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 I’m going to

off, we’re going to have to put you back in them. We don’t

with

to mu aide and

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Overcome (IV)

that I know I’m about to have freedom, my urgency has become

from the restraints, and I bolt for the bathroom in panic. For a brief moment, I’m able

as I remember it

Ugh.

I

to cancel heat and cause twenty–four

there isn’t, so I flush the toilet and wash my hands. Drying them with a thin hospital town, I stare at my

and turn away from the mirror,

nurse is gone when

my bed makes my stomach roil with nausea, so I sit on the visitor’s

14

377

Overcome

doctor, going

steel door.

smile on her face. “Good morning, Ava. I’m Dr. Summers. How are you feeling today?”

probably heard about last night makes me feel

I gesture

Summers nods, her expression serious.

very intense heat cycle, Ava. Much stronger

hands in her lap. “Honestly, though… We don’t have a lot of documented information on true omegas and their heat

as one.”

my stomach churning with unease. “So, what

14.54 —

Ava: Overcome

Summers sighs. “It means we underestimated the severity of your heat. We thought we would have more time before the peak hit.” She looks at me directly, her eyes apologetic. “I’m sorry, Ava. We should have taken more

shrug a shoulder, trying to be nonchalant. “It’s okay. I