Breeding Clinic (Heatverse)

Chapter 18

Chapter Eighteen

MATTHEW

The mailbox squeals as I open its metal lid and find a thick packet of letters inside. The return label is my cousin’s office address. It’s here. Our copy of the papers from the lawyers. We signed them yesterday, and they overnighted us copies for our records.

Liam’s gonna lose his mind. He’s been planning this night for weeks, before Kat dropped the house bomb on us and sped up his timeline.

I slip past the crowd and stop short. The pub is way too packed for a weekday when there’s no game on. Gabriel spots me from his place at the bar where he and Kat are sitting while Liam covers someone’s absence.

He works too hard. Does too much. He can afford to hire more staff, but to be honest, I think he likes it. Likes feeling needed. As if O’Donnell’s wouldn’t feel as homey and friendly without an O’Donnell behind the bar. Maybe he’s right. I don’t understand much about family legacies. I threw a wrench in my parent’s plans when I decided not to go to law school. But I like my job at the bank. The hours are good. I get weekends and holidays off. It’s a solid career .

“Hey. How was work?” Kat asks me.

“Same as always,” I answer.

“I have to pee again. Save my seat.” Kat pulls herself off her bar stool and walks to the bathroom. I watch her go. She waddles now. It’s cute.

“Want a beer?” Gabriel asks, signaling to the bartender for service.

“Yeah.” I take Kat’s seat to keep it warm for her and to prevent someone else from snagging it. “What’s going on? Why’s it so crowded?”

“Word leaked that some famous athlete is in town,” Gabriel says, looking around. “I guess he comes here from time to time. I think everyone’s hoping to catch a glimpse.”

“I got this. Go serve those guys,” Liam says to his bartender. “Hey. I’ve got a new coffee ale in. Want to try it?”

“Sure.” I watch the pub while Liam pulls a beer for me and sets it down.

The crowd thickens, voices rising as they congregate around someone who just arrived. The gossip makes its way back to us. It’s the athlete. Napkins get thrust at him for signing, and a few people ask for selfies. I watch it all in amusement, wondering if we’re going to need to put someone on the door to fight overcrowding and keep the fire marshall happy.

Eventually the athlete makes his way over to the bar, pausing to chat with people. I recognize him vaguely, but can’t place his name. I’ve never been as into sports as Liam and Gabriel are.

“Oh, shit,” Gabriel says. “That’s Fischer. He’s a football star. His team made it to the World Cup last year.”

After a bit of schmoozing, the athlete finally makes his way to the bar. Someone gives up their seat for him in exchange for an autograph on their damp coaster.

“Hey, man. Can I get your…” His eyes scan the weekly beer me nu chalk painted on a blackboard. “I’ll try your chocolate stout.”

“Sure.” Liam pours the athlete’s beer into a snifter. “Here you are. Need a menu?”

“Nah. I’m having dinner with the family in a bit. Wanted to pop in for a pint and cool off. It’s hot out there. I used to come here whenever I was visiting my family on break from college. It sure hasn’t changed, huh? Still looks the same as it used to.”

“Yeah,” Liam says, cleaning glasses in the sink under the bar. “Nothing’s changed except the owner, but it's family-owned.”

“I like that,” the athlete says, glancing around at the decor above the bar. Vintage framed photos and memorabilia decorate the original wooden bar above the racks of barely used liquor bottles. “I’d rather come to places like this than corporate chains, you know?”

“That line was crazy long,” Kat says, fighting her way through the crowd.

The athlete twists in his seat. “Kit Kat?”

Kat freezes like a deer in the headlights. “What are you doing here?”

My shoulders stiffen as he drags his eyes over her from head to toe and back up again. His gaze lingers over her belly the most.

“You’re pregnant,” he says.

Her hand lands on the top of her stomach. “Yeah. I am. Why are you here , Josh?”

“It’s almost September first,” he says. “I’m only in town for a few days.”

She shakes her head and blinks, as if clearing her thoughts. “Right. Your mom’s birthday.”

Oh no . Josh. I put the pieces together quickly. Liam does too. He squares up, his muscles bunching. Gabriel appears pained. As if the shock of learning that Kat’s shitty ex is one of his favorite athletes has rocked his world in a way he’ll never recover from.

“You look… good,” Josh says, cradling his stout in his palm. “I didn’t realize you got mated again.”

Kat gives him a questioning glance. “Why would you?”

Josh ignores her tone and frostiness and presses on. “When are you due?”

A few of the patrons watch, interested, while Liam bristles. It’s the final straw. I’m surprised he’s held it together this long. He throws the wooden divider that closes the bar off from the patrons up and goes to Kat’s side, pulling her against his broad chest.

He gives Josh a smile with too much teeth to be completely friendly. “You’ve met my omega?”

“You’re with the bartender?” Josh asks, looking back at Kat for confirmation.

Liam sticks his hand out, using the movement to angle Kat slightly behind him. “Liam O’Donnell. I’m the owner.”

Unperturbed, Josh shakes his hand. Their knuckles blanch white as they squeeze each other as hard as they can to see who gives in first. It drags on until it’s supremely awkward. I roll my eyes at their macho alpha pissing match.

“Joseph Fischer,” Josh says. “I play for the?—”

“Nice to finally put a face to a name,” Liam says, interrupting him. He pumps their handshake.

“Same.”

“Thought you didn’t know she found her new pack?” Liam asks, sniping at him.

“This is the rest of my pack,” Kat says, interrupting them before someone can break a hand. She pinches Liam’s side through his shirt, then hides the gesture with a few quick pats to his abs .

“Matthew,” I say, waving awkwardly.

“And I’m Gabriel,” Gabriel says. His normally faint accent is thick like it gets right after he spends a lot of time in Brazil with his family. “I saw your World Cup Qualifier game.” He clicks his tongue against his teeth. “That was a nasty kick you took.”

Oh, holy shit. I stare at Gabriel like I’ve never met the man before. It’s such a subtle, petty insult. He’s bringing up Josh’s personal worst game, the one that had him rolling on the ground, crying dramatically. His team won despite his theatrics, but still. It was embarrassing. I don’t get why soccer players sometimes pretend that minor injuries are so terrible.

Josh’s jaw ticks. “Thank you. I’m fine now, and it’s always nice to meet my fans. Do you guys want me to sign anything? I don’t mind.”

My eyes widen at his complete inability to read the room. I choke on my sip of beer and end up having a coughing fit. Gabriel squeezes my thigh under the bar counter. As if I’m choking on purpose.

Kat’s phone rings, and she pulls it out of her pocket. “That’s Jen. I have to go. I promised I’d meet up with her and grab dinner. We haven’t had a girls’ night out in forever.” She goes up on her tiptoes and tugs Liam down so she can kiss his cheek. “I’ll see you after?”

“Of course. Have fun with your friend,” Liam says. “Come over whenever.”

She hits the button to answer her call and holds her phone up to her ear. “Hey, one sec.” Kat glances at Josh. “Say hi and happy birthday to your mom for me.” Then she spins to leave while talking on the phone with her friend. The crowd swallows her and her conversation up.

“Hey, Kat, wait,” Josh says, chasing after her.

Liam steps into his path, blocking him. His face is thunderous, a warning that only an idiot would ignore. “I don’t think so.”

Josh holds up his hands in surrender. “Hey, man. I’m not trying to edge in on your claim. I have my own pack. I only want to talk with her. I don’t like how things ended. I was hurting too. I didn’t handle it well. Let me apologize to her. Please.”

Liam looks slightly less murderous, but no less wary. I slide off my stool and go to his side, putting a hand on his arm. “Don’t throw first,” I whisper, low enough so that only he can hear it. This asshole’s rich and famous. We don’t need problems. I don’t want to have to make an embarrassing phone call to my uncle.

Liam’s frame vibrates with tension. One bad move from the ex-alpha, and Josh’s gonna be on his ass on the floor. And not a damn person in this bar will say they saw anything. They know Liam. That he’s level-headed and fair. So if he kicks someone’s ass, it’s because they asked for it. Still, in this modern day of cell phone recordings you can’t ever be too careful. The last thing we need is a lawsuit.

Gabriel drains his ale and sets the glass down, then joins us. He crosses his arms over his chest, the movement making his tight black shirt strain over his hard won muscles. He’s been putting in a lot of hours at the gym. He’s nearly as beefy as some alphas. And Liam’s got about four inches in height on Josh. I don’t want the trouble, but my pack could grind him into the dirt if we had to.

“Let me go and apologize to her,” Josh says, holding his palms up in a placating gesture.

Liam leans in. His voice dips low in a tone so deep it’s nearly a growl. “If you make her cry, I don’t care how rich or famous or loved by the public you are. I’ll break your fucking legs and you’ll never kick a soccer ball again. ”

Josh’s eyes widen. He sizes Liam up for one second before he must decide that he’s completely outmatched and disadvantaged. Even with the crowd of witnesses around us. Liam’s not the bluffing sort. His great-grandpa kept pace with the Irish mob after prohibition. Big balls run in the family.

“Yeah, I got it,” Josh says. “No tears. I’m just gonna…” Carefully he slips around us. We turn, tracking his movements. I grab Liam’s shirt sleeve to keep him from tromping after the alpha.

“Let me follow him,” I say.

Liam and Gabriel let me go. I’m the least intimidating and the most level-headed of the three of us. I can watch the alpha without escalating things.

The crowd parts for me, their gazes lingering with questions, as I make my way outside to the parking lot. Josh is there already, talking to Kat beside her car. Her arms are crossed and she’s frowning, but she doesn’t seem distressed.

She sees me from across the parking lot, but nothing in her posture or expression changes. I raise my eyebrows dramatically, silently asking if she’s okay. Kat flicks her fingers at me in greeting, then turns her attention back to her ex.

I can’t hear all their conversation from back here. Only fragments. He asks how she is, making awkward small talk. When she doesn’t bite, he finally apologizes.

Slowly I inch closer. If he does something stupid like touch her…

“I hate that I lost so much,” she says. “You were such a big part of my life for so long. I can’t look at old photos because you’re in nearly all of them. I couldn’t talk to old friends about it because they were your friends too. It took a year for people to stop asking me about you. It was so damn alienating. And I can’t talk about any of it.”

My heart twists in my chest. Does she think she can’t talk about her old pack with us? It’s not a fun subject, sure, but we’d never tell her to stop. Not if she needed it.

“I’m sorry,” he says. “I’m so damn sorry for it all, Kit Kat.”

Her expression turns thunderous. “Don’t call me that. You lost that right when you told me to pack up and go.”

“I’m so sorry. I was hurting and I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t handle it.”

“Like I could?” she spits out, throwing her hands wide.

“They were my babies too,” Josh says, his tone broken. Full of emotion. “I couldn’t lose another baby, Kat.”

Kat’s face twists from one expression to another. Anger to shock, then something like pity. She collapses in on herself, and the muscles in my body tense, ready to spring forward if she needs me.

“I know,” Kat says softly. I barely catch the words from this distance. “I get that.”

“I couldn’t lose another one. I’m sorry, Kat. But I didn’t have it in me to keep trying. I didn’t want it as badly as you did. Didn’t understand how it was worth all the grief and pain to you. The fucking heartache. I needed to move on or I’d never get over it. But I’m sorry that I wasn’t there for you enough. With practice and my games and all the missed doctors’ appointments. As hard as it was for me, it was worse for you. And I wasn’t what you needed me to be. I’m not asking you to forgive me. But… I guess I just wanted you to know I’m sorry. I wish I’d been kinder to you.”

She’s silent for a moment. All of us stand there, waiting. Undecided if I should intervene now, I hesitate. My body thrums with the urge to rush in and scoop her up. Save her from this asshole. But my feet are rooted to the spot. She deserves the chance to handle this however she wants. So I wait for a signal, a sign that she wants my help.

Kat folds her arms again, but appears less angry. “Me too. I was so angry that I couldn’t do the one thing I’d always wanted. The thing that was supposed to be as easy as breathing because of my dynamic. I felt like a bad omega. And then when it kept happening, you didn’t want me anymore.”

Josh reaches out and touches her upper arms, rubbing them soothingly. For a moment I see red. But Kat doesn’t shove him away from her or back up out of reach. My anger turns to fear.

What if she wants to go back to her original pack? He’s famous and rich. A world renowned athlete. What can we really offer her that he couldn’t? She’s proven she can get pregnant now. What if he decides he wants a second chance? What’ll happen to us? Our baby? Panic grips me. I don’t want her to go. And not because she’s carrying our child. Because I love her. And I think I’m starting to want more than friendship from her.

“We had other issues, Kat.”

She closes her eyes and sighs, then opens them again. “I know.”

“You aren’t broken or bad. Clearly. I mean… Look at you. You’re huge.”

Now Kat shoves his hands off her. “Oh my God! You’re such a dick sometimes.”

“Yeah but it made you less sad,” he says. “I mean it, though, Kat. You’re not broken. You’re not a bad omega. And you’re gonna be a great mom. I’m glad you moved on and found a new pack. Although your new alpha might be a bit of a dick. You might want to watch out for that one.”

“Liam?” She clocks her head. “He’s been nothing but sweet to me.”

“He threatened to break my legs.”

She perks up. “He did?”

“If he ever hurts you, tell me. I can help you get out. It’s the least I can do.”

I bristle at his implication. That Liam is a bullying alphahole who’d ever lay a finger on one of us in anger. He would never.

Kat waves his offer away. “I’m fine. But… thank you for caring. Tell your mom I said hi.”

He takes a step back and shoves his hands into his pockets. “Do I get to hear when you’re due now?”

Kat rubs a hand over her pregnant belly. “January. It’s a girl.”

“A girl.” Josh smiles wistfully. “I hope she looks exactly like you. You were really cute in pigtails.”

“Thanks. I hope she has her daddy’s eyes.”

Josh backs up and pulls his car keys from his pocket. He clicks a button that makes a sporty red luxury coupe beep. “I should go. Before your alpha comes out with a baseball bat.”

Kat and I watch him drive off. I close the distance between us before she can leave too. I need to see how she is. What she’s thinking and feeling and if she’s okay.

“Did Liam really threaten to break his legs?” she asks.

“Yeah. That guy was lucky I was there to talk Liam down.”

Her face is unreadable, and then she breaks out into a smile that makes my body unclench. “I wish I’d seen it.”

Her grin is infectious. I smile and close the small gap between us, pulling her into a hug. “He growled too.”

“Really?” She tips her head up and rests her chin on my chest. “Think he’d reenact it for me tonight?” Kat waggles her eyebrows.

Absolutely. Liam’s being delicate with her because of her state. But he can be a caveman when his rut is riding him hard. “I think he could be persuaded. But if you really want to get him going, you should try edging him. Liam hates how much he loves it.”

Her eyes sparkle with amusement, and she squeezes me before letting me go. “Good idea.” She zips around me .

“Where are you going?” I call out, chasing after her. She’s surprisingly fast for someone who’s pregnant and has a slight waddle. “Aren’t you gonna be late for your friend?”

I follow her into the pub and the crowd watches us as we find Liam. Liam doesn’t have a chance to ask if she’s okay before Kat grabs him by the shirt and pulls him down. She forces him to either bend or rip the collar of his shirt.

He bends down for her.

Kat smashes her lips to his in a scorching and awkwardly long kiss that’s full of tongue and groping. A few of the regulars at the bar hoot and cheer. When they come up for air, Liam looks at her with a dazed expression.

“Not that I’m complaining, but what was that for?” Liam asks.

Kat grabs his dick through his pants and gives him a squeeze. The hollering gets louder. “You’ll find out tonight.” Then she spins on her heels and heads toward the door.

Liam rearranges the erection straining his jeans. “You’re gonna leave? Right now? After that ?”

Kat pushes the door open but pauses in the doorway and looks back over her shoulder. “It’s girls’ night. I have a date with my best friend and some virgin margaritas.” She gives him a sunny smile and a jaunty wave. “See you later!”

I laugh, then laugh harder when Liam gives me a confused and slightly pained expression. Poor guy.

Gabriel throws an arm over my shoulder and pulls me against his side. “What happened?”

I cover my mouth with my hand and rub my jaw. “Nothing much. All they did was talk. But our girl’s a fast learner.”