Page 42 of Her Knotty Alphas

Like I really need a knot.

Iwouldsay I'm in pre-heat, but that's impossible. I literally just had a heat less than a week ago. When I start making my way to my car in the parking lot, black spots flash across my vision.

Shit. Am I going to collapse right here in the parking lot? Will my tombstone read "Here lies Hannah, she died right after meeting her scent matches?"

Determined to not be remembered for losing consciousness in a parking lot, I finally make it to my car, and slide into the front seat before calling Doctor Mejia's office. At least I feel okay when I sit down, otherwise it'd be too dangerous to drive.

The receptionist picks up quickly. "Doctor Mejia's office, how can I help you?"

"Hi, this is Hannah Beckham. Does Doctor Mejia have any openings today? I'm having symptoms that feel a lot like pre-heat, but I just came out of one last week."

"Oh my," the receptionist murmurs, and I hear the clicking of keys in the background. "Would you mind holding for just a moment, dear?"

"That's fine," I murmur, and then hold music fills my ears. A few minutes have passed when the receptionist comes back on the line. "Ms. Beckham?"

"I'm here."

"Doctor Mejia has a gap in patients in about twenty minutes and she wants you to be seen as soon as possible. Is that something you can do?"

Starting my car, I check behind me before backing out of my parking spot. "I can be there in ten."

"You don't have a fever," Doctor Mejia, a beta woman in her early fifties, looks at me with concern. Her brown hair is streaked with gray, and is pulled into a severe bun. "And you say you just had a heat? Was it…satisfied?"

"Is it ever?" I ask, giving her alook. Doctor Mejia has been my primary care provider since I turned eighteen and presented as an omega. She knows all about my relationship with heat clinics. "I wasn't alone, if that's what you're asking. The experience was far from 'satisfying', however. I've been going to the clinics for ten years, though, and this hasn't ever happened."

"Okay." She puts her thermometer down and pulls over a rolling stool, sitting down. "So if that's all the same, then let's look at what's different."

My stomach drops in realization. The only change between now and then is scenting Noah, Enzo, and Austin. "I…um…well, I met my true scent matches," I offer weakly.

The doctor's face lights up. "Oh, Hannah, that'swonderfuldear. How long ago?"

Frowning, I tick the days off on my fingers. The party was on Wednesday, and today is Tuesday, so… "Just under a week?"

Her brow furrows. "Then where are they, Hannah? Why aren't they here?"

"We're uh…we're taking it slow." I don't need to tell her I'm a self-sabotaging idiot.

"Okay…I can understand that. Did you collect proper nesting materials from them?"

NowI'mfrowning. "What do you mean?"

"Items for your nest?" She asks. "With their scents? Blankets, pillows, hell, even worn shirts? Your omega needs their scents, Hannah." At my blank look, she sighs, taking off her glasses. "I think I know what the problem is here. You have scent sickness."

My stomach sinks at her words. Scent sickness? It's only been a week, how is that possible?

"I saw one of them two days ago," I choke out, shaking my head. "And another one, we went out on a date the day before and his sport coat is still stuffed into my nest."

Yeah, really hope he's not counting on getting that jacket back.

She frowns, tapping her pen against her clipboard. "The scent may have faded too much by now to be effective in preventing the sickness, especially if he wasn't wearing it for very long." At my devastated expression, she switches to a reassuring smile. "It's okay, Hannah. It's an easy fix. Just get their scents and keep them with you if you don't want to move too quickly."

"That's it?" I ask, incredulous. "I just need their scents?"

"That's it." She stands, brushing her hands off on her pants. But…scent sickness? Why haven't I heard of this happening more often?

"Does this happen toalltrue scent matches?" Tears sting my eyes at the feeling in my chest. The feeling that I'm somehow defective. That this is my fault.

I can't even refer to Cady's situation because right after she met them she had to move into their pack house. She didn't have time to get scent sickness.

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