Page 1 of Bonded By Tea and Tarot

Chapter One

Siobhan

“It’s not stalking, right?” I swipe a stray lock of hair from my sweaty forehead and sweep my gaze over the omegas surrounding me. The sun is blistering hot, typical for Michigan at the end of September, and I revel in the feeling of connecting with Mother Earth. I plunge my bare hands into the soil and carefully pick the last of the ripened veggies from their vines while grass strands crease the skin of my knees.

My past-present-future card pull this morning told me I’ve come a long way and that it’s time to take a chance, to let myself dream and to follow those dreams. So here I am, finally voicing what I’ve thought about for months.

“I mean…” Claire, our honorary omega and the only beta of the group trails off and bites her lip, then, when I glare at her, rushes to continue. “Right! Going to his place of work and enrolling in his class specifically so you can check him out uninterrupted for an hour each week because you’re infatuated with the way his body moves? Definitely not stalking.”

“Hey!” I laugh and swat the back of my hand against her arm, trying not to sound too defensive when I reply. “How else am I supposed to get to know him? Besides, I do want to learn tai chi.”

“I think it’s sweet,” Sage pipes up, glancing at us quickly before ducking her head back down and tugging on a weed. She’s been joining us in the garden most Sundays now, and more often than not her adorable baby sheep, Daisy, hangs out with us, too. I sneak another cheerio from my pocket and the lamb’s soft lips nibble at my fingers as she takes it from me.

“You think so?” I say, curious if she means it.

Sage nods, and the shifting light reveals the bond marks on her neck. Longing and unease shoot through me when I see them. Her pack bonded only a few weeks ago, and they seem blissfully happy. I both want what she has and worry what it might mean for my lifestyle. Most alphas want to provide for their omegas, but I have all the material things I could want in life thanks to a generous inheritance and the hard work I’ve put into my career.

Would a pack accept an omega who didn’t need to be provided for? I’m not seeking safety and stability like Sage, nor am I quiet and sweet while living on a teacher’s salary like Wren. They’re perfect omegas, exactly what an alpha or pack of alphas is looking for, while I’m… not. Loud, independent, nosy. That’s me, and not even my family wants that.

“I’m just messing with you,” Claire interrupts my thoughts before they turn too self-deprecating. “I think it’s a great idea. You’re showing interest in something he obviously loves, and it’s a good opportunity to spend time together in a low stakes kind of way.”

“I’m surprised it’s taken you this long to consider it,” Bea says, shooting me one of their signature easy-going smiles.

I huff. Normally their ribbing doesn’t bother me, but I’m feeling extra sensitive about this. “Okay then,” I say, dropping a handful of grape tomatoes into Wren’s basket. “The adult class starts this Monday at three-thirty. Who’s signing up with me?”

I’m met with wide eyes, and my heart drops. Are they really going to make me do this alone?

“I would, but you know I can’t do Mondays,” Claire says with an apologetic grimace. “Otherwise I’d totally join you.”

“I can’t either,” Bea says. “Library doesn’t close until six, there’s no way I can get out that early every week.”

“Um,” Sage says. She’s absently fiddling with the hem of her shirt. “I think I could?”

I bite my lip, trying not to let my hope bloom yet, but the smile sneaks out anyways. I’m a lot, and with Sage being the newest to the group, I got the impression that I tend to be too much for her. “Yeah?”

She nods, straightening when she sees my grin. “Yeah, I’ll let Vee or Brooks know so they can give me a ride into town.”

“That would be amazing, thanks Sage,” I say. Her cheeks flush and she twists her lips, hiding a smile as she gets back to pulling weeds.

“I suppose I can as well,” Wren says, dusting off her gardening gloves that somehow don’t seem to have any dirt on them. In fact, I don’t see any dirt on her anywhere. I have no idea how she manages it every time, because she definitely works harder than the rest of us on our little community garden plot.

“You think you can get there in time after school?” I hadn’t hoped for Wren, but if she can come too that would be double the woman-power lending me strength.

“Only because the community center is walking distance,” she says. She flips her dark brown braid over her shoulder and shrugs at me with a perfect smile. “I could probably use the exercise anyways. Plus, I’m pretty sure tai chi is great for relaxation and grounding.”

“I’m sure you can use more of that after dealing with fourth graders all day,” I laugh.

“It’s not that bad,” she says, because she’s an absolute doll and wouldn’t so much as shoo away a mosquito. Then her smile turns rueful. “But yeah, some extra self care is probably warranted.”

“I’m so bummed I can’t join you! I would kill to see Aury’s face when you three show up tomorrow.” Claire pretends to pout and Bea chuckles.

Meanwhile, I’m already hitting the ‘confirm registration’ button to sign the three of us up. I can only hope he’s surprised in a good way.

I’m trying to put the idea of seeing Aury in all his graceful glory out of my mind, but the water rushing over my skin while I lather my hair has me imagining all kinds of naughty things, and my earthy perfume swells into the air around me. I might look the picture of confidence, but it’s mostly a facade. I’ve dreamed about taking the first step toward talking to him, especially after his athletic display at Sage’s a few months ago, but this is the first time I actually feel brave enough to make a move. I wonder what he wears when teaching his classes…

I have got to get my head in the game. Every Sunday afternoon I do a live stream, and it always increases my reach. I can’t risk being off my game today.

I force Aury and his kind smile and quiet competence from my head as I towel off and smooth lotion down my legs. My focus turns to my body and connecting with the earth, the Moon Goddess, the ancestors, Mother Nature, and the energy that connects us all. I set up a blanket and pillows under the willow tree in my backyard, then grab my water bottle—covered in stickers, of course—as well as the iced matcha I snagged on my way home from the community garden. My willow tree isn’t quite turning yellow yet, but I can tell it will be soon, maybe even in the next couple weeks. The small creek that runs along the edge of my property burbles happily behind me, on the other side of the willow. I pop my phone on the tripod and turn on the ring light, then take in the image on the screen, humming under my breath.