Chapter Three
Halley
My sensitive eyes sting from the bright fluorescent lights and an antiseptic smell burns my nostrils.
Distant moans of pain makes my skin crawl with unease. My instincts scream at me to provide comfort to the suffering.
The hospital really is the worst for an Omega.
“Here we go,” Everlyn says, stopping in front of a set of white double doors with big red letters spelling ‘Restricted Access Only.’
“Thanks for walking with me, Halley. You’re a good friend.” Tears choke her voice.
She gives me another hug and a wane smile before pushing open the door and disappearing to the other side.
I try to walk away. I really do. I get three paces away from the door before spinning on my heels.
Logic falls to the wayside as my heart wins the battle against my brain. I march right past the ‘No Omegas past this point’ sign with the Omega symbol and a big red cross through it.
Biting the inside of my cheek, I hold on tight to my bravado. Being here for my friend is the right thing to do, but there are warning bells blaring in my head.
A few Beta nurses look up from the central nurses’ station, and while they stare, they don’t stop me.
It’s not like I can hide what I am.
Omegas are hard to mistake for a Beta.
We’re short, with voluptuous curves and striking features with vibrant and rare eye colors.
When no alarm rings or voices call after me, I scurry after Everlyn as she disappears into a room with blue curtains pulled closed for privacy.
I slip between the curtains.
Everlyn is at Jason’s side, her hand clutching his tightly.
He’s shirtless, and bandages cover his chest with pink stains where blood has seeped through.
“Halley!” Everlyn gasps.
I can smell an infection spreading in his bloodstream. It’s a sickly and tainted scent that makes me sway on the spot.
My stomach clenches and I fight not to dry heave.
Jason’s breaths are slow and labored with pain.
I blink rapidly, trying to clear my stinging, tear-filled eyes. I can’t reconcile the pale, vulnerable body on the bed with the vibrant Beta I know.
“You shouldn’t be here. It’s dangerous,” Everlyn whispers, her hand clutching Jason’s as he shivers through silent bouts of pain.
“I know, but…” I bite my lip and take a step closer. “I have to help. It’s Jason.”
With a trembling hand, I settle it on Jason’s pale arm.
I’m driven by an ancient, insistent instinct to comfort and heal.
I feel the tickle in my throat first, and then a vibration in my chest.
A soft, quaking purr fills the small room, harmonizing with the beeping of the heart rate monitor. The sound rumbling from me warbles, distorted by my trembling.
Everlyn watches me with hooded, glazed over eyes. Her pinched expression relaxes as her shivering form slumps forward into the side of the bed. Her head is resting against her mate’s side, and her eyes are fluttering closed with a blissful sigh.
Jason’s muscles slowly relax under my hand, a coiled tension evaporating as his excruciating pain relents.
Pride surges within me as I see the deep lines of pain on his face fade. The beeping of the heart monitor slows to a strong, steady thump.
I don’t know how long we remain in that trance-like state, my vibrating purr making the small space feel like it’s shimmering. I float in a detached, disoriented mindset. Finally, I rouse like a bear emerging from hibernation, and blink repeatedly to chase away the daze.
My hand lingers on Jason’s arm for a long moment before I pull my fingers away, the purr dying as it leaves my throat.
Everlyn stirs where she leans against the hospital bed, and her eyes open with a moment of confusion. She looks down at her mate with a small frown. She checks his vitals on the screen and smiles at Jason’s relaxed features.
“Halley,” she whispers with tears in her eyes. “I— I’ve never… How did… Thank you.”
“It’s not a big deal,” I croak, shuffling my weight from one foot to the other.
It’s a lie. Purring is a big deal, especially for me.
Providing comfort through a purr is what Omegas do. It’s just not something I’ve ever been able to do before.
Purring is for mates and close family.
I don’t have either.
Or at least, I thought I didn’t.
Apparently, my inner Omega sees Jason and Everlyn as my family.
The sounds of the ICU drift back into my awareness, and I know I’ve been in here for too long. I’m risking a lot by being here and it’s time for me to go.
“I have to go, Everlyn.” I hug my friend tightly and glance one last time at Jason. He looks much better than when I arrived, and I hold on to the warm feeling of relief as I pull back the curtains and step out into the main ICU room.
I’m almost at the exit when I hear a voice call out from behind me.
“Stop right there, Omega.”
I wince and halt my retreat, turning slowly to find a stern Beta nurse marching towards me with a deep scowl.
“What do you think you’re doing?” She comes to a stop in front of me, folds her arms across her chest, and cocks her head to the side. It makes her look like a pissed off bird. “I was about to call security.”
“For what?” I ask, widening my eyes to appear innocent.
“To report you for entering a restricted area. Honestly, you Omegas think you’re above the rules.”
I hesitate a moment, not sure what to say. I could deny everything and hope she lets it go, but judging by her narrowed eyes locked on the I.D. card clipped to my shirt pocket, she won’t. It has my photo and rank displayed clearly: Omega Sparks, Halley.
She’s already memorized my name, and my hope of remaining anonymous slips away.
“They need to keep better control of you Omegas—”
Bang.
The front doors slam open as a gurney bursts through them. Four panicked Beta males in bloodied fatigues are pushing the gurney with grim determination written on their faces.
“Help! We need help!”
Laying on the gurney is a massive Alpha coated in blood.