Page 51 of Knot the Alphas' Feral Omega

Flashes of memory hit me all at once, and I flinched, stopping in my tracks. I squeezed my eyes shut, ignoring the way that my head immediately throbbed, and only Emmett’s warmth at my back stopped me from turning on my heel and running away immediately.

“Lilah.” The woman’s voice was warm and soothing, and I let out a tiny whimper before I opened my eyes and looked at her. She had approached me while my eyes were closed, and the sympathy on her face as she looked at me was painful. I took a deep breath, noting her subtle beta scent, and then I reached out for her with one hand.

“Hi.” We clasped hands, and I struggled to contain my anxiety as my eyes flicked over to Oliver. His scent was heavy in the air, making my heart rate and my pheromones go crazy, and his expression was almost painfully neutral as he looked at me.He was dressed just as well as he always was, wearing a white button-down and light gray slacks, his hands tucked into his pockets as he watched.

Only his eyes told the storm of emotions that were inside him, emotions that I could still faintly but explicitly taste through the bond, despite everything: worry, concern, guilt, and regret so strong that it spread over my tongue like ash.

I flinched a little, and his face twitched in kind. He pressed his lips tightly together, then nodded at me. “Sorry,” he murmured. “I’ll be over...here.”

Before I could marvel at the sight of such a powerful alpha seeming so uncertain—and overme—he turned on his heel and walked away. My heart leaped into my throat, and for a moment, I thought he would leave the house entirely despite what Killian and Emmett had said to me.

I shouldn’t care so much if he did, especially when my body was fuckingprotestingbeing near him, but it still fucking hurt.

Thankfully, he didn’t go far. He retreated to the corner of the room, as far away as he could be from me while still in the confines of the room, and then he ran one hand through his neat blond strands before turning his attention back to the doctor and nodding. “Please proceed, Lisa.”

I returned my attention to the doctor, who looked at me kindly and gently led me to a seat in the middle of the room without touching me. “Here, Lilah. Please, sit down.”

I submitted for the exam, only flinching the tiniest bit when I glanced Oliver’s way. He stayed in his corner, watching mecarefully as my blood pressure was taken and my heart and lungs listened to. The doctor checked my nails, making a soft tsking sound when she saw how they were bitten down to the quick, and her expression was softly sympathetic when she checked my eyes, nose, ears, and throat.

I felt like a bug under her microscope, and only Killian touching me on the shoulder every few minutes while she touched me was enough to keep me from flying off the handle.

She asked me a few questions about how I was feeling. I steadfastly ignored Oliver’s heavy gaze on me as I answered, describing the shakiness and lightheadedness I was feeling, the fear that was flooding me like the world’s worst aphrodisiac.

She nodded and finally sat back when I was done, leaning her hip against the dining room table and clasping her hands in front of her hips as she looked at me. She twisted her mouth in sympathy, then turned her attention to the three alphas who were hovering and watching her with equal expressions of concern and fear.

“Well,” she said, her gentle voice ringing in the dead silence of the room. “As I’m sure you’re already aware, Lilah is suffering from Bond Rejection Syndrome. If I had to make an assessment of intensity, I would say it’s fairly acute.” She turned her attention to me, and her expression softened again. “I’m sorry that you’re going through this, Lilah. I’m sure this must be very difficult.”

I nodded, not saying anything—what the hell was there to say to that?

With me sufficiently placated, she turned her attention back to my alphas, her expression growing much more stern, especially when she looked at Oliver. “Recovery from this condition won’t be easy. If you’re not planning on bonding with her anytime soon, or if she hasn’t consented, that’s fine. She’ll be ready when she’s ready.” She glanced at Killian when she said that, and to his credit, my chaotic alpha barely flinched at the subtle reprimand.

“In the meantime, though, she’ll be dealing with varied symptoms—high blood pressure, tachycardia, migraines, low blood sugar, low blood pressure, dizzy spells, lack of appetite, depression, anxiety...”

My stomach sank as she continued to describe the various symptoms that I was going to be experiencing. I shook my head, ignoring the way that the tiny voice in my head gnawed at me, telling me I should just leave and take away the issues I was bringing to this pack with me.

I reminded myself that they directly caused this particular laundry list of issues, and the least they could do was help me get back on my feet until I was ready to leave.

Even as the thought crossed my mind, the faint bond in my chest twinged with irritation at the thought of leaving. My hand flew to my sternum, rubbing the spot there, and I let out a tiny whimper as I struggled to keep my breathing under control.

Killian was immediately at my side, kneeling and taking my hand. His green eyes were wide behind his glasses when he looked up at me, his curls slightly disheveled. When I squeezed his hand back, he offered me a small, encouraging smile.

I swallowed and then winced again when Oliver’s voice sounded. “So, what do we need to do to help her get better?”

His voice was soft and unobtrusive, and I could tell he was trying to disturb me as little as possible, to make himself as unseen and unheard as he could. But his scent was still disturbing my nose, and my body was reacting to it—and more than that, the faint hint ofdespairin his voice as he asked the doctor the question almost hurt more than the way my body was rebelling.

The bond was painful, and my omega instincts cried out for me to go over to my alpha, calm him down, make him better, and help him see that this situation wasn’t all that bad.

Of course, that would be disingenuous. Itwasthat bad, and a vindictive part of me was glad he was feeling the weight of guilt for his actions. This wasn’t going to be an easy journey for any of us, and if he was feeling even a hint of the same amount of hurt that I was...well, all the better.

“Offer comfort and make sure her physical needs are met,” the doctor responded, looking at me with sympathy glimmering in her eyes. “You won’t want to eat most of the time, but calories are necessary to help you get through this. The same goes for hydration. You must sleep well and as often as your body needs. If you neglect your needs, this will take much longer to overcome.”

I squirmed a little. “And the rest?” I asked hesitantly. “The...emotional shit?”

She nodded. “Time, and like I said, comfort. Your body needs to know that you won’t be rejected again.” She paused, then said, more hesitantly, “Going to your nest will help.”

My eyes immediately slammed shut, and a choked sound of pain escaped me.

“She won’t be doing that until she’s ready,” Oliver said harshly. I curled in on myself at the bark in his voice, though it wasn’t directed at me, and there was a long, meaningful pause afterward.

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