Page 44 of For All My Effort
“That’s wonderful to hear. How was your heat? According to our records, yours came on earlier than usual. Was it stronger than it should be? Anything different at all?”
“Uh, no. Just a normal heat.”
It was about then that I finally realized why Eve seemed different this time. She wasn’t writing everything I said down. She wasn’t even writing anything down.
“And adjusting to living with your mates?” she asked, flicking her gaze down the hall they left. “How has that been?”
“Normal, I guess. It hasn’t really felt like any adjusting is needed. We’re just … being mates together.”
“What does normal look like to you? Will you walk me through a typical day?”
I felt like I was being interviewed except I wasn’t allowed to decline answering or just get up and leave. Considering I wasn’t allowed to admit I was taking college courses, I lied, talking a lot about my ‘art project’ I was working on.
“That sounds so exciting. Definitely something to keep you busy.” Her attention was directly on me, her gaze meeting mine as she asked, “Can I see it? Your progress?”
My tongue felt heavy, an instantaneous reminder that my lie would take effort. “Everything’s up in my nest until I’ve finished.”
It wasn’t an invitation. The opposite, actually. For all the limitations that omegas had, this wasn’t one of them. Our nests were private. Even to our mates, and especially to those not part of our pack.
Nests were considered ‘essential’ for an omega. Not only for providing us with the necessary space, for our emotional and mental health too. At least according to the OC guidelines.
“I see,” Eve said. “You’re spending all your time in your nest then?”
Was this a trick question? Yes and I was spending time in the nest because I was scared of my mates? No and I wasn’t in my nest so it was somehow inadequate? My head was starting to ache with the amount of tension that was filling my body. Working to keep my scent from becoming too strong, I tried to find the verbal middle line.
“In my nest, with my mate who works from home, in the kitchen. I float all around wherever I want to be.”
“Have you been outside since your attack?”
“Outside?”
“Gone shopping? Out to eat? Visited a friend, even? Picked out something new for your home?”
“I mean—no. I’m more of a homebody, I guess.”
She nodded, and for the first time, I felt like she didn’t believe me. Sure, I’d spent a lot of time at home recently, but I’d been dealing with a lot. Memory loss and my mates and my hair and … none of that even included all the stress my mates had been dealing with over the same things.
“That’s good. I think it’s important that you stay home for the foreseeable future.”
“What does that mean?”
“Your pack has been flagged for the potential abuse or neglect of their omega.”
I was on my feet before I thought better of it. “That’s not fair.”
“Unfortunately, the OC has flagged multiple accounts of you being left alone by your alphas. And with the connection of your photo and your name publicly, you’re no longer an unnamed omega.”
“Hold on a fucking second,” a new voice said. I turned to see all of my mates looking furious.
Eve’s typically low scent beta perfume bloomed with fear. She tried to step back but the couch was in her way.
“We aren’t going to hurt you,” Jackson growled, his words not matching his tone at all. He sat down, pulling me on top of him.
Sebastian spoke up next, “If the OC had proof of Hannah being out alone, then they’d have pulled her from this pack.”
Eve nodded slowly. “True. But if the proof also showed that she was out, alone, at protests, they might just let her be. Especially if she continues to say nothing in the wake of what’s going on right now.”
“Is that your official advice?”