“Happy birthday,” the cashier said in a monotone. “We’ll get your free meal out to you in a minute.”
This was how she was celebrating her birthday? With a fast-food burger and fries?
We waited for the food in silence. After she grabbed the brown paper bag, she skirted around me as if afraid I would lash out.
I reminded myself of what she’d done, how she’d lied to me. But my heart wasn’t in it.
I looked around the parking lot as we left the restaurant, scanning for threats. Seeing none, I headed towards the car, pausing when I realized Westin was trailing behind me.
“Keep up,” I growled. My irritation grew when she didn’t speed up. I needed this day to be over. “If you’re doing this to annoy the fuck out of me, you’re doing a great job.”
“Sorry, I’m tired.” Her hand was tightly clenched around the food bag. “I… I might need to sit down.”
“Come on, we’re almost at the car. You can sit down there, princess.”
She stumbled, catching herself on my forearm. The touch of her hand went through me like lightning, my cock growinginstantly hard. I ripped my arm out of her grasp with a snarl. “Don’t fucking touch me.”
“S—sorry,” Westin said in a small voice.
We were almost to the car, and I broke the number one bodyguard rule and strode ahead of her, needing space from the intoxicating omega. She was trying to manipulate me, but I wouldn’t give in. I opened the back door.
I glanced back and my heart jolted when I couldn’t find her.
She was right behind me. How could she have gone anywhere? Ice chilled my veins. Did someone grab her?
I whirled around, my eyes scanning the pavement. At first, they skipped over the small lump, and then I realized it was Westin.
She had collapsed.
I ran over to her, my heart pounding and nausea rolling through me. I brushed her hair out of her face. She looked pale, but she was breathing, and I could feel a steady pulse.
“Westin, can you hear me?”
I ran my hands down her body and when I didn’t see any injuries, I gathered her up in my arms. She groaned, pressing her face into my chest.
“Westin, please answer me,” I said as I hurried to the car.
“Sorry,” she whispered.
“Sorry for what?” I rearranged her in my arms so I could open the passenger-side door.
“For causing trouble.” She slumped in the seat. “I know you want to get home.” Her eyes were still closed and she was pale. Was there really something wrong with her?
“Don’t worry about that,” I said, reaching across her to buckle her in. “Let’s just get you to the hospital.”
“No, I’m fine,” was her whispered response.
“You’re fucking not,” I growled.
I felt the urge to kiss her on the forehead, but instead, I shut her door, ran around to the driver’s side, and tore out of the parking lot, willing to break whatever laws I needed to get her to the hospital as fast as possible.
32
LIAM
“You’ve got room eight, Liam,” Candy said as she passed the nurse’s station. “Hysterical omega, apparently, so they need the omega whisperer.”
I resisted rolling my eyes. Since the Designation Government’s downfall, omegas were becoming more integrated into society. The restrictions preventing them from being treated at public hospitals had lifted, and we were all getting used to the change. I wasn’t sure how I got the reputation for being an omega whisperer, but there were so few alpha nurses I was constantly getting called in on omega cases. I didn’t mind, although dealing with possessive bonded alphas got fucking exhausting.
