Chapter Three

Haravin heard a knock at her door at three in the morning. She walked to the keyhole, and her guts turned to ice. She called security and said calmly, "There is a man knocking on my door. I need him removed. He is my ex and means me harm."

"Yes, ma'am. We will send someone up there in the next ten minutes."

The knocking resumed. "Harvey. Harvey, let me in. I just want you to have Tim's baby. You know he can't carry to term. So, we want you to be our surrogate. Then we can just be the three of us until the baby is born, and maybe if there is another one that Tim wants, you can carry that, too."

"Hire a surrogate, Mark."

"No. They are expensive. You are free. You are also in really good shape."

"No, Mark. I am not going to carry a baby for you and Tim. Get someone else."

He growled low. "Don't be that way."

"Don't be an ass. The growl doesn't work on me anymore. I am immune."

He punched the door, and she stepped back. He punched again, and she was reaching for the phone when it rang. "Ma'am. You need to stop whatever you are doing. People are complaining."

"I have already called security. My ex is outside my room, punching my door and refusing to leave." She sighed. "I did not invite him."

The thudding picked up tempo, and her door began to bend.

"Fine, ma'am. Security is coming right up."

"Great, and check your call logs before someone deletes them. I called five minutes ago."

The door shattered inward, and Haravin screamed as a hand wrenched the hotel phone out of her hand.

Mark grabbed her neck and held her in the air. His veins were distended, his neck wide, and his face flushed. "Have my baby!"

She saw movement in the hall and said, "No!" She couldn't get a lot of energy behind it. He was slowly strangling her.

A dark shape walked into the room behind Mark and got him in a headlock. Surprisingly, he didn't drop her but rather took her to the floor when his knees buckled.

The figure punched him in the head, and he went limp, letting Haravin roll away, coughing and gasping for air.

She crouched on the floor, and security arrived. When oxygen came a little easier, she looked up and blinked. "Oh, hey, Kekoa. Um, thanks for that."

He looked at her in surprise. "It sounded like someone was being murdered in here. Why didn't you change?"

"I don't know what the floor is rated for." She shrugged.

Security dragged Mark out. She asked, "Which one of you got the bribe?"

One of the guys darted their gaze around. She muttered, "Classy."

The others looked at him and hauled the rage-swollen alpha out of the room and down to the main floor where police were coming.

Kekoa tilted her head to the side and looked at her neck. "The swelling is increasing."

"Yes, it is."

The night audit came in and looked around. "You need another room."

She croaked. "Probably. How did he find me?"

She looked at the clothing she was wearing, and there on the arm of the blouse was a tiny tracker. She croaked again. "I am stupid."

The night audit said, "Please come downstairs, and I will get you a new room. Bring your things."

She nodded, threw her blouse into the garbage, and tossed everything else in her bag.

Kekoa said, "What are you doing?"

"Packing my stuff."

"They should send a bellman."

"Not for betas. I am just going to get a new room. Thanks for the save. I will see you in a few hours."

He paused. "When you get your new room, come to room twenty-twenty and knock."

"Why?"

"Because we have an extra room, and you should not be alone."

"I am usually fine."

He sighed. "Go get your new room."

"Yes, Your Majesty." She put her bag over her shoulder, headed downstairs, and got room five-seventeen. She bit her lip, and when she got in the elevator, her finger hesitated over the five and then moved to press twenty.

She called herself sixteen types of stupid, but she would at least be able to sleep without worrying about Mark getting loose.

She stood in front of twenty-twenty and knocked softly. The door opened, and Kekoa stood aside to let her walk in.

"Come in." He walked her past a closed door, and a second, smaller room was behind the next door. "Alohi sleeps like the dead. I do not."

"So, you heard the thumping from twelve floors away?"

"Sure. We can call it that."

She swallowed painfully and went to the bathroom, cooling a small towel and using it as a compress.

Haravin put the compress on her throat and turned to see Kekoa standing in the doorway. "Thank you so much for your help. I think Alohi will freak out if you are not there when he wakes."

"He will be fine. Are you all right?"

She shrugged. "I have been attacked by that particular alpha before. The last time was when I told him that his screwing around was going to hurt his partner. Based on what he was ordering me to do, Timmins is sterile or can't carry. They want me to carry for them. I declined."

"You want children?"

"Children, yes. An alpha, no. I would rather go the IVF route."

"Why?"

"Because I don't crave sex. I don't seek it out. I don't understand the fuss. It traces back to before we had contact. It was what made it so easy for Mark and Timmins to use me to hide their relationship."

His astonished expression made her smile.

She pulled the bedding down and kicked her slippers off, easing herself into the sheets. "Good night. I have my alarm set for tomorrow. I won't miss the appointment."

He walked over to her and kissed her forehead. "Sleep well."

"Thanks for the save."

He nodded but didn't reply.

The door was nearly closed, and she kept the compress around her neck until she fell asleep.

She woke feeling very warm with an arm around her waist. She turned, saw Alohi, and sighed. She checked her phone, and she still had twenty minutes until it was time to get up.

Haravin also saw several missed calls. She listened to the messages, and it was the police. She returned a call and spoke softly. "Hello, I am looking for Sargent Agerton?"

She waited and was transferred.

"Miss Dillard?"

"Yes. I decided to go somewhere safe."

"The hotel said they had gotten you a new room."

"Yes, but he found me once and bribed security to ignore me, so I did not trust them. One of your officers should have taken my statement when they were here. Is he still in custody?"

"No, ma'am. He has been released."

"Of course. Well, I will get a medical report on the damage to my neck and hip today and send it to attach to the police report. Wait. Is there a police report?"

"No, ma'am. There is a drunk and disorderly report, and the hotel is dropping charges in return for repairs."

She touched her throat and said, "What if I want to press charges?"

"You will have to come in."

"Fine. I have an appointment at ten, but I will come in after that. Can you send me a reference number?"

"Of course. I will text it to you."

"Thank you. How did you get my number?"

"From the hotel."

"Of course. Right. I will be in touch."

She hung up and waited. When the text came through, she used the number to make a report and take a selfie of her neck damage.

Alohi asked sleepily, "What are you doing?"

"Documenting my injuries, saving them to the cloud in a few places. Mark has a skill for making evidence disappear."

She finished saving the images and began making a police report. Saving and screenshotting it, then going through all of her backup procedures.

Alohi wrapped his arms around her waist. "I am very angry that you were hurt."

"I am not a fan myself. I need to take a shower and get ready for the doctor's visit."

"You are having breakfast, right? This place has a great breakfast."

"It wouldn't be wise. I have an idea of what's about to happen. I will eat lunch if I can." She saw his disappointment. She smiled. "I can have juice."

Alohi blinked his cool crystal eyes. He smiled. "I can work with that."

She stroked his forehead and croaked, "Why are you here?"

"I thought you needed a hug."

She chuckled and winced. "Well, I am getting ready for my appointment. Where will you be?"

"In the dining room. I will order the smoothies now."

She grabbed her bag and tapped his arms to release them from her waist.

He sighed and rolled to his back, stretching under the sheets. It was an interesting sight, but she had to get into the shower. She had to leave for her appointment in forty-five minutes.

Clean and with her hair back in a ponytail, she walked into the large area of the hotel room, and Alohi smiled and beckoned her over. Kekoa was sipping coffee and reading his tablet. He didn't look up when he said, "Good morning, Haravin."

"Good morning, Your Majesty."

Alohi pulled a seat in next to him and smiled. "Sit close. I will show you what I ordered."

He walked her through three smoothies that he had ordered for her, and they taste-tested things. She kept an eye on the clock, and when her alarm went off, she stopped sipping the pineapple smoothie and stood up. "Thank you very much for breakfast. I am heading to the police station after the medical check, so you probably won't see me again."

Alohi teared up. "You don't want to see us?"

She moved to calm him. "Of course I do. I am just not expecting you to shift your schedule around for me."

Kekoa said, "We are taking you to the medical centre."

Haravin winced. "You don't have to."

Alohi nodded. "He wants to make sure you go."

She sighed and agreed. "Fine. Then I can have a bit more smoothie."

Alohi curled against her arm and rubbed his head against her. He was acting like a giant kitten. Haravin ran her fingers through his hair, smiling at the feel of a light product.

"Why do you keep your hair in a ponytail?" he murmured.

"Because I am a housekeeper; we need to keep our hair out of our faces and out of the food."

"You aren't going back to work today." Kekoa frowned.

"Probably not. I expect to be arrested. That is the kind of thing that Mark arranges."

"Why does he want you so much?"

"Oh, well, everyone kept gushing that we were perfect. My friend Timmins was a blooming omega, but he was a slow manifestation. When Timmins started going into heat, Mark was on him constantly. Unfortunately for Timmins, Mark had already been screwing around with a number of contestants at the dance competitions. He got chlamydia, gave it to Timmins, and effectively sterilized him."

Kekoa looked at her. "Did you get treated?"

"No. Why would I? I wasn't Mark's lover. I wasn't anyone's." She rubbed her forehead and shrugged. "The exam will prove my situation."

Alohi frowned. "I don't understand."

"I didn't need sex, so I didn't pursue it. That simple."

They went a little quiet, and when Kekoa got to his feet, they were all on their way. Everyone moved when he moved.

They headed down to the main floor. The limo was visible through the heavy glass panels. Haravin was getting several stares, and Kekoa was getting dark looks, but she paused and spoke to the staff, explaining the situation in four sentences. The counter staff began whispering, and the gossip mill began to work for Kekoa. He paused and looked at her. "What did you do?"

"They thought you had done this, so I disabused them of the notion and explained who it was and who they were bribed by."

"Thank you, but it wasn't necessary."

"It was. This is a very connected city. If you ever plan on returning, you don't want woman-beater attached to your name."

He nodded, and the driver opened the door. "You are very sensible."

"Yes, I hear that a lot."

Alohi dove into the car, and Haravin went in next. Kekoa was the final, and he settled in as the door closed and began to work on his tablet.

Haravin was nervous. After yesterday, she knew there was going to be blood, pain, and embarrassment.

They got to the centre, and the lower floors catered to betas, while the upper focused on omega. She walked up to the reception area and spoke softly. The woman nodded. "Room six-oh-three. Your alpha and omega can be with you."

Haravin blinked. It was an upper floor.

She went into the elevator, and her companions were behind her. She pressed the floor and locked her fingers in front of her. Fear was pouring off her, and she went to the room and swallowed when they followed her in.

An alpha doctor came in and smiled. "Haravin? I am Dr. Oriel. So, it says here I am doing a full panel and check on you."

"Yes, ma'am." She tried to turn off the fear, but it didn't help.

"All right. Well, put on this gown, and I will be back in a minute. Sir, may I speak with you?" The doctor looked at Kekoa, and they spoke outside.

Alohi asked, "Why are you so scared?"

She removed her clothing and put on the wrap. "Because it is going to hurt."

"You have had scans before. Tests."

"Yes. And they hurt."

"I will hold your hand." He chuckled.

The doctor came back in with Kekoa, who was scowling. His scowl was directed at her, and she flinched. She got up onto the exam bench and sat with her knees closed.

"First, I am going to make a note of this mark. With the red and darkening purple, it was this morning?"

"Yes. Around three. An ex-dance partner of mine came in and wanted my cooperation. I declined. He grabbed me. He did that thing alphas do when they are really mad."

The doctor's hands were careful, but a few sensitive spots made her flinch. "Your voice will be rough for a day or so. Are you on any painkillers?"

"No, ma'am. I didn't think to grab any before I headed out."

"Well, we will get you some before you leave." She smiled. "Well, turn to the stirrups, and we will get the worst part over."

Haravin nodded and did the scooting when required. "Ma'am. Can you use the smallest speculum, please?"

There was a knowing chuckle. "No need to be shy."

"Please."

Oriel snorted softly but rummaged around in her drawer. There was the sound of opening plastic wrap, and then Haravin felt the pressure on her opening. She turned her head away from the fascinated alpha and omega and tried to pant through the pain. She did pretty well until the medical device was ratcheted open. The sob was unmistakable, and the scent of blood filled the space.

The doctor went, "Oh, shit. Okay, Haravin, I am going to go as fast as I can."

Haravin said, "Just do it all so this doesn't have to happen again." She kept her breathing shallow, but her face was turned toward the wall.

The doctor moved swiftly and released the speculum, removing it carefully. A cool compress was held against her, and Haravin swallowed. "If you could just get the other part out of the way, please."

"Are you sure? You can come back when you are healed."

"If you think I am coming back, you are fucking kidding yourself. Let's just learn what we need to learn. The blood won't interfere with it."

"I am not comfortable with this."

"Great, me neither."

The doctor got the portable ultrasound and prepped the wand. "This will be cold."

"Great." Whatever else she was going to say was lost in a sharp inhalation.

There were images taken, and her ovaries were pronounced fit and healthy. They had the pictures to prove it.

The room was silent, and the doctor cleaned her up and then applied a new compress, checking the bleeding.

"Okay, sweetheart. You can sit up, and oh."

The doctor looked at her face, and her red eyes and tear-stained face were unmistakable. The doctor dropped professionalism and pulled her in for a hug.

Haravin held back until the doctor murmured. The floodgates broke, and she wailed with an age of pain at the hands of alphas and no one offering her comfort. Others took comfort from her, but no one ever gave it.

Dr. Oriel finally leaned back and gave her two lollipops. "You were a brave girl, Haravin. It's done. You are good. Everything is healthy and pink, and your follicles look great." She stroked her cheek. "How often do you get your period?"

"Twice a year. I just had it."

"Then, you are out of pace. You have a few days until ovulation."

"Sucks to suck, I guess." She slumped. "So, I can go now?"

"Do you have a pad?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"The bleeding has slowed. How do you feel?"

"Like raw hamburger."

The doctor winced. "I know. I am so sorry. With an alpha and omega with you, I thought you were joking."

She nodded. "I know that's what you thought. Everyone out, please. I need to get dressed."

Alohi frowned. "I will help you."

"It isn't necessary."

"It is necessary. Kekoa, we will be out in a minute."

Kekoa nodded, and he and the doctor left when she gathered her samples. She said something about the lab and results in the next twenty-four hours, but Haravin was trying to figure out how to get into her purse.

She eased off the bed and winced when she peeled the stuck paper from the back of her thighs. Alohi silently moved to get some wet paper towels and cleaned her up with the warm strokes that removed the blood.

He spoke softly. "We didn't know."

"I told you."

He froze. "You did. Kekoa didn't believe you."

"I know that."

"You are very pretty."

"I really am not. Or I wasn't. Now I am just me." She got her pad out of her purse and attached it to her underwear.

Alohi cleaned her up with fresh towels, and he held one against her. "It's nearly stopped."

"Yeah, until I start walking. Then it is going to continue as I move for a day or two." She started getting dressed.

"You knew."

"Yup. I also knew that the smallest unit she could find would still be oversized for me. You go long enough, and even a finger doesn't fit."

"Oh, that might be a problem. Kekoa is a little sudden with his attentions."

She shivered and stepped into her shoes. "Then, he will either have to slow down, or it will be a battle of the metal monsters. Or he could just consider me a missed match and move on with his life. He has you; he's the king of a fricking set of islands; he doesn't need a petrified virgin whose only claim to fame is turning into a statue."

"I don't think so. I know he doesn't show much, but he really likes you. He thought it was funny the way you put Ford in his place and called Olivia to task." He helped arrange her hair. "He also thinks it's cute the way you deal with me."

"I just have to sit still and let you cuddle on me. It doesn't take a lot of effort."

He smiled. "A lot of folks don't have patience for omegas. We are very needy creatures."

She straightened her shoulders when she wanted to curl into a ball. Her neck ached, and her sex was shrieking in pain. She walked to the door, and Alohi opened it for her.

Haravin looked at Kekoa and the doctor. They had been in deep conversation. "Next stop, the police station because this day doesn't suck quite enough."

Alohi gripped her wrist. "You are waiting for us."

"Why?"

"I am guessing that your ex is a pusher. He convinces people that he is reasonable and correct."

"That sounds like the weight on my thoughts. Right, so up against that. When we get to the police station, don't freak out." Alohi was walking with her.

"Why would I freak out?"

"I am about to look all weak and helpless and project it. It might be disconcerting. I am going to cry and sniffle and make a scene."

Kekoa spoke slowly. "I look forward to seeing this."

They made their way down to the main floor. They got into the limo, and she curled by herself up against the wall. The next agonizing appointment was just ahead.