The Omega Queen

Twenty-Nine

“Alex, you should go home,” Cahira said, watching her son anxiously wait by his luna’s side.

Erin had finally stabilized though her fever had not yet broken. It remained strangely high, but it seemed she was no longer in danger. The nurses checked on her at regular intervals while Kaison had retreated to his lab to run tests. They were largely left alone now that it seemed both patients were resting comfortably.

Nathan’s condition remained stable, but they waited for the results of the blood work to confirm what had happened. The gamma was desperate for answers and Cahira had a sneaking suspicion she knew the answer, but she refused to say anything aloud. She wasn’t even sure they would believe her, after all, it was the stuff of fairy tales. In fact, she wasn’t sure if she believed it.

Alexander softly growled, refusing to move. His fingers gently curled around Erin’s, careful not to disturb the IVs in her arm. This was officially his nightmare. His wolf had gone completely silent after exhausting its rage and was now practically comatose. Alexander wasn’t even sure he wanted to nudge it awake. They had waited so long, and now they might lose their mate before they could even claim her properly.

It had to be an illusion. Alexander refused to believe it was real. Erin would wake up, and the nightmare would finally dissolve. Until then, he refused to allow her out of his sight.

“Alex,” Cahira gently admonished. “Do you really want Erin to wake up and the first thing she smells is the blood you are covered in?”

This finally made him stir. Quietly, she handed him a small duffle she requested Meredith to retrieve from their home. Inside was a change of clothes and shampoo. He looked at the offering them back at her as she nodded to the bathroom. It was small, but there was a shower stall he could use.

“It’ll take a few minutes,” Cahira said. “I’ll be right here the entire time.”

Alexander sighed. Finally, he stood. Leaning over, he gently kissed Erin’s forehead before accepting the duffle, saying, “Don’t leave her side for anything.”

“I won’t,” Cahira assured him.

He hesitated a moment longer before retreating into the bathroom. She sank into the chair he had just vacated. Gently, gripping Erin’s hand, she said, “I know you are going through something, sweetie, but we really need you to wake up. Please. I don’t know how we can get through this without you.”

A few minutes later, Alexander emerged freshly washed and wearing a change of clothes: a simple button-up and jeans. His hair was still damp, but he didn’t really care. He would not be parted from his mate a moment longer. Cahira moved out of her seat so he could sit again.

Kissing Erin’s hand, Alexander settled in the chair to continue his vigil. She just needed to wake up. Nothing else mattered.

He could feel the pack’s unrest due to his own unsettled mind. They wanted him to reassure them all that the pack was secure, but he could barely muster replies to even his warriors, let alone everyone else. If the pack was attacked now, he wasn’t sure they would be able to repel their enemies, but he also wasn’t sure he cared as long as no one threatened the hospital.

It wasn’t right. His father would warn him that an alpha could not afford to be so fixated on one thing. He had a responsibility to his pack, but none of that mattered to Alexander. Nothing mattered if his luna did not wake up.

“Had a shower, I see,” Kaison said as he entered, quietly shutting the door behind him.

Alexander grunted.

“Meredith brought a change of clothes,” Cahira said. “I finally managed to convince him.”

The gamma nodded. That was understandable considering the circumstances. He was actually surprised the older luna had managed that much.

“You better have answers,” Alexander spoke.

“Well, I have some,” Kaison answered. “And even more questions because of them.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m still waiting on some bloodwork, but I can confirm Nathan is cured.”

“What?” Alexander jerked to attention, finally giving the gamma his full attention.

“There is no trace of the infection. He is cured. I don’t know how or why,” Kaison said. “And Erin is not infected. Her bloodwork is clean.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Neither do I,” Kaison shook his head.

“Ohhh,” Nathan suddenly groaned as he stirred.

Kaison moved to the beta’s side anxiously waiting as the patient slowly blinked awake. At first, it didn’t seem as if Nathan recognized him. Groggily, he took in the room and slowly processed everything he saw.

“Why the long face? You act like I died,” Nathan finally spoke.

“Well, for a while there, you very nearly did,” Kaison answered. “Do you remember anything?”

“I remember the attack,” Nathan frowned. “The rogues were infected, and I was bitten—s**t!”

He jerked to sit up, and Kaison had to calm him, “Hey, take it easy. You are still restrained, and your wolf is still probably asleep due to the wolfsbane and silver.”

“f**k,” Nathan groaned, looking down at the straps securing his wrists. “Why am I even alive?”

“Well, that is a story,” Kaison sighed, undoing the restraints. “And, quite frankly, I’m as confused as you. Somehow, the infection is gone.”

“Is that some sort of joke?”

“No. All I know is that it had something to do with Erin.”

“Erin?” Nathan looked over to see the she-wolf resting on the only other bed. “What happened?”

“I don’t know,” Kaison shook his head. “Somehow, she, Goddess, this sounds insane, pulled the infection out of you, but she’s not infected either. Her blood work is clean.”

“This is going to sound crazy,” Nathan frowned. “But I swore I heard her voice.”

“Her voice?” Alexander jerked to attention. “You heard her speak?”

“I think so? Maybe?” Nathan shook his head. “I heard a voice. It said I would be okay.”

“That doesn’t make any sense,” Kaison said.

“Actually,” Cahira finally spoke. “I think it does.”