Page 124 of Fight

“Cerenity,” she whispers. “You can’t be here. They’ll find you.”

“Mama, you don’t have to worry about me. I promise. I have a pack, and they’re good alphas. They’ll kill for me to protect me and have,” I tell her. “I also learned how to protect myself. Please, tell me why you’re so afraid?”

Her hands are shaking, eyes wild as she struggles with the fact that I’m here.

“The bond tells them things that I can’t keep from them if they get too close,” she says softly. “Sometimes it’s whispers, other times it’s feelings. The problem is that it works both ways since it’s so warped. They forced it on me, and I’ve never been the same. My anxiety is all over the place, I jump at shadows. I don’t know what’s real or not.”

Tears are falling before I can hold them back. “You’re not crazy, are you?” I gasp. “I thought something in you broke, so I found this place to try to help. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to leave you here.”

“I wanted you to leave me,” Mama insists, her chest heaving with emotions. “I didn’t want you too close so they wouldn’t find you.”

“How much can they tell? I’ve never heard of a pack bond working like this,” I say, glancing at the orderly. Thankfully, he looks bored and isn’t really paying attention to us.

“It’s not supposed to,” Mama sighs. “I’m not taking my medication anymore, I just lock everything in my head now. This place isn’t terrible, even if the new doctor is a little odd. Lately, I see flashes of blood in my mind that I think is coming from the bond. It’s terrifying, because I don’t know what it means.”

Frowning, I don’t know what that could mean, except that they may be killers as well. My stomach twists in pain, making me wince. You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. Now?! I must have made a noise, because Mama’s eyes narrow on me.

“What’s wrong with you? Did your alphas hurt you somehow? Why are you making that noise?” she asks.

My mother is brutal when she finds a thread to pull when she thinks something is wrong. Shifting, I tell myself I’m fine, I have plenty of time to get home. I’m good.

“Your doctor called me and said I should come see you,” I say slowly. “It’s one of the reasons I’m here. I’ve been thinking of coming, but he was insistent. Any idea why?”

Making a sound that tells me she noticed I’m deflecting, she shrugs. “Dr. Brunes mentioned that he wanted to see if there was a family member he could speak to. I told him my family was dead or estranged,” she explains.

“He said it may be important to my treatment plan, but since the plan is bogus because I don’t really think I’m sick, I tried to deflect. Since I know what that looks like, tell me why you look like you have ants in your pants, Cere,” she says.

The words make me giggle, even as I rub my stomach. “I think my heat is starting. It’s just a twinge, but there’s not been a twinge all day, and now it’s poking its ugly head,” I explain.

“Where are your alphas?” she asks, eyes wide.

“Waiting for me to tell them when I need them,” I say. “They’re working on things, and I kept telling them I’m fine because?—”

“You’re an idiot?” Mama asks, making me splutter.

“I guess that’s exactly why,” I admit. “Our relationship is new, but they’re all scent matches. I fought it really hard, though. I wanted nothing to do with them.”

“Because of your fathers,” Mama says so softly I almost don’t hear her. Her eyes close for a second, and goosebumps rise over her skin. She’s visibly trembling, the way she would whenever she’d tell me we’d have to run or take another train.

Shit.

“You have to go,” she gasps. “Please… I can’t.”

“I’ll go,” I promise, squeezing her hands tightly. “I’m going to figure something out, though. You can’t stay here, Mama.”

Opening her eyes, I can see the terror in them. “I have to.”

Only for now.

Getting up, I leave my mom outside in the picturesque sunshine, telling myself to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Their security is solid, even if I’m not a fan of anything else.

“Leaving so soon?” a man asks as I get closer to the front desk.

“Yes, and you are?” I ask with a tight smile. My body isn’t on fire yet, but I have to get the fuck out of here.

“Dr. Brunes, we spoke on the phone,” he says as he reaches out his hand to shake it. Giving him my hand, I shake it as limply as possible. There’s nothing to see here, I’m just a tiny omega.

“We did. Hello,” I murmur. “Mama was enjoying herself outside, so I told her I’ll be back another time. I need to get home to my pack.”

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