Chapter 27: Royce - Marked By Love

Two days ago, Theo conceded to Royce copying the flash drive. He’d also pragmatically exclaimed, since they obviously survived sharing a bed during his heat, it was illogical for them to return to sleeping on the sofa and the floor, respectively.

If anyone had asked Royce mere months ago if he thought himself a ‘snuggle bug,’ he would have, albeit confused, said no. But after one night snuggled up with his omega, cuddling was Royce’s new favorite pastime. He’d never been happier than when he woke up in the middle of the night as the little spoon to Theo’s big spoon. He didn’t care if he was bigger and taller than the omega, little spoon was the superior snuggle spot in his opinion.

In the last two days, Royce had started to notice differences in the omega. Not only were the heat symptoms gone, his smile came easier. His quips with Royce fast and familiar and the slight flush of pink painting his cheeks more frequent. Theo was not only getting used to Royce’s company but seemed to be genuinely enjoying it. Royce was trying hard not to gloat. He knew if the omega just gave it a chance, he would see the fates weren’t wrong. Their paths crossed for a reason, they were paired for a reason.

It was more than fate telling him this though. The longer Royce spent with Theo, the more he craved his presence. He found himself searching for his smiles and small touches. He wanted to learn everything that made the omega smirk so he could repeat them over and over. Every smile, kiss, laugh, and blush were invaluable. Royce wanted to collect each one and keep them safe in his heart forever.

As odd as it sounded, Royce was starting to understand why. Why he’d always done what he’d done, why he’d made the decisions he made. Because every little thing had led him to the exact place and moment when he would cross paths with Theo, to catch the omega’s scent. His omega’s scent.

The bright sun of an autumn day was peering through the trees surrounding the cabin as Theodore brewed coffee for them, his phone pressed to his ear, talking to Margarette. Meanwhile, Royce clacked on the omega’s laptop. Royce watched the screen as he copied the flash drive, drumming his fingers on the table waiting for the last file.

Every damn time he looked at these files, he got pissed all over again. Each time noticing new details more terrible than the last. Who did these fuckers think they were?

“We shall remove their heads! Then place them on pikes surrounding our domicile. None will dare threaten our omega again.”

His wolf’s constant diatribe about removing heads and placing bodies on pikes was starting to get more appealing to Royce with every new horror he uncovered. Sadly, that type of brutal and morbid display would be highly frowned upon. Not to mention it would most likely thoroughly repulse Theo.

Getting Theo to like him, not vomit at his gory house decorations, was currently a top priority, so he was ignoring the furry bastard’s demands.

“One cup of black coffee.” Theo sat a mug at the table next to Royce.

Taking his seat, Theo opened the pink box of pastries and sipped at his own mug. He took his coffee with lots of oat milk and brown sugar. Apparently, he’d been drinking just tea for the past three years because his living situation was too turbulent to keep his coffee items. Theo was currently enjoying his morning coffee in excess while partaking in his peppermint tea in the evenings.

Theo also brewed the coffee with cinnamon. It was honestly some of the best coffee Royce ever had. If he weren’t already head over heels for the omega, Royce was pretty sure these simple domestic mornings would have done it. These little daily acts of companionship were sending Royce over the edge—he never wanted to part from the doctor.

What was he going to do if, after everything, Theo rejected him?

He was scared, hiding, living each day worried it would be his last. Theo couldn’t consider a life long-term while all of this was hanging over him. What if once it was all over, Theo realized he didn’t want Royce?

The notion made his hands shake and his stomach churn. He wouldn’t … would he? If Theo rejected him, he’d have to respect his wishes; he couldn’t live with himself if he did anything untoward, but walking away would destroy him.

“How’s Mutt doing?” Royce asked. Theo and Gerald had done X-rays and blood draws for her yesterday. He’d been anxiously waiting to hear the news. He’d become rather fond of her while sitting in the back room during Theo’s shifts. Her cat friend wasn’t so bad either, not that he was going to tell Theo that.

“She’s in the all clear,” he said between bites of cookie. “I can’t take her stitches out yet, and she needs at least two more weeks with her cast, but according to what Margarette read off, she’s good. We’re taking her cone off today to see how she does. Hopefully, she doesn’t chew on her cast, and we can leave it off.”

“That’s good. Does she have any homes lined up?”

“Not yet.” Theodore frowned. “Any time we get someone interested in her, they falter when they hear Big Poppa needs to go with her and vice versa. Most people here seem to already have one or two pets, the idea of taking two more is a bit much for them.”

Theo pouted into his coffee at this prospect. That was something Royce admired in him; he cared deeply for his patients. Theo had explained at some point, you needed to detach yourself, especially when they were fatal cases because if you didn’t, it would eventually destroy you. Theo also explained that was often the hardest part of the job.

Royce nodded in acknowledgement before the computer signified the last copy was finalized. He double-checked before extracting the new flash drive and the original. Theo pursed his lips and stared at them.

“When are you seeing Argus again?” he asked.

“This is them now.” Royce checked his smartphone notification. It was a message from a new number.

Royce, this is Lucy. I set up a secure chat for the security detail on the omega and communication regarding this operation. Amelia is on security in the woods by the cabin instead of on the street. I need you to come in immediately. We need to talk.

Royce scowled. They’d never used a secure server before, then again, they’d never worked on a case this big. Scott’s mate Freddy was techy and had been working with the enforcers’ office to beef up their online game. This was most likely his doing.

Royce hastily gulped his coffee. He slid his phone and the duplicate flash drive into his pocket.

“Lucy said I need to go in immediately,” he explained. “I’m not sure what’s up, but sounds urgent. She said your security detail is here, but staying off the street, so you and the clinic will be safe. But please still be careful.”

Royce added that last part because he knew Theo was more concerned about the clinic getting harmed as collateral than his own well-being.

Setting his food down, Theo pursed his lips, his olive skin flushing a subtle green. Royce could smell his fear and anxiety putrid on the air, it made his wolf whine. He loathed leaving Theo like this, but it was necessary. The sooner this was over, the sooner they could discuss the mate mark in earnest.

“I’ll be back as fast as I can, okay?” Royce reassured him. Theo nodded but didn’t resume eating. Royce kissed the top of the omega’s head. “I’ll hurry.”

“Thank you, Royce.”

Royce brushed Theo’s jaw before leaving.

“I don’t like leaving him when he isn’t bitten.”

For once, Royce agreed with his wolf completely. Though he ignored him while he was driving.

Going through the enforcers’ office, Royce checked every conference room, but he couldn’t find Lucy. Her office was empty which wasn’t unusual; she had a hard time sitting still and often bounced between conference rooms, the break room, and other people’s offices.

Voices carried from the half-closed break room door. Opening the door, the warm aroma of fresh eggs, bacon, and coffee hit him. At the same time, his stomach dropped to his boots, and his blood ran cold.

“What are you doing here?”

“I work here,” Amelia said, quirking a brow at him.

“Lucy messaged saying you were on security at the cabin,” Royce said.

“Like hell I did,” Lucy said. “Let me see this message.”

Royce unlocked his phone and handed it to Lucy along with the flash drive. He looked from Buford, Scott, to Amelia; everyone who was involved in this case and had been working security on the clinic.

Lucy’s face went smooth. “Royce, I didn’t send this to you. And I have no idea whose number this is.”

“If you’re all here, then who the hell is at the clinic watching Theo?”

His heart froze, then kicked into overdrive.

In an instant, all of them were racing out the door.