Page 49 of One Flew Over the Omega's Nest: Part One
I stare after him, my heart pounding in my chest. My fingers reach up to touch my lips. They come away bloody, but it’s not mine.
Still watching his retreating form, I call out after him, “Coward!”
How dare he kiss me and walk away like that? Like I’m diseased? Or some sort of…mistake? His steps halt for a brief moment, and my breath catches in my throat. I think he might turn around, but after a second…he keeps walking.
I huff a breath through my nose. Fine. I don’t need him. I got Hayden, an alpha who actually wants me and all my crazy to go with it.
“What happened, Fireball?” Hayden finds me in the courtyard an hour later, sitting against a tree with a book in my lap. Though, I can see why he’s concerned because I’m not really reading it, I’m staring a hole into the doors of the dorm building, like Kole might walk out at any moment.
“Kole kissed me.” The words sound foreign to my ears, and for a moment, I really do wonder if I dreamed the whole thing. It’s completely possible.
Except, it’s not. Because ever since Kole left me stranded in that hallway, something in me has shifted, but I can’t put my finger on what.
“Well, that’s not really surprising,” Hayden says easily, plopping down next to me and chuckling when Turnip pops her head out of my jumpsuit.
“Then he left,” I add, still staring at the building. I had wanted to snoop around the abandoned wing today, but after the incidents with Paige and Lars, I feel too many eyes on me. I need to wait until interest has died down again, and hopefully it doesn’t take too long. I’ve already been here a week and I’m no closer to finding out what happened to Mabel than when I arrived.
“Huh. I didn’t seethatcoming,” he admits, taking a cracker out of his pocket and holding it out to Turnip. Apparently, he was the one feeding her while I was incapacitated last week.
My eyes are still glued to the building when the double doors slide open, but instead of Kole, it’s Dr. Brooks. And he doesn’t look happy.
“Shit,” I hiss, grabbing Turnip and putting her back in my pocket.
“Jo,” Brooks says as he approaches, “Mr. Pierce,” he nods at Hayden before turning his attention back to me, “you caused quite a stir today.”
“I don’t think I quite know what you’re talkin’ about, Doc,” I smile sweetly, getting to my feet, “I merely defended myself against an assault.”
Brooks’ lips tighten into a thin line, and Hayden shoots me a questioning look. Ah. So I guess he didn’t hear about the thing with Lars earlier.
“Be that as it may,” Brooks says, frowning at me as I stand up and brush off my jumpsuit, “this is the fifth violent instance you’ve had in the week you’ve been here, and we feel that you would benefit from participating in CT.”
My jaw drops. “You want me to participate in the fights?” I mean, I knew this could happen, but not so soon.
“But Doctor,” Hayden jumps up, angling himself in front of me—an action that Brooks definitely notices, “there’s never been an omega participating in CT before.”
“Well, we haven’t had an omega quite as…bloodthirsty as Jo before, Hayden.” Brooks looks between the two of us.
“Will Lars be participatin’?” I ask innocently, secretly looking forward to being able to beat his ass in a sanctioned manner. “After all, he is the one who pulled my ponytail first.”
“No.” Brooks shakes his head. “Mr. Devereux does not have nearly as many strikes as you do, Jo.” Disappointment fills me. So much for that. “So, next Saturday, be prepared to participate. And…” He trails off, pursing his lips. “I don’t condone physical relationships between patients, but let’s make sure we’re keeping instincts out of things, yes? We wouldn’t want anyone to think you’re forming a pack.”
I have to hold myself back from rolling my eyes. The man knows he’s all but nullified my omega. “Yes sir,” I flutter my eyelashes, “no pack-formin’ here.”
He gives a curt nod. “Good. That would create complications that neither of you want to face.” With that, he turns and leaves the courtyard, and I raise my middle fingers to his back. Fucking asshole. He does so well at playing the part of the caring paternal figure, but he’s really just a snake in the grass.
Hayden lets out a low whistle. “Shit, Fireball. Are you gonna be okay with that?”
“What?” I raise a brow, a little bit of ire leaking into my voice. “You’re not goin’ to hold me back from participatin’ like last time?”
He looks confused for a moment, then shakes his head. “Jo…do you think I held you back because I didn’t think you could handle yourself?”
I frown, crossing my arms. “Isn’t that why?”
He barks a laugh. “Fuck, no. Babe, I watched you slam Paige’s face into a table. You apparently beat Lars to a pulp your first day here, and you broke four of Tilly’s fingers. It had nothing to do with handling yourself, and everything about the consequences you would face if you walked into that ring unsanctioned.”
Oh.
He doesn’t stop, taking my face in his hands. “You are the scariest, fiercest, sexiest woman I’ve ever met in my life. I have no doubt that you can destroy whoever they put you in that ring with. But even you can’t stop the wrath of Brooks or Whitmore if you piss them off.That’swhy I held you back.”
