Tangled

37 Ava: Overcome (IV)

I was an animal. And so was he.

I can feel Selene in the back of my mind, and I know that she’s asleep. I don’t bother her; I have a more pressing concern.

There’s no call light within reach, and I wiggle and struggle against my restraints. I desperately,

desperately need to pee.

I can hear a little electronic click, then a disinterested, staticky voice fills the room. “Do you need anything?”

I clear my throat, licking my dry lips. “I need to go to the bathroom.” My voice is hoarse, my throat sore. I wonder if I’ve been screaming. I have a feeling I have

been.

“Your nurse will be in in just a moment,” Static Voice says, and clicks off again.

I realize then that they’re probably watching me on camera, and my skin prickles in unease. Somehow, this feels worse than dealing with a horny kidnapper rubbing himself on me.

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37 Ava: Overcome (IV)

I try not to think about it. It’s something I’m used to doing; it’s how I’ve made it through life this far.

But I really, really need to pee, damn it.

A nurse I don’t recognize comes in, and it takes a solid thirty seconds for her to lock the door behind her. It’s embarrassing to see how many security measures are in place to keep me unmated.

“How are you feeling? You seem to be pretty rational,” she says, chipper as the morning sun.

I hate her. I feel like shit. My head hurts. My body hurts. I have horrible memories of me throwing myself at a man I barely know in front of who knows how many strangers, and here’s this pretty nurse with her life together, asking me how I’m doing.

need to go to the bathroom, or

we’re going to have to put you back in them. We don’t want a repeat of last night.” She speaks in a matter of fact kind of way, but I can’t

with a

aide and starta

14:54

217

Overcome (IV)

to have freedom, my urgency has become an emergency.

for the bathroom in panic. For a brief moment, I’m able to push

as I remember it

Ugh.

wish I had amnesia.

was a pill to cancel heat and

them with a thin hospital town, I stare at my reflection. Tangled hair, puffy eyes,

mirror, patting my hot cheeks. So

gone when I exit the

my stomach roil with nausea, so I sit on the visitor’s couch instead.

14

377

Ava: Overcome

a female doctor, going

the steel

room, a warm smile on her face. “Good morning, Ava. I’m Dr. Summers. How are

night makes me feel awkward, so I avoid

I gesture vaguely at my

her

heat cycle, Ava. Much stronger than what

We don’t have a lot of documented information on true omegas and their heat cycles. They’re incredibly rare.

as one.”

unease. “So, what does that mean for

14.54 —

Overcome (IV)

“It means we underestimated the severity of your heat. We thought we would have more time before the peak hit.” She

nonchalant. “It’s okay. I mean, it’s not, but… I understand.”