Scarlett and Summer look exhausted, but Sonnet was smiling and soaking in every word. Her spoiled scent was now completely sweet.
“I’ve always wanted a puppy.”
“What kind of puppy? Maybe we could get one for you as a welcome home gift.”
Oh, Jude.
Sonnet shifted uncomfortably, and her confident smile shrank into something small and uncertain. Her eyes darted around again, looking at her friend and sister for guidance.
Zayden growled softly at Jude. “Now is not a good time to talk about puppies. But…” They all looked towards Dr. Avery. “It’s getting late. I’m sure we do need to talk about heavier subject points like living arrangements, don’t we?”
Dr. Avery, who had been respectfully quiet the entire time, finally cleared her throat and clapped her hands together. She stood right between Sonnet and them, eyes darting back and forth between the two groups.
“Indeed.” She began passing out multiple pamphlets on omega health, Links, bonding rituals, and other necessities. “I know it may be difficult to discuss these things as strangers, but as you’ve said, it is time to move on to serious subjects. I must make sure you leave my clinic with everything you need to make some big decisions. Which leaves this last pamphlet on choosing or rejecting the bond.”
“Rejecting?” Felix frowned as Sonnet took the pamphlet with shaking hands. “That is a choice?”
“Yes. But not one without consequences. It is rare, but some matches have decided to reject the bond. You have until her next heat cycle to seal or reject it but do your research. Rejecting the bond results in biological consequences. You will not be able to pursue anyone after. Your bodies and your alpha or omega will not allow it.”
Silence stretched in the room as they all held the weight of the pamphlet and burden of the bond in their hands. Kai looked like he was going to crumble from the weight of it.
He wanted to escape them, find his own way, his own mate. What would he do now?
Zayden looked at Felix, the same fear lurking in his eyes.
Felix cleared his throat and took a slow seat. “What you are saying is that we are to be with her, or no one at all?”
Dr. Avery nodded her head. “Correct. While a rejection from a bond is painful and will always have biological consequences, packs and omegas can recover and move on if they wish. However, that is only for bonds that are not a Link match. At 100%, you’re only destined for one another. There would be no moving on with anyone else if you reject it.”
No one said anything. Everyone was too busy trying to hold up the weight of this decision.
Dr. Avery allowed the silence before continuing. “Until your decision is made, proper care needs to be considered and taken seriously. I would suggest merging living arrangements. An omega can become very ill when apart from their unbonded alphas for too long, and vice versa. Long periods of separation can trigger heat spikes or ruts. Emotions will be high; urges will be stronger. It's all due to your bodies adjusting to being in proximity with your other half. All of this is talked about in the pamphlets I’ve handed out.”
“We’re supposed to make all of these decisions based on these pamphlets?” Kai snapped.
The room erupted into a roar, everyone at everyone, and Sonnet cowering in her own little world. She stared down at that one little pamphlet in her hands, and Felix could see it, the world crushing her shoulders, and that’s when he found it. His courage.
He strolled quickly over to her, his feet walking on air, and kneeled down. He tucked his fingers under her chin and turned her towards him. He couldn’t find his words, but his alpha found them for him as he began to purr. The sound was a low, comforting rumble from the center of his chest and reverberating up his throat.
Her eyes centered on him, and even though there was slight apprehension and fear, there was also comfort. She leaned into him, and a small smile tugged at her.
“I’m sorry.”
He frowned and gently tucked some loose strands of pink hair out of the frame of her perfect face. “Why?”
“I don’t think I’m doing a very good job at…this.”
“I think you’re doing perfectly.”
Her lips twitched until she finally formed a bigger smile, before he saw it again. That flash of mischief. “You’re not just saying that so that you’ll be my favorite?”
He grinned. “Did you have a favorite? Before you knew we were your mates?”
Her eyes twinkled, and she brought her finger up to her lips and shook her head. Before Felix could attempt to tease the answer out of her, the room was brought back to order as Zayden cleared his throat.
“She should come home with us. If she’ll accept.”
She looked at Zayden, then Kai, then Jude, and finally at Felix. Her smile didn’t fade, only grew. “I guess it would be easier to figure all of this out if we were all living under the sameroof, so I guess I accept the offer. Especially if we could reopen that conversation about getting a puppy?”
