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“Do you know if she has a regular heat cycle?” Archer asks, his hands fisted as he leans onto the counter.

“As far as we know,” Charlotte answers.

“When did she start her heats?”

“At the usual time, when she was 18.”

“Fucking hell,” Archer curses, scrubbing a hand down his face. “That’s three years of heats.”

“That’s at least six heats she’s spent without an alpha then, if she’s on the usual three to four-month cycle,” I mutter. I stare down at my empty whiskey tumbler, the dim light from underneath our kitchen counters refracting against the glass. “She’s obviously terrified of alphas. Who do you think she was with for the three heats she’s spent with an alpha?”

“Whoever he is, if we find him, he’s fucking dead,” Madden growls. Even though I can feel the tension radiating off of him, he still does his best to keep his dominance in check to not overwhelm Charlotte and her sensitive sense of smell.

“It was obviously an alpha who was perfectly content to take advantage of an unregistered omega who seemingly hasn’t been afforded anything in life,” Archer sighs.

“Yeah, didn’t she say she wasn’t allowed outside?” Chase adds. “That’s fucked.”

“It’s a horrible situation,” Charlotte sighs.

“Is that why she doesn’t seem to act like she’s our scent match?” Chase asks. “‘Cause she’s traumatized?”

“She genuinely can’t tell that you guys are her scent match. Even though it’s clear she was never really taught what a scent match is, her not even acknowledging a strong pull towards you guys when all of you feel the pull towards her seems to indicate there’s something deeper going on.”

“Do you think she feels any pull towards us?” Archer asks, staring intently at Charlotte. Knowing him, he’s bracing himselffor the worst-case scenario: where our scent-matched omega has no interest in us at all.

I find myself a little more hopeful. As terrified of us as she was, her body melted into mine when I carried her. That was completely subconscious and present despite her fear. I’d like to think that’s a good sign in our favor.

“I think she definitely feels at least a bit of a pull. It’s just not as strong as it’s supposed to be. I have a theory her hormones being affected by only being with betas is a big contributing factor, but I’m not sure. I’ll have to do more research on it, I’m sorry I don’t have all the answers,” Charlotte continues.

“So there’s a chance she’ll stay with us when she gets things fixed and can tell she’s ours?” Madden asks hopefully, slumping into one of the barstools.

“Totally, her life hasn’t been easy and you guys are a good pack. I think you guys have a shot even if we take a bit of time to figure out how to help her,” Charlotte says. “You guys are the best pack out of any to care for her. I can’t imagine the interview process, especially as a Southside omega without anyone backing her, would be at all pleasant for her. Especially considering what she’s been through.”

She turns to Archer, her gaze going serious. “She seems like a sweet girl, so I don’t think she’d ever do anything to hurt your pack, but I know you guys are powerful and I know with power comes enemies. The wounds on her body are obviously an indication of abuse, and she has shared with me a bit of her past about how her heat partners weren’t consensual.”

Growls rise from around the room at Charlotte’s words, not directed at her, but at the fucking hopelessness that comes with the knowledge that our omega has been hurt, likely repeatedly over the course of years.

“I had to document her injuries photographically and I’ll be writing a dated report I’ll keep in my practice’s secure systems,”Charlotte continues. “That way, your pack will be protected from accusations.”

“Thank you, Charlotte,” Archer says, giving her a nod.

“Of course, I’m just doing my job, I’m glad I could be helpful here,” she says. She looks off into the distance, her eyes going sad. “She—she’s obviously been through so much. I also wanted documentation in case she wanted to move anything forward legally if you guys are able to find anything on who did this to her.”

“If anyone can find anything on who did this to her, it’s our pack,” Chase says.

Charlotte offers a confident nod. “Now, treatment instructions: someone will have to change her bandages twice a day and apply this antibiotic ointment. Watch out for signs of infection and if there are any, give me a call. She has a slight rib fracture, so breathing and movement are going to be painful for her for a while and give her these pain meds every eight hours. Use ice for the first couple days to help with the pain and swelling then maybe a heating pad after to help with relaxing her chest muscles. Got that?”

All of us have been listening intently, taking in all the details of the supplies Charlotte has laid out for us on the kitchen counter.

“I’m sure you guys have bandages lying around the house, knowing you, but if you need refills of anything else, just call me for that too,” Charlotte says, a satisfied smile on her face, as if she knows the four of us will do our fucking best to take care of the omega upstairs.

Because we will.

Even now, I can feel a pull in my chest, pushing me to go upstairs and check on her, make sure she’s okay.

“Thanks sis, you’re the best,” Chase says, wrapping an arm around his sister’s shoulder.

“One last thing,” Charlotte says, poking Chase in the ribs like only an older sister can. “Less as a doctor and more as a fellow omega: she’s been through hell. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t knowwhat being taken care of by anyone, let alone by an alpha, is really like. Ease her into things, show her how it’s supposed to be. See if she’ll take things that carry your scents. Do things together. That sort of thing. Things like that should maximize your chances of her feeling the actual weight of the match between you. Anyways, I should get going.”