“This is why bonded pairs shouldn’t be kept apart,” Dr. Walsh says sternly.
His blonde hair is streaked with white, and he’s in his fifties. I appreciate that he doesn’t allow himself to feel intimidated, despite the weapons on display. Even Rosalia had a gun strapped to her inner thigh before my stepbrother removed it, which makes me even more interested in her.
Nico hasn’t told me much about her outside of the fact that her father mistreats her. The wedding dress is ostentatious, and I noticed the way he murmured in her ear every step down the aisle. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was threatening her as they walked.
“Is there anything else I can help with?” Dr. Walsh asks. “I get the feeling you’re not from Savannah. The mafia packs tend to use their own in-house doctors.”
“It’s that obvious, huh?” Nico grunts. “Thank you for coming.”
“I actually have a really uncomfortable question,” I say, wincing as I shift my weight.
I’m not very happy that I’m going to need to leave the room to shower, but I doubt my stepbrothers will hurt either of the women here. It’s not really their style.
“Go ahead.” The doctor doesn’t make any move to give me privacy, and I suppose I don’t really need it. Not from the people here.
“Is it possible for a designation to change?” I ask. “I’ve always been an alpha, but I don’t think I am anymore.”
“I see an omega in front of me. Granted, your will is strong, and you have no problems pushing back when you need something. I experienced that first hand. However, sometimes, a designation will not present until later in life, and people will confuse the late onset for something else. Since you have a more dominant personality, it was generally assumed you were an alpha. How old are you?” the doctor asks.
“I’m twenty-five,” I reply, aware of how much younger I am compared to my stepbrothers.
“Then it’s not at all surprising to me that being around a female alpha would spark your true designation. I can see how protective you are of her,” he says carefully.
Biting my lip, I nod as I gaze at both women. I don’t want to talk too much about how they both feel like mine, because I’m not sure how that’s possible.
“To add to this, biology and fate aren’t easy to predict. I have the impression you may find feelings develop you never dreamed you’d have,” Dr. Walsh continues. My eyes widen as I think about that, avoiding everyone’s gaze, though they’re watching me. “Don’t feel as if you’re locked into anything. There’s nothing wrong with exploring things.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, needing space. Does this mean I’m suddenly going to start crushing on Ciro or Dario?
Is my biology about to ruin my life? It’s almost painful as I pull away from Verona and Rosalia, and the doctor stops me with his words once more.
“Are you aware of soul matches?” he asks.
My chest is heaving as if I can’t get enough air, reminding me of the crushing sensation I had when Rosalia passed out. I felt as if I was drowning.
Coupled with the need to get to Verona at the church, my body is in overdrive as I’m faced with the weight of how offcourse my life is. I’m a nerd in the mafia, though, so fate has always felt that throwing me into the blender is a good idea.
“Yes.” I force the word out, and it reminds me of a bullet being shot. It feels wrong to admit I may have a connection to someone that’s somehow bigger than my alphas.
“I believe you may have a very strong reaction to the omega female when she wakes up,” Dr. Walsh explains. “Be careful how you speak or act around her. She’s had a very rough time recently.”
Lifting Rosalia’s wrist, his eyes drop to it. There’s a very thin line on it, and I wonder what he sees that I don’t. Nico has been climbing the walls for weeks, but I’m a terrible mate and didn’t want to hear about a spoiled mafia princess’ problems.
I think I’ve been going about this all wrong. Swallowing down a whine of regret, I hate myself for how weak I feel. I want to tell Rosalia how sorry I am that I didn’t give her a chance.
All I saw at the time was a woman who was standing between me and Nico. I didn’t want to see her as a person, because I was afraid of caring about her.
Fuck.
“She tried to kill herself,” Nico says. “It was a couple of weeks ago. I think she would have if I hadn’t forced her to answer the phone.”
I think back to the day he stalked through the house, angrily insisting that Don Accetta put his daughter on the phone. Now I understand why he’s been a ball of nerves about Rosalia. The health checks he insisted on make so much sense now.
“You are aware I know who this is, correct?” Dr. Walsh asks, his voice breaking for a moment before his eyes slide closed. “I am the personal doctor for the Accetta family. I have been treating her since she was a child.”
“You could have led with that,” I breathe.
“This town is way too small for us,” Ciro grumbles. “Are you going to tell her father?”
