Page 41 of Pack Giroux

"It would make sense," I tell him, having researched a bit on omegas since she came into our lives. "She said other scents and sounds are driving her crazy and her need to be around us so much. The nesting hasn't started yet, so we've probably got some time."

"How would she not know, though?" Jameson asks worriedly.

"She was a virgin, man," Grady says. "Maybe they give them medicine or something that keeps the heats at bay until they're older and don't explain anything to them."

Swiveling my head, I peer at him with wide eyes, because he could be onto something.

"What?" he asks, seeing that we're all looking at him now. He points to his head. "It's not just a hat rack, you know?"

"We just need to keep a close watch on her," Raine suggests. "Maybe sit her down and have that discussion with her."

"Speaking of which, good luck on your date tonight," Kinkaid says, smiling into the mirror at me and Jameson.

"Thanks," we say at the same time.

We've been working on something for her for a little over two weeks now. I hope she likes it.

MARNIE

Another victory under the belt, and another day of making my team hate me. I don't get it. One would think that you'd praise your teammates that are bringing your team up. I don't hog the ball or the spotlight. When we're approached by people after the game, I always push them off in the direction of my teammates. I don't want the attention. Period. I just want to play so that they'll pay for me to go to school. I wish they'd understand that.

I've been staying at the pack house, not only because they are practically like my water in sweltering heat right now, but I've been avoiding my roommates. I don't know what's going on with my body, but everything is just a nuisance right now. I'll be fine until halfway through the day then I'll start feeling panicky like the need to get up and run. The only balm to the panic is the guys. I honestly don't know what I'd do without them right now.

We ride back to the pack house in silence, and I know that something is up. The twins said they had a surprise for me tonight, but I don't think that whatever is going on in here right now has anything to do with it.

"What's going on?" I ask Grady who's sitting next to me in the very back with his arm slung across the back of my seat.

He licks his lips, something he only does when he's going to be serious, and my heart pounds in my chest. "Not to be forward, but we can all be honest with each other, right?"

A massive stone drops in my stomach, preparing me for the worst as I draw out my answer, "Yeah."

"Do you remember when your last heat was?" he asks gently.

Weeks ago, sitting in the center chair talking to Grace about my heart was humiliating. Here? With the men that I trust. It feels normal. "I've only ever had one. It was when I presented as an omega."

"Do you remember much about it?"

"No,” I answer honestly. "It was a long time ago, and when they found out I was an omega, they took me away from my pack and put me in the omega house. I had to stay alone in a separate bedroom for about a week."

"Oh," it dawns on me as soon as I say it. "They kept me away from the scents and sounds that are driving me crazy right now. You think I might be going into heat?"

It's our conversation, but I can tell that the rest of them are listening in. He nods. "Yeah, we think you might be."

"Hmm," I hum, looking out the window. "Do you think something is wrong with me?"

"Why would you ask that?" Raine asks from the front, turning to face me.

"Well, I've read and been told that the typical omega has two to four heats a year. I haven't had one since I was eleven," I answer easily.

He thinks before he speaks next. Probably because whatever he's about to say is going to be a tough topic, and we don't normally do that in the light of day. "Do you remember taking any medicine or eating anything that had a weird taste?"

I snort softly. "All of their food is weird. It's straight from the source with no taste or seasoning. They could've likely been poisoning our bodies like they were our minds."

Grady winces at my side, but I just shrug. "Nothing I can do about it now."

"We should keep an eye on you just in case," Raine says gently. "Let us know if you start feeling different or have any other symptoms."

I smile at him, catching Kinkaid's gaze in the mirror who returns it too, "I will."

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