11. Arden
Arden
T hat omega was my mate. I knew it the moment I stepped into the hall, then stepping into the room with her was pure torture.
I had to keep it professional. She had no idea because of our required blockers and air filters, but I now had that scent etched into my very soul.
She. Was. Mine.
I was an inferno of anger on the inside. They had hurt her, just hearing and seeing the pain she relived but giving us the minor details she did, told me this went so much deeper.
They ruined one of the very basic things an omega craved. She couldn’t fathom a nest because it was too overwhelming, a reminder of that betrayal.
I stormed into my office, door slamming closed behind me as I sat. The notebook hit the hard surface with a thud and I tried to will my breathing to calm down.
My alpha was ready to maul these men, to track them down and kill them. I don’t know if she realized just how serious this was. They used biology against her, turned it into a manipulative weapon to get what they wanted.
Fucking disgusting.
There was a brief knock before Hailey was storming in, not waiting for an answer. Her face was twisted in a rage and she sat heavily in the chair across from me.
“We have her permission. Call this lawyer. Now.”
“I’m trying not to go to my car and drive to him and this joke of a pack myself,” I told her, my face so serious that her eyes widened.
“Okay, what’s going on? This isn’t like you. Mad, sure? This livid? Not so much,” she accused. Hailey was sharp as a tack and didn’t miss a thing. She was like an annoying little sister some days and I knew there was no point lying to her. “You also passed her on to another doctor.”
“She’s my mate.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“Professionalism… in part. She was here for help, I couldn’t throw that at her, too,” I pointed out.
“And the other part?”
“I don’t want to scare her. I want her to realize it herself and she doesn’t trust doctors. She’s going to hate me,” I admitted, putting to voice the very insecurity that struck me cold.
She may never want me.
And who could blame her? An anti-omega doctor was working within the Network and effectively scarred this omega for life.
“Even more reason to call. Get this behind her so you have a chance,” Hailey said, voice gentle now.
Grabbing the notebook and my phone, I dialed in the number for her lawyer. It rang twice before a curt voice answered. Professional, but detached.
“Lance Frasier speaking.”
“Hello, Mr. Frasier. I’m Doctor Arden Clark. I work at the Omega Network Clinic here in Rockwood Valley. One of our patients asked us to contact you about some vital information for her case. If you would like to confirm with Avery Whitaker that she authorizes us to speak with you, I have a number you can call me back at.”
“To the point, my kind of guy,” he muttered. There was shuffling in the background before he spoke again. “Ready.”
I gave him the number and after a hasty goodbye, the line went dead. Hailey and I shared a look but didn’t bother to speak, waiting for the phone to ring again.
It wasn’t long before it did and I snatched it off the receiver.
“Hello, this is Dr. Clark.”
“This is Lance. If you don’t mind I’m putting you on speaker so you can speak and I can take notes. You mind if this is recorded?”
“That’s fine,” I agreed.
He was quiet for a moment before something clicked and background noise filtered in.
“I’m ready. Give me everything you have,” he encouraged.
“She admitted to us the pheromone spray, which I know you are already aware of. However, she admitted that her exes sat in on her clinic appointments and the alphas and doctor chose her treatment for her. That same treatment was denied upon the breakup. I know that’s not necessarily a huge legal standing, however it is enough to take his license. I have every intention of putting in a tip for him to be investigated and I guarantee that investigation will result in us finding the illegal pheromones in his possession.”
“Interesting,” was all Lance added, waiting for more.
“I’ve got some contact information now that I’ve looked this asshole up,” I said, rattling off everything I’d found about him. “The fact he’s been running under the Network’s radar for this long is crazy.”
“Not for much longer,” Lance said, voice cold enough to make me smile. He was going to be vicious and I was glad. My mate deserved to have peace of mind, to know her abusers were behind bars.
“Make them hurt,” I offered before we ended the call.
Hailey studied me, her eyes calculating like she was hoping to read my mind.
“What are you going to do about this?”
“I’m going to make a report like he suggested. Coming from another doctor in the network will hold more weight. He will do his part and legally obtain the findings after,” I started but she cut me off with a huff.
“I know you don’t think I’m stupid, Arden. What are you going to do about Avery?”
“Honestly?” I started. She nodded, encouraging me to continue but I was lost. This was a delicate situation. “I have no idea.”
“Figure it out. I don’t think she would appreciate being lied to,” she pointed out before standing and leaving me with my tortured thoughts.
I had to put faith in justice being served. As much as I wanted action now, I had to be patient.
As for Avery?
My only hope was to find her outside of this clinic. Meaning I was about to acquaint myself even more with Rockwood Valley.
For now, stalking her on social media was the only thing I could do. My omega had to have time to heal, but that didn’t mean I had to hide in the shadows.
Betraying her wasn’t an option. She needed to see that alphas were meant to worship their omegas, not hurt them. I wanted to get to know Avery, to watch her flourish and thrive now that she’d left that behind.
She deserved no lies and plenty of patience.
I can manage that… I hope