“Oh,” she said, brow furrowing. “Sorry, I just assumed.”
“I mean, I can’t have mates.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Well, the whole—” I waved my hand in front of me as if that would explain everything. Lilah cocked her head, telling me she wasn’t following. I took a breath. “I don’t have a scent, and my omega’s all broken and whatever.” I kept my tone light, as if I wasn’t really bothered.
“Westin,” Lilah said gently. “You’re not broken. You have a hormonal imbalance, which can make you feel distant from your omega. But she’s still there. And while scent is definitely a part of the mate bond, it’s not all of it. Besides, your scent very well might come back.”
I shrugged. “Seems kind of unlikely. It disappeared years ago.”
Lilah looked like she was going to say something else when the door opened and Anne and Rose walked in.
“Oh my gosh, that was just heavenly,” Anne said, taking the seat next to me and patting my hand. “How were your massages?”
My shoulders were tense again and I reached up to rub my neck. I’d had a lot less tumor pain since chemo ended, which my guys kept insisting was a hopeful sign. “So good,” I said, my smile feeling shaky.
Anne looked at me carefully. “We’ve got facials next and then mani-pedis. But if you’re not feeling up to it, honey, we don’t have to stay…”
“No, I’m feeling fine,” I said, grabbing her hand. “This has been amazing so far.”
“Here, drink some fruit water,” Rose said, handing me a glass with a wink. She’d warned me earlier that her mom could get overbearing, but I craved Anne’s attention.
“What doyou think about this for my nails?” Anne held up a warm yellow color. Lilah and Rose decided to add a cupping treatment, so we were alone at the moment.
“You can totally pull that off.” I could see where Henry got his sweetness—Anne was all warmth.
“What did you choose?”
“I think I’m just going with French tips. I don’t know, is that boring?” I asked, suddenly desperate for her approval. I’d never gotten my nails done before and was overwhelmed by the amount of options.
“Oh no, French tips are a classic for a reason,” she said reassuringly.
The woman working on my nails started by giving me a leg massage and I closed my eyes, officially in heaven.
My fingernails and toenails turned out beautifully, and Anne’s did, too. Her nail stylist had added a little sun and clouds to her fingernails.
“They’re so cute,” I said as we headed back to the waiting room.
“I think so, too,” she said, beaming.
We settled back in our chairs, and Anne handed me another glass of fruity water. “How are you doing with everything?”
Something about the gentle way she looked at me, how sweet she had been during this past hellish month, made me want to be honest. “I’m feeling anxious waiting for the follow-up MRI.”
“Waiting is so hard,” she responded immediately. “I hated it as a doctor, and it’s so much worse when you’re a patient.” She hesitated before continuing. “I know it doesn’t help for me to say it, but I really think the treatment worked.”
“Thanks.” For some reason, it did feel better to hear her say it. I’d allowed myself so little hope that it was nice to know she was hopeful for me.
“I feel so lucky that Henry met you.”
A lump rose in my throat. “Really?”
She furrowed her brow. “Of course, honey. You’re so good for him, and I always wanted more kids. I have to admit I didn’t really understand the whole pack thing at first, but now I have a new daughter and three new sons.”
I blinked to keep myself from crying. “That’s so nice,” I choked out. “I don’t have a mom so…” I trailed off, not able to finish my sentence without bursting out in tears. Anne seemed to understand because she reached over and held my arm, giving it a squeeze.
“I would be so honored to be your mom,” she said with a sniff. She grabbed her purse and reached in for a tissue to dabher eyes. “I hope it’s not overstepping,” she said. “But I got you something.”
