Page 61 of Bound By Pain
“No,” she protests when I gently clean her up, making my eyebrows raise. My girl isn’t usually comfortable with cum-covered thighs, especially if it dries to her skin. I meet Ridley’s eyes, and he presses his lips to her temple, then shrugs.
It’s a good thing Bea has a doctor’s appointment in the morning. I have a feeling she’ll be going into heat soon.
CHAPTER 26
My skin crawlsas I walk into the doctor’s office. I’ve felt off all morning, but assumed it was because of the impending appointment.
Today I find out if my scent glands are regrowing. Which is fucking terrifying.
Ridley’s fingers intertwine with mine, thumb brushing over the back of my hand in soothing strokes as we wait. He can feel my anxiety bubbling, but he doesn’t offer me empty promises; he just silently supports me. A rock I can lean on to weather whatever storm we are about to face.
“Bea Powell?” A nurse calls my name, and I jump to my feet. Better to get this over with now instead of pushing it off.
After ultrasounds, blood work, and the usual check-ins, I’m squirming in my seat when the doctor finally walks in. DoctorRussell is someone I became acquainted with after she helped treat Omen’s chemical rejection. She’s an awesome doctor, one who genuinely listens to her female and Omega patients instead of making assumptions.
“Good morning, Bea!” she greets me brightly, setting her laptop on a little desk and sitting on the round stools doctors love to use. “How are we feeling today?”
“Like I am going to crawl out of my skin if you don’t tell me what’s happening with my glands,” I bite out.
She just laughs, eyes flickering from me to her keyboard. “Understandable. Okay, here you go.” She turns her laptop to face me, with an ultrasound image on the screen. My eyes narrow as I study the image, but I can’t tell up from down on these damn things.
Sensing my distress, Ridley asks her to clarify.
“Here,” she points to a slightly darker gray blob at the edge of the black space. “This is your scent gland. It isn’t fully formed, but it is regrowing.”
Relief pulses through me, easing the tension from my shoulders. The itchiness of my skin doesn’t dissipate, but I barely notice it. My glands aren’t gone forever. I’ll get my scent back, eventually. Fates, that’s the best fucking news!
“Given the current rate of growth, I expect they will be fully formed in about three months.” She turns her laptop back around and clicks several times, scanning the rest of my test results. When her lips tick down just the slightest, my pulse races. “You are in the very early stages of pre-heat.”
“I just had a heat last month. I can’t have another so soon,” I protest.
Doctor Russell turns to face me, sympathy written across her expression. “Those mate marks are new?” I nod. “And you have other mates you haven’t bonded with yet?”
When I nod again, her smile turns soft. “Given the trauma you recently endured, and the proximity of your mates, it is likely your body is forcing the heat to hurry your bonding. Your instincts need to feel stabilized by those connections, to know you have mates to keep you safe. Have you seen a therapist or spoken with anyone about what happened?”
I purse my lips, my silence answering for me.
“Therapy is not likely to stop your impending heat, but you should still consider it. Your mental health is extremely important, acting as a direct link to your Omega side.”
We talked for a few moments more, mostly Doctor Russell answering Ridley’s questions. I tune them both out, fighting back an all-consuming panic at the thought of going into heat. My scent glands haven’t reformed yet. How will my Alphas be able to sense my need if my scent is fucking gone?
Warm arms wrap around me as I spiral, a purr cutting through the darkest of my thoughts—images of me alone and in unbearable pain as my heat consumes what’s left of my sanity.
“Come back to me, sunshine,” Ridley whispers, the words loud against my ear. The soft puffs of his breath are a siren call, luring me back to reality.
I blink, looking up into his mesmerizing jewel-toned eyes. “Alpha?” My voice shakes, unshed tears lining my eyes and betraying my distress.
“I’ve got you, Omega,” he promises, lips pressing against my forehead. “Let’s get you home and settled in your nest. Then we can figure things out with the others.”
I tip my head slowly up and down, my thoughts sluggish as the darkness tries to rise again. He takes my hands and pulls me off the table, making sure I’m pressed against him. I barely blink when he lifts me into his arms, melting against him to bask in the soft vibration of his purr.
The trip back to my apartment slips by in blurred pieces of skyline and traffic lights. Creed meets us at the curb and sweeps me from the passenger seat. The strength of his purr startles me, sounding more like a motorcycle engine than the lion-like sounds the others have made.
“Welcome home, kitten.”
Home. That’s right. These men are my home. My heart. As long as they are here, we can handle anything life throws our way. Even a scentless heat.
“Knock, knock! I hope no one is naked!” Foster singsongs as he swings my apartment door open. My mates glare at him, Orion and Creed ready to pounce on our unexpected guest. They only calm when Omen appears behind him, tucking her spare key back into the pocket of her messenger bag.
