And apparently, that's not normal.
I spent the rest of the day anxiously stewing. When my mates finally came home, I knew they'd spoken to Doc. Their faces said it all. Something was wrong with me.
Broken.
Defective.
So, I locked myself in my new room with the entire bag of groceries Hilde gave me.
They knocked. I ignored them.
This bedroom has a bathroom, a couch. Lots of books.
Bet they regret giving me this much space now.
Something warm wiggles around inside me as Grayson continues to bang on the door. Excitement, irritation, calm. It's an odd amalgam of emotions, and if I let myself analyze it, I'm sure it would have something to do with the fact that, even if they do think something is wrong with me, they are here, showing up, trying to talk to me. My dad never did that.
I told him when I was feeling off, when it felt like the medications were making me drowsy, more clumsy, when the quiet ache through my limbs became so loud, so unbearable, I could barely stand. He never comforted me, never worried about me. Just showed up with different pills, muttering about changed dosages or new prescriptions.
I was alone for so long.
And now, I'm anything but.
Yesterday, I caught Joey and a little girl, a couple of years older than him, spying on me through the woods. I knew I had a few hours to kill before the guys got home, and it felt weird to be in their house all day by myself.
I recognized Joey's grassy scent immediately. Beep found them entertaining while I pretended not to notice their cute little heads ducking behind branches, busying myself with weeding the flowers in the window boxes.
I overheard snippets of their whispered conversation aboutthe new omega. Though the attention felt excessive, it was sweet, so I let them look their fill. If my presence comforted them like Joey described at the hospital, I wouldn't deny them, even if I didn't understand it.
When I accidentally caught Joey's eye, both children gasped and fled back through the trees. Beep huffed in amusement, and I went back inside.
The door bangs again, softer this time. Barely. "Mona. Open the door."
"Call. Doc."
Grayson growls loudly, but this time, I hear footsteps, and can almost hear his finger angrily jabbing the touchscreen buttons on his phone.
I'm not having a conversation about my mental health and the health of my wolf without the doctor present, and no matter what Grayson makes me feel—supported, flattered—I'm not going to let him bully me with his big personality. I barely know the man.
We both wait on either side of the door, and about ten minutes later, Orion joins him.
"Doc's here," Orion calls out patiently.
"Great!" I happily swing the door open. Orion grins. Beside him, Grayson looks… frustrated. Night and day, these two.
Grayson sighs heavily and steps back, holding his arm out for me to walk past. I inhale their scents, letting it feed something inside me, and when Orion puts his hand on my back to follow me downstairs, I nearly preen.
We find Doc in the living room, sitting on one of the worn leather couches. I'm getting used to noticing the difference between betas and alphas now. Orion said alphas were like the sun. Walking past Grayson, it's like stepping too close to the flames. The heat of his stare, his presence, demands attention,obeisance. But Doc's energy hums lower, like an ember. Calmer, steadier—that and his ever-present warm smile draw me forward.
Doc opens his mouth to say something, but Grayson, crowding behind me, interrupts. "We need to talk about your wolf." His voice is thunderous, like he's been saving it up since the moment he found out I was different.
"Nice to see you too, Grayson. I'm doing great, slept really well, thanks for asking." My voice drips with sarcasm.
His sage green eyes narrow as I walk past him, and even though I can tell he's irritated, it makes my lips twitch.
I've been here for four days. The first night I spent in the hospital. The last two, I slept in the bedroom upstairs, still unsure, still lost and confused.
Today, things feel different. I can't quite put my finger on it, but somehow, I know I can push his buttons and he won't hurt me or leave me to figure all this out on my own.
