Maybe mom and dads are there, says a small dark voice in the back of my mind. I know it’s lying. If they were there, if they were ok, they would be with me now. But still, a part of me hopes. Grandpa gets me checked out of the hospital and we make our way out to his old station wagon in the parking lot, so he can drive us home. I always thought his car was silly, with funny wooden panels down the sides, but it doesn’t even draw out a smile now.
I’m not sure how long the trip lasts, I don’t know how far away the hospital is, just that the tiny voice keeps whispering louder that everything will be ok when we get home, everything will be just like it was. Part of me wants to believe it so much, that when we finally get to the house, my tiny hope dies at the moving van and large men moving our furniture out into it.
“Grampa? What are they doing?” I look over at the old man, my only family left.
“I am sorry, Little Bit, but without your parents here…well, we can’t keep their house and ours. Mine is all paid off. So, this one is gonna get sold. But these nice men are making sure all your parent’s stuff is kept safe. We’re gonna get them to help us load up your important things, and…and…” he trails off, his eyes brimming with tears again. Does he miss Mom too?
Suddenly he slaps his thigh, “You know, after this, we’re gonna go to the shelter, every little girl needs a kitten, right?” The change in subject seems abrupt but has the desired effect of distracting me.
“I’ve never had a kitten, do I get to pick her out?”
“Of course, she’s gonna be your friend, it is only right you should pick her out. Now, stay sittin’ right here for a few minutes while I go and talk to these nice men. Think about what kind of kitten you might want, and what you might want to name her. I’ll be back in a bit, and then we can go.”
I tried to think of good names, but I was still exhausted from what had happened. The next thing I know I feel the car dip as the men Grandpa told me about started putting boxes in the back. When they finished, Grandpa was trueto his word…we went to the shelter and I got a kitten, and then we took him to my new home.
After my shower, I come downstairs and snuggle up on the couch with the guys to tell them about my parents, but even after all these years, it still hurts to talk about it. So I curl into Gabe’s chest. His arms around me chase away the cold feeling of being abandoned.
“Mom and two of my dads died in the crash. The third was in the ICU for four days, but he was gone before I woke up the first time.” Gabe squeezes me tighter, Xan on one side rubbing his hands up my arm, Leo on the other braiding small sections of my hair. Jacks is sitting on the floor, between my feet, purring and nuzzling against my shin.
“I know my parents didn’t leave on purpose, I know it’s not what they wanted. I know Grandpa loved me…but by then his own pack and mate were gone. He had been ready to go himself. But after Mom and Dads died, he had to stay to take care of me. I don’t think he resented me, per se, but sometimes it felt like he was just killing time.”
“By the time Grandpa was diagnosed with cancer, I was about to graduate college. He told me he worried about mebeing alone, but I knew he was past ready. Less than six months after I had my degree he was gone--just about three years now. He had done what he could to keep me from getting stuck in an omega sanctuary, even though he told me outright I should register on my own so I would be safe.”
Gabe rocks back and forth, as best he can with a couch full of alphas, pulling my legs up and turning me sideways to tuck me under his chin. Jacks looks irritated at first, but then leans in closer to keep touching me, wedging himself between Gabe’s knees. Gabe grumbles but doesn’t try to move him away, just rubs his chin on the top of my head, his stubble catching strands of my still-damp hair. I am so going to need to use a heavy conditioner if this is going to be the norm here.
I want to stay here, safe and warm, but I can’t stop my mind or my mouth, and I babble nervously. “So, yeah…just…the way you guys sounded last night, like you thought I would leave just because Jacks has some problems. It kind of felt like you were trying to get rid of me.” I’m suddenly surrounded by low rumbly growls instead of purrs. “No, I mean…I hear you say that you don’t want to…but sometimes it feels like everyone either leaves or can’t wait for me to leave. And I know…deep down, I know…that isn’t logical. But the logical part of my mind rarely syncs up with the part that gets anxious.”
I give a small self-depreciating laugh. “Like, logically, I know the chances of someone finding out who I am online and then trying to bond me against my will are super low, I’ve taken every precaution I can.” The growls surrounding meare louder and angrier now. “But, the anxiety part of my brain is always on high alert that somehow something slipped, I trusted somebody I shouldn’t, or something…and now the person who slashed my tires and broke my car, and broke into my house is a creepy stalker or some shit and wants to kill me. But logically, I know that the chances of that are super slim.” Another shaky laugh.
“So, yeah, I didn’t mean to freak out. I’m just not used to people wanting me around…or at least not for a good reason. Sorry.” I lean into Gabe, and his growl changes like a switch was flipped, back to his rumbly purr.
The man sounds like a fucking motorcycle–which I guess is appropriate considering he works with engines all day. I’m still so tired, and the vibrations are so relaxing. Before I know what is going on, my eyes are drifting closed. I wake up briefly with my face pressed against Gabe’s bare chest, and Xan cuddled against my back. Feeling safe and warm I quickly fall back asleep.
Chapter 33
Sunday is fairly relaxed. The garage was ready and deep cleaned for at least one new hire to start on Monday, and I had rescheduled every appointment I could to have a week off. I was still on call in case of emergencies but otherwise, we were golden. We did call the firehouse and tell them that we would be shorthanded if they needed us. With our omega going into heat, we wouldn’t be able to leave her alone completely, so Jacks, at least, would stay with her in case something happened.
Candice has tentatively agreed to move in with us, depending on how her heat goes. She says she needs to make sure we’re all compatible, as none of us have really shared before. I can appreciate her caution when it comes to uprooting her life.
Xan, Gabe, and I still plan on going into work on Monday, Tuesday, and possibly Wednesday depending on how she feels. Xan is worried that he hasn’t been able to get in touch with Trey at the garage about their new hire. But figures he can introduce everyone on Monday, and hopefully get at least one more person hired next week, even if they have to wait and train after we all return to work.
Jacks has spent the last week rebuilding and upgrading Candice’s computer. He said he could salvage the hard drive, so she shouldn’t lose any data, and he has been ordering replacement parts to rebuild her system. Xan is spending today helping the two of them rearrange her room with the old furniture, the new desk, and Iggy’s terrarium so she has a proper workspace. She says she doesn’t want charity, but she seems to be taking Jacks’ enthusiasm for gift giving in stride. I want to give her things too, but they seem to have all the bases covered. Feeling a bit useless in the whole courting process, I’m unsure of what I can do for her.
I guess I could ask if she knows any other romantic anime she wants to watch together. Though that is more for me than her.
Monday morning comes bright and early, I am ready to get through this week and I still need to figure out how to properly court my Kitten. But one step at a time, first her heat, then I can help carry heavy things when she is ready to move in…then I can figure out how to make her need me as much as I need her.
This is a plan, or at least the start of one.
Work goes fine, I have three of my reschedules this morning, and everything is just standard checkup stuff. Then I have a bit of time before lunch, so I take one of Dr. Stephanie’s clients since she is running behind, and I owe her for helping Candice. We have lunch, and I think Jacks is trying to build us up for the coming week. He included pasta salad and a protein shake. The post-it says it’s for carb loading and endurance, and I can’t help but chuckle a little.
I’m going to have to give him a quick lesson on nutrition if he insists on doing this. Still, I appreciate the effort. I gag my way through the pasta salad. Jacks is an excellent cook, I just hate pasta salad. It sticks to my teeth, and I can never get the flavor to go away until I can brush with toothpaste.
My cell rings as I’m cleaning up my spot in the breakroom. There are only a couple of emergency numbers that make it through the silence setting, so it has to be important. I look at the number on display and the bottom of my stomach drops out, my pasta salad threatening to make a reappearance.
My voice comes out as a croak. “Hello?” The person on the other line is brisk and straight to the point. “Leo, we need you and your pack mates now, meet us at the station as fast as you can, there’s a fire.” They hang up before I can reply, and I’m dialing the garage as I sprint towards the front.
Gabe picks up on the second ring, and I don’t even let him get through his standard greeting. “Fire, can you and Xan pick me up on the way to the station.”
