V

DAY 26

Hadassa groaned in annoyance, splashing water on her face. It was too hot, and there were still three das to go, dear goodness.

She hated heats. Well, everyone did, but she hated them even more. There wasn't one Omega in the world who had had to go through this as many times as she had, going through it every month for the last 110 years.

Hadassa was old, very old. Older than any unmated Omega alive, older than any person alive at all, and should be used to it already. Her father, a doctor, had the theory that her immortality was the only reason she had made past 35 unmated. Most omegas would die before that.

It hurt, honestly. Seeing everyone growing old and finding their purpose in life while she had to hide the truth of her very existence. Hadassa had visited many countries during her life, hiding in them until people started to look at her youth with suspicious eyes and leaving before it wasn't safe anymore, sometimes followed by her family. Now a nephew who'd passed as her child now passed as her uncle, and sheltered her. A single woman living alone always raised suspicious. He was the one who had managed to get her officially into medical school along with his son, but Hadassa already had a deep knowledge of the profession thanks to decades working as a midwife after her father and brother, who were both doctors, had her as an assistant at their side for years. She missed them more than she could express, but both were long passed now. Even her grandnephew was an older man now, and though she was still close to her family, there was still a lingering feeling that told her she was an intruder, an outsider who had nowhere to call home. When her grandnephew, Jakub, had moved to America looking for safery, most of them stayed in Europe, not believing that the Naxi party was a threat as big as he had alerted them. Being Jewish, they all felt threatened with the ideas they were spreading, but still believed their home was safe. Now, around ten years later, Jakub was shown to be right in his decision, and many had escaped just as well.

"Panna Hadassa," she heard a knock on the door of her room. "Przyniosłam pani obiad.."

(I brought your lunch.)

Hadassa covered herself with a bathrobe before opening the door to look at the old lady who owned the place, who entered the room with a tray with food and an envelope.

"Ktoś do pani napisał", she offered the doctor a letter, smiling mischivously. "Sierżant James B. Barnes."

(Someone wrote you a letter.)

Her eyes widened. Barnes?!

"Dziękuję, Pani Kowalski," she offered her a kind smile. One of the reasons Hadassa always chose to stay with her was the opportunity of being around someone from her land. She didn't feel like she would ever be back in Poland, and it was a terrifying thought.

(Thank you, Mrs Kowalski)

The smell of Alpha in the paper was still strong enough that it made her shiver, and she couldn't help but tear the envelope and open the letter as fast as possible.

"Dear Doctor, Klaczko,

I hope I find you well. One of the nurses informed me of your temporary leave.

I hope to see you back and well in a short time.

My best regards,

Sgt J. B. Barnes."

Hadassa felt warmth rising to her cheeks, wondering what had moved him onto writing to her. She couldn't even remember the last time she received anything from anyone outside her own family.

She had had suitors back at her times, when she still lived in the Austrian court, but never one that had called her attention, and the men her parents had arranged her to marry – all Alphas – had all died or left her for other women.

The last of them had claimed a woman right before their engagement could be officially announced. After that, they just gave up for a while. Their priorities shifted when an accident that should have killed her didn't leave her with a single scar, he'd decided it was time to make some changes in their lives and start hiding.

Hadassa's life was long and didn't seem any closer to its end, but no one had once paid her as much interest as James now.

She looked for some paper and pen, carefully writing an answer down.

"Sgt Barnes,

I appreciate your concern and care,"

She stopped. What should she say next? She wasn't used to receiving those kinds of letters, and this was probably her first letter in English too.

"I'll be back in the camp in just 3 days. Hopefully, time will pass fast. I have to confess, however, that I might miss your daily visits before then.

Attentively,

H. A. Klaczko, MD."

Hadassa bit her lip. Maybe her heat and the faint smell of Alpha were making her a little too flirty, but she didn't wait for her mind to change, quickly enveloping it and tentatively rubbing her wrists onto the paper before giving it to Pani Kowalski.

When she was alone, her cheeks burned when she pressed her thighs together, trying to keep herself quiet and calm.

This felt different. Very different.

Hopefully, it was good.