Page 28 of Knot That Serious

“What did you get for drinks?”

Jack and Eli both preferred to smoke over drinking, and she wondered if Jack had gone along with this alpha’s drink preferences, or—

“Italian cream sodas. Raspberry. I didn’t know at the time, but Jack said it was his favorite.” He squinted. “Is that true, or did he just not want to hurt my feelings?”

It was their favorite. “Yeah,” she answered, fighting for her life to keep her voice even. “It’s true.”

Eli wanted someone to take her to get her favorite Italian cream soda. Fuckin’ Jack always scored the good ones.

Maybe ‘cause he was dating alphas instead of betas.

Should Eli try dating alphas?

Something not-good swirled in her stomach at the thought, so she dismissed it.

“Tell me more about the date,” she offered, waving her hand out.

“Well, I can’t stay too long,” Beckett said, and glanced at his watch. “I have to be at work by eight-thirty.”

“Better talk fast, then.”

Because listening to Beckett talk too much was better than sitting with her own thoughts, agonizing over the appointment she was dreading that afternoon.

With the Omega Center.

“This is the heat ward for omegas. While sedatives are involved, you’ll be as comfortable as possible for the duration of your heat.”

Eli nodded, following the woman in a pantsuit around the Omega Center. “The rooms are private?”

“Of course. You’d have your own room. There’s no video monitoring. We track your pulse and temperature, but we have doctors here 24/7 if evaluation is needed.”

“Right.”

The rooms did look inviting. All low lighting and comfortable little beds.

“You’re allowed to bring anything you want from home, by the way. Blankets, pillows. We recommend you bring items that have been scented by yourself or someone familiar. The strange environment can be stressful, so try to make yourself as comfortable as possible.”

Jack wouldn’t mind a few more shirts missing, right? She’d give them back. Eventually.

“Have you ever had an omega, like, freak out?”

The woman arched a brow at her, though her tone was gentle when she asked, “In what way?”

“I don’t know,” Eli shrugged. “I’m just nervous. What if the heat hits and I freak out? Can I leave?”

She imagined banging on the door and wanting out, with no one to answer. Trapped.

Eli hated the sympathy in her expression. “You sign a waiver before coming in, usually, except in dire circumstances. In that waiver, it says you can’t leave until the heat has run its course. This is so you don’t put yourself in danger. Omegas in heat can be so easily taken advantage of, and the Omega Center is here to keep you safe.”

“So I’ll be sedated?” Eli asked. “Will I be awake?”

“Is this your first heat?” the woman asked suddenly, and Eli swallowed. Nodded.

“You’ll most likely be awake despite the sedation, then. The first heat is always the most intense. I don’t tell you this to scare you—I just want to be honest.”

“Right, of course.”

She passed Eli a card. “If you have any questions leading up to your appointment, don’t hesitate to ring. That’s what I’m here for. You’re all squared away on birth control?”

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