78
WESTIN
The very air in the hospital felt oppressive, like it was too thick to enter my lungs properly. I wanted to scream, to run, to dosomething, but I just sat frozen in my chair in the small gray lobby. My fingers were the only thing that betrayed me as they tapped out a furious rhythm against my leg. Liam finally grabbed my hand and pulled it onto his lap, running his thumb across my palm.
He leaned over the arm of the chair, his lips close to my ear. “Everything will be alright, sweetheart.” His low voice soothed me, and I leaned my head on his shoulder, wishing the chairs were large enough for us to sit together. Gray was on my other side. He ran his hand through my hair before settling it on my arm, gently touching the bandage there.
I’d had my blood drawn when I got here, and now I was waiting for an MRI. Being here forced me to face the fact that there was something wrong with me. Not that I could easily forget, especially after the horrific pain I experienced last night, but being surrounded by nurses and doctors made it more tangible.
The fluorescent lights hurt my eyes. The room was too cold, the scents too strong, and the silence from my guys too excruciatingly loud.
A beta woman with straight brown hair and light blue scrubs entered the room and made a beeline for us. “Ms. Anderson?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“My name is Mandy and I’m your MRI tech. If you would come with me, we’ll get your MRI done.”
All my guys stood, and Liam gently pulled me up from my seat. Mandy’s brows furrowed. “Oh, I only need Ms. Anderson for this. The rest of you can stay here and I’ll have her back to you in about an hour.”
Shit.
Of course I had to do the MRI alone.
I told myself it wasn’t a big deal, but my heart pounded in my chest and an uncomfortable itchy feeling settled on my skin. I didn’t know what scared me more—being separated from my guys, or how intensely Ididn’twant to be separated from them. I’d spent most of my life on my own, but now the thought of it sent a chill down my spine. I didn’t understand how these four guys could feel so integral to my life after only a few weeks. And it fucking scared me.
“We’re her pack.” Liam put his hand on my lower back and his touch eased something inside me. “We’re going to accompany her.”
“Well, it’s just that hospital policy says…” Mandy trailed off as she took in the intense expressions of my four guys.
“I can go alone.” I tried to sound confident, but my voice was too strained to be convincing.
“No,” Henry said. “We said we would stick together today.”
Mandy fidgeted with her lanyard. “I guess I could ask my supervisor…”
“That would be wonderful, Mandy,” Gray said, swooping in with authoritative charm. “We’ll wait right here.”
Mandy spun on her heel and rushed away.
Gray pressed his body to my side and kissed the top of my head. “We’ll get this sorted, princess. Don’t worry.”
I stood there for a few quiet moments, sandwiched between Gray and Liam. In the midst of all the chaos and uncertainty, the tightness in my chest eased seeing my two alphas getting along.
Mandy returned, her cheeks slightly pink. “Alright, my supervisor said one of you can accompany Ms. Anderson for her MRI.”
“We can’t all go?” Bear asked, his voice carrying a hint of a growl.
“Unfortunately not,” Mandy said. “But I promise I’ll take good care of her and have her back in one piece.”
“This is absurd,” Henry muttered.
I wanted all of my guys with me, but one was better than none. My relief was short-lived, though, when I realized I would have to choose which one would come back with me.
Then Gray spoke up. “Liam should go.”
I looked up at him, my lips parting in surprise.
Gray smiled, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. “He has medical training, so it makes sense.”
