That definitely, absolutely, 100% was not there before. Did she just... did she literally hang that while we were talking? Does she keep mistletoe in her desk drawer for situations exactly like this? Is my doctor secretly a romance novelist too? What is happening right now?
I glance back at Dr. Chen and she's trying very hard to look innocent. Completely failing. Her eyes are twinkling with mischief and she's got this little smile that says she's absolutely responsible for this setup and she's not even sorry.
Okay then. My doctor is a secret matchmaker. Good to know.
I look at Grayson. He's staring at the mistletoe like it personally offended him and his entire family lineage. Like it appeared there specifically to embarrass him in front of the cute Omega he's been taking care of. Then he looks at me with wide eyes. Then back at the mistletoe hanging innocently above his head. Then back to me again. His face is turning progressively redder with each passing second—starting at his neck andcreeping up to his ears in the most adorable blush I've ever witnessed.
It's fascinating watching an Alpha—a tall, strong, capable Alpha who could probably bench press me without breaking a sweat—turn into a blushing mess over some Christmas tradition. Like the mistletoe has more power than any weapon or threat.
He looks so shy. So uncertain. Like he wants to kiss me but doesn't want to presume. Like he's waiting for permission or a sign or maybe divine intervention.
It's adorable. He's adorable. And suddenly I want nothing more than to kiss this blushing Alpha who bought me books and took care of me when I was unconscious and is currently looking at me like I hung the moon.
Screw it. Life's too short. And apparently I'm supposed to be living a little and having fun.
I go up on my tiptoes—which isn't far because he's tall and I'm definitely not—and press my lips to his.
He makes this small surprised sound against my mouth. Completely taken off guard. Frozen for half a second like his brain just blue-screened.
Then he melts into it.
His hands come up to cup my face so gently it makes my chest ache. His lips are soft and warm and taste faintly like coffee. The kiss is sweet—not demanding or aggressive, just... perfect. Like he's been thinking about this and wants to savor every second.
His scent intensifies—maple and honey and something warm that wraps around me and makes me feel safe and wanted and cherished. My hindbrain is purring so loudly I'm surprised it's not audible.
I pull back before I get carried away in a doctor's office doorway. We're both breathing a little harder. His eyes are darker than they were a minute ago.
"Thank you," I say softly, my hands still resting on his chest where I can feel his heart beating fast under my palms—thump-thump-thump like a drum. "For taking care of me last night. Theo told me this morning when I finally woke up properly—about how you stayed with me all night, monitored me every hour, made sure I was okay. About how you changed me into pajamas without being weird about it. About the ice packs and cold cloths and checking my pulse. I appreciate it. More than you probably realize. More than I know how to express."
I don't have people who take care of me like that. Kael's pack never did—they saw me as a tool, not a person who needed care. My family sure as hell didn't before I ran away from home at eighteen and never looked back. I've been on my own for so long that having someone actually care about my wellbeing—care enough to lose sleep monitoring me, care enough to make sure I was comfortable, care enough to worry—feels foreign and overwhelming and amazing all at once.
It makes my chest tight. Makes me want to cry but in a good way. Makes me want to hold onto this feeling and never let it go because what if I never find it again?
He looks like he wants to say something profound. His mouth opens. Closes. Opens again like a fish gasping for air.
"I—you're welcome. I mean, obviously I would. I wouldn't just... you were hurt and someone needed to... and I have the training so it made sense..." He's blushing harder now if that's even possible, his neck and ears going pink. Completely flustered in the most endearing way possible.
God, he's cute when he's tongue-tied.
It's charming. He's charming. And I'm in so much trouble if all three of them are this sweet because my heart can't handle it.
I wink at him—actually wink, which I never do because I always feel ridiculous when I try but today seems to be a day for doing things outside my normal comfort zone. Like kissing Alphas in doctor's offices and being bold and not overthinking every single thing.
Then I turn back to Dr. Chen, who's still standing in her office doorway watching us with the most satisfied expression I've ever seen on a medical professional. Like she's just witnessed her favorite couple ship finally getting together or something.
"Goodbye, Dr. Chen. Thank you again for everything."
"Anytime, dear. Enjoy the holidays!" She's practically beaming. "And don't worry about the bill—your pack already took care of it."
Wait, what? They paid my medical bills? When did that happen? How much was it? I didn't even see the receptionist. Did they pay while I was in with Dr. Chen? Do they know how much medical visits cost? What if it was expensive? What if?—
Nope. Not thinking about that right now. I'll freak out about financial obligations and debt and owing them later. After breakfast. When my head doesn't hurt and I can have a proper anxiety spiral.
I take Grayson's hand—which is warm and slightly callused in a way that suggests he does more with them than it seems , and fits perfectly with mine like our fingers were designed to interlock—and tug him along toward the waiting room where Nash and Theo are presumably still lurking like overprotective guard dogs.
"C'mon, Maple Alpha," I say cheerfully, squeezing his fingers and pulling him after me. "I'm starving and it's giving extra late breakfast vibes. Time for you three to finally explain whatthe actual fuck is happening here. Because I woke up to find three Alphas in my apartment, apparently I have a pack I don't remember getting, there's talk about contracts and money, and you guys paid my medical bills without asking. So yeah. Explanations. Now. Over food.”
CHAPTER 19
