as well. I smiled and shook my head. Dr. King didn’t drink coffee. I did, but this early in the morning, he would be the only one here. Unless someone else had an emergency. Or he had visitors. It was also possible he’d made the coffee for me.
I walked the little ways down the hallway and into what was the break room. It was incredibly nice, and not only did it have a small kitchen area, but it had a couch and a table and chairs where we could eat our lunch as well. Well, where I could eat my lunch at. Dr. King was often working through his lunch break.
I found Dr. King standing against the counter, a mug halfway to his mouth. “Good morning.” His eyes moved to over my shoulder, where I knew there was a clock on the wall.
“Morning. Sorry I’m a bit late. That wasn’t my intent, and I probably should have skipped stopping at the bakery.” I held up the box. “I’m not sure what Banner put in here, but it feels heavy enough to have several things in it. You’re welcome to anything you’d like.”
Dr. King put his mug down on the counter behind him. “Have you not had breakfast yet?”
I shook my head. “I’ll grab a donut out of the box.”
Dr. King sighed as he shook his head. “You need more than a donut. You’re a shifter. And a still somewhat young one at that. You need protein during your meals.”
I nodded in agreement. He wasn’t wrong. “I know. And I’ll make sure I eat some at lunch. I got a late start this morning and didn’t have time to fix breakfast.”
That was probably the wrong thing to say because immediately, Dr. King was walking toward me. He might mostly treat pregnant omegas, but he was still a doctor, and he’d offeredcare to many of the rescued omegas as well. Concern was on the warlock’s face, and I sighed.
“I’m okay. I didn’t sleep the best, and I spent too long trying to wash away memories in the shower. I already planned on calling Dr. Swift’s office to get an appointment.”
