Chapter FourteenGrace
Chapter Fourteen
Grace
I woke to the sound of tapping.
“Hey, don’t you have to go to work?” My stomach rumbled as I awoke from my nap. The clock said it was well after lunch. Evan was squished with me on the hospital bed working on his laptop.
“Wes isn’t back yet. The nurse said to press the call button, and they’ll bring you food.” He looked worried.
“Okay, I’m going to use the restroom first. You said that you brought me some clothes?” I was in a hospital gown, which was much cuter but not really any better than in my world.
“I brought you a shirt of mine and a shirt of Wes’ and some PJ pants and stuff.
” He went bashful. “I guessed your size. But I should know them since you need clothes–not that you aren’t adorable in Wes’ stuff.
Carly from the Center stopped by. Gammas are technically under omega laws, so you’re being assigned an advocate. ”
“Oh, okay. This is bad or good?” I frowned, not really understanding, though Carly had been nice.
“While you legally can decline an advocate, I’d rather you have a Center advocate than a city case worker.
The social worker that you met with earlier works for the hospital, and makes referrals,” he explained.
“I also told Carly that it might be better for you to have an advocate that wasn’t her, because of me. ”
“Okay.” Grabbing the clothes, I dragged the monitor with me into the bathroom. When I came out, Evan was speaking with an older woman in a pantsuit who was holding a tablet and wearing a badge. She smelled a bit like old books.
“Grace, this is Mrs. Beekman, from the Center. I’m going to step out and make some calls. I’ll be right back, okay?” Evan gave me a hug and left.
“Hi, Grace. I’ve been legally appointed to you.” Mrs. Beekman looked kind. “I’m here to make sure you are okay and that your rights and wishes are advocated for. We’re going to have lots of talks, and I know you’re exhausted and recovering, so we’ll keep this one short, okay?”
“Okay. My memories are still so scrambled, and it’s hard to think.” I got back on the bed and curled up in the blankets.
I thought she’d walk me through everything, but instead we just talked, which was nice.
“How do you feel about Wes having an omega?” she finally asked.
“I love Evan and want to keep him forever.” My head ducked. The idea of multiple husbands seemed both scandalous and practical.
“He seems like a dear. I don’t know him well; they had me brought from another Center. It’s a lot, coming into an established pack when you don’t know most of them–and you have rights,” she told me. “Do you mind if I use the restroom? My bladder isn't as young as it used to be.”
She stood and went to the restroom. Where was Evan? I hope he brought me food. I didn’t want to bother the nurses.
Evan had left the door open, and a man strode in without knocking. He wore a suit, but seemed a little shady, and smelled like string cheese that had been in your lunchbox all day.
“Who are you?” I demanded. He didn’t look like a detective or a doctor. Fear hit me. Had they found me? I went to call out, and it stuck in my throat.
“That doesn’t matter. What matters is who are you and why are you here?” he prodded.
I swallowed my scream and blinked. “I’m Grace and I had a seizure?”
Confusion shot through me. Not the people chasing me then?
“You haven’t seen Wes in years, and now, right as Compass BioTek is doing very well, here you are.
What, him being some working-class boy wasn’t attractive, but then you saw some gossip write-up on his rich pack and thought you’d cash in?
” he pressed, getting very close to me, his scent of string cheese cloying.
Oh. Asshole alert. Ding ding ding.
“I don’t care about power or money.” I frowned, anger bubbling up inside me. “How dare you even think that?”
“So, it’s Wes? You thought you’d take Wes from his family–and omega?” he growled.
“I didn’t come to mess anything up. Please leave.” I made my voice tart.
“Then why did you come? You’re not getting any money from them. Is that clear?” he sneered. “Little whores get nothing from this pack. They don’t negotiate with exes.”
“Loving someone doesn’t make me a whore.” My voice rose as I inched closer to the side of the bed, looking for something I could use to defend myself. Maybe I could hit him with the lamp.
“You need to leave. Now. Or you’re not going to like what happens.” He took a threatening step toward me.
A toilet flushed, and the bathroom door opened. Mrs. Beekman. For a moment I’d forgotten about her.
“Did you just threaten her, young man?” Mrs. Beekman demanded, looking fierce.
The man looked flustered. “Who the fuck are you?”
“Grace’s advocate from the Omega Center.” She flashed the badge around her neck.
“Look, the pack doesn’t want her, so–”
“The pack doesn’t want her? Really, Eli? Because Wes and I want her here.” Evan strode in, angry. The air had turned spicy.
“Evan. I thought you were at work. I was just trying to find out the truth so we don’t have a situation,” Eli backpedaled, scooting back toward the door.
“This is bullshit. Get the fuck out of here,” Evan demanded. “Grace, Peaches, are you okay?” He cuddled me to him as I sobbed. “Mrs. Beekman, I swear, Wes and I had no part in this.”
I pressed my face into Evan’s shirt. “Someone tried to threaten me. How dare he. I… I’m allowed to love Wes.” My chest shuddered. “Right?”
“You absolutely can love Wes.” He planted a kiss on my head.
“Who was he?” Mrs. Beekman asked. “This doesn’t bode well for your pack or your alpha.”
“Eli works for one of the pack lawyers.” Evan sighed. “All I can think of is that our head alpha is afraid this is going to end up like when his ex reappeared. Which it’s not. This is very different. He’s trying to protect–”
“So, you’re defending him?” she countered.
“Not at all, just trying to explain. I’m sure this is all a misunderstanding,” Evan soothed. “Even if it’s not, I don’t condone this. Understood, Peaches? This isn’t me or Wes. We want you here. ”
My head went mushy. “I don’t even understand what’s going on. I should but…”
One of my monitors screamed, and everything went black.