“All set,” Angie said after what felt like an eternity as she pulled out the needle and quickly placed a band-aid on my omega’s arm.
Josie released the breath she’d been holding, but her eyes were still shut.
“Sweetheart? Are you okay?” I asked. I ran my hand up her arm and realized she was trembling.
“Josie,” Theo said, his voice sharp.
A whine slipped through her lips, and I lurched, gathering her up in my arms. Little tremors wracked her body. Ben wrapped his arms around both of us, pressing his face to Josie’s.
A soft whimper slipped through her clenched jaw as if she was trying to keep her pain from us but couldn’t quite hold it in. The sound was almost enough for me to go feral.
Theo let out a low growl, pressing himself to my side so he could touch Josie.
“The burning should pass in the next few minutes,” Angie said, her voice infuriatingly calm. “The best thing you can do for her is stay relaxed.”
It took everything in me to not snap at her. My alpha said it was her fault that my mate was suffering, but I managed to hang on to reason and focus on my omega.
Ben stroked Josie’s face and purred. Immediately, I felt some of the tension leave her body. Theo and I started purring as well, touching her as much as we could. Her breaths were coming easier and after what seemed like an eternity, she opened her eyes.
“You still hurting, baby girl?” I asked.
“Just a little,” she said, leaning her face into my chest.
“I need to take her vitals,” Angie said.
I tensed, not wanting to let anyone outside our pack touch Josie.
“You can keep holding her. Just sit down in this chair for me,” Angie said patiently.
Josie patted my chest as if trying to reassure me. I took a deep breath and sat down, biting my lip to keep myself from growling as Angie put a blood pressure cuff and heart rate monitor on Josie.
“Everything looks good,” Angie sighed with relief, moving to take the blood pressure cuff off Josie’s arm.
“That’s mine,” Josie said, tugging her arm away from Angie.
“What?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.
“Don’t take my present,” Josie said, her nose scrunched with disapproval.
“What present, sweetheart?” I asked.
“This,” my omega said, her tone exasperated as she pointed to the cuff.
“That’s not yours?” I said, trying to cover my confusion.
“My present.” Josie crossed her arms and shifted closer to me.
“Oh my god. She’s totally high,” Ben said with a chuckle, leaning down to kiss Josie on the cheek.
“Hi!” she said brightly, pressing her hands on either side of Ben’s face until she squished his cheeks.
“What are the odds I’m getting that blood pressure cuff back?” Angie asked with a smile.
Josie scowled at Angie, placing a protective hand on the cuff.
“We’ll get it back to you later,” Theo said with a chuckle, brushing his hand down Josie’s hair.
Relief was the overwhelming sensation through the bond. We certainly weren’t about to take something she wanted away from her right now.
