Page 43 of Forget

“Eventually,” I tell her. “There are people who need it more than I do.”

“Why do I feel as if that’s not true?”

She remains sitting, as I blow out a breath. “I’m a time bomb for various reasons, so this is the best I can do,” I say cryptically, moving toward the door.

“Why are you a time bomb?” Dr. Alys asks, moving so her foot is underneath her, so she’s half standing. “I won’t repeat a word of this, swear.”

“It’s so ridiculous,” I mutter, turning to face her. I can feel warmth behind my eyes, and I swipe at them preemptively. “Over the past year, I’ve been medically sedated during my heats, because some idiot played a prank on me. Unfortunately,I didn’t have any way to get through the heat and it burned through me until I passed out. My heat lasted for four days, and even half awake, all I remember is how much pain I was in. So now, I’m fucking terrified of going through another alone.”

“What happened to the person who played the prank? Does he or she know what they did?” Dr. Alys asks.

“Nope, though my father almost killed him when he found out,” I say. “Dad could tell there was something off with me, though we hadn’t known each other for long at that point. Hayes, the person responsible for the prank, kept making snarky comments until I broke down and explained what happened to my father.”

“Medicated sedation isn’t the best option, but it’s been working for the moment. Why would that have to change?” Dr. Alys asks, looking confused.

“My medical doctor isn’t comfortable with continuing this course of treatment for much longer,” I explain. “So, I joined a dating app to find a pack that will be willing to help me through my heats. I know there are sex toys and all kinds of things that help, and I was all ready to do just that but?—”

“What was the prank?”

“On the day I turned eighteen, I went shopping for sex toys,” I reply, rolling my eyes even as they overflow with tears. It all feels so dumb now. “Long story short, Hayes brought my bags up to my room at my dad’s house, and stole them, replacing them with a note and a pocket knife. I kept the knife in my hand throughout my heat, though I didn’t use it. It’s a reminder.”

Tugging up my skirt, I show her the knife I have strapped to my thigh. It’s the same one Hayes left for me. I started wearing it instead of my other one shortly afterward.

“You should have let your father kill him,” Dr. Alys grunts. “If you weren’t as strong as you are… Well, we won’t go there. A first heat is overwhelming, the cramps debilitating, and it can setthe tone for how others will go. You were alone for it, so it makes sense that you may have a fear of them?”

“The second I start to feel the first cramp, I’m frozen in fear,” I murmur. “Dad has the doctor on standby. I’m sure it’s a pain that the omega can’t figure her shit out.”

“You’re projecting,” she admonishes. “You wouldn’t have to figure anything out if you had had a non-traumatic heat. Your brain is hardwired to expect pain now, which is why you’re feeling fear. I can see how having a pack to help you through your heat would be beneficial, but it has to be the right people.”

“I don’t think I know what I want, which is ridiculous, and fucking up the entire dating process Hollis has,” I groan. At her blank look, I sigh. “Cupid’s Call is working with me for our omegas who want to date safely at Omega’s Haven. So I’ve been the guinea omega. I just told her my instincts clearly can’t be trusted, and asked her to set up mystery dates for me. If we click, then great. If not, whatever.”

“Could you possibly be afraid of your instincts?” Dr. Alys asks.

Taking that into consideration, I hum to myself. “Maybe? My instincts have been overworked for a while, and I’m honestly exhausted,” I admit. “Every decision was weighed heavily, so I overanalyze everything. When I took the dating questionnaire, I didn’t give it a lot of thought, and I ended up with a lot of duds.”

“It’s brave to throw it all up to chance and also a good step,” Dr. Alys says.

“I don’t know about that, but I’ll let you go on a high note,” I tease, winking as I leave.

I feel a little lighter as I walk back to my car to drive to Omega’s Haven. The weather is turning and I can feel the icy air as I breathe in.

Hello winter, I see you.

Chapter 9

Evan

It’s amazing what can be done with technology. Aisling keeps a calendar online, and Caelin was able to hack into it and send me a copy. So far, she’s been to the coffee shop for a lavender latte, Cupid’s Call, and I beat her to the building where Dr. Alys Edwards’ office is.

I even got to speak to her a little, and she is absolutely stunning up close.

I want to kiss her lips, pull her against me so she can ride my thigh until she comes, and then fuck her until she can’t remember anyone else’s name. Growling under my breath, I shiver on the roof across from Omega’s Haven as I watch the building.

There are guards posted at the front entrance, yet no one walks in that way. I can’t get in there, and it’s pissing me off.

Guess I need to call in reinforcements. Crawling in through the skylight in the building, I drop down onto the ground. These are office buildings, and the one I’ve decided to use doesn’t have a tenant currently.

Caelin is doing surveillance on the fly as I need the help. My wonderful pack has also decided to make a group chat to discuss the little omega.

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