“Honestly?” Vanessa nods, “I could smell you from my room…” Alex trails off, her eyes darkening.

“Alex?” Vanessa says breathlessly.

“Yes, Vanessa?” Alex asks, creeping towards the head of the bed.

“Will you draw me a bath?” 

Alex frowns, her eyes lightening a bit, “Uh…yeah..” Alex nods her head before entering the attached bathroom.

“What am I gonna do?” Vanessa mumbles scratching her head.

“Did you say something?” Vanessa jumps at the beta’s voice.

“Uh, yeah I was just mumbling to myself. Sorry,” the alpha laughs.

“No problem, do you want help getting to the tub?” Alex asks drying her hands on her pants as she walks out of the adjoining bathroom.

“Uh…no, that's okay I’ll be fine with my crutches,” Vanessa says, grabbing the object of discussion and standing up as carefully as possible.

“Do you need help with anything else?” Alex asks instinctively, stepping closer to the alpha. Afraid the other woman might fall.

“No, I'm okay. You can go to bed, thank you,” Alex says slowly making her way to the bathroom.

“If you need anything-”

“I'll call!” Vanessa smiles. Alex nods before leaving.

“This sucks,” Vanessa groans.

“Will you stop complaining?” Oliver asks, repositioning on the office sofa, “Just be happy I'm the one here and not Alex.” Vanessa bulked, the first week of her own personal prison called a cast she was supervised by Alex. A week of pure hormones and levels of  embarrassment she hadn't felt since high school, “What's so bad-”

“No.”

“Oh come on! It's so boring being stuck in here with you and your misery! Alex loves you and your misery!” Oliver whines sitting up on the couch.

“She said that?!” Vanessa jolts upright in her chair.

“No. But she didn't have to. According to Mer, she has been just as miserable as you have.” Oliver smiles, laying back down, “Probably more.” Vanessa’s brow raised, asking for more detail, “She’s been running herself ragged trying to get everything done so she can come and see you, She wouldn't have to if I was out helping her, or better yet she was in here with you.”

“What's keeping her so busy?”

“Summer things. Kids getting in trouble, stuff like that.” Oliver shrugs, “Stuff I've dealt with every year. Stuff I could fix in my sleep, but if only I was out there instead of poor innocent-” 

“Beta Alex! Please stop!” a man could be heard yelling just before the office door swung open.

“Are you avoiding me,” Alex’s voice booms. If they didn't know the beta they might have mistaken her for an alpha.

“Alex?” Vanessa yelps standing up and almost immediately sitting back down. “Shit.”

“Answer the question,” Alex demands, slamming her hands on the desk.

“No, yes…..Maybe,” Vanessa mumbles, shrinking back in her chair. She hadn't felt this intimidated since the last time she saw her parents. It…was kind of hot and yet very scary. Alex seemed to get angrier with that answer, Vanessa didn't like that. Her beta deserved nothing but happiness, “Yes,” Vanessa bowed her head.

“Why?” Alex’s face softens, “Is it because I broke your toe? Or the… other thing?”

“Neither!” Vanessa stands again immediately falling back into her chair, “Damn it!”

“Then what is it? Do you just not like me?”

“No! I like you! Maybe a…little too much,” Vanessa grumbles, “It's the hormones…I thought it would be better if we stayed apart till the hormones wore off.”

“And you decided to make that decision without me?! You are not the only one in this relationship!” Alex yells, grabbing the desk so hard it splinters the wood.

“I'm…sorry,” Vanessa stands limping her way around the desk and towards the beta.

“Vanessa-”

“I'm sorry I shouldn't have made that decision on my own.”

“Vanessa.”

“Let me make it up to you.” Vanessa pleads, grabbing Alex’s hands.

“Vanessa.”

“Please, I'll do anything-”

“Vanessa!” Alex says a little too loud, “Sorry, you shouldn't be on your foot.”

“I'm sorry- For this and avoiding you-”

“You want to make it up to me?” Vanessa nods her head, “Get off your foot!”