“I’m afraid not. We have to give her medical treatment and that involves her being coherent enough to discuss her pain or to do the medical procedures as needed. If untreated, she could injure it further during heat. Heat Haven has no other choice but to step in and make this decision. I know it’s not what you or Shiloh wanted, but it’s the reality of the situation.”
“Fuck. Fuck!” Cole nearly shouts as he paces in the nest.
“We’ll inject the sedative and take her to the medical center. You’re, of course, welcome to accompany her and stay with her through her sedation. I’m sorry that it’s not better news,” he says solemnly.
“Do we tell her?” I ask, glancing back at the bathroom.
My heart is breaking for my pack mate and Shiloh. This isn’t what anyone wanted, and I worry about the ramifications when she comes out of sedation.
“I don’t think it’s wise. She’s in pain and volatile. She might have a panic attack or an episode if she thinks we’re taking you away from her. The silver lining is I don’t think her heat was going to last more than a day, so the effects of an incomplete heat shouldn’t be so severe. It also goes without saying that her body seems relatively used to an unsatisfying heat,” he says, hanging his head.
I can tell the doctor cares, and it’s the only reason I’m not losing my shit on him. He wants what’s best for Shiloh. Cole, however, is still pacing and looks like he would like to strangle the man.
“Okay. I’ll go make sure she’s calm,” I say.
The doctor nods as he leaves the nest to go get the tools required to put her into sedation.
“This is exactly what she didn’t want,” Cole says quietly enough so Jonah and Shiloh don’t hear. “I told her. I fucking told her we would take care of her, that she wouldn’t have to be sedated. I promised.”
“It was an accident. There’s no way we could have seen this happening.”
“I know that. I fucking know that. I know Jonah would never mean to hurt her and he probably hates himself right now and I don’t want to make it worse, but I’m pissed. She deserved better. She trusted me,” he says, and I’ve seen my brother worked up tons of times, but I know what this is about.
Instead of bringing up the past, I wrap my arms around my brother, and hug him tightly.
He hugs me back, his body going slack against mine. Cole’s always taken care of me. In some ways, he’s felt more like a father than an older brother, but right now, I seem to be the one holding us together.
“We’ll take care of her. This isn’t anyone’s fault. It will be okay,” I console him.
He squeezes me tightly and smacks my back.
“We always get through everything together, we’ll get through this,” he says, taking a deep breath and walking back into the bathroom.
I take a minute in the nest, collecting myself. I’ve never been the pack member who’s held us together like this, and I’m not sure how I feel about it. I feel more capable than I ever have.
Maybe I’m ready for the next step. Maybe I can take care of Shiloh. I throw on a pair of sweatpants, a shirt, and my sneakers so that I can accompany Shiloh wherever they take her.
That is, if she’ll want us after this.
Chapter 13
Jonah
When Mackand Cole enter the bathroom, I know it’s bad. Both of them look like they’re going to throw up.
“What is it?” I mouth, not wanting to disturb Shiloh. She’s no longer crying, but shivering in my arms.
Mack shakes his head as he glances down at Shiloh and I have no fucking clue what he’s trying to convey. Clearly, they don’t want to upset the poor Omega and my mind goes to the absolute worst scenario. It’s at that moment my knot finally releases us.
Shiloh whimpers, and her sobs start up again.
“I’m so sorry, princess,” I tell her. I don’t know how many times I apologize, only that I know it’s not enough.
My stomach hurts, and the guilt flooding me is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Logically, I know I would never hurt her on purpose, but right now, all I can feel is self hatred for causing her so much pain.
She’s so much smaller than me, I can’t imagine what it felt like when we fell for her. Fuck.
All I can do is hold her and be thankful that she isn’t pushing me away, that she isn’t panicking. If anything, it’s like she’s trying to burrow into my skin, like she can’t get close enough.
