Page 70 of Puck Your Friend

He reaches for the IV’s control, adjusting the drip. “If you need anything else, hit the nurse’s call button.” He walks out, closing the door behind him with a click.

I swallow hard and sigh. There’s no way work hasn’t learned about this either from Doug or my designation changing in the government database. I forged my Beta status with them; they’ll fire me no matter what. Omegas can’t work with Alphas and sports are an Alpha-dominated industry.

My apartment is a Beta-only complex; once my designation changes, they’ll get an alert and I’ll lose that, too.

No matter how hard I tried, I still lost it all. My body gave out. There’s nothing I can do to stop this now, but accept the consequences for my actions.

But they stayed.A voice in the back of my mind murmurs.

They didn’t abandon me once they learned the truth. Perhaps not all hope is lost.

As if on cue, the screen in front of me lights up with a quiet chime.Ford Markovappears at the top of the screen. My finger hovers for a second. Then I press accept.

They’re sitting together on a bench far enough from the tablet that I can see all of them. They look like they haven’t slept, and my heart aches. Jace is hunched forward, chin propped on one palm. Wes sits to his left. Logan’s back is against the wall, leg bouncing on the edge of the frame. Ford’s arms are crossed, his gaze steady on the screen.

They say nothing. None of them smile. My heart races like a hummingbird’s.

“Hey.” My voice is quiet.

Wes exhales, eyes steady on mine.

“You look like shit.” Jace doesn’t bother softening it.

A weak smile tugs at the corner of my mouth. “Glad to see your social skills haven’t changed.”

Logan shifts, trying to still his leg. “You’re awake.”

I nod.

“How much do you remember?” Ford’s voice cuts through the others.

“I remember interviewing Logan and then nothing.” I glance down at the blanket. My fingers press into the cotton before I glance up again.

Wes nods. “The doctor said we can’t see you till your body stabilizes. But we’re here.”

It hits me harder than I expect. The guilt eats at me as tears prick the corners of my eyes.

I grip the edge of the blanket tighter. “I need to tell you something.” My voice comes out rough.

Ford settles forward, elbows resting on his knees. “We’re listening.”

“That last day at camp...” I sigh and force myself to look at them, even though I want to hide. “I presented as an omega.” My cheeks flush with heat. “That moment by the lake. Had that counselor not interrupted… I don’t know what would’ve happened. Perhaps me going into a full heat might have forced you all to present as well. I’m not sure.”

Ford runs his hand through his hair. “We wondered, but didn’t think it was possible, since you weren’t sixteen yet, and that’s young. Then you smelled like a Beta when we reunited.”

I push a curl out of my face. “The camp didn’t allow Omegas and wasn’t prepared for one to go into heat, so I was pulled immediately, and my mother took me to an Omega heat clinic. That’s why I never said goodbye.”

Jace sits up, more serious than I’ve ever seen him. “Did they let some Alpha man touch you at fifteen?”

I shake my head. “They offered me Alpha Aid with Alphas who presented early.”

The growls that ripple out of them make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

“I refused and chose sedation and continued to do that for the next year. Until they said I would have to take a break from the sedations. Either accept Alpha Aid, or suffer alone. Both sounded like hell, and I had yet to find something that would stop my heats.”

I can’t look them in the eye. “I felt so much shame over what I was. I was depressed because I didn’t have any of you, and my mind kept telling me you would want nothing to do with me if you knew the truth. I tried to take matters into my own hands.I wasn’t successful, clearly, but I wound up in the hospital for a month.”

Wes squeezes his eyes shut as tears prick the corners. “I’m glad you weren’t successful.”