Page 24 of Stream Heat
A ghost of a smile crossed her face. "I assumed as much. Your alpha friends warned me about your... spirited personality."
"They're not my friends," I corrected automatically. "They're my business partners."
"Of course." Her tone made it clear she didn't believe me for a second. "Well, your business partners have been quite concerned. Particularly Mr. Maddox, who hasn't left the house since you arrived."
Something warm and unwelcome flickered in my chest at that information. I squashed it immediately.
“He’s probably worried his investment is going to flatline before the first collab stream,” I said.
Dr. Patel gave me a long look. "Is that what you think this is?"
"I know exactly what this is. A mutually beneficial business arrangement. They get content and PR points for 'rescuing' me, I get a lifeline, a sliver of my career back."
"Interesting." She snapped her bag closed, humming slightly, clearly not buying it. "Most business arrangements don't involve taking turns sleeping outside your door to monitor your breathing, or researching obscure medical journals for suppressant withdrawal protocols."
I blinked, caught off guard, and just stared at her for a moment. "They did that?"
"They did many things that suggest this arrangement, as you call it, might be more complex than you're allowing yourself to believe." She shrugged and headed for the door. "But what do I know? I'm just the doctor who's been watching five terrified Alphas pace outside your room for three days."
Before I could formulate a response, she was gone, leaving me alone with her uncomfortable observations and the realization that I could finally leave this room. Somehow though the idea of walking out of the door was terrifying. Reality was waiting for me out there, and I wasn’t quite ready for it.
I couldn’t bring myself to go to see the five alphas that had probably saved my life, so I decided to shower, making it to the bathroom on wobbly legs. I spent longer than I care to admit just letting the water scald the exhaustion and fever residue out of my skin.
My legs trembled with the effort of standing, but the hot water felt heavenly against my skin. The shower helped, but Iwas still weak but determined to look less like a corpse when I faced my new... housemates.
As I dried off, I caught my reflection in the mirror and barely recognized myself. Hollow cheeks. Shadows under my eyes. Skin pale and drawn. I looked like someone recovering from a serious illness, which, I supposed, I was.
Someone had packed up my stuff from my apartment, and it all sat in neatly labeled boxes against the wall, apparently moved here while I was unconscious. Seeing my life packed away in cardboard felt surreal, but at least they'd thought to bring it.
I pulled on the clean clothes someone had left for me, loose joggers and an oversized t-shirt that smelled like nothing. All of it was deliberately scent-neutral. Another small consideration I hadn't expected.
Taking a deep breath, I opened the bedroom door and stepped into my new reality.
The hallway opened into a massive open-concept living area that took my breath away. Vaulted ceilings. Wall-to-wall windows overlooking a wooded backyard. Modern furnishings that somehow managed to look both expensive and lived-in.
But what hit me hardest was the scent.
Alpha. Everywhere. Five distinct signatures mingling in the air, so potent I nearly staggered, each one sharp and distinct, all layered over the clean house scent and the sunshine from the huge windows. My newly awakened Omega senses went haywire.Even with fresh suppressant in my system, my body logged every last one with alarming precision:
Cedar and summer storms. Reid.
Green tea and something electric with an edge of burnt sugar. Theo.
Ink and icy snow. Jace.
Vanilla and charcoal with an undercurrent of hot metal. Ash.
Sandalwood and fresh linen. Malik.
My body responded instantly, a rush of warmth flooding my system. I gripped the wall, furious at my biological betrayal.
"Quinn?" Reid's voice came from somewhere to my left. "You're up."
I turned to find him watching me from the kitchen doorway, concern etched across his features. He looked exhausted, dark circles under his eyes confirming Dr. Patel's claim that he hadn't been sleeping.
"Doctor says I'm allowed to rejoin society," I managed, aiming for casual and missing by a mile. "Though 'society' is a generous term for this frat house."
A smile tugged at his mouth. "Good to see your personality survived intact."
