Page 73 of Dream Mates
“I didn’t take it that way at all.” I knew nothing about her.
The room grew quiet for a moment.
“I’m glad I have you. Elaris was good at puzzles? She was really smart wasn’t she? Will you tell me about her?” Given we should have this conversation before we bond.
His eyes closed and he leaned into my hands. “We met at Rock Tech–Rockland Institute of Technology. I was studying science business, she was in the chemistry program. Oh, she wasbrilliant.I knew from the moment I met her that if given a chance she could change the world.”
“Oh, yes, you two had a company together.” Wow. No pressure there. Oddly enough, I felt no jealousy, even though I wanted to be told that I was brilliant and would change the world.
Oh, wait, he did tell me that sometimes.
“We did.” His voice was soft. “We were still at university when we started it, and it took off quickly. But she knew what she was doing; she just needed someone to believe in her and the funding to put her ideas in action.”
My fingers worked out the knots in his neck. “You… you were mates, right? She was an omega?”
“We bonded right out of university. She was a beta, with the fierceness and confidence of an alpha.” He flinched.
“She died in an accident?” I bit my lower lip. Apparently ithurtwhen a mate bond broke in death. Sometimes omegas didn’t survive losing all their mates. The Center told me about it. Losing your bonded soulmate hurt so much that they called these omegassoulbroke.
“A car accident. So they say. Sometimes I wonder.” He raked a hand through his hair. “Some of her ideas were… controversial.”
“What did you make? Do?” Did he just casually admit that he thought she may have beenmurdered?
“Her first pharmaceutical was a take on alpha suppressants, refining them to have less side effects so that alphas would actually take them,” he told me.
I blinked, my hands working where his neck met his skull. “I didn’t know alphas took suppressants.”
“It’s not common. Mostly it’s young alphas who have trouble controlling their urges, inmates, and those ordered by the courts, mostly. They dull alpha senses and emotions and can suppress alpha rut. In addition to the side effects, there’s stigma around them–people think you’re ‘less’ of an alpha if you take them. That’s why more development wasn’t poured into them and why many who should take them don’t. Which can cause… incidents, especially in places like high schools and universities.” His voice grew quiet.
“Oh. That was controversial?” I could see that. Just because the alphas I lived with had control didn’t mean they all did.
“Only to the alphas who didn’t want to take them.” He shrugged. “Our main contracts were with prisons. Her most controversial idea was that she wanted to develop ways to keep the illegal designations from being executed. She died before it could be developed. Most of her research was in her head, and no one wanted to seriously take it on.” He sighed and tugged me onto his lap.
“Wow, that… that seems very noble. Theykillillegal designations? Why? Isn’t that government-condoned genocide? That is terrible. It’s not like you can control what designation you are.” I didn’t know much about illegal designations.
“You are very right, and I agree with you. They’re considered a danger to society but I’m not sure that they all are. Certainly, I don’t think our current methods are the answer. But that’s a conversation for another day.” His look went pained.
For a long moment the room went quiet again.
“Thank you for telling me about her,” I finally said.
“I’ve been thinking about her a lot lately. Like how she would have loved you–and immediately had you helping her with formulas and calculations. Elaris had a thing for smart blondes.”
“I would have loved to help her amazing endeavors.” What else could I say? “What are you trying to decode?”
“Some of Dr. K’s research. I’m very curious about the smuggling ring,” he replied.
I nodded. “Me, too. The idea of omegas being illegal is weird.”
We’d looked through what he’d given me of his father’s research to see if there were any secrets in the margins but had found nothing.
“It is. Omegas are a gift. As are you. The fact that I was once mated to her doesn’t diminish what I feel for you, I promise you that. You don’t need to compete with a ghost.” His lips brushed mine as he pulled me closer.
“I believe you.” I cupped his face with my hand as I straddled his lap. “After all, I love Wes, Evan, and you.” It took a moment for me to realize what I’d said. But it was true.
He beamed. “You love me? I love you, too, Grace.”
Spencer’s mouth seized mine and we made out in the desk chair. Finally, he broke off the kiss. “Is there a reason why you came to me, my good doctor, not that you need one.”
