Only he could manage to make such an un-Omega-like declaration sound so perfectly normal.
"I do," I agreed with a soft smile. "And I love all of you for coming, but I'm still confused. Is this an intervention?"
This time they traded confused looks and the answers were all negative.
"Trev," Colby said quietly, "we really didn't plan this. It's possible that you're the one who did. You sure you didn't reach out to us subconsciously?"
I reached for a handful of cookies as I pondered that thought. These were all beings that were intimately intertwined in my life in one way or another. My friends began to chatter amongst themselves as I tried to recall anything that would have called them to me.
"More company," Colby announced when he picked up the chattering of an engine outside.
Thane was still standing by the window, and he gave an amused laugh. "When did Vlad get a scooter?"
I walked over to the window and grinned at the sight greeting me. Despite the chill in the air, Vlad wore one of his customary nearly-transparent caftans. The flowing white fabric – chiffon, if I knew my friend - was shot through with shiny gold embroidery of planets, moons, and constellations of stars. The skirt was bunched up under his thighs, revealing heavy black leather motorcycle boots and he was balancing a casserole dish on his ample belly with one hand. The other was steering the little yellow scooter that was valiantly puttering under his weight.
"I'm here! Trev, I'm here!" He called loudly from outside as he struggled to untangle his skirt and dismount without dropping his dish. "Don't start without me!"
Colby shook his head good-naturedly and headed for the door. I watched as he took the casserole dish in one arm and offered our friend the other, allowing him to regain his balance as he planted his booted feet on the ground before he rushed in through the open door,
"Trevor!" Vlad grabbed me and pulled me to him, wrapping his big arms around my waist and snuggling me against his soft body. I sighed and hugged him back. I loved all my friends, but Vlad really did give the best hugs. "How are you holding up?"
"What do you mean?" I dropped back to the couch leaving room on either side of me for Vlad and Colby.
"Oh," he looked away guiltily. "I shouldn't have said.." He gave me a fake smile and gestured to the dish Colby had set on the table. "I brought cobbler!"
"Vlad?" I waited until he looked at me. "None of us know why we're here." I laughed. "Except me, of course. What do you know?"
Vlad sighed deeply. "I get feelings sometimes, is all," he said dismissively. "Who wants cobbler?"
"Vlad.."
"Oh, don't say my name like that," he clucked sadly. He met my eyes and sighed again. "You told us about it in a dream," he finally said quietly. "About the problem with Clint and such." His arms fluttered a bit. "You said you needed our help to figure it out." He looked around in confusion. "Nobody else remembers?"
"No," Thane responded, scratching his chin. "I felt like Trevor needed me, but I didn't know why."
The others murmured their agreement.
"Vlad's telepathy works differently than ours, remember?" Colby said. "He sees pictures where we hear words." He gave the nervous turkey shifter a reassuring smile. "That's why he could communicate with Leia when we couldn't."
"Right." I wondered for a minute how much Vlad knew, then became distracted when the Omegas began to question what he'd meant about my problem.
I ignored the queries as I considered Vlad's words. Then, I looked at the beings that I had apparently subconsciously summoned to counsel me. I'd been involved in each of their relationships with their Alpha, so, in an extraordinary way, it stood to reason that I had called to them.
I passed around the water and waited as Vlad bustled about the kitchen, dishing a delicious smelling cobbler and serving it. I took a large bite, letting the sweet berry filling burst on my tongue, and then, with a deep breath, I started at the beginning.
Chapter Twenty
Trevor
"So, the story pretty much ends where I agreed with Clint that maybe we don't belong together, after all." I tried for as drama-free of an ending as possible and then looked around the room. Six Omegas and a turkey shifter wore expressions of confused surprise. Colby just looked angry. I winced a bit at his scowl. I'd forgotten that he didn't know what happened after we came home.
"Trevor?" Vlad was the first to speak. As usual, his voice was hesitant, as if he wasn't sure it was his place. I tried to smile encouragingly, and he managed a small smile in response. "I haven't known you very long, but something you said doesn't make sense." He took a deep breath. "You said that you felt like Clint had settled on you because you were convenient. Do you remember back when I first arrived? Before I met Jackal?"
"Of course."
"I told you that I thought it was time for me to accept that there wasn't someone out there for me, right?"
I nodded and Vlad continued. "Do you remember telling me that you didn't believe that for a minute?" I nodded again, and his smile widened. "You were right, obviously, but I think maybe you should look back at the day Clint brought you home? I've heard the story, and as I remember it, didn't he call you his soul mate?"
