Page 59 of Shades of Scars

I don’t say anything. I keep my mouth shut all the way to the hospital, too keyed up to voice my feelings. I’m going to strangle Kars as soon as I see him, and then I am going to bloody Caito’s pretty face for leaving his watch post and not knowing what the hell is going on.

Tires screech when I come to a halt in front of the front doors of the emergency department, and I’m hopping out of the car before Lark can say anything. There’s no valet at this hospital entrance, so he calls out that he’ll park the car and meet me inside, but I’m moving too fast to respond.

I head straight to the receptionist’s desk the moment I’m inside. Some of my anger slips when I slam my fist down on the top counter, snapping the elderly omega’s attention up to me. “Parker Kars. Where did he take my omega?” I demand, and my eyes narrow when her nostrils flare in indignation.

“Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to refrain from speaking-”

“Here, Madden. Follow me, and I’ll take you back to her.” Kars’ voice cuts her off when he appears from the direction of the lobby. The receptionist huffs in annoyance, but she doesn’t say anything as I stalk towards the beta doctor, Lark appearing at my side.Damn, he moves fast.

“If you don’t tell me what the fuck-”

“Stop. I’ll explain as soon as we are all back in her room. Let’s keep the peace out here, yeah?” He holds up a hand to silence me, and I swear that steam must be blowing out of my ears from how hot my rage is boiling now.

Lark slaps a hand down on my shoulder when I open my mouth to argue, and when I glance over at him, the look he gives me makes me clam up. Baring my teeth at the beta, I jerk my head. “Take us to our omega.”

He eyes me for a moment before he nods, turning to lead us through the lobby to a set of doors marked emergency exit. He uses a badge to scan us through, and then we’re following him down a set of halls. We come to a stop outside of a closed door, but he doesn’t immediately twist the handle and push it open for us.

“Her roommate brought her in for some testing when she said she was experiencing some flu-like symptoms. She passed out during the appointment, and I thought it best to bring her here. She awoke about three minutes after I got off the phone with you, so I’ll let her explain what exactly happened as it was one of my nurses that was with her when she fainted.” He steps aside then, making it clear that he isn’t heading inside with us just yet. “Am I correct to assume the other two are on their way?” When I nod, his lips tighten before he dips his chin. “I’ll wait for them out in the lobby and bring them back when they get here.”

He disappears back down the hallway, leaving me and Lark to stare after him for a moment. I exchange a look with my pack brother before I suck in a breath through my clenched teeth. I knock, and then push into the room before I receive an answer, feeling far too anxious and impatient to lay eyes on my omega.

As soon as we step into the dimly lit room, Kate—the roommate—is up on her feet from the chair she’d been sitting in by the bed and planting her hands on her hips. “How the hell did you know we were here?” She demands, but I only have eyes for the omega sitting with her legs crossed on the bed, a stark white blanket pulled up to cover her lap.

I have to bite back my growl at the sight of her. Dark circles stain the undersides of her eyes. Her hair is pulled back in a low ponytail, making her gaunt cheekbones stick out more than usual. Her usually vibrant, dark hazel eyes are dull with exhaustion and something else I can’t quite place as soon as she meets my gaze.

She doesn’t even look angry to see us. Resignation settles over her features. “It’s fine, Kate.” I hate how dull her voice sounds. She wraps her arms around her waist, and I take note of the lack of sling. Her shoulder must be feeling well enough not to need it anymore. It has been three weeks since we last saw her.

“They’re a bunch of stalkers, Scar. That’s not healthy behavior, and you shouldn’t encourage them.” Kate turns her ire on Scarlett, but my omega just sighs and shakes her head.

“They need to be here. You know why.” I exchange a look with Lark at that, and I find the look Kate gives Scarlett rather curious.

“What’s going on, Sweetheart?” I can’t help but to fall back on the old nickname I used for her before she walked out on us. I can see some of the tension leak out of her at my use of it, and that warms something inside of me that has felt cold and dead since I watched her disappear behind our elevator doors three weeks ago.

“I’ll fill you all in as soon as the others are here.” She doesn’t even ask if Caito and Apollo are coming. She leans back into the mound of pillows behind her, and Kate moves to grab a plastic container sitting on a nearby wheeled cart and hold it up to her.

“Do you feel nauseous?”

Scarlett shakes her head. “No. I’m just dizzy and tired.”

Kate nods, placing the container closer in case she needs it. “Kars said something about flu symptoms?” Lark hedges after a moment of silence, but Scarlett just keeps her eyes closed, resting back against the pillows. She’s paler than normal, and I don’t like that at all.

My jaw grinds, but I’m saved from having to demand answers of both omegas when the door swings inward again, and Caito and Apollo stalk inside. “Mo chroí.” Caito growls, stalking towards the bed with single-minded intent, but Scarlett holds her hand up to stop him.

He freezes, hurt flashing across his features, but it’s gone the next time he blinks before she’s even opened her eyes. “Kate, can you give us a minute?” She turns to her roommate. The other omega hesitates, casting a glower over all four of us, before she sighs.

“I’m going to get a coffee from the machine down the hall. Then I’ll wait outside the door. Call if you need anything.” She hands Scarlett the emergency call button remote, then, with one last glare around the room, she stalks out and shuts the door quietly behind her.

Once she’s gone, all four of our gazes fall on our omega, holding our breaths in preparation for what’s to come.

37

Scarlett

Thank fuck I don’t feel like hurling my guts up anymore. The tiny dissolvable pill Kars gave me when I woke up twenty minutes ago is finally going into effect, but the four sets of anxious eyes I find on me when I finally open my own again do little to help the roiling in my stomach.

Especially when I remember what I have to tell them.

I’m pregnant. With a baby. One of them is the father.

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