Page 5 of Unable Omega
“I’m Markus, the healer here. What’s your name?”
I placed the chair down slowly but backed up a few paces. “Sage.”
Markus, the healer, or so he said, nodded but didn’t move toward me. “Sage. Let’s look at that wound on your side. If you’ll allow me, I’ll examine you, make sure you don’t have any other injuries.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Why? Because those who come here are taken care of. We are a sanctuary of sorts. We help shifters like you.”
The other man, who hadn’t introduced himself, nodded and looked at me. I’d never seen eyes so damned blue. Maybe I had really died and gone to the afterlife. Minus the healer and the pain, I wouldn’t mind this one bit.
“Sure. Thank you.”
Markus nodded and stepped out of the cabin to retrieve a bag then returned. “Can you take off your clothes and let me see everything?”
A low rumble came from the other male. The growl of an alpha. “Rob, I’m examining him. You know better. Get hold of yourself.”
I startled. Was he feral? Was he about to attack me? His scent didn’t reveal anything sinister, but maybe all that lab shit had done something to my senses.
“I’m fine. Go on.”
I took off the shorts and shirt and sat on the edge of the bed.
Markus pulled up a chair, while Rob leaned against the wall and crossed his arms over his tight chest. If the man owned a shirt, I never wanted him to find it.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Nothing. Do you want to tell us where you came from? How long were you shifted?” Markus urged me to turn so he could see the wound on my side. His touch was gentle, but I hissed through my teeth. He studied the gash. “It looks painful, but I don’t want to give you any pain medication without knowing more.”
“I think I was in bear form for about three weeks. I roamed the forest for a while, afraid they were on my tail, but then I didn’t know where to go. Or my bear didn’t. Then he got on a trail of scent and couldn’t be stopped. He brought me here.”
“He was in a lab? They did this to him?” Rob spoke to the healer as though I weren’t in the room. When he wasn’t focused on Markus, his gaze remained glued to the floor or the window. I’d have given just about anything to have him look at me again.
“I was in a lab. I escaped. I don’t know when I got hurt. By the time we got into the woods, I was bleeding. They tried to stop my bear.”
“When you were escaping? This might sting a bit. Big breath.” Markus brought out first-aid supplies.
I braced myself for pain while he sprayed something on the wound. It stung a bit but was a tickle compared to what I had gone through. Rob had been through some things as well. He had silverish scars on his stomach and down his arms.
I couldn’t take my eyes off him.
My bear called out mate again, but I shushed him. This man clearly didn’t want to have anything to do with me.
Markus bandaged me up and then listened to my heart. My lungs. Asked me if anything else hurt. Looked for chips, or so he said as he ran his hands all over my skin. Rob didn’t seem too happy about that and neither was I. I would’ve much preferred Rob’s touch. Too bad he was acting like I didn’t exist.
“We need to get you something to eat and drink. You are extremely dehydrated, and I’m sure exhausted. Would it be okayif we moved you to my infirmary? It’s adjoined to my place with my mate and our son. You would be totally safe there.”
Rob didn’t comment, though I mentally begged for it.
“If you think that’s for the best,” I said. “Are you sure it’s okay? I don’t have any money or any way to pay you back.”
“There’s no need.” Markus patted my hand. “We are a community. We work together to help shifters. Now, are you okay to walk, or should I have the grumpy guy carry you?”
I should’ve said yes. I would’ve loved to be carried by the brooding bear, but Rob rubbed his arms with his hands, looking more uncomfortable than ever. “Let me get dressed, and I’ll walk myself. Wouldn’t want to trouble anyone any more than I already am.”
Chapter Five
Rob
