55. Hazel

HAZEL

I didn't like the alpha doctor who was telling me I was not allowed to go home yet.

"Why not?" I was being rude and did not care. "I want to fuck and bond the rest of my pack if that's ok with you."

Remy and Aleks choked visibly and Ben let out a huge barking laugh.

"She's really back. I've never been happier," he sighed. He turned to Dr. Baird. "You have no chance. If you thought I was stubborn…well, I would wish you the best but I don't."

Dr. Baird massaged his temple. "It's protocol here at Eden, particularly after an extended feral episode. I know you feel like yourself again but it's good to check your hormone levels so we know for sure."

"I'm sorry." I really did mean it. Omega healthcare wasn't the biggest priority for government funding and I probably shouldn't antagonise the doctors at one of the only hospitals in the country that were dedicated to us.

Even if he was being a giant, protocol-loving thorn in my side.

At least Dr. Marshall was with him. "Just a few tests and we'll get you out of here," she pacified me. "We're ecstatic at how well this has gone for you. It will really change how we deal with cases moving forward, especially when an omega has such a devoted pack like yours."

Well, now I felt like a right ass.

While we waited for the results to come back, I asked Ben if he could take everything from the temporary nest back home and wash it to get rid of the lingering hospital scents clinging to it.

"I have lots of ideas to make it smell like us again." I waggled my eyebrows suggestively to sweeten the pot.

Ben didn't seem amenable to the bait I was offering. "You don't have to say that to convince me to do things for you." He kissed my forehead. "I would do anything you asked."

I was still not used to how jelly-like he made me now that I wasn't in denial. "Goodness, that's a lot of power to give me," I said, fanning myself.

"You've always had it," he said with a wink. He eventually left with the stuffed garbage bags hoisted over his shoulder and I thought he looked like a sexy laundry Santa.

Being in love was so…disgusting.

With the nest deconstructed I was back on the hospital bed. Remy lounged on the pockmarked leather chair. I had no idea how his back wasn't screaming in pain from the weird contorted position but he insisted he was perfectly comfortable. Aleks was perched on my bed holding my hand. Of all my pack, he was the one who needed to be constantly touching me.

"Were you able to visit your grandma?" I asked. I hoped that he didn't neglect his regular visits because of me.

"I wasn't going to but the guys told me they could hold down the fort." He coughed self-consciously. "I'm…glad they did because the nurses said she had a rough morning so seeing me definitely helped that day."

I pressed my lips to the back of his hand. "Next time you go I'd love to come meet her."

Aleks rubbed the nape of his neck with his free hand. "She's not always herself."

"Doesn't matter," I said immediately. "All the more reason for me to be there for you." I glanced at the pretzel-ed Remy. "You too. If you need moral support visiting your family, let me know. And I'd love to meet your sister as well…if you'd like that."

They shared a long look. So long that I was starting to feel cross.

"What?" I asked churlishly.

Aleks closed his eyes like he was lost in prayer. "I…don't think we can handle all-in Hazel."

Remy unfolded himself with a groan. "I know, my dick is so hard."

"Commitment makes your dick hard?" I asked, my eyes innocently wide.

He flopped himself down across my bed, laying himself out like a naked centrefold. "You can check if you don't believe me," he offered, with a flourish of his hand around his nether regions.

I giggled. "Maybe later, Remy." He winked and set off a minor implosion of butterflies in my stomach.

"Wow, you really have it bad, don't you?" Aleks observed.

"Shush, you."

Ben eventually returned but he didn't come alone, bringing a couple of visitors with him. A screaming, blonde-haired blur launched itself at me.

"Am I allowed to hug you?"

It was a futile question as Juno was almost completely horizontal on my bed from how enthusiastically she had thrown herself into greeting me.

I squeezed her back. "Yes. I demand it, actually."

Isaac had accompanied her. He stood with Remy and Aleks, all three of them watching us with lost-looking expressions. Ben, however, seemed extremely conflicted over my joy (good) and his sister's joy (annoying).

"How are you feeling?" Juno patted her clothes back into place. She did a double take at the bondmark on my neck. "Wait a minute. Ben said there might be a surprise." Her eyes grew to the size of dinner plates.

She looked at Ben. Back at me. Ben. Me.

I was once again suffocated by her python-like hug and her hair in my face.

"If you break up I want you to have custody of me," Juno said, just loud enough for Ben to hear as well.

Ben threw his hands up. "Literally just standing here," he said, offended.

"I'm kidding, god, you take everything so seriously," Juno huffed, sitting back up. She turned so only I could see her face. I'm not kidding, she mouthed. I just about popped a vein trying to keep my expression straight.

"Anyhoo, Isaac has updates for you all." Juno hopped off the bed and motioned to Isaac. I hid a smile, knowing exactly who led their pack.

"Hi Hazel, I'm glad you're back." Isaac cast a glance at his omega. "Juno was very worried."

"I don't plan on doing it ever again, if that helps," I told him blandly.

The corners of his eyes crinkled. "It does." His face grew serious. "It's only been a few days but you should know that the investigation into your case is being pursued. From what I understand, they managed to get their people on the scene to collect evidence before your mother and Damien could get rid of it all." Isaac frowned and scratched his jaw. "They also mentioned something about a mountain of physical evidence as to Hazel being there?"

My cheeks went beet red. I tried to cover it with my hands and the heat radiated through my fingers.

"Hazel," Ben said deliberately. "Is there something you want to tell us?"

"I, um…" How to phrase this without sounding like a lunatic? "...thought I was being murdered so I left my hair and fingerprints…and saliva and footprints on things."

Ben and Remy stared at me agape, and I could sense Ben's distress at where my mind had gone when I was taken.

Aleks' face however, split into a wide grin. "That's my girl."

Isaac looked like he wasn't sure what to do with this information. He cleared his throat and continued. "The lead investigator will need a statement from all of you. I couldn't work around that. I hope I wasn't being presumptuous but I said you would be available to talk in an hour and she's happy to come here. I figured you'd want to get it out of the way before…" His eyes swung around surveying all of us before landing on a blank bit of wall above all our heads. "...you know."

All the fucking and bonding.

I turned to Juno. "He's my favourite."

She laughed, hugging his arm and looking up at him, completely besotted. "He's pretty perfect, isn't he?"

Isaac's ears went an interesting shade of crimson.

Ben stepped in. "We can't thank you enough for your help. I can take over the police dealings from here." The two primes shook hands.

"You will still need a lawyer in light of the…" Isaac gestured at his nose vaguely. "I can recommend one if you need."

"Might take you up on that, Isaac."

My eyes bore suspiciously into Ben's forehead. "Excuse me?" I mimicked Isaac's gesture on my own face.

Remy bit down on his lip to try and contain his grin. "Ben got a bit mad about what happened to you."

"Please tell me you didn't jeopardise your career in any way," I said, aghast.

Ben's calm was eerie. "I was defending my omega. And my packmate. He's lucky all I did was break his nose."

It was infuriating how hot I found that.

Don't let it show on your face and encourage more violence in your honour in the future.

Except now we were bonded and there was no such thing as secret emotions, judging by Ben's own triumphant satisfaction.

"Ben did also ask for…how did you word it?" Isaac asked.

"Nuclear revenge in the form of complete social ostracisation," Ben said without skipping a beat.

Hot. Hot hot hot hot.

"But, I didn't want to jeopardise the investigation in any way. Afterwards though? I'm sure we can work something out."

"Is having her arrested in the middle of Sunday sermon going too far?" I tapped my chin thoughtfully. "And I know it's greedy but I would love for someone to record the whole thing," I added.

Ben kissed me. "I probably shouldn't encourage it. But petty, vengeful Hazel might be my favourite Hazel yet."