Page 82 of Seducing Selena

His face was instantly wary. “Yeah. An email let us know that you’d gotten accepted to an emergency residency in Africa and had to leave right away after your heat. They didn’t say how long you’d be gone or anything, but whatever it said, they made sure to hold your job.”

“That is… very much not what happened,” I said quietly. “I’ll tell you everything, but I can’t tell you right now.”

Kyle’s eyes shot to Derek and my other two Alphas behind me. “Yeah, I think you have some things to tell me.”

“I do,” I smiled. “This part I can. This is Derek. The two behind me are Sebastian and Nick. We’re scent matched.”

“Holy shit.” His smile was huge. “Congratulations.”

Derek squeezed my hand, and I nodded. We needed to move quickly. The police were outside and making their way through the other entrance of the hospital, and we didn’t want Gloria to find out before we confronted her. “Where’s Gloria?”

“She’s with a patient in room seven.”

“Thanks.”

“What—”

I touched him on the arm. “Like I said. I’ll tell you everything. Just hold tight for now.”

Kyle blinked. “Okay.”

Derek allowed me to lead him deeper into the ER, and people waved to me, not at all bothered that I was here and back. It was almost like I never left. If they thought I went on some kind of travel nursing adventure, it made sense. It had happened before.

“Selena,” a deep voice. “It’s good to see you back.”

I turned and found Dr. Avila—the very same Alpha both Gloria and Kyle had teased me about. And now that I had my match… his voice didn’t hit me the same way. It was rich and deep and good enough for the fantasies I’d been trying to hide, but it was nothing compared with the reality ofmyAlphas.

“Thank you,” I said. “I don’t know for how long, but it’s good to see everyone.”

I didn’t give him a chance to trap me in conversation. This thing needed to be over.

We stood outside the room where Gloria was and waited.

“You okay?” Derek asked.

“No. But I have to be.”

The door opened and Gloria came out, stopping short when she almost ran into us. “Oh, sorry. Excuse—” Words died on her lips and she went pale. “Selena.”

“Hi, Gloria. Surprised to see me?”

“Of course I am. I thought you were in Africa.”

I looked at the woman who I thought was my friend. Did I ever really know her? Apparently not. She’d killed at least eight people trying to force them to be Omegas against their will. She wasn’t any better than Delano or the people who had been taken down.

“Did you think that? Or did you know I’d been taken by the people you sold me out to in order to save your own skin?”

“What are you talking about?” Anger shone on her face. “Sell you out? Selena, how long have we been friends?”

“Apparently not long enough to keep you from throwing me to the dogs.” I held up the keycard she’d thrown in my purse. My apartment was exactly the way I left it three weeks ago, and we’d retrieved the card before coming here. Later, I would move my things to whatever house the four of us moved to. “Recognize this?”

“What the hell? Where did you get that? I had to get mine replaced.”

I sighed, suddenly exhausted and not wanting to play this game. “We know, Gloria. You really didn’t think you’d get caught? You’re on fucking camera when this card and the one you’re using to impersonate Kyle were used.”

“No one can access that footage,” she snapped and went rigid, realizing she just incriminated herself.

Derek chuckled. “I assure you, it can be accessed.”

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