“I’m her nurse. Who are you?” I blocked Westin from this alpha’s view.
“I’m her bodyguard,” the alpha said. He was a big guy but smaller than me, which I noted with some satisfaction. My eyes flitted to the gun holstered at his hip.
“Why do you need a bodyguard?” I asked, glancing back at Westin as that uncomfortable sensation took hold of my chest again.
“That’s none of your business,” the alpha snarled. He moved to the other side of Westin’s bed, and it took everything in me to stop myself from throwing him out of the room. “Come on, princess, it’s time to go. Doc says you’re fine.”
Westin’s fingers twisted in the bedsheets, and she wouldn’t meet my gaze.
“She can’t leave. We haven’t run any tests yet,” I said, wishing I could grasp Westin’s hand and hold it tight.
“I’m just repeating what the doctor said,” the alpha snarled. “I thinkhewould know better thanyou.”
A growl tore through my chest as I squared up with the bodyguard, whose face was twisted in a condescending sneer.
Westin whimpered, curling in on herself. I couldn’t stop myself from grasping her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.
“Don’t touch her,” the bodyguard said, lip curled into a snarl.
“Gray, just stop. It’s fine,” Westin said, her voice tired.
Before the alpha—Gray—could say anything, the attending entered the room. I held in my grimace as I realized it was Dr. Graham, an egotistical asshole.
I pulled my hand out of Westin’s before he could see.
“Alright, Ms. Anderson, we are discharging you,” Dr. Graham said without looking at Westin. “Make sure you drink plenty of water so you don’t get dizzy again. I’m also making a referral to psychiatry so they can help you with your…otherissues.”
He nodded at Gray before turning towards me. “Get Ms. Anderson discharged,” he commanded, his tone imperious. The alpha doctors looked down on me for being a nurse, but I’d neverbeen interested in being a doctor. I liked doing the more hands-on care for patients.
Dr. Graham left and I turned back to Westin. “I’ll be right back,” I said, leaving the room before I gave in to the urge to kiss her. “Dr. Graham,” I called out, walking quickly to catch up to him. “I wanted to check in with you about Ms. Anderson.”
“Yes?” The doctor continued walking as he looked down at his tablet.
“I saw that we didn’t run any tests. I’m not even sure her vitals were entered into her chart. Are you sure she’s ready for discharge?” I spoke carefully, not wanting to alienate him.
“This is the problem with allowing omegas to come to our hospitals,” Dr. Graham said with a sigh, finally stopping to look at me. “Not everyone has the special training required. Omegas are highly manipulative. It can be hard not to be swayed by them. Ms. Anderson is a particularly alluring omega, and it’s easy to fall under her spell. Rest assured, there’s nothing wrong with her. Well, besides her mental problems.”
Fury gripped my chest and I had to breathe steadily through my nose to calm myself. This asshole was denying Westin care because of his own prejudice against omegas.
Before I could say anything else, Dr. Graham turned on his heel and headed down the hall, effectively dismissing me. I considered following him but realized it was useless. He’d made up his mind.
I hurried back to Westin’s room, hating every moment I was away from her. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her since our night together, and seeing her in the hospital bed made my alpha roar with protectiveness.
I opened the door to her room and saw Gray shove a water bottle at Westin. “Drink all of that. Can’t have you passing out again on me, princess,” he said, his tone harsh.
“Don’t talk to her like that,” I snarled, a growl building in my chest.
Westin turned to face me. Maybe I imagined how her eyes softened and the gentle smile playing on her lips.
“They are going to discharge you,” I said, softening my tone and ignoring Gray’s smug expression. “Let’s get you ready to leave. I just want to take your blood pressure real quick.”
I’d probably get in trouble for it if Dr. Graham caught me, but fuck that. I was concerned about her symptoms, and we didn’t even have basic vitals on her.
“Okay,” Westin said, looking up at me with trust in her eyes.
I ran my hand down her arm as I placed the blood pressure cuff, craving any touch I could get. I frowned at the reading. “Your blood pressure is 86/55, which is very low. Are you still feeling dizzy?”
“A bit,” Westin said, glancing up at Gray.
