Page 60 of Forget

Me:

Close enough, Domh.

Chapter 12

Aisling

I feel hot, a little crampy, and tired. I can feel the phantom cramps due to my body being in pain for so long. Blinking as I wake up, I groan, turning to bury my face in my pillow. The scent of leather and shed whiskey fills my senses, making me shiver.

My heat just broke, and I’m a mess of slick, sweat, and starvation. The IV kept me hydrated, but didn’t keep the pain away.

God, I want to roll around in this scent forever. Mine.

Ugh, how can I be reacting this way. My scent blocking… Wait that’s worn off because it’s been?—

My phone is on the charger in a cubby hole of my nest, and I grab it to find that it’s been four days since I started my heat. There’s a half empty banana bag filled with fluids dripping into my veins, which only reminds me that I really have to pee.

Squirming, I whimper uncomfortably, ignoring all of the missed messages and calls on my phone. I know I didn’t show up for my shifts at Omega’s Haven, but I can’t call people until I get up, shower, and throw this bedding in the washing machine.

I may need to hide from the staff, because they always tell me they can do it for me. It just feels weird when I can work a laundry machine perfectly fine.

Burying my nose in the pillow again, I decide I can’t wash it. I don’t know why, but the idea physically hurts me, so I sit up and hide it, so it won’t accidentally get touched. I’m going to need to figure out who may have come in here while I was dead to the world.

I’ve had to become really good at removing my IVs lately, since I don’t like my dad seeing what a mess I am at the end of a heat. I hate that I’m so vulnerable and helpless to get over my fears.

Sighing, I close off the valve for the fluid before removing the IV guard and taking care of the cannula for disposal.

Standing slowly, I lean against the wall as I hold gauze to my arm to stem the slight bleeding. I’m always a little dizzy after being prone for so long, but it never gets any easier. Walking slowly, I write a quick note on a sticky note for my dad and put it on my bedroom door before closing it.

I swear I can still smell the slight scent of leather and whiskey as I walk through the room in my tank-top and shorts. It was eleven at night on Christmas when I started feeling intense cramps.

Fuck, I didn’t even get to nest or ease into it. Dr. Fields insists on waiting until my heat begins before he’ll come to the house. I understand it’s because he doesn’t want me to wake up early and in pain.

The efficacy of the treatment is wearing off if my fever dreams are anything to go by. I usually don’t remember anything, retreating to a black cloud of unconsciousness. I wish there was a magic wand for finding a pack that won’t judge me for needing someone who will help me.

It’s probably for the best that those packs showed their true colors instead of agreeing and then fucking me over in a less than pleasant way. Turning on the light to the bathroom and the heated floors, I pull off my clothes to shower.

I swear, I can smell this mysterious scent all over me.God, did this alpha scent mark me?

I’ve seen Wren’s pack do this, and Flynn do it, and I’ve always wondered what it would feel like to have someone’s scent on your skin, as part of you. Fuck, I don’t want to get emotional about this.

I always have heightened feelings after my heat, and I hate it.

I use the toilet quickly, my eyes rolling as I empty my bladder. Whoever would have thought that emptying your bladder after so long would feel like a religious experience? Once done, I flush and move to the shower to get started on my post heat ritual.

Turning on the water, I step inside before it’s warm. Shuddering as I hold back a squeal, I let it wash over my overheated skin. It feels refreshing, despite the shock to my system. Pressing the pump for my face wash, I begin to get clean, knowing I’ll be in here for the next half hour.

I’ll need full primping and scrubbing to feel like myself.

Once I’m done with my shower, I dry off and pull on a robe. Leaving my hair up in a towel, I brush my teeth and then moisturize my skin. The constant fluids being pushed through my system kept me from getting dehydrated, but it means I’ll have to pee like crazy for the rest of the day.

Blowing out a breath, I squeeze the water out of my hair with my towel, and then run a little product through my hair. I’ll let my hair figure itself out today, which will mean my hair will loosely curl.

Tossing the towel in the hamper as I walk back into my room, I head to my makeshift nest. I can’t even miss the scent I’m starting to obsess over because it’s saturating the closet.

“Who the hell was in here?” I mutter, wondering if my father will tell me. I’m almost scared to ask, because the answer will be life altering and I know it.

Deciding to let it lie, I change into a pair of sweatpants and a long-sleeved shirt. Fuzzy socks also join the ensemble, and then I’m gathering up all of my blankets to sneak off to the laundry room.

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