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“I can’t date a patient without losing my job,” I whispered. “Try to understand how much this career means to me.”

“I do understand,” Rhett replied, quietly. “But I’m not only talking about dating. I’m talking about bonding. I’m a possessive bastard. We want you in our pack.”

Butterflies swarmed in my stomach.

My first pack had to have me in the pack because that was the rule of brotherhood. But they didn’t truly want me. They made that clear with their fists.

They only chased me because I dared to steal from them.

This was the first time that someone had made me feel wanted for who I was.

Confused, I didn’t know what to say.

“We want you.” Luca leaned on the wall next to me. “Have we made that clear enough? We have checked the hospital’s guidelines. Clause five states that if an ex-patient isn’t coerced or pursued by the medical staff, and they want to bond the staff member, then the patient can apply for special permission from the CMO.”

Was I going to faint?

“You’ve thought of everything.” The dominance of the pheromones rolling off both Alphas was heady and intoxicating. I could barely think but I knew that if I didn’t get to return home tonight with these two, rather than return to my bleak apartment, then it would destroy me. “But what if it’s not granted?”

“It will be,” Rhett replied with a confidence that I fucking admired. Was he born with it because he descended from the founders? “I’m Rhett Cole. No one will stop me claiming my Alpha.”

My cheeks flushed. “Am I? Yours?”

“If you want to be.”

“Ours,” Luca corrected.

My blush deepened.

“But I’m nobody.” I reached up to touch my motorcycle pendant. “If you knew about my past…”

“We do,” Luca replied, simply. “We don’t care.”

I stared in shock at them.

I should be pissed that they’d had me investigated.

Instead, my chest felt lighter than it had in my whole damn life. “Then let’s go grab that coffee.”

Now, I stand up and pull the rumpled blanket over both my Alpha and the Omega who I am desperate to join the Cole pack like I once did.

“I won’t be kept in here long.” Rhett tightens his hold around Paige. “The doc said twenty-four hours, then I can come home…” He breaks off. “I m-m-mean back to Acorn Inn.”

I smirk.

I’ve never heard Rhett stutter. It must be the concussion, right?

“I’ll monitor you at home.” I perch on the end of the bed. “After those twenty-four hours, you can return to light activities.”

“What about my heat?” Paige asks, anxiously. “I know what I’m like during heat, and fair warning…our activities won’t be light.”

“It’s not meant to start for another five days, right?” I run my hand through my hair. “Rhett will be recovered enough by then, especially if you hug and scent him as much as you can.”

Paige rubs up and down Rhett’s throat with her cheek. “Not a problem.”

Rhett growls in satisfaction deep in his throat. “I’ve never had a better prescription.”

“You can rest in my nest.” Paige’s scent becomes sweeter. “I’ll cuddle with you under the covers. We’ll find shit to do so you’re not bored. Are you certain that you don’t want to drop out of my heat…?”