There’s a knock on the door, and I grin. Emmett is my comfort. I feel like Emmett is the one that makes me feel like I can truly express myself and there would be no judgment. He likes me for me, not me as an Omega, but just Kelsey. Out of everyone I’m dating, I know that he isn’t going anywhere, and maybe I lean on that, but I can’t find myself to care. It’s my lifeline, Emmett is the life raft pulling me back into who I used to be.
“Hey, sugar,” he says, his smile almost as wide as mine as I jump into his arms, placing kisses all over his perfectly handsome face. “You ready to go?”
“Sure thing!” I say as I slide on my sandals and grab my purse.
“I have some news,” he says as I shut the door behind me and head toward his car.
I already know what it’s about. I got my email results today, but I didn’t want to push him if he didn’t want to talk about it.
“I have a cousin,” he says with a smile on his face. “I messaged her as soon as I got the notification. I probably should have taken some time to think about it before I did. But I couldn’t help it. She messaged me back!” he says. My heart is so full for him in this moment. His excitement is contagious and I’m so happy that he has this.
“Emmett, that’s amazing. What did she say?”
“She lives out in Boston with her pack, but she grew up in Georgia, not even thirty miles away from me. I’m kinda disappointed that it took me this long to find her. Besides her pack, she doesn’t have much family either. My bio dad and her mom were brother and sister.”
“That’s wonderful Emmett, Boston isn’t that far.”
“No, it’s not. She said that they have some travel plans coming up over the next couple of months and she will let me know when we can meet up.”
I give him an enormous hug and his arms embrace me tightly as he holds me to his chest. “I’m not alone,” he whispers.
I pull back, still in his arms, and take in his beautiful face. The fact that he could ever feel alone with the amount of joy he brings into my life and others breaks my heart.
“Even if you didn’t find anyone through the ancestry site, you wouldn’t be alone, Emmett. You will always have me and Shyla,” I tell him. He bites his lip and nods. I know what he wants to say, he has us now, but there’s no bond mark on his neck or mine. I give him a small smile and decide to end this conversation as we both get in the car and head to the place I’ve been stressing about.
I haven’t told anyone else besides Emmett about my appointment today. I wasn’t sure how they would react. I plan on telling them all; I mean, I have to in order to have them fill out paperwork. But like Robin said, this is a contingency plan. The timing of my heat is kind of up in the air with all the ways I’ve fucked up in taking care of myself. I’m trying not to dwell on the feelings anymore. I’m doing everything I can now to help, medication, therapy and I’ve found the people that make me happy.
Emmett is quiet on the ride to the office complex. I wonder if he’s thinking about his newly found cousin or if he’s frustrated with the lack of commitment on Shyla or my end. I know they decided to wait till they found all the members of their pack, similar to Dom and Cameron. But not having a claim on each other can still be disheartening.
Emmett parks in the underground garage, and we take the elevator to the lobby.
“Welcome to Heat Haven. My name is Keith. How can I help you?”
“Kelsey Smith, I have an appointment at noon today.”
He types on his keyboard and finds my reservation. “Wonderful, you will need to drop off your belongings, including all cellphones in our safety lockers right here on the left.” He points to the wooden panel with codes. “And then you can go up to the second floor. Gloria will be waiting for you there.”
“Thank you,” Emmett and I both tell him at the same time. We put all of our belongings in the same locker. Emmett picks the code, and he places his hand in mine as we head to the elevator to go up to the next level.
“Are you nervous?” he asks me.
“A little more so about asking everyone or telling them about my plan.”
“I know things have been a little shaky. I think Shyla and Dom just need more time to get to know each other.”
“Nothing better than the team building activity of topping a writhing Omega in heat,” I reply sarcastically, and Emmett laughs.
“I mean, they would really come together, you know?” We both laugh as the elevator doors open and we head to the second floor. We’re immediately greeted by Gloria. She’s probably in her mid-fifties, deep dark skin, braids tied up in a tight knot over her head. A tight pink silk blouse hugs her figure and it’s complemented with black dress pants and flats. Her smile is white and wide as she greets us.
“Miss Smith,” she says and then looks at Emmett.
“Hampton,” he replies.
“Welcome, we’re so pleased to see you. Will the rest of your trial pack be joining you, Miss Smith?”
“Not today, I uh, wanted there to be less pressure.”
“Of course.” She beams. “Finding the right nest is a big task. Since you already have your partners selected, you really skip the most time-consuming part of the process and go right to the fun. Today you will select your nest, fill out some paperwork, and take some home for the other members of your trial pack to fill out.”