Page 76 of Puck My Life

“Are you sure she’s not your girlfriend?”

Deacon moans.

They kiss for a long time.

I sit outside on the porch and wait. There is no way I’m going inside with them doing that.

“Come on, don’t you think it’s weird how close you all are?”

“No, of course not. She’s Vae.”

“So, you’ve never had thoughts?”

“Oh, come on, babe, what is this?”

“Well, it’s just weird.”

“It’s not weird. She’s just our best friend. Just a beta. I am never, ever going to see her as a sexy, curvy, delicious omega like you. I can’t do this to her…or this.”

I stand up quietly and walk away.

I don’t want to hearanymore.

PRESENT

I curl up on the couch and clutch my aching stomach. What happened to them? Where are they?

The pain is worse, and the nausea is almost uncontrollable. I lay there shivering on the couch, feeling sorry for myself as time passes.

I wake up and find Mal’s face right above mine. His brow is down in concern, and he’s got a hand on my forehead.

“She’s really hot, guys.”

Raynor appears and carefully puts cool rags on my neck. He lifts my arms and puts plastic ice blocks under my arms.

“All right, what’s wrong with her?” Deacon asks. “No. No, yes.”

He’s on the phone? Who is he talking to?

“No, Vae, don’t try to sit up, lay back.” Mal gently but firmly pushes me back to the couch.

I struggle, but, in the end, I’m too weak.

“Mal?” I whimper.

“What, sweetheart?”

“Can you hug me?”

Mal picks me up and pauses, then, with a curse, he carries me back to his bedroom. He and Raynor strip me off and wipe me down before I’m laid in bed, sandwiched between the two alphas.

Deacon lingers in the doorway, still on the phone, muttering in incoherent whispers.

“What do you mean it’s normal? This isn’t normal. What’s wrong with her?”

He stalks away, and I fall into a deeper sleep.

I wake up to three loud growls. I jolt and scramble up the couch, my eyes wide, trying to find the danger.