Page 3

Tenzin

A strong rotten scent, among Gwen’s mint and Clark’s hay, tickled my nose. In the background, an alarm went off. Not a morning alarm, but something shrill, lights flashing on the other side of my eyelids. I sat up and recalled I was in the hospital, with Gwen, as the monitor went off.

“Gwen.” Clark sat up from the other side of her, then winced and held his ribs.

The door flew open and the spectacled doctor ran in, with some nurses and another doctor, who started calling for medicines.

“I need you to leave. I’m so sorry,” Dr. Alvarez said, looking tired and frazzled.

“Gwen.” Clark crumpled, not leaving the bed, as they tried to work around him.

“Come on, Clark. Let’s get some coffee.” My heart lodged in my throat so hard the words barely came out.

I put my shoes on and grabbed my phone. All of my instincts screamed at me to stay.

The look on the face of the nurse trying to get us through the door stated that was out of the question.

“Gwen.” Clark put on his glasses and shoes, grabbed his phone and hers, then followed us out of the room. The nurse shut the door behind us.

“I know.” I put my hand on his shoulder, and for a moment we just stared at the door.

There was a refreshment cart in the tiny lobby, but it was empty. Probably because it was early.

“You can leave,” the beta in pink scrubs said from the desk. “Cafeteria’s on the first floor. You’re 415, right? Here, let me get you stickers, so you can get back in.”

“We are.” I nodded, we showed our IDs, took the stickers, and put them on.

“Should we go, what if she needs us?” Clark’s voice broke as he looked back toward the hallway, yearning and anguish on his face.

I didn’t want to leave either. But getting the doctors angry at us wouldn’t do Gwen any good.

“Go get some coffee, maybe some food, we’ll call you if you’re needed,” she told us, making sure she had our numbers.

We went through the doors and saw a pile of hockey players, sleeping the best they could, in the tiny chairs of the small waiting area.

“Eats, you’re still here.” My voice went rough with emotion as I saw AJ.

AJ wasn’t asleep, but Dean and Verity were. I didn’t see Jonas and Grif.

“Are you going to get food? We have coffee. Tony, Gwen’s boss from the rink, dropped it off with some donuts. Carlos’ mom left enchiladas. Rusty, from the Maimers, brought some sandwiches,” AJ nodded to a low table piled with food.

“That was nice.” I helped myself to a sandwich, starving. “You can go home. Don’t you work today?” I texted Coach to let him know Clark and I wouldn’t be at practice.

“I do, but I wanted to make sure you were okay. What’s happening with Gwen?” AJ’s brow furrowed.

I pulled a chair over. Clark grabbed a donut and sat next to Dimitri.

“Spiral. They thought the drugs were working. Then alarms went off, and they kicked us out.” I sighed and rubbed my head. What did I even do? I felt so powerless.

“Fuck. Spirals aren’t good.” AJ’s look went pensive.

Dean sat up. “No, they’re not. I figured out what Dimitri was talking about last night. My friend, who works for the Omega Center, said it can happen to betas sometimes and it’s fucking sad. I’m guessing it occurred when she was kidnapped.”

“It’s very sad. Trying to explain it to the doctors was a lot.” I polished off the sandwich in a couple of bites.

Lenny stood there, looking ominous, still in a suit. “This wing is the best place for her to be. Don’t let them fucking move her. Snack break? She’s sleeping?”

“Alarms went off. I…” My heart squeezed. “I don’t know what to do. They kicked us out.”

Lenny’s head bowed. “This happened last time, too. At least now we know what’s wrong. Also, she has you two. Stay with her. It’s going to make the fucking difference.”

“Why does she hate hospitals, her mom?” I asked softly.

“Yeah. That and her hockey accident, when she broke her hip as a teenager. Not sure if you know about that.”

I nodded. “She told us a lot of things.”

“Good.” His phone rang. Lenny walked off once more, speaking in Italian.

We sat there for a while, nervous and afraid.

“Hey.” Dr. Kristy, the bond specialist, came over to us, in her Omega Center lab coat, looking tired. She was an older omega. Everyone who worked for the Center was either an omega or beta. The Center offered everything from matching services and comprehensive medical care, to classes and social activities.

I appreciated that Dr. Kristy was treating Gwen like any patient and didn’t refuse to help her even though she wasn’t an omega.

“Please tell me she’s okay.” My heart didn’t unclench, as I went to one side of the lobby to speak with her.

“They’ll let you back in soon. Thank you, the contact you gave me was helpful. I also found a couple of colleagues at other Centers who are familiar with such cases. Based on this, I’ve recommended she stay in this unit and on the standard course of care. Dr. Alverez concurs. Especially since the wing is nowhere near capacity. If anyone fights you, call me.”

She gave me a card. “Also, you might have to appeal your insurance. But I firmly believe she’s best off here.”

“Thank you.” I took the card, grateful they were so understanding.

“Is she seeing anyone for this? Or has she in the past?” Dr. Kristy asked.

Clark joined me. “She saw a special therapist, for a bit. But she stopped because, in her words, she didn’t want to be a science project. Also, she said she wasn’t ready to deal with some aspects. She just started seeing someone else, and she likes her, but…” His head cocked. “I don’t quite get the nuances. I guess it’s not the best specifically, but works for her? But then, until Gwen, I didn’t realize that bonds broken with your scent match differed from regular broken bonds. I thought they all just hurt really badly. I also didn’t realize some people didn’t think betas suffered, too.” His brow furrowed. “Or that people could get superpowers.”

Superpowers? That was Clark for you.

Dr. Kristy smiled a little. “Superpowers, I like that. All broken bonds hurt and can have ramifications for any designation. But yes, it’s a little different when it involves your soulmate. The scent indicative of shadows only manifests then.”

Clark blinked. “She smells different because of it? Oh. I didn’t know her before.”

“Different, no. But there’s an undercurrent to her scent. It’s something that if you know, you know,” she replied.

“Like the wolf.” He nodded.

Like Dimitri.

“Superpowers have been known to appear in broken bonds, usually when the omega is left without alphas entirely. Does Gwen have superpowers?” Her voice was gentle. “I’m not trying to use her as a science project, promise. It’s hard enough for the omegas I see, who have Center resources at their disposal. So, I can only imagine what it’s like for someone who might not even be believed, and I want to help her.”

“Sometimes. When threatened.” Clark looked wary.

I was pretty sure it was more than occasionally being able to bark–or throw off alpha barks. Because I’d spent so much time watching videos of her playing hockey, I’d noticed a big shift in the way she played between her first and third year in community college. Sure, it could be the Knights’ goalie program.

She could have gotten some alpha speed, strength, and reflexes after she’d lost Officer Jones. It could also be why she had an alpha appetite–something had to fuel all that.

“I’ve also had her tau status added to her record, in hopes it keeps her from being denied care. But if she objects, we can have it removed,” Dr. Kristy added.

“Thanks. Um, she can still bond with someone, right? I mean, if she wants to at some point.” Clark’s look went pensive.

Oh. I hadn’t thought of that. I could see bonding with her one day. Him, too. It wouldn’t be legally recognized, but I’d marry both of them. Gwen would want a big wedding, anyway.

Hopefully she’d live so we could have that. One day.

“Yes, she can. I’d absolutely recommend pre-bonding counseling. I’ll be back to check on her later.” Dr. Kristy left.

“I should let her coach know she won’t be at practice.” Clark pulled Gwen’s cracked phone out of his pocket.

“I let Coach Atkins know for us. I think she needs a new phone,” I told him.

“I do, too. Shit. I don’t know who her professors are. Or who can get notes for her? I think she has a test today? Or is it next week? At least it’s Thursday, and she has no class tomorrow.” Panic tinged his voice.

I squeezed his shoulder. “It’ll be okay. Start with her coach. She has a group chat with her team, maybe drop it there if you can get her phone to work? Hopefully, she won’t miss much class.”

Concussions could be a bitch.

“Okay. I’m going to need more coffee first.” He went over to the table with the food on it.

My phone buzzed with a video call.

Jacen

Important, please answer.

“Jacen?” I moved away, heart dropping. Just what I needed.

“Morgan’s in the hospital again.” Jacen looked tired and sad on my phone screen. “They’re hoping to not have to deliver the babies. If they do, will you come out? We want you to have the chance to hold Squiggles. Especially if things are… not good.”

Oh fuck.

“I’m so sorry she’s in the hospital again. Please keep me updated. I’ll decide if it comes to it.” Bile rose in my throat at the prospect. I didn’t want anything bad to happen to any of them.

“If you’re worried about work, I’m sure they’ll let you go if you explain.” His look was a cross between baffled and reproachful.

“They will. If I can come, I absolutely will.” Seeing Squiggles or staying with Gwen was a choice I hoped I didn’t have to make. Certainly, I wasn’t prepared for it this second.

“What choice is there? Fuck, Tenzie, I know hockey is important, but this is your son. Or didn’t you mean it when you said you wanted to be in his life? If you don’t, it’s fine. But if you do, it can’t be half-assed, and that means being willing to sacrifice when things go wrong,” he snapped.

“It has nothing to do with hockey and very much to do with the fact that I’m not in the headspace to make that decision at this moment. If it comes down to it, I will come, if I can. But I need to know the conditions of the moment to make that choice, and again, it has nothing to do with hockey. I’m so sorry if it’s not the answer you want. I’m not sure how much I want you involved in my personal life,” I snapped back.

While I didn’t want him to be disappointed in me, what else could I do?

“Woah, Tenzie. Where are you? What’s going on?” Jacen’s brow furrowed.

“Like I said, if I can, I will, I just can’t make any decisions this second.” I sighed.

Clark came over and draped an arm around me, then looked startled. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were on a call.”

“Squiggles’ mom is in the hospital and they're worried the babies might come early. This is Jacen, one of her mates.” I pulled Clark closer, who looked deliciously rumpled and sleepy. “This is Clark.”

Jacen gave him an appreciative look. “Hey.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. I’ll give you some privacy.” Clark squeezed my hand and left.

“Shit, while I’ve seen pictures of him on social media with you, wow. He looks like he should model underwear,” Jacen said quietly. “You’re at the hospital? Is it the one with the fun-colored hair? Wait, was she the goalie in pink that went in? Your game was amazing last night.”

He watched my games still? Huh. I thought I’d blocked him and Morgan from my socials, but people did post pictures of me.

“Yes. What about Morgan, is she okay?” I asked.

“We hope so. I’ll call you–and I hope your goalie is okay.” He ended the call.

With a sigh, I put the phone back in my pocket.

Clark embraced me. “I’m right here. If you need to be there for Squiggles, go. I’ll be okay being here with her. Coach benched me for tomorrow’s game, maybe the one after too,” he said. “If I’m not benched, I’ll just call in sick and stay with her as long as she’s in the hospital. Longer if needed. I’ll even miss the championship cup dinner.”

“I don’t want to make that choice.” Pressing my head into his shoulder, I inhaled his scent, which made me think of riding across a field as the sun rose.

Clark squeezed me tight, in an embrace I wish I could hold forever. “I hope you don’t have to, either.”