Page 8 of Rugged Hearts: Part One

I can’t say she’s my scent match but I’ll be honest about everything else. “Same as you, she’s beautiful. Also quirky.” That gets his attention so I continue, “When we met again this afternoon after she signed the lease, I helped her move in everything she had packed in her car. We chatted a little during that hour or so.”

“I don’t know what it is or why but I feel like I need to get to know her. But also like something is missing.” Yeah her scent is probably the missing piece for him. I really need to ask Liam about how scent matches work.

“Then get to know her, there’s nothing wrong in that,” I say and that seems to end the conversation. Knowing Ben it’ll probably take him a while to get past this ‘I’m her boss’ thing. I understand why he says it, but I know she is our mate so I kind of want to just shake him until he gets over it. We finish the dishes in silence and then he goes off to do his own thing elsewhere in the house. Now I need to track down Liam. He likes to read after dinner and there are few spots he goes to. After checking the enclosed part of the deck and not finding him there, I check the lounge next and find him reading in the chair closest to the fireplace. His features are half lit by the fire with his black hair, giving him the typical brooding effect. Hearing me come in he looks up, his sharp green eyes boring into me. “Gonna tell me what had you so distracted tonight?”

He is too perceptive but thankfully it’s him that noticed and not Micah. “Actually yes and I need you to keep this between us. Imean it,” I say with all seriousness. I can be the one who tries to keep things light but I won’t mess around with this. Our pack has a lot of people in it, all who will react very differently to knowing we have a scent match. It has to be handled right.

Liam sits up straighter and closes his book, putting it on the side table and giving me all his attention. Speaking low to not risk anyone possibly overhearing, I murmur, “What do you know about scent matches?”

It’s comical how wide his eyes get. It’s clearly the last thing he expected me to say. But he takes me seriously and answers, “They are incredibly rare. Not much is known about them as a result. Similar to being scent compatible, anyone can have multiple scent matches. Though it’s most common that omegas have more than one. In basic terms a scent match is our soul mate on every level. What I remember from the little bit we are taught is the bond is usually deeper when completed. I think there was a mention of the scents being layered with something else…”

That feeling, ithasto be that, right? “Could it have been an emotion or feeling that was layered into the scent?”

Now he’s looking at me suspiciously. “Yes,” he says questioningly. “How do you know that?”

Taking a deep breath, I confess, “Thea, I think she’s my scent match.”

His jaw literally drops. “It’s not possible, she’s probably just scent compatible with you.”

“You said rare not extinct. We both know what a scent compatible omega smells and feels like.” He looks down. I didn’t say it to shame him or myself but it’s true. “This is different. An entirely different level, I never felt anything like it. Ben said he’s attracted to her but didn’t scent her. I think she wears descenter for some reason.”

“We don’t know if she’d be a match with the entire pack,” he says.

“I know but I have a gut feeling she will be.”

“This is a lot.” Liam slumps back into the chair. “I need to domore research on scent matches. If this is true it might be the first one that we know of in a generation.”

“Okay I know you’re going down your medical research trail but we need to keep this between us. I think we should let things happen organically. Maybe she’ll end up meeting more of the pack on her own. Keelan said at dinner he’ll be working on a project at the lodge so they may meet there. You’re the only doctor in town so she’s bound to meet you at some point.” I can’t imagine she would meet Parker anywhere since he barely leaves the property. As for Micah, there’s a chance but he should probably be the last person she meets. Jake could be a toss-up.

Liam nods but I can tell his brain is already going a mile a minute. I leave him there and decide to get some fresh air. Who knew today would be so life-changing. I really wish I didn’t have that work trip in a couple days. It’s probably for the best to have some time before I see her again and get a better grip on my excitement. Also, I need to think of a way to run into her. Maybe we can do an improvement on the house? Or I could just ask her out on a date. No, I don’t want to rush to that. She has to meet the rest of the pack. It’s all of us or none. I won’t let us be split again. I don’t think she’ll do that but it’s better to take it slow this time.

6

THEA

Spending the weekend unpacking and getting the house set up took a lot more energy than I thought, especially since I had to drive an hour back to the store for things I inevitably forgot. Then starting work Monday. Rebecca wasn’t kidding when she said this was part of their busiest time. I feel like I’ve been going nonstop all week. Which I’m grateful for, and being so tired to just eat and spend a little time reading before bed has been great. No time to think about anything too deeply and that’s how I like it.

There’s one week left in October and then Rebecca said once it’s November the workload drops pretty drastically. I looked at the bookings and she was right, because they dropped by over half the first week of November. Maybe I can spend more time cleaning the lodge. There must be some kind of deep cleaning projects that get done during slow times. I volunteered to work this weekend, which Rebecca pushed back on a bit, saying I needed my time off. Ultimately, I convinced her, but she insisted I take next Tuesday off. I would’ve said I have no problem working two weeks without a day off, but the effort to be allowed to work this weekend was a lot and she definitely wouldn’t have allowed it. It’s a good thing that she cares, I’m just not used to it. Mycorporate job looked down on any time you take off. We barely took any trips during those six years I worked there. Can’t go down that road either, that time is untouchable. Might as well be a different person, a different life.

Right now, I’m taking a short break for my lunch. I still can’t get over how nice this employee lounge is. The fire is going, making it hard to go back to work. Still, I have twenty minutes left. Just then someone walks in. Looking up I’m surprised to see it’s Ben. Based on his expression he seems equally surprised to see me. Maybe this isn’t a common time to take a break. Rebecca said I can take mine whenever I felt like it, just let the front desk know so if any guests ask for anything, whoever is working it can take care of it or take a note for when I’m back.

“Good afternoon,” he says stiltedly.

“Afternoon.”

He walks over to the fridge, reaching down to grab something, then begins walking towards me. “Do you mind if I join you?”

Yes I do. “Of course not,” I say as pleasantly as I can.

Pulling out a seat across from me at the table, he sits and begins unwrapping a sandwich. My eyes slowly appraise him. He tends to wear business casual type of outfits, usually a collared shirt with a solid sweater over. For some reason that mixed with dark hair, piercing eyes, and his glasses gives him this effortlessly cool vibe that I don’t think he’s aware of. Or I’m reading way too much into it. Force of habit, Gods forbid at my old job you wore the same outfit twice in one month. That place really was worse than high school. When my eyes move upward I find he’s already looking at me. Good going Thea, looking like a creeper to your boss. I sit up a little straighter and nod towards his sandwich. “That looks good, what is it?”

His expression is hard to read. “Just a turkey club. It was Parker’s turn for lunches and it’s always some kind of sandwich.” There’s a slight teasing tone to his voice.

Remembering the rambling alpha I met that first day, here I can’t help but smile. “Not much of a cook is he?”

Ben laughs. “No, but he gets by enough. We barely let Eli try to cook anymore.” That surprises me I wouldn’t have thought he was bad at anything. Maybe it was his attitude, he was just so upbeat. Honestly, I can’t relate to that but I do admire it in others.

“Good to know then, avoid food cooked by Eli,” I say, but why it’s not like I’ll see him much.