"I put it under my name, just in case," she told me, handing me the keycard. "You don't have to tell me what you're running from, but I can tell it's bad. If your previous pack is after you, this will make it that much harder for them to find you."
"Thank you," I smiled at her, barely able to see past the throbbing of my head.
"You need rest. I'm going to pick up some groceries for you, but after that I want you lying down in a dim room, resting and eating and hydrating."
"Yes, doctor."
She drove around the building to the back and parked in front of room 103. "This is you. I'll be back in about twenty minutes."
I hobbled to the door and got the keycard to work on the first try. Giving the doctor a wave, I stepped into the room that smelled of fake lavender cleaning solution. It was a basic room, with a double bed and a small fridge and microwave, but it was perfect for my needs. I didn't even bother turning on the lights, I just crawled up onto the bed and rested my aching head on the soft pillow. How long had it been since I'd had softness in my life? Too long. As an omega, it was something I craved and desperately wanted, but it was also dangerous to get used to.
Lying on the bed with my eyes closed, I enjoyed just being alone. It was nice not to worry about cleaning, patching myself up, or figuring out what was for dinner. There was no waiting for alphas to come home, no worrying about what kind of mood they might be in. It was relaxing.
By the time Dr. Nova returned, I was half asleep. She knocked quietly and I hopped up, wincing as the pain increased in my head.
"Here's everything you need for the next few days, but I want you to call me for anything you need. Or call the men, they're waiting for you to need something."
"I don't have a phone," I confessed.
"Here." She held out a smartphone with a sparkly purple cover.
"I can't . . ." I shook my head. "This is too much."
"Don't worry about it. The pack is paying for everything." She winked at me. "I just bill them what they need to pay. But full transparency, Aiden gave me this phone to give to you. It already has their numbers and mine added in the contacts."
Smiling, I accepted the phone and sat down on the bed while she quickly put everything away.
"There are some painkillers here on the bedside table, take two every six hours. Drink plenty, I've left water and some snacks there too. There are salads and fruits and puddings in the fridge."
"Thank you. You're really being nice to me," I felt tears well up in my eyes. "It's been a while."
"Hey, no crying. You're strong. We do need to make a report to the OPA though and let them know ORC is failing with their screening."
"What if they take me back?"
"We'll make sure that doesn't happen." She sounded so sure, but I knew there was no stopping the inevitable. I was a rejected omega. We had very few rights in the world and that meant I would either be sent to yet another pack or simply put in the heat dens to serve out my days on my back. The though made me shudder.
Dr. Nova gave me a hug and pointed to the bed. "Rest. And call me if you need anything."
She left and I got up to bolt the door and check outside. The parking lot was mostly empty and I relaxed when I didn't see anyone lurking. No one would ever know I was here. But just to be absolutely certain, I wedged a chair under the door handle before curling up on the bed to sleep.
I spent the next three days sleeping, getting up to pee, take more meds and eat something before I curled up in my blankets again and passed out for the next eight hours. It was incredible.
Stretching out on the third day, I realized the ache in my head was down to a dull throb and I didn't have any pain when I got out of bed to go to the bathroom. I'd be able to get out of here soon. The thought made me smile.
I grabbed the last salad from the fridge and unwrapped a plastic fork to eat it with, dumping ranch dressing all over the ingredients. As I took the first mouthful, I walked to the windowand pulled the curtain aside a couple of inches to peek outside. And promptly screamed, dropping the salad and leaping back.
Someone was looking back at me.
"It's just me, Finn!" Finn's voice sounded from outside. "Shit, are you okay, Li?"
"What the fuck?" I pulled back the bolt and threw open the door, staring at the man standing on my doorstep.
"We hadn't heard anything from you for days, I had to see if you were okay." His eyes scanned my body. "You're alive. Are you hurt still? Do you need anything?"
"I need peace and quiet," I snapped, but I wasn't feeling as awful as before. The rage against my former pack still bubbled in my chest, but not with the same intensity now that I'd slept a bit.
"I'm sorry. But, like, food? Do you have food?" He looked at the cherry tomato that had rolled up to my foot.
