Page 120 of Lost
“You’ve been having a rough go of it,” Dr. Royal says, his eyes going softer. “For the record, I’m pissed at them, not you. Can I see the bite, or are they going to come for my throat?”
“Only two alphas are killers in the room that I know of. I don’t know how good your odds are,” I shrug. I don’t think Dr. Royal can be friends with my sister and not be aware of the mafia world. “They’ll behave if you need to see it. That’s why we’re here: to figure out why this is happening.”
“The Finnegan brothers are well known for their prowess in the killing business. Sorry guys, she should know that.”
“Remember who her sister is,” Caleb says, rolling his eyes. “Hollis can be much scarier than us. It’s because you don’t see her coming. I very much doubt you’ll be able to dissuade Nova from making us pack. We’re her scent matches, and the bond between us is fledgling. It’s new. As my omega just fucking told you.”
“That’s all true. Okay, Nova. Show me this bite,” Dr. Royal says begrudgingly. “I lean heavily on the side of choices regardless of biology. If an omega isn’t being treated well, she or he should be able to make their own decisions about whether or not she accepts the scent match.”
“Noted,” I grumble, opening my dress and pulling it forward enough that he can see the bite bond mark without flashing him.
Dr. Royal pulls on a pair of gloves and examines it, his brows knitting. “Do you have any other bond bites?”
“I have one under my knee. It’s a couple of hours old,” I explain, my cheeks heating.
“I have bitten her in other places,” Tyde says.
“Those are healing though,” I say quickly. “They’re all in different stages of it, but they don’t look as fresh as this one.”
“Caveman,” Dr. Royal mutters. “Who gave you the other bond bite?”
“Lars,” I murmur as Dr. Royal gestures for me to fix my dress.
“How did Tyde’s bite come about?” he asks. “It was during your heat I assume?”
“It was,” I say. “They didn’t…I mean, we weren’t…”
“Out!” Dr. Royal yells, pulling off his gloves and tossing them in the garbage. “Alphas, out of the room. I need to know what happened without her getting nervous that she’s going to say the wrong thing.”
Tyde blows out a breath, nodding before he comes closer to me and pushes Dr. Royal’s chair away from me. My lips twitch as I hear the doctor make an annoyed sound.
“Tell him everything,” Tyde murmurs, kissing me hard. “I love you, Little Queen.”
Caleb and Lars look stricken, but leave as Tyde stands and strides out the door. As soon as they’re gone, Dr. Royal crosses his arms and leans back in his chair.
“So this sounds complicated, Nova,” he says.
“The three of them were terrible to me when we first met,” I sigh. “I didn’t know that Hollis was my sister, and Caleb and Lars are loyal to her.”
“And Tyde has a very long record for being an ass.”
“I think that’s how it appears,” I correct. “His brain and mouth have a disconnect, and very odd things come out. As youcan see, he can also be very sweet. Now that I can hear his thoughts, there are less misunderstandings.”
“So that part of the bond is working. Now how bad was your heat?”
I explain everything to Dr. Royal, and he asks questions about my interactions with the alphas before and after my heat.
“While they’re making strides to fix things, you’re still not completely comfortable with them,” he muses. “It does appear that Tyde is figuring out his shit. I’ve never seen him so put together and dominant before. He typically lets the first thing in his head fly. So Lars gave you his bite. Where did this happen?”
“Erm. Do you know theVino y Vida Ristorante?”I ask.
“Corbin Murphy’s new place? Is that where he took you on a date?” Dr. Royal asks.
“Mmhmm. I have a gluten allergy and he thought it would be nice for me to have a meal without having to worry,” I explain. “He called ahead and made sure it wouldn’t be an issue. Ambrose was our waiter.”
“Are you sure you’re not a mafia daughter?” he asks. “I swear you make the strangest friends.”
“I’m open minded, and I still grew up in a mafia household,” I say.
