“Theo has deemed it safe,” Ben said with an eye roll, pulling Josie in for a kiss.
Theo looked up from the research team’s paper.
“The research was well done,” he said, almost begrudgingly.
“If it’s so safe, why aren’t you taking it?” I asked Angie, trying to keep the accusing tone out of my voice.
Angie blushed and glanced at her two alphas leaning against the back wall. “I would, except I’m pregnant.”
Josie squealed with excitement, throwing her arms around Angie.
“Congrats,” I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. Feeling protective of Josie didn’t mean I got to be an asshole, especially not to another omega who was risking so much to help us.
I eyed Josie’s big smile as she and Angie discussed the pregnancy and wondered if she wanted to have children. She was on birth control, so it hadn’t come up yet. The three of us had never wanted kids, but what if Josie did? Theo watched Josie carefully as well, and I wondered if he was thinking the same thing.
Now was not the time to think about it.
“Alright,” Angie said, sitting down at a table with a metal tray of medical supplies. “You ready for this?”
“Yep,” Josie responded, sitting down across from her. Only the acidic edge of her scent gave away her anxiety, and I couldn’t help but pull up a chair next to her.
“This serum uses a similar formulation to the alpha tabs. As you know, we can’t remove your device without it alerting the government. The hope is that the serum will disable the device. If this works for you, you won’t be as susceptible to alpha barks even after the device is removed. It lessens the omega impulse to obey, hopefully evening the playing field when it comes to omegas being able to function in society, work, and make our own decisions.”
“How long until I know if it’s worked?” Josie asked.
“The other omega noticed a difference after forty-eight hours, but obviously, that’s just a sample size of one,” Angie said. “During the injection, you might feel a burning sensation, which could last several minutes.” She took special care to look at Ben, Theo, and me. Probably checking to make sure we wouldn’t lose our shit at our omega being in pain.
“Any other side effects?” Josie asked.
“The other omega reported some euphoric effects for a couple of hours after,” Angie said.
“What does that mean?” Josie asked.
Angie cleared her throat. “She was a bit loopy, almost like she was high.”
“That doesn’t sound bad,” Josie said, biting her lip.
“Good,” Angie said with a nod. “We’ll get started then.”
She turned towards the medical tray. Theo stood behind her so he could watch as she drew up the liquid.
“You don’t have to do this if you’re unsure,” I murmured, leaning closer to my mate.
“I want to,” Josie whispered back.
Ben stood behind Josie’s chair, lightly touching her shoulders. She glanced back at him with a smile.
“It’s going to burn, but you need to hold still for the full ten seconds,” Angie warned as she cleaned the spot on Josie’s arm with an alcohol wipe.
Josie nodded, her expression stoic. She was so brave while I felt like my heart would explode from stress.
“Want me to hold your hand?” I murmured, scooting my chair closer. I hoped she would say yes, mainly because it would make me feel less useless and because I selfishly needed her touch to stay calm.
She nodded, and I grasped her hand, noticing the marks her fingernails had left on her palm.
“Alright. One, two, three,” Angie said.
Josie’s eyes were screwed shut as she squeezed my hand in an iron-tight grip. Every muscle in her body tensed, and she held her breath.
