Page 39 of Claiming the Pack’s Omega (Riverwell Omegaverse #2)

“I—I was betrayed before. By someone I loved. Sure, you could probably call it stupid puppy love, but he was the first person I ever loved and it tore my fucking heart out,” I whisper.

“I can’t fucking imagine what it would be feel like to be betrayed by my scent matches.

Because I can feel it, already. The idea that maybe I could love them.

Love them so much more than the guy I loved before. And that—and that?—”

I shake my head, trying to shake away the burn of tears threatening to spill out and ruin my makeup.

“That must be terrifying," she murmurs.

“It is,” I whisper. “It’s so scary. I don’t know if I’d be able to survive something like that. I’ve stayed strong for so long. I—I don’t want to have to be strong anymore.”

“Oh, Reyna,” Charlotte says. “You don’t have to go through things alone anymore.”

“I—I wasn’t alone, I had—I had my family.”

“Of course, but you strike me as the kind of young woman who didn’t let them in to support her because you didn’t want to burden them. Am I wrong?”

I lose the war between my wobbling bottom lip as it trembles.

“No,” I say, shaking my head sadly. “You’re right.”

I cling to her hand, almost desperately. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this small, this conflicted, this useless, before. And all because I’m being confronted with what other omegas spend their entire lives dreaming about.

“What—what happens now?”

“Well, that’s the magic of you being here today.

It’s truly up to you. There are some things I’d recommend as your doctor, especially after we test some of your hormone levels and get the results from those suppressants, but when it comes to exploring things with the Graylock Pack, all of that is up to you. ”

“Do I—do I have to tell them now?”

“When you tell them, just like everything else, is up to you," she says, patting the back of my hand. “What I do have to say is that there will come a point where they’ll be able to tell. I assume those were the last of your suppressants?”

“Yeah,” I nod. “The guy who was getting them to me told me those were the last he’d give me, anyway.”

“Well, then there’s no way to avoid your full scent from emerging.”

I nod slowly. “Okay, then.”

I guess I’ll have to think about how to break it to the pack. Lay everything out on the table so if they want to leave me, they can, before I get even more emotionally invested in them than I already am.

I’ll tell them I’m still willing to help them with the case—because that really is bigger than me, bigger than all of us, really—but the lines will be clear, if they don’t want me anymore.

“Here, can I test your hormone levels?” She asks, rolling over to the counter and pulling out a small device.

“Sure,” I say.

She takes my hand again, pricking my finger against the tip of the machine. It takes a few seconds to beep, but when it does, Charlotte lets out a low whistle.

“Damn.”

I purse my lips together. “Not the kind of thing you want to hear from your doctor.”

“Sorry for being unprofessional,” she says, her eyes going wide. “I just haven’t had a chance to work with an omega who’s used these kinds of suppressants before, so these numbers are interesting.”

“Interesting good or interesting bad.”

“Well, they certainly aren’t the worst I’ve ever seen.”

“See, when you say something like that, it sounds really bad,” I huff.

“It’s not bad, it’s just that the likelihood of your heat hitting hard and fast is really high, according to these numbers. You’ll need alphas to ride this out with," she says. “Is that okay with you?”

I release a deep breath, puffing out my cheeks.

A heat.

With the Graylock Pack.

Do I want that?

“If you don’t have anyone in mind, we can always connect you with the Omega Center. They have scent cards you can use to try and match yourself with some willing alphas?—”

“No,” I shake my head. “I’ll figure things out with the Graylock Pack.”

I see the way they look at me. Even if they decide they aren’t interested in something long term, would they really give up a chance to spend a heat with me? I doubt it.

“Perfect. When we get the results from your suppressants back, I’ll prescribe you some hormonal medication that should help regulate things and try to curb the potential pain and intensity of your heat as much as possible, sound good?”

“Whatever you think is best, doc,” I nod.

“Okay, great. Now, one last thing: legislation has recently been passed loosening the requirements for new omegas to register with the Omega Center. You’re free to register to receive the benefits they offer like free housing, classes, and that sort of thing, but you won’t be forced to participate in any matchmaking activities. ”

My eyes go wide.

“Seriously? When did this happen? I’ve always heard that Southside omegas had to go through bullshit pairings because of the Omega Center.”

“A month or so ago, really. It’s incredibly new. It’s all thanks to Luna and Killian, she proposed the plans and he got them passed with the council.”

“Wow,” I breathe out. “That’s crazy.”

That could change things for Southside omegas. Especially Southside omegas stuck in less than fortunate situations. This is huge.

And Killian did it?

Broody, authoritative, dick-headed Killian?

Well, when I put it that way, it would make sense that someone like him could pass something like that with a council full of old douchebags.

“Someone from the office or I will call you when we have the results of the testing, sound good?”

“Sure,” I say, nodding slowly. “Is that it?”

“Quicker than you expected, huh?”

“Yeah, I was expecting a lot more, for whatever reason.”

“Well, I wouldn’t want to keep Killian waiting out there too long, he seems to get a little moody when he’s off schedule. Please text or call me if there’s anything you need, okay?” She says, standing from her seat.

I follow her and offer her a nod.

“Thanks, Charlotte.”

I leave the exam room and head back to outside, my heart beating a little faster at the thought of seeing Killian again. Because now I know he’s probably one of my scent matches. One of my fated mates.