I groan and crawl over to him, straddling his legs and pressing my face against the crook of his shoulder. His large hand rubs up and down my back in a soothing motion, and it’s like no other comfort I’ve felt before. I’m usually the one doing the comforting. This feels nicer than it should, I should probably stop. But I don’t want to, this is the most centered I’ve felt in weeks.
“What are we going to do?” I say against his neck.
“The plan is still the same,” he says gruffly.
“What plan?”
“Where I make the two of you mine,” he says confidently.
“It won’t bother you that Owen and I are scent matches and the two of you aren’t?” He shakes his head and pulls me closer.
“No. I knew we were going to be a pack before you two, and now this just solidifies it.” God, Alexi’s confidence is something I wish I could bottle up and throw in a bathtub and soak it all up. How can he be so sure? So steady?
“He said he didn’t want me.”
“He just got taken away to the hospital, outed to you as an Omega. He’s probably afraid he’s going to lose everything he’s worked for.”
“And will he?”
“Not if I can help it. I think we might need to blackmail our Omega though.”
I pop up from leaning against his chest and scan his face. “What do you mean?”
“We need to keep him close. His fucking scent match is a doctor, for fuck’s sake. If he wants to get through the season, then he needs to take better care of himself. Figure out ways to hide his scent, control his hormones, and stay in check. It’s clear that he’s been suffering.”
“I don’t know enough about suppressants and what he’s taking.”
“Then do the research.”
I swallow and nod my head. “Okay, but how do we get him to listen, to want to be around me?”
His hand glides up to the nape of my neck, and he squeezes lightly. “He wants to be around you, Piper. You can’t take what he said back there to heart, okay?” I look away, and he tilts my head back to him. “You want him?” I nod my head. “You want me?” he asks, his tone gentle and vulnerable. I lick my lips and drag my hands up to his chest.
“Yes, I want you both.”
He smiles, and his hands drag back down my back. “Then let’s go tell our Omega how this is going to work.”
“I have to check on a patient first,” I say, not knowing exactly how I can do that before seeing Owen. But I can’t keep the patient waiting. Alexi gives me a nod and we both get off the floor. It’s time to pull myself together.
* * *
“Like fuck I’m leaving him here alone with you all. Mom, you lied to me until the day of the game. This asshole knew he was an Omega and let him get hurt. The doctor can stay,” Owen’s brother says as we stand in Owen’s hospital room.
Lori rolls her eyes. “I’m not sure what I did in a past life to have such dramatic sons. It was one thing to get into a god damn fight in the middle of a game, like I didn’t raise you with a lick of fucking common sense. You two can sort out your shit later. Owen, do you want to speak with them?” Lori gives me a soft look and pushes her son's blond hair away from his face.
“Yeah. Max, you can go,” Owen says, and I watch his brother's face fall. I know exactly how it feels being dismissed by Owen. Lori kisses her son's head and goes to leave the room. She grabs my arm and leans into me so only I can hear.
“Take care of him for me. I can’t lose him.” I give her a nod, and she sighs as both her and Max leave the room.
Owen looks away from us, and Alexi rolls his eyes.
“Here’s how things are going to go,” Alexi says, and Owen groans.
“I need to get some rest.”
“After we talk,” Alexi says, and Owen just looks out the window. “You’re going to move in with us. Piper is going to help you monitor your medication better so nothing like this happens again. And I’m going to be here to help keep you centered and calm. We both want to take care of you.”
Owen scoffs. “You’re not even my scent match.”
