Ugh. Heat. I didn’t even want to think about it or I’d really cry, and drunk crying was the worst.

Instead of full-blown heats that were painful without an alpha, they were mild, and toys were enough to be satisfied. It wasn’t good to stay on them long-term, though, and since I’d started them right after my first heat at sixteen, it was time to plan on going off of them for a heat cycle. Only it wouldn’t be regular since the first heat after suppressants was ten times worse. And with no alphas?

Great. Now I was angry again.

I finished in the bathroom and went back to the living room. My suitcase was open next to the couch, my clothes spilling out. After the first bottle of wine, we’d decided to change into pajamas and have a sleepover in the living room. I didn’t remember much after that besides late-night food delivery and nearly choking on a chip laughing so hard at a movie we had been watching.

My mind went back to heat suppressants.

Fuck. I haven’t taken mine today.Or was it already tomorrow?

I grabbed my purse and took out my phone. It was just after midnight and my pill reminder had been buzzing at ten-minute intervals for the last four hours. Well, wasn’t that just perfect.

After clearing the alarm, I put my phone on the side table and dug into the zippered inner pocket for my pills. Only it hadn’t been shut and the damn things must have fallen into the cavernous void at the bottom of my bag.

Not wanting to wake my sister, I went into the dining room which was separated from the living room by a centralized wall with a double-sided fireplace. I preferred an open-concept floor plan, but Kayla said she liked all the privacy she got here.

I dumped my entire purse onto the large table and squinted down at the contents. It was long overdue for a clean-out, but where the hell were my suppressants? I knew I had them because I’d been taking them.

Shaking it again, my heart started to pound. Where the fuck were they? There was no way I could go through a heat here at Kayla’s. I’d have to go to OPS to get a spot at the compound and then they’d know about my transgressions.

Stay calm. They’re here somewhere.

I ran my hand inside again, and not finding the blister pack, I bit my lip to stop myself from crying out in frustration. Everything else that was supposed to be in my purse was on the table, including my perfume blockers. I grabbed the pack of those and punched one out, swallowing it without water.

Taking a calming breath, I tried to remember when I’d last seen them. I took one the night before for sure because I’d started a new pack and I put them right in the zippered section for safe keeping. But had I zipped it closed?

My apartment keys caught my eye, the N’Pact keychain practically blinking in neon lights. Oh, shit. My purse had tipped over in my car when I’d been trying to get a picture and I was sure that’s where they were.

I was already four hours overdue and couldn’t wait until morning, so I went back into the living room, slipped on my flip-flops, and grabbed the key to the car. I didn’t want to leave Kayla with the front door unlocked and I had no clue where her key was, so I went around the back.

It was a gorgeous night, the perfect temperature for a late-night stroll. Was it safe? I had no clue, but it was less safe starting my heat when I had nowhere to go and only one of my toys with me.

The gate loomed in front of me, and I waited for it to open for me. When it didn’t, I let out a frustrated growl. It opened earlier when we’d grabbed our food from the omega-friendly delivery driver.

There was a small red light where the locking mechanism was, and I examined it closely. Were we locked in for the night? That was a bit extreme and excessive. What if there was an emergency?

I marched back toward the house, but then stopped, bending down to pick up a rock. I was not about to wake up my sister or climb a ten-foot wall to go get my pills. So, I did what only a drunk girl could.

I smashed the hell out of the lock.

CHAPTERFOUR

Kara

I could now add vandalism to my growing list of criminal offenses. If anything, the Thomas pack should have been thanking me for showing them just how weak their fence was. After five smashes, the gate beeped and opened. I’d have to worry about how to shut it when I got back.

With the muddled state of my brain, I felt safe enough walking down the street despite the time of night and the lack of light. Large shadows from the streetlights being partially blocked by trees ran the length of the street. It wasn’t completely dark, but just enough that no one would see me unless they were close. A few dogs barked as I passed by the houses on the way to Ella’s car, and it made me wish I was with a pack so I could have a dog.

I’d been nervous it would be towed, but the car was right where I’d left it. Opening the passenger door, I cursed as the pack of suppressant pills fell right out into the gutter. They were in a plastic sleeve and the gutter was the cleanest I’d ever seen. But then again, this was the crème de le crème of rich neighborhoods. Residents probably employed someone to make sure their gutters were clean.

“Don’t forget us, Kara, dear! We’ve been waiting for you to cuddle us for hours,” I said in my Squishmallow voice.

“Oh, Jane Doe. I would never forget you and Princess Leia. I’m sorry I didn’t come back sooner but we were having too much fun.” I shut the front door and opened the back, grabbing them by their ears. Jane was a blue deer and Princess was a pink chicken, and they were my favorite ones because they reminded me of me and Kayla.

“Ow! First, you forget about us so you can get drunk, and now you assault us!” Princess squeaked. Everyone had their quirks, and mine was having conversations with stuffed animals. It was no different than talking to a pet.

“I don’t have pockets for my pills or the keys, so deal with it or you can go in the trunk for the night.” I shut and locked the car. “You should be grateful for my hospitality.”