Page 43 of This Pack of Ours

“Ow!”he yelped. His arm went slack, dropping me, and I crashed to the ground. My head hit the hardwood with a terrifying crack and a bolt of pain.

My vision swam, but the threat was still there as I tried to scramble away.

Get it together.

I had to be able to fight?—

“Juniper?” Adrian said, and I felt his hand brush my arm in the dark. I twisted, trying to scratch him, and he swore.

“Juniperstop," he barked, aura flaring out with enough force to make me freeze.

Pure terror whited out my vision as I lay there, heart pounding, chest heaving with rapid breaths. My neck was exposed. Fuck.Fuck.

I heard fingers fumbling and the living room lamp clicked on.

Adrian crouched down next to me; hands raised as if he was harmless.

“I’m not going to hurt you," he said, his voice level, eyes meeting mine. His bark was wearing off, and I managed to sit up a bit, scooting back until I hit the wall. I hissed as I hit the tender spot on my skull, sending spots into my vision.

“Oh god, I’m so sorry. Are you hurt? Your head?” he asked, but despite my fear, he wasn’t coming closer.

“I’m fine,” I gritted out. I still couldn’t catch my breath properly, and my head was pounding; it felt like it had been cracked open. My dad had been an ER nurse, and I knew I should probably get checked for a concussion, but I couldn’t afford that.

Gold pack problems.

He gave me a flat look.

“Sounded bad," he said.

“I’ve had worse.”

We glared at each other. It was funny… I hadn’t really heard him talk this much before. He tended to stay quiet.

“I’m going to get my medical kit. When I get back, I’m going to take a look at your head.”

When you get back, I’m going to be locked in my room.

With my blanket.

I gave a quick nod so he would leave, more pain shooting through my head. He went and grabbed some pants to pull on over his underwear.

He didn’t grab a shirt because, apparently, it was illegal for alphas to wear shirts at night.

I’d arrest him for that, my omega voice commented before I could stop her.

Bad, Juniper. Bad.

To my surprise, he went out the apartment door and down the stairs.

Right.

Time to move.

I shifted forward, and my head spun, nausea hit me like a wave.

Fuck.

Just needed to give myself a minute. I’d still have time to leave before he got back.

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