Page 5 of Pack Scratch Fever

It seems like the universe is trying to tell me something I’m not ready to admit.

My discomfort turns to annoyance as Blair spends a good few minutes outside the building, chatting amicably with Maddox and Avery. Maddox keeps shooting glances my way through the window, and I give him a scowl right back. It only makes him more amused.

Blair tilts her head back and laughs at something Avery said, and I sigh.

They would be a good fit for her.

Granted, Blair’s scent is more floral than mine, but it still blends well with theirs.

I ignore the jealous pang at the thought.

She finally enters again and reaches over the counter to place the kitten in my arms. “You’re welcome,” she says.

I tilt my head. “For what?”

“For not letting you ignore a scent match.”

My jaw drops. “Are you serious right now? You want to interfere with my dating life?”

She smiles. “I saw the way you reacted to them. You flooded the whole room with your scent, too. It’s not like they didn’t notice.”

My face flames in humiliation. “What were you doing out there?”

“Talking about you.”

I place the kitten on the desk, letting it explore the area. Tiny paws stomp all over my keyboard, and I sigh in exasperation. “Blair, I really don’t want you doing that.”

“Let me rephrase,” she says. “They asked a little about you, and I gave vague answers. Then, we talked about the rescue and ways they can help out.”

I bite my lip, and I have a frightening urge to cry.

What is wrong with me?

“Hey,” Blair says gently. “I’m sorry. I won’t do that anymore if it makes you uncomfortable. I truly didn’t mean to upset you.”

I nod. “What did they ask?” I whisper, still ashamed of my whiplash of emotions.

I feel like a child, not a twenty-six-year-old.

“They wanted to know if you were single,” she says. “And I hinted that you were. But then the conversation went to what we do here, and they were genuinely interested.”

I nod.

“I also warned them that there might be more kittens, and to give us a call if they find them. They were willing to learn how to trap, too. They’re nice, even if that one guy looked ready to eat you, no pun intended.”

I shiver at the thought of Maddox. He looked at me as if he could see right through me, as if he knew everything about me with one glance.

It was unnerving, but also…kind of hot?

“Hey.” Blair interrupts me. “Go home.”

I frown. “Huh?”

The kitten nibbles at her fingers. “I’ll clean the litter boxes and make sure this one gets taken care of. Just go and do what you have to do. Rest, take a cold shower, whatever.”

I grimace. “Is it that obvious?”

“Your face is flaming red, Pipe. I don’t want to say I told you so, but it’s looking like those suppressants are on their last leg. So just go home and try to take care of yourself.”

I swallow. “Are you sure?” I ask. “I mean, I can stay…”

Blair shakes her head, her high ponytail swishing back and forth. “I’m fine here. You need to take care of yourself.”

I nod wearily.

As much as I don’t want to admit it, Blair’s right.

I screwed myself over by messing with my suppressants.

I just didn’t expect the side effects to be this bad.

There’s a reason that I never have guests over at my apartment.

Never Blair, any other friends, and certainly not my family.

I’m embarrassed.

The building is old, and I’m sure it’s violating a few codes.

It’s a small one bedroom, with my bed taking up most of the room and the world’s tiniest closet.

Half the outlets don’t work, and I’ve had to seal up cracks in the walls with caulk I purchased at the hardware store.

It’s not elegant, but it’s the place I call home.

But every time I step foot into it, I hear my parents’ and sister’s voices in my head.

How could you live like this, Piper?

This is what you get for dropping out of college.

Do you think your grandparents would be proud of you?

Why can’t you be more like Sydney? She has a doctorate and lives in the city!

Don’t you want a family one day?

This time, though, I rush through the front door, drop my purse on the old coffee table, and beeline for my bedroom.

I yank open the puny closet and pull every nesting blanket I can off the shelves and toss them on the mattress.

I still haven’t bought a bed frame yet—a mattress is enough.

I pull off my blouse and unbutton my jeans, frantically shimmying out of my clothes until I’m just in my underwear and bra, then flop onto the mattress with an oof .

The fabric feels incredible against my skin. I nuzzle into the blankets, draping them around me and letting the cotton rub against my sensitive breasts.

“Oh, shit,” I gasp. “Oh, no.”

Reaching between my legs, I grimace at the amount of slick that drips onto my fingers.

Goosebumps pebble my arms, and I whimper in desperation.

I fluff the blankets and pillows and toss and turn in an effort to be more comfortable.

I lie in my makeshift nest with my heart racing and my inner Omega yearning for something she doesn’t have.

Don’t think about them. Don’t think about them at all.

But the scents from the day still linger on me. The mixture of herbs, tea, and spices makes my womb clench, and I squeeze my thighs shut and curl into a ball, gritting my teeth.

I can’t go into Heat. There’s no time, and the last time I went into one, it didn’t go well.

It was a shitty one-night stand, with just one Alpha. He sneered at me, told me I smelled like dirt, and left me alone the next day, rejected and lonely in a hotel.

He wanted me for a quick knot, and that was it.

Ever since, the suppressants have been my answer to everything.

I’m not sure which is worse—going through a Heat alone or risking a repeat of what happened during my last one.

A lonely hotel bed, bad room service, and low thread count sheets to nest in.

The stale scent of a faded Alpha wearing too much cheap cologne.

No.

I reach for my nightstand, opening the low drawer and pulling out a bottle of pills.

I told Blair I wouldn’t keep doing this, but with the shame and memories from before, I can’t do it again.

I have to put off my Heat for as long as possible, even if it makes me sick.

I unscrew the bottle and pop the two pills into my mouth, swallowing them dry. Then, I toss the bottle onto the carpet, wrap myself in comforters, and try my best to sleep.

Tomorrow, I’ll wean myself off the suppressants.

Tomorrow.