“I’ll be fine,” I said, biting back my whimper as Angie finished binding my leg. She had numbed it for the stitches, but it still stung.
Donovan looked at me with skepticism. I clearly wasn’t as good of an actor as I thought.
“I’ll stay—” he said as his phone beeped again. “Fuck, I do have to go. When you’re ready to come downstairs, just text me.” He gestured at the burner phone he’d placed on the nightstand. “Then we can start creating a plan to get your alphas.”
“Thank you,” I said, my voice soft.
Donovan gave my shoulder a squeeze, moving slowly as if worried he would scare me. To be fair, I’d been halfway out the window when he found me. I felt surprisingly comfortable around him, though.
“How’re you feeling?” Angie asked as she started cleaning up her supplies.
“Frustrated that we keep meeting like this,” I said with a small smile. “But I appreciate you coming,” I added, not wanting to sound ungrateful.
“You make those alphas of yours take you on a nice long vacation once this is over.”
“What happens if I can’t get them back?” I whispered, trusting Angie enough to put my greatest fear into words.
She sat down on the bed and took my hand in hers. “I know it’s not helpful for me to say, but I’m confident that’s not going to happen.”
Somehow, it was actually reassuring to hear her say it.
She bit her lip, now looking a bit unsure. “I did want to talk to you about something. Donovan said you thought your alphas had been killed?”
I nodded and averted my gaze, my throat tight. She squeezed my hand.
“Have you heard of Omega Ferality?”
I tilted my head. The term felt somewhat familiar, but I couldn’t place it. “Maybe?”
“I don’t love the name, but it’s a phenomenon that can occur when omegas have been separated from their alphas or if their alphas have been… harmed. It’s stronger amongst bonded packs, but since you’re mates, it could affect you even though you’re not yet bonded.”
“I still haven’t felt the mate bond,” I confessed.
“Totally normal,” she reassured me. “You probably won’t for a few more months. That is, if you choose not to take any more suppressants. Either way, Omega Ferality is when the inner omega starts taking over. It can cause difficulty eating and sleeping, and you might respond more instinctually than usual. It’s a response to the omega’s need to protect their alphas. I wanted to mention it in case you find yourself acting differently than normal.”
I felt the truth of Angie’s words. My omega had already been closer to the surface than usual, but instead of wanting to get rid of her, of resenting her mere presence, I felt more united with her than ever before.
Angie patted my hand before getting up.
“I plan to be around quite a bit these next few days, so I’ll be able to check your wound. Let me know if it starts hurting or if you notice redness or swelling.”
“Thanks,” I said, my eyelids suddenly feeling heavy.
She pulled a soft blanket over me and brushed my hair from my face tenderly as I dozed off.
ChapterThirty-Six
Josie
The knock at my door startled me, my heart racing even though I knew it was probably just Donovan bringing me lunch. I’d gotten out of the shower a few minutes ago, relieved to finally wash Glen off my skin. If only my memories washed away that easily.
“Come in,” I called out from my spot at the window. I kept looking out, needing reassurance that I wasn’t trapped anymore.
I bit my lip as Genevieve slipped into the room. She was bundled up in black sweatpants and an olive-green sweatshirt, her damp hair pulled back in a braid. She’d always had a good poker face, but her scent gave away her stress.
“Can I come in?” she asked.
I nodded, making my way to the bed and sitting down, patting the spot next to me.
