She chokes, coughing into her hand as I finally manage a small smile. “It’s a long story.”
“Good thing I’ve got time.”
“Okay, what the fuck is your problem?” I growl, glaring at Jude. He’s my pack lead and best friend, but I’m about ready to fucking throttle the asshole. His expression is one of sheer boredom when he looks at me, but I know better. I can see the mania behind his eyes and the way his fists clench on the desk.
His words are measured as he checks his watch. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Don’t you have practice to get to?”
I roll my shoulders back and place my hands down on the desk opposite his seat. “Got cancelled. I’m serious, Jude. You’ve been off for weeks and now you’re being rude to Posey? I’m fucking done. So tell me now or I can go over your head and contact the pack doctor.”
That mania crests, finally shifting his demeanor into what he’s been trying so hard to cover up. He stands so quickly the wood chair smacks against the wall and gets right in my face, snarling viciously. “You wouldn’t,” he barks.
“Try me.” I don’t give in to his baiting and keep my voice even. His alpha is trying to make mine back down with a show of aggression, and I refuse to play into it. If Jude wants a fight, he can go antagonize Parker.
All at once, the aggression floods out of Jude, leaving him deflated. His shoulders slump and he seems to shrink in on himself. “I went in for aroutine checkup about three months ago and some of my bloodwork was weird so they ordered more tests. I’m in the beginning stages of Alpha Rabidity. The only thing that will help it is regular contact with a compatible omega, and the only cure is a bond with one.”
My jaw drops, shock freezing me for a long moment. Of all the things I expected him to say, that wasn’t even remotely in the realm of possibilities that went through my head. My body gives up, all my bravado gone. He’s only twenty-four. It’s practically unheard of to develop this condition so young. If Jude is going rabid… “Do they know how long?”
He knows what I’m asking. When an alpha is diagnosed with AR, there are typically four stages. What stage you’re diagnosed at determines how long you might have before surpassing feral and going completely rabid. But he just shakes his head. “I was diagnosed at stage one three months ago. Last week I was already at stage two. Doc said it’s one of the fastest progressions he’s ever seen in someone under thirty. Worst case, 6 months. Best case, a year. And that’s only if I start treatment right now.”
“Why the fuck haven’t you started treatment then?” I explode, furious that not only has he been keeping this from us, but also declining the treatment that could literally save him from going rabid and being locked away. The fury is mixed with a heap of guilt when I think about all of the times we’ve joked about Jude acting feral recently. So many things are starting to make sense now, and nausea churns in my gut when I think about it.
He snarls, tearing at his hair in frustration. “I don’t trust myself, alright? Ever since my diagnosis I can feel myself slipping, and I’m terrified that I’ll accidentally bite someone I don’t mean to. And now that I’ve smelled…” he trails off, and my heart jumps to my throat.
“Now that you’ve smelled Posey? Iknewyou were affected by her. We finally met our scent match, why would you not want to be around her and ease your symptoms?” The hoopshe’s jumping through to avoid getting to know Posey don’t make any sense. She’s clearly ours, so why is he so hell-bent on being alone?
“I don’t want an omega, Mack. You know this. I can’t count the number of times I’ve said those exact words to you and the twins. If you guys want the omega, fine. I won’t stand in your way. But for the last goddamn time,I.don’t.want.her.”
This conversation is clearly going nowhere so rather than respond, I grab my bag and hightail it out of there, desperate to work off some steam in the gym before I punch my best friend.
A glimpse of pink hair at the end of the hall makes me pause, wondering if I’m losing it or if I just saw Posey, and then I catch the lingering scent of apples and honey in the air. Only it’s all wrong. The apples are sour with distress and the honey is bordering on rancid. I take off at a sprint, determined to catch up with my omega and find out why she’s running through the building. Finally I spot her in a quiet alcove down an unused hall. “Posey?” I ask quietly.
She startles, pressing her back further into the wall. “Y-yeah?” The single word is choked and a quiet sniffle follows.
My stomach drops, my alpha panicking in my mind at the sound of her tears. “Pretty girl, why are you crying?” When I get close enough, I can see tears pouring down her cheeks, her soured scent even more potent in this empty corner.
Her breathing stutters, and she doesn’t answer for several tense seconds. “I heard Professor Carter.”
Shit.
“What did you hear, gorgeous?” I ask carefully. He said a lot, and I don’t know how long she was standing there.
“I accidentally ran into him this morning and knocked some papers out of his hands. I caught his scent and… it’s stupid, but my omega thought he was ours. But then he.” She trails off, pressing her lips together.
White hot anger rushes through my veins, so much that I’m practically shaking with it. “But thenwhat?”
Posey sighs, sniffling and wiping her nose on a long sleeve. I can’t tell what color this sweater is, but it looks similar to the one she was wearing the first day I met her. “He said I couldn’t have scented him, but even if I did, we would never be compatible. It’s not so much the words themselves, but the way he looked at me when he said it. He looked… disgusted. Like the idea of being my scent match was the worst thing that could possibly happen to him.”
Her eyes go fiery in the fading daylight, belying her frustration. “But then just now I heard him acknowledge that wearescent matches, and he still doesn’t want me. What is it about me that’s so repulsive? I know I’m not curvy like most omegas, and the pink hair is a little troll-ish, but I’m nice, and I crochet, and I’m a really good friend most of the time.”
By the end of her rant she’s panting and her eyes are shiny again, so I step closer. “Posey…”
She shakes her head, biting down on her plump bottom lip. It’s swollen and a little bruised like she’s been thoroughly kissed recently, and for the second time in as many days, I find myself jealous of one of my pack mates. Of course I want them to get close with our omega, too, but I can’t help but feel like I’ve barely had any time with her. I’m worried I’ll get left behind. “Please don’t,” she whispers.
The words are like a cannon in the silence, echoing around us and tearing me open. “Why?”
Her hands tremble where she smooths down the sweater, adjusting the backpack strap on her shoulder. “I’m sorry, McKenzie, but I can’t do this. I know we’ve been having this flirtation and we’re obviously really compatible, but I won’t be the reason your pack falls apart. I really like you, but as long as Professor Carter hates me, I’m going to feel out of place. I think it's best if we just keep our distance for awhile. Until I can be around you without wanting to drown in your scent.” And then she walks away.
It takes several agonizing seconds for her words to make sense, and then I’m running through the building again trying to catch up to her. I can’t let her walk away. Not now, not after the three of us have gotten so attached to her. I know in my gut Jude will come around, but if Posey walks away before that can happen, it will fracture our pack beyond repair. Parker especially will never forgive Jude for pushing her away or me for letting her go.
