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“Pain relief will also be available,” Eleanor said. “Whether you take it will be entirely your decision.”

I drew in a shaky breath and opened my eyes. Ivy held out a small cloth, and the guilt on her face made my chest ache. Sorry, she mouthed.

I took it and wiped my face. “It’s okay. I’m sorry, Ivy. I just… I can’t see being bitten five times as something beautiful. What if they bite too hard? What if I bleed out and die?”

“You will not,” Eleanor assured me. “I cannot recall ever hearing of an Omega suffering such an injury during a properly conducted mating.” She watched me, probably noticing how little that had done to stop my hands shaking.

“Would it ease your fears if I asked your fathers to arrange for a physician to remain nearby?”

“Can you do that?”

“Of course.”

“I haven’t heard of an Omega making such a request,” Nora said.

My stomach dropped. Another thing that tells everyone I don’t belong here.

“Nora,” Ivy murmured.

“It’s all right.” I wiped beneath my eyes again. “I’m glad you said it.” I gave Nora the most reassuring smile I could manage. “I don’t want to ask for things no one else ever does and have them think I’m any odder than I already am.”

“It would be no trouble,” Eleanor said. “Your fathers and I can arrange it discreetly.”

“You needn’t concern yourself with anyone else’s opinion,” Ivy added. “Having a physician nearby may help you feel safer. That is what matters.”

But I did have to worry about what people thought. A physician meant another stranger watching me, asking questions, maybe even examining me. What if they noticed something Mireya hadn’t? No.

“I’m sure. I don’t want a—” I caught myself before the wrong word slipped out. “I don’t want a physician nearby.”

Eleanor didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t push.

“Actually, I’m ready for that nap.” I started gathering my notes, mostly because I needed something to do with my hands.

“Elowen…” Nora sounded miserable. “I didn’t mean to upset you. It was only an observation. I do think having a physician there would be sensible.”

“I know.” I managed a small smile. “You didn’t do anything. I just need a break.”

Eleanor rose from her chair. “Come, girls. Let your sister rest.”

I knew I should reassure them, tell them they hadn’t hurt my feelings and that I was all right, but I didn’t have it in me. I said nothing as they quietly gathered their things and left. Long after the doors closed, I was still sitting there, feeling sorry for myself.

Come on, Elowen. Yes, marrying five of these Alpha men involved a lot more teeth and genital swelling than I’d expected, but staying here could be much worse. Mireya had already shown me what she was capable of.

I still couldn’t understand how I’d woken fully healed. The scars were there, but I had no way to prove Mireya had put them there, even though I knew she had.

“There are scars! I saw them. What did you do to me?”

“I don’t understand what you’re referring to, Elowen.” She’d sounded so concerned. “Shall we examine you? Let me have a look, and we can determine what has happened.”

“No! You’re not getting near me.”

“Prepare sedation. She’s clearly distressed.”

“I’m not!” I backed further onto the bed.

“Then how can I explain ‘these scars’ to your parents? If you truly have them, they must have been caused before you came into my care.”

“I never had scars down there.”