Chapter 4
“All done, Edmund.” I push back the rolling stool and pull off my gloves. “Keep the stitches dry, and I’ll check on them in a few days, okay?”
The Beta smiles, sitting up and swinging his legs over the side of the exam table that takes up most of my living room. “Thanks, Doc. I appreciate you not making me look like Frakenstine.”
“Frakenstine’s monster,” I correct with a grin.
“Frakenstine was the doctor. Can’t have you stealing my job.
” He snorts and slides off the table. “Catch,” I say, tossing him a small packet of pain meds.
It’s just ibuprofen, but people believe that meds from their doctor work better than those from their medicine cabinet.
That’s the power of a placebo. “I put the instructions on the front. Let me know if you’re in a lot of pain and those aren’t helping. ”
He slips out of the trailer, waving me off. “I’m good now. Gotta get back to work.”
“Take the day off!” I shout behind him, but he waves me off.
Heaving myself to my feet, I groan at the tightness in my back from bending over to stitch him up.
I barely slept between the nerves of starting this role and finally getting out of town and the early morning wake-up call, and my body is pissed about it.
I close and lock my trailer door before slipping into the bathroom.
The shower is small, and the head is barely tall enough for me to slide under it, but I’ll make do.
Anything is better than where I was before.
I need to get my shower over with before they disconnect my water in preparation for traveling.
There was a lot to be desired about my onboarding process, but Jude did give me a schedule for what a ship-out day looks like.
Not formally or written down, because why would it be that convenient, but I typed it all up in the notes app of my cheap phone.
I peel off my cold, damp shorts, tossing them into the small, stacked washer in the corner of the bathroom.
These trailers are very efficient, with everything someone could need to live.
There’s barely enough room to turn around in this bathroom, and yet it has the washer and dryer, a toilet, a sink, and a shower stall.
The walls are a faded seashell print wallpaper, which is God-awful, but to me, it may as well be a high-end hotel by how relieved I am to be here.
Not even the yellow-stained toilet seat could upset me. There is not much I wouldn’t put up with to get the fuck out of this town.
I washed my hair last night, but after sitting in the damp grass and dealing with blood, I want to be clean before I get into my nest and hunker down for the trip.
Nest is a strong word for what I have, honestly.
The double bed that came with the trailer has a stained mattress, but I covered it with the two mattress protectors I brought with me.
I’ve dressed it with the barest of linens, and the same ratty blanket I’ve had since I first presented at thirteen.
I’ll go to a nesting store when we stop in the next town to round it out a little.
I couldn’t spare the time or space in my luggage to go home and pack up my entire nest.
It had to appear as if I intended to come back for my plan to work, limiting me to what I could shove in my suitcases. They’d notice something amiss if my nest were gone, but hopefully, they’d have missed the clothing that I’d earmarked for donation.
After drying off and putting on a pair of wide-legged navy joggers that pinch a little at the waist and a fuzzy pink sweater that’s heavily pilled, I grab a protein bar from my purse and sit on my bed, chewing slowly.
I’ll need to stop at a grocery store, too. I can’t live on the four protein bars I shoved in my purse.
The expenses are already piling up, and I can’t use my credit card. I’m stuck with the small amount of cash I was able to squirrel away over the last few weeks. Even my cell phone is a pay-as-you-go burner phone.
I have asked to be paid in cash for now, and Jude had no problem with it during our initial conversations. I suppose I’m not the first person joining the circus to try to stay off the grid.
It’s going to take a while for me to feel safe, but for now, I’ve done all I can.
A loud knock shakes my trailer. On instinct, I shove the protein bar under my pillow and fly out of bed, straightening my clothes to ensure I look presentable. When I yank the door open, I’m surprised to find the showrunner standing outside of it.
“Just letting you know we’re pulling out in ten. Are you riding back here or in the cab with Tony?”
Tony, the Beta stagehand who introduced himself to me this morning, is who’s driving the caravan my trailer is a part of. He seemed nice enough, about the age of my father, but he smelled like cigarettes.
I wonder if that’s his Beta scent or if he just smokes a lot. To the right person, he may smell like sweet tobacco and campfires, but it just makes me want to gag. Respectfully. He is a nice guy.
“I’m going to stay back here and familiarize myself with everyone’s files.
” Jude nods tightly, but doesn’t make a move to leave.
He shifts awkwardly from foot to foot, like he’s got something to say.
We stare at each other for a few moments before I groan, throwing the door further open and gesturing for him to come inside. “What is it?”
He slowly enters my trailer and closes the door behind him. “I wanted to make sure you understand what you’re getting into by coming with us. I am happy to let you out of your contract.”
“I bet you are,” I snort. I don’t want to tell Jude how much and why I need this job, how much is riding on me being able to get out of here with them, but I need to give him something so he stops trying to push me out. I settle on a half-truth.
“Candidly, Jude, I need this job. I’m out of options.”
“Why? Isn’t there a physician shortage? You could get a job anywhere.” The massive man throws his hands up, and his shirt rides up a little, exposing some of the soft flesh of his belly. “Why does it have to be my circus?”
“I need to be untraceable for a bit,” I finally say. “Just for the six-month contract. I promise I won’t renew.”
That takes the wind out of his sails, and he leans against my wall, propping himself up with his shoulder. His eyes have softened a little, but there is still tension in his frame. “Now, why would an Omega need to be untraceable? ”
I have to think on my feet.
“My parents won’t get off my case about finding a pack and settling down.
I’m fed up with their meddling, so I told them I was doing a volunteer medical outreach for underdeveloped countries.
” I dramatically sink into a chair and cover my face with my hands, hoping he won’t sense my lie.
“I just need some time to come up with a plan so they don’t try to bond me off to one of my dad’s buddies. ”
He’s quiet, and I think for sure he’s caught me in a lie, before he grumbles and sits at the table across from me. “Can they do that?”
Has he never looked at the Omega laws?
I guess most wouldn’t, since they don’t affect them.
What a privilege.
“They can file a motion with the courts saying that they believe I am at risk of Forsaken Omega Syndrome, in an attempt to influence a bonding or, at the minimum, to pack up with someone to ‘protect me’.” I’m getting mad even though this isn’t the truth, because this is the reality for many.
While so many Omegas, especially male ones, are able to have high-powered positions, it’s only once they become bonded that they can make those career moves.
A bonded Omega is regarded as one of the most stable and valuable members of society.
“Because we’re such a precious resource, we can be highly encouraged to bond to protect us from ourselves. ”
His fists tighten, and I watch his knuckles turn white. “That’s not right.”
“You’re fucking telling me.” I roll my eyes and push my chair back on two legs. “So you can see why I need to get away for a little.”
Jude’s stoic expression falters. I’ve got him now. How is he going to try to throw me out when he thinks he’s sending me to be forcibly packed up .
He would be, just in a different way than he thinks.
“Fine. But six months only.” He pushes to his feet, his massive body and presence taking up more space than seems possible. “And do not make any trouble.”
“Yes, sir,” I quip, giving him a two-finger salute. “You don’t have to worry about me. You’ll hardly know I’m here.”
“I highly doubt that,” he mutters before stomping out and slamming the door behind him.
The trailer jolts to a stop, waking me up from my unrestful sleep. My mouth feels like it’s full of cotton, and my eyes are crusty. It’s been a long time since I’ve slept deeply. My body is ready to react to a threat at a moment’s notice now, and it’ll take me a long time to break that habit.
I don’t know what I was dreaming of, but there was nothing restorative about that nap. I almost feel more worn out than I did before.
We were heading to a town only about two hours away, and a quick peek at the clock on my phone indicates we’ve probably just arrived. That theory is confirmed when I begin to hear the loud noises of the back trailer being disconnected from the caravan.
Within an hour, all of our trailers are disconnected, and we’ve found our home for the next week.
I’m getting dressed, about to head out to see if there is anything I can help with before I run to the store, when my phone buzzes.
Unknown
Doc, I think I have hemorrhoids. Do you treat those?
For a brief moment, I wonder if this is a joke, or some hazing from the road crew, since most people don’t see a doctor about hemorrhoids, and it’s certainly not something they would text about unless it were a dire situation.
However, as a professional, I need to respond as I would to any client who comes to see me face-to-face for treatment.
They can be easily managed with over-the-counter creams and suppositories. If you don’t have any, I can pick some up during my supply run.
And you’ll help me apply it, right? I’m not sure I’m flexible enough.
Ah, so definitely a joke then.
I actually didn’t expect anything like this, which, honestly, is on me. I should’ve known better. A bunch of guys on the road by themselves, with no women around for months at a time? They’re bound to be crass and have no idea how to handle themselves.
Unfortunately, that’s outside of my scope as the physician here. If it becomes a serious issue, we can discuss mobility aids to ensure you can access the treatment you need.
What are we paying you for then, Omega bitch?
Oh, that’s a fun escalation.
I shove my phone in my pocket, choosing to ignore the conversation. I’ll pick up the cream on the off chance he wasn’t lying, but I’m not going to engage with him anymore.
It’s just a little hazing.
Nothing to be concerned about.