Page 24 of Welcome to Bone Town

I frown. Omegas should have more comfort items than that, even if we're out in the desert. Maybe especially because we’re out in the desert. And after her ordeal tonight, I wish I’d found more. She deserves a proper nest where she can curl up and decompress. “I took them from the supply tent. There were extras in a trunk.”

“And you just took them?”

I smirk at her. “Who was gonna stop me?”

She flinches a little as I take her foot in my hand and examine it. The teeth marks are surprisingly shallow. It’s the type of bite an animal might use to haul something somewhere, or carry its young. Strange.

I pour some rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab and dab it at the cuts. In an effort to distract her from the burn, I ask the first thing that pops into my head. “So, what’s your favorite comfort item in your nest at home?”

Shit that was way too personal. But to my surprise, she laughs.

“Promise you won’t tell anyone?”

“Cross my heart.”

“A rubber duck.”

I try to cover my laugh by blowing on her foot, waiting for the skin to dry. “Aren’t omegas supposed to like soft cuddly things?”

“Yeah, well, my dad’s a computer programmer and he used to have a rubber duckie on his desk. I thought it was funny, but then he told me about the concept of rubber ducking. Apparently, a lot of computer programmers will keep a ducky on their desk and talk to it when they get stuck. Hearing about the problem out loud gives them a new perspective and helps them solve it. I thought it was cool, and I was kind of a lonely kid, so I took his rubber ducky. You know omega hoarding instinct and all. He didn’t mind. But now, I just wish I could break the habit of talking to myself.” She laughs. “So, not exactly the most omega-like comfort item, huh?”

“Eh, it’s not that weird. You could have said something really strange like a rake.”

“A rake?”

“It was the first thing I thought of.”

“Who would sleep with a rake?”

I shrug. “I once heard of an omega keeping burlap coffee bags in her nest with her.”

She shakes her head with a smile. “At least that would smell good.”

I blow on the cuts again, even though they already seem dry. Goosebumps pop to life around her ankle, traveling up her calf to her thigh before I lose sight of them. Are they pebbling her skin under Roman’s shirt, too?

“You ever seen a jackal before?” I blurt out, in an effort to think of something other than her smooth skin and what she keeps in her nest.

“Never. In fact, I’ve never really seen a wild animal before.”

“What?” I pull back. “Not even a squirrel while out hiking or something?”

“Okay, yeah, I mean, I’ve seen squirrels. But…” She shifts her weight. “I’ve never been hiking, unless you count walks in city parks. This is my first time camping. Nothing like jumping right into hard mode, right?” She laughs like that’s a joke, but it cuts off when she looks at me.

I probably look horrified. Having grown up on a farm, I spent a good bit of time out in nature and around animals, some wild, some domesticated. I knew the little omega was academic, but I can’t imagine never having gone for a hike.

“My parents are more red-wine-and-reading people than out-in-nature people, you know? I didn’t really mind. I’ve never been athletic anyway.” This time, her laugh has a self-deprecating ring. “I’m sure you noticed how clumsy I am. Not exactly the graceful omega I’m supposed to?—”

I squeeze her calf, and it cuts her off. “You’re perfect.”

She blinks, like she doesn’t know what to do with those words. Has no one ever told her how great she is?

New mission: compliment Dr. Cora Whitlock at least once every day.

She grabs a pillow and holds it to her stomach as she whispers, “Thanks.”

My palm drags down her soft calf to her ankle. “No need to thank me. I’m just saying it like it is. You’re pretty special, and I like how clumsy you are. It’s cute. Besides, we can’t all be good at everything, right?”

She doesn’t say anything, so I focus on covering the cuts with a clean bandage. But once it’s done, I don’t wantto stop touching her. My hand trails down to the sole of her foot, thumbs digging in a little, massaging. She deserves to be pampered after all the hard work she’s been doing and what she went through tonight.

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