Chapter 17

I screamed and suddenly woke up out of my nightmare. My entire body was covered in sweat so much so that the bed sheets were damp. I felt the bite mark on my neck as I grabbed it while shaking uncontrollably. I tried my best to focus my shaking body in order to reach my phone off of the dresser nearby. I began mȯȧning and panting my entire body began to yearn for him. I hit Hunter's number before collapsing back onto the bed. I began shaking and groaning as my entire body ached.

"Will?" I open my mouth to answer but nothing came out other than a mȯȧn. I quickly closed it as I felt ashamed that my body began trembling. I felt as though I was going to release from just the thought of his name. Jayden, Jayden, Jayden. It was all my mind could think of as my body trembled and begged for him. "Will!" Hunter yelled into the phone but all I could do is let out a pants and a began crying. The phone hung up and I began crying harder as no one was coming for me. My pheromones were exploding out of me as I felt as though I was going to pass out.

I was relieved when, a few moments later, I heard the jingling of keys and the door swing open. I felt a small amount of hope as Hunter came running into the room and dropped to his knees at my side.

As he looked at me, he began crying. My mind reverted back to my dream. "It's okay," I ȧssured and I continue trembling.

Hunter rushed to his feet as he looked to me, "where is your emergency stash?" he demanded and all I could do was tremble and pants as I look to him.

Hunter began rummaging through drawers and began trembling and crying further as his frustration grew. Dang it he screamed as he began throwing drawers out of their place and rummaging through them as fast as he could. Where is it he demanded for the drawer as he looked through it. He stood and fumbled his phone out of his pocket before looking to me one more time period he dial the number and put the phone to his ear. I need an ambulance he insisted and then became silent as he listened. He began informing them of infinite information of what was going on in our location. When he hung up the phone he dropped to his knees at my side again. They're coming to him, he ȧssured himself, "you're going to be ok." He squeezed my hand in his before pulling me into his embrace. My body had no strength left so I fell onto him like a doll. He hugged me tightly, "I'm here, " he whispered into my ear, "I'm here."

I became nearly incoherent as the ambulance arrived. I there, unable to move other than shaking, and unable to communicate other than mȯȧning and crying out. Hunter stayed at my side as they brought me to the ambulance on a stretcher, drove me to the hospital, and began my vitals. I was quickly put into a contained area so that my pheromones could not cause problems. He explained to the doctors what little he knew and made sure to not mention Jayden and his possible role. One doctor came over and sat in a chair beside the side of the bed I was facing.

"Will," he began as I tried to focus my eyes on him. He was a handsome Beta, "can you understand what I'm saying?"

I stared at him. Did he not hear what Hunter said? I can't talk nor move in a way of my own free will. I can't answer, you moron.

"Let's try this. For yes, blink twice and for no, blink three times." He looked to Hunter before looking back to me, "can you understand me?"

I blinked twice.

"So he is coherent," he stated to Hunter. "So he was sleeping and called when he was already in this state?"

Hunter's eyes welled with tears, "he came back from work sometime near four a.m. and went to his apartment. Then I got a phone call from him and all he could do was make noises I couldn't understand. He was collapsed on his bed and all he was able to do was mouth to me 'it's okay'. Since that, he has been like this."

"Does he do drugs?" Hunter shook his head. "Drink?"

"Sometimes."

The doctor looked to me, "did you drink last night?" I blinked three times. "Could someone have given you something?" I blinked twice.

"Does he take meds to control his pheromones?"

"He has been for ten years, since they began coming out. He takes a larger amount than most but is religious about taking it." He sighed, "but it's been getting really bad over the past few months. His last heat was really long and really bad. But the past few days have been fine and he hasn't had any problems."

"Did you take your regular meds?" I blinked three times and the doctor looked to Hunter.

"Will is not one to miss." Hunter came closer, "did you take a bigger dose than normal?"

I blinked twice. At least one of them had a brain.

"We are going to have to give you a few large doses to get you back to a stable dose. Do you consent?" I blinked twice.

As the doctor left, Hunter took his place. "Should I call Asher?" I blinked three times. "Did something happen last night?" I blinked three times. "What did you mean by 'its okay'?"

Tears welled in my eyes. The last thing I wanted was to remind Hunter of the past. He still felt guilty for what happened.

Hunter stood as a nurse came in. She put multiple bottles of liquid in my I.V. and it burned like hell. Hunter took my hand in his as we waited the thirty minutes the nurse told us it would take.

I was thankful when my body finally followed my wishes and squeezed Hunter's hand back. He lunged at me and I held him weakly. He began crying as I finally was able to cry of my own will.

"Don't scare me like that!" He cried as he shook, "I didn't know what was going on! I didn't know how to help you!"

I kissed the top of his head, "it's okay now. We're okay."

He removed himself from me and held my hand again as he sat down. "What the hell happened?"

I shook my head, "I don't know. I had a nightmare and suddenly he was there. He bit me." I automatically checked that the strap was still on. "It felt so real and then I woke up like that. I couldn't think of anything else to do but by the time I called, my body gave out."

"I'll call Asher. There's no way you can work."

"No!" Hunter looked to me with confusion, "I can't just sit around. All my mind thinks about is him." I began shivering, "his name keeps going through my mind all the time. Now it's even in my sleep."

"Okay," he said with a sigh, "but at least let me text Asher and let him know what happened. He needs to keep an eye on you."

After a while, we were released from the hospital and we used an app to get a ride back home. Unlike his usual ways, Hunter stayed with me in my apartment. He watched me intensely when I got ready and then insisted to drive me to work. As we got to the bar, I got out and he followed.

"Hunt, I can walk in."

He moved over and stood close to me, "do you really want to go in today? I can hang out with you so you're not alone."

I hugged him tightly, "I know I scared you but I'm okay. I promise."

"Go straight back with Asher or come home."

I nodded, "cross my heart," I chuckled before kissing his head again. He let me go and I slowly made my way to the back door. I knocked and Vance stared me down as I smiled, "hi there."

I wasn't taken out of focus until I began working on the second bar stool. I smiled at Connor who gave me a glare, "try to keep it in your pants tonight."

I smirked, "oh, are you talking about Isabella? Or when you were peeping on Ash and I?"

He scowled, "you're just like I guessed," he mumbled, "a man-whore."

I ignored him and kept to my work. I didn't stop until I heard someone talking come out of the back room. I locked eyes with Asher and quickly looked down. I began cleaning the bar stool and tried to focus.

"Hey!"

I smiled slightly as I looked up to Ken, "Evenin'".

I heard Asher moving closer and wanted to scream at him. But my body didn't have that kind of energy. He put his hand on my shoulder, but I couldn't look to him. I stopped working, but kept my gaze on the floor.

"Hunter called," he whispered although I knew Ken and Connor were tuned in.

"He said he would."

"Do you want to talk about it?" I shook my head and his hand came off my shoulder. "You don't seem okay."

I smiled slightly and began cleaning again, "I'm fine." I froze as Asher grabbed my arm and turned me toward him. He tried to pull me into him but I put my arms out so he couldn't get me closer. "Stop it, I'm fine!" He stared at me with worry as I felt tears beginning to well in my eyes. "I'm fine," I whispered with my trembling voice.

"It's okay," he whispered as I looked to him. He wiped a tear off my cheek as it fell and I gave in. I fell into his ċhėst as I lost the power to keep up the act. I began crying as he held me gently. I hugged him and squeezed us closer. "We should go to my office."

I shook my head before laying it back on his ċhėst, "just a little bit longer." He pulled me against him and I finally stopped crying and looked up to him but did not let go of him. "Hunter was right, you're not well enough to come in. I'll take you home."

I shook my head again, "It's okay. I wanted to come in."

"You were in the hospital for four hours, you're not okay."

I smiled, "I feel fine now."

He ċȧrėssed my cheek and I took his hand in mine. I kissed it gently to ȧssure him I was okay. He leaned down to me and squeezed me closer. He gently put his lips to mine before ŀɨċkɨnġ them slightly. I wrapped my arms around his neck and parted my lips slightly. He took his chance and entered his tongue into my mouth. He wrapped my tongue with his before suċkɨnġ on it slightly before finally releasing me. "I love you." I put my head back on his ċhėst before he let me go of me. "Come get me if you start feeling worse." I nodded before he walked away.

I began cleaning the seats as Ken and Connor watched me. I was surprised how well I was handling the nausea from our kiss. Maybe my body is becoming used to Asher.

"Are you sick?"

I smiled to Ken sadly, "Something like that."

"Boss seems really worried."

I nodded as I finished cleaning, "he worries too much. He always has." I chuckled, "one of these days I'll give him a heart attack from worry." I sighed as I shook my head and washed my hands. "That's why I told him to leave me behind."

"I can tell by looking at you two. He wants you for life."

I looked down, "He will find someone better someday," I leaned on the bar, "then I can leave his side."

"You plan to leave him?"

I smirked, "he knows I never stay anywhere long. It's just not in my personality. He knew that before we got together."

I looked over as I heard the door open, "showtime," Connor mumbled as we quickly got to work. I began taking orders and filling them, but could feel a trio of Omegas watching me from across the room. I ignored their gaze as Ken put his hand on my shoulder. I looked to him with surprise.

"Are you feeling alright? You seem worn out."

I smiled, "I'm perfectly fine. Thanks for checking on me."

I began working but stopped when Connor glared at me. He gestured for me to come over with intensity. I walked over to him with a warm smile. The trio of Omegas looked to me while blushing. I gave them my Alpha smile as they noticeably shivered.

Connor did not move far, seeming to stand guard for these three feminine Omegas. "What can I get you?"

The one closest to me smiled, "are you famous?"

I smirked, "is that a pick up line?"

He giggled, "no, really. You look really familiar." He blushed harder, "you're the King, right?"

I paused as I felt Ken and Connor watching me and listening in. "I'm sorry?"

"You changed your hair but there's no way you could hide those chiseled features," he leaned over and gently touched my arm that was leaning on the bar, "your Wes, the King, right?"