Dr. Ramirez lifts her chin toward the door. “You can come in.”
Jethro steps in first, with Ross, Oli, and Caleb behind him. The room feels smaller with them inside, but not in a bad way. Their scents calm me. Just having them nearby helps.
Jethro stops beside the table and looks at me.
I give him a small smile. “It’s over.”
Dr. Ramirez puts on new gloves and gets the vials ready. She holds up a needle. “Just a quick draw. We’ll test for pregnancy and STIs. It’s routine.”
I glance at the needle. My throat tightens. Jethro places his hand on my arm.My hand drifts to my neck, fingers brushing the bite marks. The skin still throbs, irritated and hot.
Dr. Ramirez notices. “There are medications that can help force those to heal. They won’t erase the marks, but they’ll close them up.”
I shake my head. “I don’t want them healed like that. I didn’t choose these marks. I don’t want them becoming permanent.”
She studies me a moment, then nods. “Since you’re scent-matched with them.” She gestures to the four. “They can bite over the old ones. Their marks would replace the others. The rejection would stop, and you’d heal faster.”
I meet their eyes, landing on Caleb last. I’ve heard about that in the Safe Haven, most Omegas aren’t as lucky as I am. But these Alphas already have an Omega.“I know.”
Dr. Ramirez cleans my arm with an alcohol swab. “Just wanted you to be aware.”
The needle slips in. I tense, but Jethro’s hand keeps me steady. I flick my eyes to vial, watching it fill. What awful truths will it reveal later?
In a swift motion, she pulls the needle from my arm. “All done.” She presses a cotton ball to the spot and tapes it down. “You can get dressed now. Come out when you’re ready.”
She leaves, the door clicking shut behind her.
I look at the stool. My shirt is folded there, but Nero’s rancid clings to it. My stomach turns.
“I can’t wear that again.” My voice barely makes it out. “It smells like them.”
“Do you have anything else you can wear?” Jethro asks, his voice low.
I shake my head. “No. Just that.”
Caleb glances between me and the shirt. “Hang on.” He turns and walks out.
The room goes quiet again. We wait, but the silence isn’t uncomfortable. A few minutes later, a knock sounds against the door. Caleb steps back in, holding a gray hoodie. He crosses the room and holds it out. “Here. It’s clean.”
I take it. My fingers graze his. The fabric is soft and smells like marshmallow and something deeper, sweet. Maybe date. My shoulders drop. Maybe he’s not as closed off as I thought. “Thanks.”
He doesn’t say anything. Just offers a nod, they all turn their backs toward me so I can change.Taking off the paper gown, I pull the hoodie over my head.
Maybe staying wasn’t the wrong call. But I can’t ignore the risk. If Sergio finds me, they’ll be in his crosshairs just for helping me. I can’t let that happen. No matter what I feel, I need to leave before I make this worse for them.
To Share a Nest
Oli
Jethro pulls away from the clinic in his truck, Sandra beside him. I watch them go, then turn to Caleb and Ross.
Ross claps his hands. “Shotgun!” He already heads to the passenger side of Caleb’s black Honda Civic.
I roll my eyes and climb into the back. Caleb’s car is the opposite of Jethro’s. It’s small, spotless, and has a faint new car smell from whatever “new car” scent Caleb keeps stocked in the glove box.
The engine hums to life, it doesn’t shake the steering wheel, like it does in Jethro’s. We pull out of the parking lot and follow Jethro’s truck back toward the bar and our house.
None of us talk. It’s that kind of silence filled with too many thoughts, too many questions. I’m still trying to wrap my head around tonight.
