The room explodes in a flurry of growls. Gabe launching himself off the couch and advancing towards us, Xan yelling forGabe to stop, and Leo trying to offer me reassurance while not getting between Gabe and Jacks.
Xan
Fuck, this isn’t good. I need to stop Gabe from cornering Jacks. I know neither of them is thinking straight right now, but Jacks’ eyes are wild, and while I know he would never intentionally hurt Candice, I can’t be sure if he’s even seeing the same thing as the rest of us. My boy still blames himself for what happened to Janey, but I need him back in the now, not reliving that shit.
“You can’t have her, you said she was ours…you can’t take her away now!” Jacks is nearly yelling and I can see Candice’s chest rising and falling rapidly. It doesn’t look like he’s actually squeezing too hard, but if she starts to panic she could still hyperventilate, and if she passes out I know he is gonna completely lose his shit.
“Let her go, and step away. Now!” Gabe rarely uses his alpha bark, but clearly he thinks this situation calls for it. It’s not going to work on Jacks. I don’t know if it’s because he’s broken, or hisalpha is just that strong, but I haven't ever seen a bark work on him.
A loud whine stops everyone in their tracks, along with a powerful burst of perfume–ah, well it doesn’t smell like she is afraid. No, Candice is wriggling against the hands that hold her, pressing back against Jacks’ chest, her hands coming up to stroke his arms, until they loosen and droop on their own.
“Please alpha,” it's a pleading breathy little whine.
Goddammit, I just got this fucking thing to go down.
She covers his hands with hers and moves them back up, one circling her throat and the other holding tight, pressed against the underside of her tits, and yeah, ok, now I’m just jealous.
“Alpha, nest, please, I need my nest.” Leo and Gabe both groan at the pleading in her voice, and Jacks is just staring down at the omega in his arms, eyes wide.
“Oh Shit…why didn’t I think of that?” Jacks steps forward and hands the pleading omega to Gabe.
“We can’t bring her home yet, we have to get her nest set up first.” He starts picking up all the fabric around the room, rubbing each piece over his face and neck before putting it back exactly where he got it, as if he doesn’t want to disturb her space. He marks the pillows, the blanket, and then leans down to rub along the back of the couch, before going into her nest and marking several of her pillows in there.
Candice looks dazed and glassy eyed. I can see the muscles in Gabe’s jaw flexing with how hard he is grinding his teeth.
When Jacks comes back, he looks around. Seemingly satisfied with a job well done, walks over to me and rubs his face over my hair as well as grabbing my ass. Lifting the Jeep keys out of my coveralls while I’m distracted, then he strides purposefully towards the front door. Meanwhile, Leo has taken a still dazed Candice from Gabes arms and set her gently on the couch, covering her in the scent marked blanket.
“Get some rest little one, we'll talk soon, ok?” Gabe stalks towards the door but is almost knocked aside by Jacks returning, picking up the iguana and rubbing it over his chin and neck and striding back out again after replacing it on its tank.
This, at least, finally snaps Candice out of her lust filled state.
“Did you just scent mark my fucking iguana!”
I can hear Jacks’ mad cackle, then, “Come on bitches, you got work, and I need to go shoppin!”
Chapter 14
Iarrive back at work in time for my three P.M. appointment, a pair of guinea pigs that need their yearly exam. All goes well, they seem happy and healthy. Their owners are attentive and while I question the choice of giving a child under ten the responsibility to care for a pet, these parents seem to be taking it seriously, and have no problem stepping in or helping when necessary. Like today helping their son carry this precious cargo out to avoid jostling them.
Soon Sasha and her parents arrive to pick up Freddy, and we discuss how to care for his cast, if he needs a cone, and how to keep him hydrated while keeping his cast dry. I also discussed with Sasha the importance of always making sure the front door is closed when she leaves for school, so Freddy can’t get into traffic again. She seems like a sweet child who cares deeply for her giant overprotective lizard, and I hope they have many years left together. She listens intently to my lecture, asking appropriate questions as Maggie brings out a still drooping Freddy.
However, as soon as he sees Sasha he starts to scramble on the concrete floor, his claws unable to find purchase and Maggie hasto run to keep him from choking himself on the leash. When Freddy reaches her, Sasha bends down and scoops him into her arms, wrapping his tail around her waist, and gently holding his damaged leg to keep him from injuring it further.
What would it be like to have children of our own? We’ve never discussed it before. I’ve never really even thought about it before. Do any of the others even want kids? Does Candice?
I imagine her sitting in our living room, curled up between Jacks and Xan, rounded with child.
And I really need to stop this train of thought as it is going to become very awkward again since I am still wearing scrubs. I wipe all thought of family and Candice from my head, finalizing paperwork, confirming there are no more questions, and then watching this fourteen year old girl waddle out of the office with a fifteen pound lizard wrapped around her like some sort of scaled sling bag.
I’ll need to stay late to clean up paperwork from being out so long for lunch, and once I’m home, I want to do more research on scent matches. I pull out my cell phone to call Jacks and let him know I’ll be late for dinner. I would say two nights in a row is inexcusable, but with the afternoon we all had, I believe he’ll understand.
The house phone rings several times before I give up. I call again, and a third time, but there is no answer. I then call his cell, but it goes straight to voicemail. That isn’t unusual, he often forgets to charge it as he rarely leaves the house. I then try the shop. Maybe he stopped back there after he let me off at theclinic. I’m still cross with him for driving earlier, but as he said, it was only for a few blocks, and he was being safe.
After three rings, Xan picks up at the garage. “Gabe’s Garage, how may I be of service to you today sir or madam.” Dear lord, Gabe would throttle him if he heard that.
“Yes, you ass, you can be of service. Tell Jacks I will be home late today. I have a lot of paperwork I missed this afternoon. I don’t want to leave it until tomorrow.”
“Why do you want me to tell Jacks, just call the house and tell him yourself?” He sounds genuinely puzzled, and my stomach sinks.
