It’s chilly on the way to work, overnights and mornings are still pretty cold, and my car takes forever to warm up enough for the heater to work. The drive is over quickly since my mind's preoccupied with everything that happened this weekend, and my stupid heater's just barely started putting out warm air.
I need to set an alarm to call my parents later to check in, so they don’t worry. And I make a note of that next to the note in my phone to call my OB’s office. Xan’s already in when I pull up, which is strange—I didn’t expect to see him so soon with the ceremony only two days ago. He has bay number one opened up, and Candice’s old mustang pulled in and on lifts. I’m bundled up in a jean jacket I had in the car, and my teeth are nearly chattering when I get out. My breath comes out in steamy puffs as I stop to make sure everything’s ok. He seems fine in just his usual coveralls. I’ll need to ask Sam if alphas just run hotter than betas.
As I get closer, Xan answers before I have a chance to ask if anything’s wrong. “Mornin’ Kelly! Just getting Candice’s car in for a quick checkup and old-school safety inspection this morning before anybody gets here. Jacks picked up car seats last week and is really excited to get them installed. I want to make sure everything's on the up-and-up before we start down that road. Plus I need to make sure all the rear seatbelts are secure.” His eyes scan over me, taking in my light coat and tense shoulders. “Heater not workin’?”
I smile through my now chattering teeth. “It’s great once it heats up, but it takes from Sam’s all the way here to get that way.”
He stares at me for a few extra seconds before his eyes flip over to my little car, then he holds his hand out. “Gimme the keys, I’ll check the thermostat and give everything a once overafter I finish with this one. There’re only a few appointments this morning so it should be fine for me to stay in this bay till I finish up.” I’d like to tell him not to worry about it or how much I appreciate the help. But I know he and Gabe would just shrug it off. I’ve been with them for a few years now, and they said it’s too weird charging family. I appreciate it, since I need to go to the store today to get a few more groceries, as well as whatever copay I need to have for getting new birth control.
Pulling the keys back out of my pocket, I toss them to him—he manages to catch my poor throw in the air and smirks at me. “Now, get inside and get warmed up…and can you start the coffeemaker, please? That thing hates me.” Smiling to myself, I head inside to get the day started. I have no idea what kind of vendetta the coffee maker has with Xan, he’s usually great with all sorts of electronics, but he can’t seem to turn this antique on without red lights flashing an error code.
Regardless, I get a fresh pot started, then send a quick text off to Sam telling him about the car, asking if he needs me to pick anything up for dinner when I stop to grab groceries after work. The store's only a block and half down the road from the shop. Then I put my phone and bag in the locked cabinet in the breakroom and pull up the schedule to get work orders ready for the day.
Chapter 22
Of course, the pack registration office has a line this morning. Why wouldn’t it? I mean, small town, I’m not hugely surprised. Fucking frustrated, yes, goes without saying. Surprised…no, not really.
Sam and I stand in line behind a group of five guys who look fresh out of high school. The space is too enclosed to pick out individual scents, but together they smell like some kind of minty fruit salad. At first, they posture and try to look tough. Then they spend the next fifteen minutes trying to look behind us and around us, probably looking for the source of the omega scent.
Surprise!
I wish Kelly was here, I could use a hug. I’m not trying to make people think she’s my omega, I’ll happily take on any role she wants me to. It’s just that being close to her calms me down, I don’t feel so self-conscious about being an omega when I’m with her.
One of the guys in front of us finally figures it out, and I want to put my fist through his leering grin. Sam pulls me tight to hisside, his loud possessive growl alerting the rest of the assholes in front of us that something’s up. Thankfully, the clerk takes that moment to open the door and call their group in. But I hear a whispered exchange as they go through the door, and the other four members stare until the hydraulic arm on the door finally pulls it closed.
Sam pulls me into a hug, and I take a deep breath of his cedar and sawdust smell, easing some of the tension in my shoulders. His purr starts up and I want to melt against him. This weekend was crazy, but I don’t regret any of it. I just want to be able to hurry up and start our life together. Which means finishing the nest and going back to the omega center next week when they reopen from break to clear out my dorm room. Once Mom and Dads are back, I can head home and get the rest of my stuff from there. But I’m looking forward to introducing them to my mates. And if what Sarah said is true about being a scent match, I know Mom's going to be over the moon.
Not that I expect her to be happy about the no grandkids situation. But I never really thought I’d have kids anyway. I’ve never felt the way I do with Kelly. I never expected I would fall in love with a woman. It’s true, I love Sarah like an older sister, but Kelly's the first time I’ve ever really been attracted to a woman. I always expected that when I formed a pack with Steve and Garret, that Garret would be the one to deal with the issue of having an heir with our omega for his fathers’ company. It’s kind of a moot point now. Regardless, Kelly doesn’t want kids, now, if ever, which is fine with both me and Sam. We can cross that bridge when we come to it.
The five leering idiots finally come back out, and Sam holds my hand while we continue to wait in the lobby. The clerk finally comes out, takes one look at us and says, “Marriage licenses are down the hall, second door on the left. Next!” But we’ve already spent an hour here, and I know my patience has run out.Sam snarls and the woman doesn’t even look taken aback. She sounds almost bored. “Sir, if you had read the directory at the front you would know this is pack registration. You must have at least three people to form a pack.”
I decide to step in before Sam can get security called on us. “I’m sorry, ma’am, our beta couldn’t get off work to come with us this morning. She’s going to be by this afternoon to sign.” I can’t even pretend to look sheepish, but she gets it faster than the assholes that just left at least.
“Sorry sir, it’sveryMonday and I’ve already had a morning. Please come this way.” At least she doesn’t think we’re purposefully wasting her time. Sam already downloaded all the paperwork last night, and we filled it out before we came in—other than paying the registration fees, we should be golden.
“Ok, Mr. Darnell and Mr. McKinnley?” Ruth, according to her nametag, looks between the two of us. She squints at Sam for a moment. “Are you Joseph’s brother? He’s such a nice young man.” I bite back my laugh because Joseph is neither nice nor young, and I’d still like to bloody his fucking face after he upset my mates this weekend.
Sam just nods and mumbles a quiet, “Yes ma’am,” as she continues to look over our paperwork.
“And your beta is one, Kelly Parker, yes? Age twenty-two?” Sam swallows hard and nods. “Ok, thank you. If I can just get some ID, please. Ms. Parker will need to come down and show hers as well as sign this for me. Then we’ll get you all set. I assume, as the lead alpha, that this will be registered under McKinnley Pack?” Sam looks at me for a minute, and all I can do is shrug. It’s his choice. As long as I can be with them, I don’t care.
“Actually, ma’am. It’s Pack Carpenter. We don’t want to cause any confusion with my brother’s pack.” Sam's voice shakes slightly, like he expects harsh judgement at this statement.
The clerk gives a slow blink and looks between the two of us before her voice takes on a too cheerful tone. “Of course. Congratulations Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Carpenter. I’ll get this filed as soon as I can. And you should receive your registration notice in the mail within five to ten business days after Ms. Parker comes in with her identification.” She goes back to writing, effectively dismissing us.
Sam pulls me into a tight hug that we both need, and my body relaxes just from his scent. Kelly will be by this afternoon, and then we can get everything sorted out legally. Once we have the signed proof of registration, I’ll officially be released from the omega center to be with my mates. I pull away from Sam and take his hand as we leave the building and head out. I’m hoping he can teach me how to do drywall so I can help him with the nest.
Kelly
Lunch time finally rolls around, and Xan still has my car up on the lift. I’m starting to get hangry, but I can give it a bit more time before I ask. I hate to be a bother when he’s doing something nice for me. This morning’s kept me pretty busy, butI was able to call the doctor to set up an appointment to talk about birth control on Friday. I also talked to Mom earlier, since Dad’s at work today. She sounded fine, but she was worried. I can’t completely blame her. Being with Sam and Teddy seemed pretty strange to me too, but it still feels right. I understand her trepidation, but don’t know any better way to reassure her other than just time.
Finally, Sal walks into the office with a completed work order for an oil change. Things have slowed down, but I don’t know how she or the new guy, Ray, normally work their lunches out. I’m usually headed to class before now.
I wave her over to tell her I need to walk down to the grocery store to pick up some stuff and grab a bite before I get grumpy, but the phone starts ringing. I heave an over-dramatic sigh, smiling to Sal to let her know I’m not actually upset. No one else is in the office with us, so I just hit the speaker button to pick up and try to smile despite my stomach grumbling. “Gabe’s Garage, this is Kelly, how can I help you?”
An angry voice growls over the receiver. It sounds slightly tinny like they’re on speaker too. “Yeah, sweetheart, you can get us a mechanic or somebody in charge to talk to. We’re having some car trouble. Thanks.” I pause for a beat unsure how to answer, when Sal’s arm reaches past me and hits the end call button.
“Sorry Kelly, they can call back when they stop being an asshole.” But now my eyes and nose are burning…and I don’t know why. I think that jerk on the phone was just kind of the icing on the cake of my weekend. Before I know it, I’m leaking profusely. I hear a heartfelt, “Shit,” from Sal just before her warm arms wrap around me and she pulls me in for a hug.
