Almost.
“How are you feeling?” Ginny mumbles, as Haven strokes slim fingers through her honey blonde hair.
“Better,” I tell her. “A lot better. The docs have me on all the right medication and I’ll be one hundred percent in no time.”
None of the other people in the room contradict me, even though we all know it’s a lie. I’m never going to be one hundred percent again. Just like I was never going to be one hundred percent after my knee was shattered.
“God,” my sister says, tipping her chin back to give me a smile. “I really fucking hate hospitals.”
I should chide her for her language. If my mother was here, she would. But Ginny’s fifteen and I know I was swearing up a storm when I was her age. So I just smooth her hair back from her face and give her a sympathetic smile. “I really fucking hate them too.”
Episode 2: The Beauty and the Aftermath
Florence
“Well, you just hang in there, dear,” the older woman pats my hand. “You’ll find your pack soon.”
I bite the inside of my cheek until I taste blood, and then give her a tight-lipped smile. “Thank you, I know you’re right.”
I’ve heard this a million times since coming back to work a week ago. It seems everyone watchedRoyaLove Getawayand everyone has an opinion on it. On me. On who the Ashbourne Pack should have kicked off instead of me. On the date I planned. On the dates the other omegas planned. On my outfit choices and my hair.
But the thing that most people seem to have an opinion on isthis:whether or not I will find another pack. Most seem to think I will. A few have tried to convince me to give them a shot, to let them take me out. Some have told me I’m going to be alone forever.
Those are the ones I agree with wholeheartedly, but I keep my truth to myself. No one wants to hear about how I won’t ever find another pack because my body simply won’t allow it.
“Have a wonderful day,” I say to the woman. She smiles and shuffles away, and I lift my eyes to the next person in line.
An alpha with slicked back hair and a shirt stretched tight over his admittedly impressive chest. He’s handsome enough, and in the past, I might have been tempted by the smile he throws my way as he saunters over to my counter. But now I don’t feel anything but nauseous.
“Hello.” I force a smile to my lips. “How can I help you?”
He leans his forearms on the counter and ratchets up his smile a notch. “You can give me your phone number.”
My smile doesn’t slip even as his musty book scent washes over me. It's not a pleasant smell, not like a library mixed with leather and coffee. No, this smell is of almost moldy paper and dust.
I haven’t smelled a single appealing alpha since I got back.
Even scents that would have made my omega stand up and take notice before, smell wrong.
“How about you give me your account number instead?”
He leans closer to me, smirking as he recites it to me. When I open his account I look up to find him watching me expectantly, like the amount in his checking account should make me swoon or something, but instead I just feel… hollow.
“How can I help you today?” I ask politely.
“What time does your shift end? How about you let me take you out?”
My already strained smile drops entirely. “No, thank you. I’m not currently looking to date.”
One of the worst things about being on the show is that I can no longer use a fictional boyfriend or pack to get me out ofthese types of situations. Everyone knows I’m single, at least for the next few months most likely.
“That’s okay, baby, we don’t have to date. You can just show me a good time.”
What an offer. Truly.
I stare at him, not sure I heard him right. “Pardon?”
He smirks. “What? You did that for the Ashbourne Pack, didn’t you? It's why they kept you around for so long when it was obvious they were going to choose Isadora.”
