Chapter 15 #2
Graham blinks. “They helped you?”
“Yes,” I say. Then, thinking it might be important for the doctor, I add, “When they weren’t at work.”
Graham’s expression shifts to outright horror. “They left you?”
“They weren’t my pack,” I say gently. “They were helping when they could. People need money.”
A low sound rumbles beside me. Silas.
Jeremy cuts his eyes toward his son, giving him a get your shit together look.
Silas doesn’t stop, though. The growl just settles deeper in his chest. I have no idea if he’s upset because another pack touched me, or because they didn’t touch me enough. Either way the sound sends a shiver through me that I'm blaming entirely on the air conditioning.
I take a breath. Then another. Then a third before I can continue.
“When they found their omega,” I say carefully, “they obviously couldn’t assist me anymore.”
Jeremy nods once. “Have you had a heat since then?”
"One. I tried to do it on my own."
"And how did that go?" Jeremy pushes.
I look at my hands. "It lasted seven days."
Jeremy's expression doesn't change. "Seven days is a long heat."
"They're always long," I say. "Five days minimum. Usually closer to eight or nine. Even when—" I stop. Start again. "Even when I had help."
"Tell me about the help you had."
"A friend's pack. Three alphas." I keep my eyes on my hands. "They were good to me. But they had jobs. They couldn't always be there. So they'd come when they could and I'd manage the rest alone."
"And the pain during those heats?"
I almost laugh. "Not as bad as the last one, but—” I swallow a lump that’s lodged in my throat.
“There's no managing it. Even with help.
I've tried every medication available. Prescription and over the counter.
Heating pads. Ice. Everything the internet suggested.
" I shake my head. "Nothing touches it. The cramps come in waves and when they're bad, they take your vision. I've passed out from them before."
"Passed out," Silas repeats. Completely flat. I can feel the effort it's costing him.
"Once. During an earlier heat. And when I came to, it was still happening." I pause. "Even with the pack helping, my omega… She never felt settled after. She'd cry for days once the heat broke."
The room is very quiet.
"The last heat," Jeremy says carefully. "Walk me through it."
I take a breath. "I thought I could do it. I'd done it partially alone before and survived. I thought if I just pushed through—” I stop.
"The cramping started before it even properly began. By the end of day one I couldn't get up. By day two I'd stopped drinking water. I knew I wasn't drinking enough, at least at first. I just couldn't make my body do anything except get through the next cramp. Later, I don’t think I knew anything."
Graham makes a sound beside me that isn't a word.
"I rolled to the edge of my nest on day seven and called 911 from my watch. I couldn't stand. I couldn't walk. I rolled." I say it flatly because that's the only way I can say it. "Four days in the hospital."
"And after?" Jeremy asks.
"Three weeks before I could get out of bed to use the bathroom without help. Cammie stayed with me." I glance at my hands. "I couldn't work out for months. Couldn't lift anything. My body hurt everywhere, all the time. It took a long time to feel like myself again."
Graham's hand finds mine.
“The good news is, I only do this every six to eight months. I’m not regular like most omegas.” I say it like it’s a consolation prize. It’s not.
The room is very quiet for a moment.
"Cammie said you nearly died," Graham says finally. His voice is not quite steady. He takes my hand and presses his lips to it and doesn't lift them for a long moment.
I don't answer. Because Cammie is right. And saying so out loud in front of my mates feels like a threat. Like they’ll have to deal with my crazy body for the rest of their lives. Who would willingly sign up for that?
Jeremy clears his throat gently. “Outside of the pack that helped you through your heats, have you been involved with anyone else?”
I shake my head. “I dated a little. Years ago. Nothing serious.”
What I don’t say is that after my parents died, dating felt impossible. Then I started OmegaBox. When it started taking off, life got too busy. There wasn’t time for anything else.
Jeremy leans back slightly. “That’s useful information.”
He steeples his fingers. “Omegas who go long periods without physical contact can become touch-starved. When that happens, heats often become much harder to manage.”
Heat creeps up my neck.
“And because your heats haven’t been properly attended to,” he continues gently, “your omega has likely never been fully satisfied.”
I could melt from embarrassment.
“That can create all kinds of complications,” Jeremy continues. “Including dangerous heat spikes.”
“We’re bringing Lark back to the house with us,” he says. “She won’t be alone.”
Jeremy nods approvingly. “That’s a very good start.” His mouth quirks. “And it will give you boys a chance to properly court your omega.”
My face somehow gets hotter. Jeremy notices and smiles. I think it’s supposed to be comforting. It’s not.
“I also prescribe lots of touching.” He tips his chin to where my hand is linked with Graham’s.
“Hand holding is good, but she’ll also need to be stroked and petted daily. Play with her hair. Rub her shoulders. Hug her to your body several times a day. Whatever you can do to create physical contact with her.”
At the same time as Graham pulls our clasped fingers closer to his body, Silas’ giant hand lands softly on the small of my back, rubbing small, delicious circles. Before I can stop myself, a purr kickstarts in my throat.
Graham's vivid green eyes go soft. Silas rumbles, 'Little bird,' his beard grazing my temple as he kisses it. I lean into it for a moment, before remembering we have company and, you know, wanting to die of embarrassment.
Jeremy doesn’t even try to hide his smile. “Excellent. This is exactly what I want from you boys.” He says it like a man who's seen too many alphas get it wrong and is genuinely proud when they don't.
“Of course, Pops.” Silas’ level of seriousness is endearing. Now I’m the one with the soft eyes.
Jeremy looks back at me. “We need to discuss boundaries.”
Way to snap a girl out of it, doc. I stare at the floor, willing it to open up and swallow me whole. I do not want to talk boundaries with my mate’s father.
“In my experience, omegas in your situation are rarely satisfied through easing alone.”
Come on floor. I’m begging you.
“Your omega may not calm down until she takes a knot,” Jeremy continues matter-of-factly. “Are you comfortable with that possibility?”
Forget the floor. There’s a good chance I’d survive it. Jumping from the window is a better idea. I’m on the twenty-third floor. It would be faster.
“I—I don’t want to force anything too soon,” I finally say, once my brain’s back online.
Graham grasps my hand and places it against his chest. “I would happily give you my knot. If you need it. You know… because of the pain.”
Despite everything, I snort. He’s so damn solemn. Probably the only alpha on earth who could speak with sober intensity about knotting an omega.
Silas squeezes my hand. “Don’t worry about us, little bird. We only care that you’re safe.” His thumb brushes my knuckles. “If you need our knots, you take them.”
I glance helplessly at Jeremy. “I… that would be okay,” I say quietly. “But only if—”
“—your omega insists,” Jeremy finishes. His gaze shifts to his son and Graham.
Graham clears his throat. “Of course. I would never, I mean, not unless you know.”
“We know you want time to get to know us,” Silas says. “And we’ll try to give you that.” His voice lowers slightly. “But if easing isn’t enough… we’ll do whatever we have to.”