Page 24 of Rugged Hearts: Part One

I look to Jake. He’s the most logical besides myself. There is a determined glint in his eyes I haven’t seen for years. I thought his former career burnt it out of him. “She is our scent match, Micah. Take the time to process that however you need but don’t discourage us for pursuing our mate.” His focus returns to the monitors.

“Mate?!” I laugh. “She doesn’t even believe you all about this yet. She’s going to run at some point and what will happen to the pack then? Does everyone suddenly have memory problems—our pack almost broke up thanks to the last omega. And you want to roll over for this new one. Look at you two”—I gesture to Parker and Jake—“already hunting for this supposed stalker. She’s using you and you aren’t even noticing.”

Parker stands suddenly and glares at me. I’m not used to seeing him so angry. “Fuck. You.” He slams his laptop close and leaves the room. I’m not the only one left agape. Keelan is lookingat me like he wants to hit me. I think that’s more on behalf of Parker than the omega. Eli leaves, going after Parker.

“We all remember perfectly well the damage that happened last year. But unlike you, most of us have done individual therapy sessions and worked past most of those issues and are in a place to move on. I wish you did the same, but we all know your reasons and assumed you would come around. Clearly that won’t happen, at least not now. Work through this however you need like Jake said but we have decided as a pack to pursue this, going at her pace,” Liam says definitively.

I grind my teeth at his response. I did our pack therapy sessions, that was enough. How do none of them see I’m trying to protect the pack. “When was this decided? I just found out today. So, everyone knew long before me.”

“I didn’t know the others knew until today. I’ve known for a few weeks she was my scent match. I didn’t know she had already met most of the pack,” Jake says.

Liam meets my eyes. “Micah, she’s everyone’s scent match. The issues from before won’t happen. No one is going to be left out. Thea is nothing like Amber.”

I growl at the mention of her name. He at least looks away, a small acknowledgment of his mistake. Even in our group therapy sessions I never said her name.

I can see there is no convincing any of them of my point of view. Fine. I’ll be the one to help them build themselves back up after she ruins them. Someone will have to stay out of this.“You all can court her as you like. I won’t be involved. Someone has to be removed to help you all when this ends in disaster,” I say before walking out of the room, heading to my home office. Might as well get some work done tonight.

25

THEA

Bang. Bang. Bang.

I wake up with a start from where I fell asleep on the couch.

Bang. Bang.

Realizing I fell asleep before I could set any alarms, I shuffle to the front door, still feeling half asleep, I open it to Liam’s concerned face. He always looks worried or pissed off.

“What’s wrong? You’re still in the same clothes as last night. Did something happen?”

I can’t help my eye roll as I turn from him and head to the bathroom, hearing him enter and close the front door. Thankfully he doesn’t follow me. I feel like I have a hangover even though I didn’t drink. Yesterday really did drain me mentally. Going to the bathroom quickly and washing my face to help wake me up has me feeling a little better. Though my head is still pounding. When I exit the bathroom, Liam is braced against the opposite wall. “You know it’s kind of creepy when you want to listen to me pee.”

That seems to fluster him and I can’t help but smirk at it. He’s so easy. Is it normal to want to mess with your scent match so much? Wait, am I accepting this scent match madness? I frown alittle. I…guess on some level I am. I fell asleep researching last night and turns out I was wrong. Theyarereal. What I’ve noticed of their scents and how I feel around them lines up with it. So did Connor. I ended up down a rabbit hole wondering if we were scent matches without realizing it. Part of me thinks he knew. He’d sometimes call me his perfect match or things along those lines. Sophie would know if Connor was aware of this or not, but I can’t talk to her until this stalker issue is resolved. If it ever is—no, don’t go down that road.

Liam is mumbling something behind me but I’m too lost in my head to pay attention. Entering my room, I hear him follow me and turn to look at him. He stops short at my expression. “What?”

“I need to change.” It takes a second then there’s the lightbulb moment and he rushes out, muttering to himself as he closes the door behind him. He’s such a weirdo. I just want to be comfy today. My eyes linger on the drawer in my dresser that has some of Connor’s clothes in sealed bags. I wanted to open one yesterday for the anniversary and hope they still have his scent, but with everything that happened I didn’t get a chance. One of them is his favorite hoodie. Connor was so big his hoodies also fit me comfortably. I wanted to wear it so bad but then the scent would fade. I’m not ready for that. Instead, I put on a pair of black leggings and one of my own hoodies. It’s my favorite, extra baggy and goes almost to my knees. I usually like to wear it just around the house but my instincts are driving me to be wrapped up in soft fabrics. This is the closest I can get without actually being in a nest. Plus, if these guys don’t like what they see when I’m in no makeup and baggy comfy clothes then that makes the decision for me. I’m not going to try and impress them. I don’t want a relationship. Nothing I read said scent matches have to be romantic. Platonic soul mates is totally a thing, right?

I exit my room, finding Liam sitting on the couch this time instead of waiting right outside for me. He stands when he hears me approach. “Are you okay?” he asks sincerely.

I could continue messing with him but I’m not up for it. Mymask seems to be getting heavier especially around them. I blame their scents for putting me at ease. It’s cheating. I look up at him, meeting his green eyes. “Not really.”

He looks pained at my response which I don’t know how to take. His hand raises and cups my cheek so softly. My eyes close on reflex and I lean into his touch.You’re just touch-starved, it doesn’t mean anything.Neither of us says anything, just living in this moment of connection. Maybe he needs it as much as I do. When I open my eyes, he’s looking at me so intensely I can’t help but look away. His thumb moves back and forth in a soothing pattern before it drops to his side. We don’t acknowledge the moment, for which I’m grateful.

He clears his throat. “Ready?”

“Yeah.”

“After you.” He gestures me ahead of him as we leave the house.

“Thank you,” I say, hoping he knows what for.

Seeing their pack house in the light of day has me speechless. It’s huge, I mean I figured based on the inside and the number of people in their pack. There’s a wraparound porch on the first and second floors. There looks to be a third floor as well. The garages I saw last night line either side of the driveway before it curves in a circle in front of the house. As I take the few steps onto the porch I notice beautiful carvings on the posts, similar to the ones in the lodge. Keelan. Brushing my fingers against a bear figure, I can’t help the smile that forms. Such a gentle giant who can create art like this. I wish I had half his talent and passion for something. Liam clears his throat again from where he’s standing at the front door. Guess he’s anxious for us to start. Realization strikes me just before we enter and I grab his arm. He looks at me questioningly in response.

“Do they know about my heat and the complications?”

He looks conflicted. I don’t know why I’m so shocked but my hand drops quickly like he’s lava and I take a step away unknowingly. “No, they don’t. They know something is going on with your health but no specifics,” he rushes out. “I would never violate your privacy like that, even with my pack and knowing you’re our omega.”