Page 15 of Where There's Smoke
Sunny’s face scrunched as she watched me carefully. “You really do smell different, though. Does anything feel different to you?”
I considered for a moment, taking stock of my body. “Everything I'm feeling can be attributed to being in the fire. My body is tired, my muscles sore, and I can't smell anything because of the smoke inhalation. I think I would know if I suddenly presented as an omega. Wouldn't the smell of alphas be like crack to me?”
“They would be.Ifyou could smell,” Sunny pointed out.
That made me pause. Then I remembered something I had read a while ago. Sure, it was something I'd read in a romance novel, but it sounded plausible enough.
“Late-presenting omegas go into heat pretty quickly, don’t they?”
Sunny nodded, confirming my suspicions. “I think so, but omegas aren’t black and white. We all have our quirks or issues. Youcouldjust be late presenting, and due to stress, your heat could be delayed…”
“If I start trying to climb alphas like trees, then I’ll consider that I may be an omega, but I feel totally normal right now,” I insisted.
That was a lie. I was feeling completely out of sorts, but I didn’t want to admit that to her.
“Okay, but please text me if you need someone to talk to. Also, you're welcome to come and stay at our place if you want. If you don’t feel comfortable with all these alphas around, omega or not.”
I didn't even have to think about that. Staying with Sunny would be amazing, usually, but she was pretty freshly bonded, which meant that she was probably banging her pack every other night, and on top of that, she had a toddler.
“No, I’ll be fine here. You have a full house with all those bunnies and boys.”
Sunny laughed, a warm, inviting sound that was so different than my own that it only solidified in my head how Iwasn’tan omega.
“I’m definitely overrun by men. I'm really hoping this next one is a girl,” she said, patting her stomach.
I’d had no idea she was pregnant, but I was happy for her. Packs were basically a bunch of overgrown children. Still, I knew they would all adore becoming fathers again.
“You’re pregnant, and you came all this way? Sunny!” I eyed her before grinning and giving her a hug. “Congratulations. How far along are you?”
“A few months. I'm probably going to start showing any day now, and I've been nesting nonstop. The guys don't know what to do with me. Mainly, they feed me snacks and tell me I'm pretty.”
“You know what? I wouldn't mind having three firefighters telling me I'm pretty and giving me snacks. You’ve got it good.”
“If you admit you are an omega, then that's something youcouldhave…” She trailed off.
I tossed a pair of leggings at her. “Hush. The baby is clearly messing with your brain! I’m not an omega, and as nice as that all sounds, I’m much better on my own. I have animals to take care of. Well, I did.”
The sting of loss hit again, but then Sunny was there with her usual charm. “You’ll have all that again soon. You need to let yourself heal after all this. And hey, maybe the new building will be even better.”
With my income and the amount insurance would give me, I doubted it. But I wasn't about to say that to Sunny.
“Who knows? Maybe…maybe it will be.”
“I need to get going, but you’ll text me, right?” She offered her gorgeous smile, waving at the little puppy who was curled up next to me. “And send pictures of sweet Dotty baby!”
“I will. Thanks again, Sunny.”
“Anytime! And I think Rune has already spoke to you about it. But if you have any bunnies who need temporary homes, we have plenty of space.”
“Isn't your house full enough already? You're going to be a rabbit rescue at this rate!” I chuckled.
“Luka loves them, and I have grown pretty attached to them myself. So the more, the merrier!”
We finished up our goodbyes, and then I was alone again. I needed that shower I’d been talking about, and now that I had clothes, I could actually accomplish that. I’d make it fast so that I could fix the puppy another bottle, and then…
I didn’t know. Go somewhere? Talk to the other firefighters? Get a snack?
I sighed.
