“You owe himnothing!He wasostensiblykind!And if for whatever reason you think you do, the vows were until death do you part. He has parted, Xenia. You don’t have to move on, but you have to take care of yourself. And the first step is getting out of this town. Away from Vinny. He’s not a good guy.” Her eyes meet mine in the window.
They confirm what I already know. She is aware of justhowbad he is.
“But you can’t do that untilafteryour heat.” I don’t think she means to but her words are edged on the cusp of a bark.
The car slows and she pulls around the back of a building I recognize.
First Chapter Clinic.
It is the only one in our town that specializes in omegas’ wishes. In allowing them to ride out their heat in peace without the threat ofattachments.
My anxiety hits two-fold, but it is outmatched by another flash of warmth shooting out across my body. I perfume into the car, filling up the space, and Serena chokes, slamming the car into park and jumping from it.
I watch through the open window as she marches quickly inside.
My gaze turns upwards, towards the setting sun.
There are a million places I would rather be than here. But unfortunately, I don’t have much of a choice. Pushing off my heat for nearly a year wasn’t safe or recommended, but I did it anyway. I knew that it would return. Knew that I wouldn’t be able to use toys to ride it out. Knew that the pain, the betrayal, and agony would be nearly impossible to overcome. But I’m going to do it.
I have to. Even if it breaks my heart in the process.
My hand goes up to the mark on my neck and I trace over it as I harden my shoulders. My resolve solidifies.
I’m going to ride out my heat with an unknown alpha and then I am going to leave, once and for all.
I’m sorry, Tony.
three
Xenia
Sitting in the waiting area surrounded by fidgety omegas all on the cusp of a heat they don’t want was not on my bingo card for this adventure.
But it’s exactly what is going on.
And their scents are overlapping, syrupy sweet and nearly suffocating. My skin is crawling at the sensory overload, and I want more than anything to dive into a pit of comfort. Instead, I force myself to stay still.
Needing a distraction, my head pivots around. This room is bare except for all of us here and two doors—the one I came in through and the one I assume we will be taken back through… Well I’m not exactly sure what’s next. Serena answered my questions as best she could, but she wasn’t sure on all the different steps. She just assured me I would be safe and taken care of. That I could ask for her at any point and end this.
“Hey, Skye. It won’t be much longer.”
My head snaps to the woman on my right who spoke. She comforts a young man, tucking his unruly dark curls behind his ears as he slowly sinks onto her lap and clutches his abdomen.
The woman glances up, meeting my gaze and flashing a forced smile. Her sharp brown eyes are nearly void of emotion, and I catch the clear evidence of exhaustion in their depths. “Is this your first time here?” she asks me.
It breaks the tension between us, and I fall further back into the scratchy cushion below me. “Yes.” My head inclines. “Is it yours?”
She cocks her head in confusion.
Before she can answer, the woman to my left lets out a startled grunt of pain and it tugs both of our attention.
“Fuck!” the woman rumbles in anger. “Where the fuck are the doctors!?”
A door opening across from us draws my attention next.
A small beta nurse walks through, holding a clipboard. She ignores the omega in pain, instead reading from it. “Jane Smith.”
Nobody moves.
