Page 47 of Night Call

“Sure, but I’d really like to see you down to a normal dosage by the new year.”

His boots thudded on the tiled carpet floor as he paced back and forth. “But I don’t—I haven’t ever been on anormaldose. What if it completely messes me up?”

“The only thing messing you up is your current course of action. Let yourself be an omega, Mr McArthur. It’s really not as scary as you think.”

“R-right.” He scrubbed a hand through his hair as he looked out the window. “Dr Phillips?”

“Yes, sweetie.”

“What should I…? What do I put in my nest? I’ve tried the usual things—blankets, pillows and all that, but it doesn’t feel right.”

The doctor gave a sympathetic hum. “Hard to say. It’s very personal. But I’d recommend that next time you’re feeling anxious, imagine what might take that feeling away. Just do what feels right. You don’t need a mate to complete your nest—it’s meant to be a space foryou. But it wouldn’t hurt.”

Pember grimaced. The thought of sharing his space with another person, anotherbody,did not fill him with excitement. He’d had a secret boyfriend at university. A beta called Toby. In fact, he’d lost his virginity to Toby at the tender age of twenty, and after the relationship fizzled out he decided that sex and all the things that went with it werefine. Absolutely, perfectlyfine. But, maybe not for him.

“R-right.” He nibbled his bottom lip. “Thanks.”

The conversation ended shortly after, with Dr Phillips writing him a new prescription to be delivered to his house that afternoon. Just as he was working up the nerve to go back into the briefing room, the door behind him flew open, and people began filtering in.

“CCTV trawl,again,” one of the younger detectives groaned. “Always fucking CCTV.”

“Statements for me,” said another. “I swear to God, does DS Smith hate us orwhat?”

Pember pressed his fingertips to his mouth, hiding a burgeoning smile. He moved to a window on the other side of the room, cracking it open to let a little air in. His head was swimming, but counting the cars in the car park below helped refocus his mind. Taking a long breath, he was about to head back when a feather-light touch caressed the nape of his neck.

“Jesus!” he yelped, nearly jumping out of his skin as he spun around to find Blake standing over him. “You’re surprisingly quiet.”

Blake chuckled, letting his hand drift back to his side. “Sorry, you looked lost in thought. Everything alright?”

Pember tucked a strand of hair behind his ear. “Yeah,” he replied. The top of his arse hit the windowsill as he stepped back. “Just… omega things.”

Blake nodded, tapping the toe of his tan brogue against the carpet.

“Smithy!” a voice boomed from the corridor.

Blake sighed and pushed his glasses into his hair, revealing the deep frown creasing his brow. He dropped his head next to Pember’s ear and whispered, “Keep quiet and hopefully he’ll go away.”

Pember snorted, quickly covering his nose.

“Ah! There you are,” the sergeant with the dirty tie said as he barrelled into the kitchen.

Pember flinched as the other alpha’s intense gaze snapped straight to him, holding him in place like a startled rabbit. Blake’s frown deepened and he stepped between them, partially breaking Pember’s line of sight.

“Yes, Mark?”

The other alpha coughed and straightened his tie. “Sorry, Blake. Didn’t realise you were…busy.”

Blake bristled at his suggestive tone, and Pember had the urge to run his hand up his back.

“I can… come back?—”

“Or you can just spit it out,” Blake snapped, voice taking on a hard edge.

Mark held up a hand. “Alright, alright. Could you do me a favour? Cover tonight?”

Blake’s fingers twitched. “Why?”

“The lads have set up the game on the big screen. Last one of the season and all that.”

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