Page 73 of Kept

Oh, no.

Ripping the covers off, I let out a mortified squeak at the drops of red covering the clean white bedding, frantically counting days in my head until I come to the inevitable conclusion that yes, this is that time of the month already. Just in time for me to fold over at the second spike of agony that drags across my lower half, reverberating up into my back.

It spreads down to my thighs, and I stumble into the bathroom, holding onto myself so I don’t make any more of a mess than I already have. It takes me a few tries to work out the shower, and my hair trails out as I yank off my dress and climb in, letting the water wash over my stomach and thighs. When the pain hits again, this time working up my upper thighs, I can’t hold back my groan.

I sit down on the floor of the shower, and the water flows over me as I contemplate my options. The pain continues until tears track down my face, washing away in the spray of the shower when I tilt it up.

Finally, the water begins to run cold, and I climb out. I’m shivering all over, the pain starting to increase in waves of agony that make my eyes blur as I grab my dress from the floor and try to tie it around myself. I don’t have any packs here to help.

“Stupid,” I groan as I stumble back to my bed. “Stupid, Zella.”

I fold over from the pain radiating from my abdomen, losing track of time until there’s a banging at the door. “Zella?”

Maverick sounds worried. I didn’t come down for breakfast. Weakly, I raise my head. “Don’t come in!”

“Why?” he calls out. “What’s the matter?”

I’m too embarrassed to answer him, burying my head into the pillows instead.

The banging intensifies. Much to my mortification, I can hear Ryder and Enzo out there too, demanding to know why the door is locked and calling my name.

“Please!” I shout out, and they quiet. “Just… leave me alone!”

The agony spikes, and I curl over with an audible groan. Silence comes from behind the door, and I silently pray that they’ve left me alone.

But then there’s a thud.

Another thud.

And I choke out a shocked cry as the door flies open, splinters of wood everywhere. Maverick storms in, followed by the others, and his eyes find me immediately, scanning over me in the bed and filling with concern.

“Zella?”

I can’t stop the agonized whimper that falls from my lips as he strides over, his hand feeling my forehead. “Are you sick?” he asks softly, his brow creased in worry. Ryder and Enzo crowd the space around us, all three of them staring down at me.

Humiliation heats my entire body. “Please… I’m fine. Just leave me alone.”

“You’re not fine,” Enzo says shortly. Ryder scans me in silence, his brows lowering. “Tell us what the matter is, little prey. Now.”

I shake my head mutinously. I just need them to leave me alone.

“It happens every month. Just leave it alone, please.” My words sound wobbly, and Ryder nudges Maverick aside.

“Princess,” he says firmly. “We need to know what’s wrong. If you’re sick, you need a doctor.”

“I’m not sick!” I say feebly. “I’m just… not feeling myself.”

“That’s sick,” Enzo points out drily. “Let us see, prey.”

Mutinous, I shake my head. “No. Absolutely not.”

There’s absolutely no way I’m showing them. I’ll clean the bedding… somehow. I just need to work out how they wash their own clothes.

My hands clutch on the bedding when Enzo reaches out. He peels off my fingers with ease, lifting my arms up as I stare at him in horror. “Ryder.”

Ryder drags down the bedding before I can do more than wriggle, and my moan of dismay is swallowed by the frantic activity that follows.

“Fuck.” Enzo swears, his hands dropping down. “She’s bleeding.”

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