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“You don’t have to keep saying that.”
“I don’t now what else to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. Here…” She holds up a small pile of clothes. “Mina won’t mind if you take these. It’s not much, but a couple of outfits to help you out for when you leave. And I’ll pack you food too. You’re welcome to stay as long as you need.”
“Thank y—” I stop and start to laugh because she just told me I don’t need to keep saying that. She laughs too.
“Are you hungry?” she then asks.
It’s been close to two hours since I ate that muffin, but I could eat. I think I need to make up for the time I was in the woods and not eating at all.
“Yes,” I say.
“I can heat you up some soup.”
“That would be wonderful.”
She nods and heads into her kitchen, so I follow her and sit at the small table to watch her work. She moves around with ease, like cooking is part of her.
As she does that, I look around the kitchen, taking note of all the little machines on her countertop. I couldn’t begin to guess what they all do. I’ve never seen a lot of the things she has in her home, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know what they are. I’ve read plenty of books and looked through magazines and stuff like that. I didn’t only get suppressants from Billy, the guy who brought out deliveries. I’d get books and puzzles too.
Though, being here does make me feel how out of step I am with the world. She has a machine that washes her dishes for her! How cool is that?
Trina pulls a pot from the fridge and puts it on the stove, turning the knob. It clicks a few times and then the flame is there. Just like that. No matches needed.
Magic.
She pauses, then turns to look at me.
“Can I ask you something? You don’t have to answer it if you don’t want to,” she says carefully.
“Okay.”
“Do you normally wear scent blockers?”
The question catches me off guard. I expected her to ask me something more serious.
“No, why?”
“Your scent is pretty strong.” She gives me an apologetic smile. “I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable. I just wasn’t sure if you knew.”
I lift my arm and sniff myself, which makes her laugh. I smell like I always smell. Only now, I smell a lot cleaner than I have for the last few days.
“Not like that,” she says. “You don’t stink.”
“Oh.”
“I just mean your omega scent. If you normally use blockers, I thought you might want to know they’ve worn off.”
“I’ve never needed them at home. We live freely, and everyone there knew I was an omega. There was no reason to hide it.”
She nods, but looks nervous, like she wants to say something else but is worried.
“Is that all?” I ask.
“It’s just… I’m sorry, I’m not trying to be nosy or too motherly, but I worry, you know?” I nod again. “Well, you’re not home anymore, and this is something you have to worry about out here.”
Right. She’s right. Coming here doesn’t make me safe. Maybe I’m slightly safer than being in the woods, but my problems are not solved.
