The thought becomes words coming out of my mouth before my muddled brain can snatch them back.
Our eyes meet, and for a moment, the pretense of a medical examination falls away. We’re not colleagues right now. We’re an alpha and an omega, alone in a room, with my heat building between us like a gathering storm.
Tension rises as Noah stares back at me, then abruptly breaks as he laughs and looks away. “Duly noted.”
“Luckily, I don’t think a heat cycle has ever killed anyone.”
I can swear I hear him mutter what sounds like,first time for everything,but I can’t be sure.
He abruptly jumps to his feet and steps back, clearing his throat. “Your vitals are reassuring. No signs of dangerous withdrawal effects.”
“That’s good,” I manage, mind wandering to what his chest looks like under that tight shirt outlining every muscle.
“Are you hungry? Kai’s making breakfast. We could bring you something.”
The thought of food makes my stomach turn, but I know I need to eat. “Maybe just toast? And tea, if there is any?”
“I’ll have Kai bring it in a bit.” He hesitates, as if trying to decide whether to continue, then adds, “we’re all just down the hall if you need anything. Anything at all.”
The sincerity in his voice catches me off guard. “Thank you,” I say softly. “For everything. This isn’t...this isn’t how I planned things to go.”
A ghost of a smile crosses his face. “Life rarely goes according to plan, especially around here.”
With that cryptic statement, he gathers his medical bag and moves toward the door. “I’ll check on you again this afternoon, if that’s all right.”
“Sure,” I agree, and I have to bite my tongue to resist the compulsive urge to beg him to stay. “Sounds good.”
I wish I could just go back to sleep after Noah leaves, but a surge of kinetic energy overtakes me. Trying to work it off and I provide a distraction for the growing discomfort in my body, I decide to explore the room more thoroughly.
The mini-fridge is stocked with water, sports drinks, and several types of juice. The cabinet beside it contains an impressive array of snacks—everything from protein bars to chocolate, dried fruits to nuts.
I’m examining the bookshelves—filled with an eclectic mix of fiction, pop psychology, and what appear to be vintage comic books—when I hear voices from the hallway. Noah and Kai, their tones low but distinct enough that I can make out words through the door.
Noah’s voice is the loudest. “—just saying, it’s weird that you had this room all ready to go,”
“It’s called being prepared,” Kai replies, defensive. “Some of us think ahead.”
“For what? Random omegas in heat who show up during blizzards?”
“For guests who might need special accommodations,” Kai retorts. “Unlike you, not everyone avoids omegas like the plague.”
There’s a pause, then Noah sighs. “I didn’t mean—look, I’m just surprised, that’s all.”
“Well, surprise! I’m not just a pretty face and killer snowboarding skills. I occasionally have good ideas too.”
“This was definitely one of them,” Noah concedes, his voice softening. “She seems...more comfortable here than I expected. Just don’t get used to all this. It’s temporary.”
Kai makes a noise that sounds like a scoff, but I can’t make out what he says after that.
Their voices fade as they move away from the wall, leaving me alone with my thoughts again.
I desperately want to know what Kai means about Noah avoiding omegas, the thought inexplicably insulting, even though he couldn’t have known I was an omega before today.
Or maybe he did, and that’s why it seemed like he couldn’t stand me from the moment we met.
Maybe it’s justmehe hates and designation has nothing to do with it.
A soft knock interrupts my thoughts. “Breakfast delivery,” Kai calls cheerfully from the other side of the door.
