Chapter 3 #2
I looked out across the backyard and at the gorgeous view. The sun was starting to set, and the sky was turning pink. It was a mostly clear day—surprising for Los Angeles—and I could see the faintest hint of the ocean far in the distance. “That is some ocean view.”
“Tell me about it. Can you believe they have that listed on Zillow? A house up the street also says it has an ocean view. What a joke.”
We fell into a fit of giggles, my mood already lifting. Being here with my sister was exactly what I needed.
With the copious amounts of Mexican food and the two bottles of Twist Knot wine Kayla and I consumed later that night, I was surprised we’d made it to the living room to pass out.
The smell wasn’t so bad inside now, but I didn’t know if it was because of the de-scenting spray Kayla had sprayed or the wine muddling my senses. De-scenting spray was the best, but how had she even gotten any? Oh, that’s right. She was a billionaire now.
Groaning, I rolled off the sofa and onto my hands and knees. I needed to pee, and I wasn’t about to ruin a couch that probably cost as much as a car. I reached over and patted my sister’s head. She was passed out cold, a pillow clutched against her chest.
She really was the best sister in the world. We didn’t always see eye to eye growing up and our priorities in life were vastly different, but she was my other half. The yin to my yang. The Cheech to my Chong.
I giggled and smacked my hand over my mouth. As if I’d ever smoke weed.
Using the ottoman coffee table to push myself up, the empty wine bottles clinked together on the tray. Kayla didn’t even stir. She’d always been a heavy sleeper, and I bet that pillow with her pack’s scents all over it made her even more dead to the world.
My lower lip wobbled; I wanted a pack.
I somehow found my way to the bathroom, only running into the wall once or maybe twice. At the academy, there’d been a strict no-alcohol policy—which no one followed—because omegas could not handle their liquor, especially on heat suppressants.
Ugh. Heat. I didn’t even want to think about it or I’d really cry, and drunk crying was the worst.
Instead of full-blown heats that were painful without an alpha, they were mild, and toys were enough to be satisfied.
It wasn’t good to stay on them long-term, though, and since I’d started them right after my first heat at sixteen, it was time to plan on going off of them for a heat cycle.
Only it wouldn’t be regular since the first heat after suppressants was ten times worse. And with no alphas?
Great. Now I was angry again.
I finished in the bathroom and went back to the living room.
My suitcase was open next to the couch, my clothes spilling out.
After the first bottle of wine, we’d decided to change into pajamas and have a sleepover in the living room.
I didn’t remember much after that besides late-night food delivery and nearly choking on a chip laughing so hard at a movie we had been watching.
My mind went back to heat suppressants.
Fuck. I haven’t taken mine today. Or was it already tomorrow?
I grabbed my purse and took out my phone. It was just after midnight and my pill reminder had been buzzing at ten-minute intervals for the last four hours. Well, wasn’t that just perfect.
After clearing the alarm, I put my phone on the side table and dug into the zippered inner pocket for my pills. Only it hadn’t been shut and the damn things must have fallen into the cavernous void at the bottom of my bag.
Not wanting to wake my sister, I went into the dining room which was separated from the living room by a centralized wall with a double-sided fireplace. I preferred an open-concept floor plan, but Kayla said she liked all the privacy she got here.
I dumped my entire purse onto the large table and squinted down at the contents. It was long overdue for a clean-out, but where the hell were my suppressants? I knew I had them because I’d been taking them.
Shaking it again, my heart started to pound. Where the fuck were they? There was no way I could go through a heat here at Kayla’s. I’d have to go to OPS to get a spot at the compound and then they’d know about my transgressions.
Stay calm. They’re here somewhere.
I ran my hand inside again, and not finding the blister pack, I bit my lip to stop myself from crying out in frustration.
Everything else that was supposed to be in my purse was on the table, including my perfume blockers.
I grabbed the pack of those and punched one out, swallowing it without water.
Taking a calming breath, I tried to remember when I’d last seen them. I took one the night before for sure because I’d started a new pack and I put them right in the zippered section for safe keeping. But had I zipped it closed?
My apartment keys caught my eye, the N’Pact keychain practically blinking in neon lights. Oh, shit. My purse had tipped over in my car when I’d been trying to get a picture and I was sure that’s where they were.
I was already four hours overdue and couldn’t wait until morning, so I went back into the living room, slipped on my flip-flops, and grabbed the key to the car. I didn’t want to leave Kayla with the front door unlocked and I had no clue where her key was, so I went around the back.
It was a gorgeous night, the perfect temperature for a late-night stroll. Was it safe? I had no clue, but it was less safe starting my heat when I had nowhere to go and only one of my toys with me.
The gate loomed in front of me, and I waited for it to open for me. When it didn’t, I let out a frustrated growl. It opened earlier when we’d grabbed our food from the omega-friendly delivery driver.
There was a small red light where the locking mechanism was, and I examined it closely. Were we locked in for the night? That was a bit extreme and excessive. What if there was an emergency?
I marched back toward the house, but then stopped, bending down to pick up a rock. I was not about to wake up my sister or climb a ten-foot wall to go get my pills. So, I did what only a drunk girl could.
I smashed the hell out of the lock.