Page 168 of Sawyer

“They are.” What Doc did was wrong, no matter what positives came out of his research. Consent is vital to research. I hate that I understand why he did what he did and all the knowledge he obtained. It will help someone, but his methods weren’t savory. They were downright vile. “I think once awareness of who gammas and deltas are hits the world, that lie will dissolve.”

“Are you prepared for that backlash?”

“Are you?” I quip. “Because you’ll be helping me through it.”

“I’ll be here when you need me.” She pauses. “Sawyer, you’ve progressed.”

I have come so far from where I was a month ago, beat and ready to give up.

“Do you blame your brother for what happened?” she asks, because our sessions always end with a talk about my brother.

“I still haven’t forgiven him for trying to take over my life, for the tracker, nor for trying to mate me off.” That will take time. “I think he’s trying to make up for it now since the guys saved him by bringing a contract to Sin for my mating.”

She gives me that look that asks a thousand questions without a single spoken word.

“Sin wasn’t happy with him, but he took the contract and handed it to me. Shep left on a ship the next day. We will have to work through our trust issues.” Sighing, I carry on. “My brother loves me, I know that, but he didn’t make the best choices.”

“Sometimes, those we love hurt us the most,” she murmurs, as though she understands that sentiment on a personal level.

“I think…” No, be direct with your words, Sawyer. “I’m ready to accept them.” Excitement bubbles out of me. It took weeks to work through everything that happened with Sal, and while I’m not completely okay, I know my guys would never rush me, never hurt me, and never abuse me in the way he did. I brush my fingers along my bite scar. “I don’t feel shame.”

“What do you feel?”

“Pride.” I look up at Daisy. “I survived.”

A knock on the door draws me out of the moment as Mila pops her head in. The mage saunters in with a small bag. “You’re done? Good.” She shuts and locks the door before double-checking that the sound machine is running.

Daisy looks like she might throttle her. “Yes, time is up. There’s no time limit to therapy, Mila.”

“There is today.” She hands me the bag before eyeing Daisy.

“It’s all right. I trust her,” I assure Mila as I grip the bag in my fingers.

“Your scan reveals that your body went into a stasis.” Mila takes a step back to lean on the closed door. “You never got a period, Sawyer. You went into preheat. That bastard was right.”

“He was right.” I shake my head and clutch the bag to my chest. “Gammas can go into a heat when they are with a pack.”

“No.” She stops me. “A gamma can only enter a heat when they are with their pack.” She gives me a pointed look. “It won’t happen with just anyone. You can match scents with an alpha and his pack, but they might not be the right pack for you.”

“Does this explain why it never went further?” Daisy sits in her chair, taking notes. She is always eager to know what’s happening outside in the real world as well as here in our little space. I worry about her curiosity.

That is what nearly killed me.

“She felt threatened by Sal. No match.” Mila slices a hand through the air. “That elixir will bring on a heat.”

Excitement bubbles inside of me. Everything is about to change. I bounce up and give Mila a smack on the cheek with my lips. “Thank you.” Then I do the same to Daisy before I rush from the room, almost smacking my forehead against the edge of the wood.

“Sawyer.” Mila grabs my arm, and then, in a low whisper, she says, “I burned all of your scans. All of your blood work.”

“Why?” Shock rushes through me.

“You read as a gamma and an omega, and you have the gland that only omegas have. I suspect it was always there.”

“This is fantastic news. Why hide it?” I’m already forming headlines in my mind.

“I have it all backed up. None of these heirs deserve my trust.” She eases up before she nods down the hall. “Go.”

She doesn’t have to tell me twice. I race down the hall and into the large waiting room. There are mostly deltas here waiting to see a therapist. I bypass all of them and rush into the hall while trying not to run.

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