Page 103 of Perfectly Naïve
“And you are a good brother. You know that, right?”
“I’m glad you came,” I tell Liv.
She cups my cheek, marking me with her scent. “Me too.”
I swoop in for a quick, chaste kiss. “I love you,” I whisper before pulling back.
Her eyes widen before a grin and a blush overtake her features. “My oxytocin and dopamine levels are sky-high when you’re around.”
My eyebrows lift.
She chuckles. “I love you too, Liam.”
Those words wrap around me, and I pull her into a hug, breathing in her scent, letting it soothe the rest of my frustration. I never thought I’d get a chance to see her again, but now she’s mine.
All that’s left to do is make it official.
Chapter Thirty
OLIVIA
The hospital floors gleam under the fluorescent lighting, and the sting of antiseptic floats in the air. Nigel sits beside me in the hard plastic chair outside of Emeline’s room, but Theo is pacing. His footsteps are loud in the subdued wing of the hospital. A lot of the feral omegas in this wing are sedated. Emeline was as well while the doctors waited for the treatment to take effect.
They needed to see if her mind and body will be receptive to the medicine. It all really depends on if we got her here in enough time.
Nigel sniffs. I squeeze his hand. “She’ll be okay.” She has to be. Vicki pulled some strings with her friends and got Emeline in a nice room and access to the latest treatments. They’re nothing like the one we’re developing, but they’re the best chance at slowing the progression of her going feral.
The door to Emeline’s room opens and the doctor steps out. Her white lab coat sways around her legs as she faces us. Nigel stands and joins Theo. I rise as well but give them space.
“You’re lucky you brought Emeline in when you did. Itwas close, but she’s responding well. Given everything we’ve seen over the last few days, she could avoid going feral for one-two years. You’ll need to consider the next steps for when that time comes, because as good as this treatment is, it’s not a cure.” She continues to explain a few things, but Nigel and Theo are craning their necks, trying to see their omega.
The doctor smiles. “You can go in now.”
“Thank you,” Nigel murmurs before he and the other alpha rush inside.
I take their place. “How certain are you on the timeline?”
“Very. This treatment, given before a certain point, has been very successful. The majority of patients live their lives normally well beyond the year mark.”
Nodding, I peek into the room, smiling as Nigel and Theo fuss over their omega, who is softly crying. My chest squeezes, and I share a look with the doctor. “Perhaps we should give them some privacy.”
Emeline is like a second mother, but there are some moments that a pack deserves to share alone. This is one of them. All that matters to me is that they have more time together and we have a window to transfer her to the clinical trials for the cure. Things are finally looking up.
Watching three big alphas and one big beta fuss over an eleven-year-old omega does funny things to my insides.
“We’re going to miss you, squirt,” Wilder says, ruffling Cici’s hair affectionately.
She squeals, swatting his hand away, her giggles filling the room. “I’m not going to miss you. Boys smell. Seriously, what do you foureatto make you blow up the bathroom like that?”
It’s my turn to giggle. And when four sets of sexy eyes turn to look at me with varying expressions ranging from amusementto embarrassment to annoyance, both Cici and I end up laughing even harder. I’m going to miss having her around so much. She’s a good kid, and the pack is so sweet with her.
It all makes my ovaries ache.
“Do you have everything?” Liam asks. He surveys his room, which he’d let Cici take over while she was here, for any random articles of clothing or school supplies.
Cici rolls her eyes. “I’m eleven, Li. I know how to pack my stuff.”
Hayes muffles a laugh with his big, calloused hand, earning a glare from Liam.
