Page 20 of Pack Rivals, Part One

Medication? Hormones? Heats? I stare at her.

"Am I falling into a heat now?"

"Hard to tell," she says, resting her palm against my forehead and peering into my pupils. "It could be a bit of a pre-heat or even a mock one before the real one strikes. Best we get you on suppressants to regulate everything and some blockers to mask your scent. We don't want every alpha in the city threatening to break down the door."

The doctor stands and returns to her bag. "I'll start you off on a mild dose until we have a better understanding of what's going on."

As she pulls packets out of her bag, there's a knock on the door.

"Are we expecting company?" Aunt Julia asks.

Courtney shakes her head and pads over to the door. She raises up onto her tiptoes, then peers through the spyhole.

Satisfied with whatever stands beyond, she flings open the door to reveal a huge bouquet of roses, a pair of human legs poking out of the bottom.

"Bouquet for a Bea?" the roses say.

"Me?"

"Yep. You want them or not?"

"Of course she does." Courtney grabs the roses into her arms and closes the door.

"Sheesh," Aunt Julia mumbles, "looks like you've already attracted the attention of an admirer."

The doctor opens a packet of pills. "I'm sure there'll be a lot more where those came from. Although, I'm amazed the courier made it past the guards on the door. They gave me such an interrogation."

"Guards?" Courtney and I say together.

The doctor looks up from the pills. "Yes, there are a couple of guards at the door downstairs. I assumed you arranged them given your predicament."

"We didn't arrange any guards," Courtney says in confusion, diving into the flowers to search for a card.

I don't wait to hear who the flowers are from. I jump to my feet and march straight out of the apartment.

I've been an omega for precisely two seconds and some dude is already trying to imprison me? No freaking way. I was pushed around before. I won't let that happen again, even if I am an omega now.

I stomp down the stairs and fling open the front door. The doctor is correct. There are a pair of tough-looking men, both dressed in dark suits, their eyes hidden behind dark shades, flanking the doorway.

"Who the hell are you?" I yell, hands on my hips. From within the stairway, I hear the clatter of feet down the staircase.

"Boston Security, Miss. We were sent by Silver to guard the premises and offer the omega inside any assistance."

Me. I'm the omega.

"I don't know who Silver is, and I don't care to find out. You can tell him, I don't need his help, thank you very much."

Courtney leans into me and whispers in my ear. "He's the man who brought you home last night."

"Who is?"

"The Silver dude."

My cheeks burn. "Yes … well … I'm grateful for Silver's help last night but I am fine now. You can go."

The two men don't move.

"Why aren't you going?"

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