It’s just a temporary setback.
Alphas like him aren’t made normal. They’re madewrong, by war and greed and the systems that kept letting them rise. Then, the bastardsmirks, like he’s proven something he was curious about.
He’s a monolith to many. No room for emotion, especially not in public. And yet his omega would see it all. Make her way underneath all those layers, even if he didn’t want her to.
He will need her.
If there’sanyhumanity in him, maybe I can plead to it.
“I was told I am here to clean your wounds and tend to your ankle,” I say with a cracking voice.
His head tilts. “That’s a place to start.”
I roll the cart closer, thinking about the injection I might need, looking at his free hand. “That doesn’t count as chained,” I say, clearing my throat. My heart is pounding relentlessly, but I need to treat him like he’s just another patient.
His brow perks as his head slightly juts out, a small smile on his face. “What?”
“Thathand is free.”
“I’m chained here, so you know I can’t get off this bed.” He shakes his head slightly. “I’m not chaining myself entirely,nurse.”
“Fine,” I grunt. “I’ll start with your foot, then.” It feelsbizarretaking care of Judge. The closer I get, the more it’s like I’m living in an alternate dimension.
He’s driving me crazy because I can’t help the way his stupidAA smell is stronger than I’ve ever encountered, something primal in me screaming that I need to behave in front of such an alpha. His musk is iron with something darker beneath, balanced with the sweetness of vanilla, like it will keep the calloused man gentle…
Ignoring him to the best of my ability, I start unpacking tools—sanitizer, stitching thread, gauze, salve, injectable pain relief.
Then, the medication Selene mentioned.
His chest rises and falls as I start to unbandage his right foot. Which means not his shifting foot. Makes sense he was able to get here on his bike. And I must be really fucking lonely because even the sight of his leg is doing something weird to me. It’s the hair, the muscles, the scars, the litter of tattoos. He’s as alpha as they get, and since I plan to run after this, it’s almost like a cruel joke to show me Icouldhave found an alpha somewhere out there. That I wouldlikeit.
I’d never rest, though. I’d always fear for my alpha, worrying about monsters like Judge.
“You’re much more apprehensive than the other,” he states.
I know I am supposed to be hating him. Disgusted. But my omega side can’t help but focus on his sultry voice. The sound biology gave him when it decided to make one of the most impressive alphas in all of the wastelands—stop! Oh, I fucking hate being a slave to this.
No, this is all for the best.
I need to get to the Black Mirage and wipe my entire body clean of these hormones.
“I’ve been given the more comprehensive task,” I reply.
Or, you take over cities, kill people, and implement your rule of law. What else did you expect?
“So you’re not confident in your work?”
I nearly drop the bandaging, because fuck this asshole. At this point, he’s asking to be stabbed. “I watched you take over New Bunker with violence. It was the opposite of comforting.”
“You’rewelcome.”
I’m nearly gritting my teeth when I say, “You’re lucky we take care of any and all.”
When he shifts to tilt his head, I nearly jump back as if he’s covered in poison, out of fear that he’s coming for me. “If you say you were in New Bunker, why were you there?”
I start working quickly, not giving a shit if it’s a piss poor job. It’s not like I’ll be around to see the aftermath. “Well, why’d you stomp a man’s chest in?” I quip back without a falter.
“Pft. Idiot attacked me. That washisfault.” His tone is more clipped, and there’s an edge to it that rolls into a growl. Something in my body comes into harmony at the gruff noise, and my eyes widen when I realize I need to hurry up. “Why were you in New Bunker,nurse? I know you visited Hozier. Were you looking for a very specific, small pill?”
