Page 70 of Omega's Refuge

A sense of serenity washed over me as Rex slipped his big hand around mine. I opened my eyes and met his concerned gaze. He tried to smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. I squeezed his hand, wanting to wipe the guilt I saw from his eyes.

“Not your fault,” I whispered.

He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his tanned throat. “It kind of is. I sent you to get the canteens. Plus, I’m the only reason you were up there on that mountain.”

“I wanted to go.”

“Still.” He grimaced. “I don’t understand how a snake got in the tent. I’ve never had that happen before. I checked that tent before we left for the rips and I didn’t see any holes.”

I let out a shaky breath. “I forgot to zip it closed when I got up this morning.”

His face tensed. “Did you?”

“Yeah.” I closed my eyes again. “So if I die, if it’s anybody’s fault, it’s mine.”

“You’re not going to die,” he said harshly.

I opened my eyes in surprise at how angry he sounded. While my eyes were blurry, I could see he was flushed and his eyes glittered with raw emotion.

“Don’t just give up, Tanner, okay? Keep fighting,” he said hoarsely.

“Of course.” I squeezed his hand. “I won’t give up, Rex, I promise.”

Some tension left his body. “Okay.”

My eyes felt heavy, and exhaustion tugged at me. I fought to stay conscious because Rex was so worried. I knew he’d worry more if I passed out, but the steady thrum of the engine and the soft murmur of the paramedic’s voice lulled me into a more relaxed state.

Hard as I tried, I lost the battle and drifted off into nothingness.

Chapter Twelve

When I woke, the first thing I noticed was the beeping sound. It was rhythmic, steady, almost soothing. The second thing I noticed was the sterile, antiseptic smell as I forced my eyes open.

The fluorescent lights above were dimmed, but their glow still made me squint. My throat felt dry, and my arm—my hand—throbbed with a dull, distant ache. I tried to shift, but my body felt leaden, like I’d been weighed down by sandbags.

A sharp prick of an IV line tugged at the back of my hand, leading up to a small device dripping clear fluid into me. I blinked, glancing down. My bitten hand was bandaged neatly, elevated on a pillow with a cold compress over it. The swelling was still there but had gone down considerably. My fingers were stiff and tender, but at least I could move them.

Movement near the door caught my eye. A nurse entered the room, her shoes squeaking softly against the linoleum floor. She was petite, maybe in her early thirties, with dark hair pulled back into a tidy bun. Her scrubs were a pale blue, and her eyes were kind behind her glasses as she approached my bed.

“How are you feeling?” she asked. “Any dizzinessor nausea?”

“Uh, no… just sore. My hand hurts,” I croaked, my voice scratchy and dry.

She smiled sympathetically. “That’s to be expected.” She moved with practiced ease, checking the monitor beside my bed. “You’re past the worst of it now,” she said reassuringly, adjusting the IV line as she spoke. “The antivenom worked, and we’ve been giving you fluids to help flush everything out. You’ll still feel a bit weak for a day or two, but your vitals look pretty good, considering.”

“That’s a relief,” I murmured. “Where am I?”

“You’re at the Pioneer Medical Center in Big Timber, Montana. We’re thirty miles east of Livingston and about eighty miles west of Billings.”

I frowned. “Oh.”

“We’ve been taking good care of you. Worry not.” She smiled. “I told your alpha the same thing but he was terribly concerned about you. I had to chase him out of here last night. He didn’t want to leave your side.”

I frowned. “My alpha?”

“Yes. He was with you when you arrived. Rex.” She hesitated. “He’s your alpha, isn’t he?”

I blinked at her. “No.” She must have seen the bite on my neck and assumed Rex was my alpha.

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