Page 11 of Lost Wolf (Exiled Omegas #2)

Eleven

Omega

The next time I wake, my mind isn’t quite as scattered. The world feels clearer, and for the first time in years, things also feel… closer somehow. As if there’d been a mental wall between me and everything else and now it’s gone. My human form doesn’t seem as alien to me and my human brain is able to process thoughts and make connections more fluidly.

I wasn’t stupid as a wolf. My human side was still in there, but I didn’t have the same level of cognitive thinking ability I do in human form.

But even if my thoughts aren’t as foggy and my brain’s processing power isn’t quite as slow, I don’t exactly feel better. My limbs, especially my right leg, ache, and there’s a persistent throbbing in my head. Plus, I’m still exhausted, my energy completely sapped by… I have no idea, though I’m sure it has something to do with being starved and experimented on for years.

And drugged half out of my mind for who knows how long.

A memory of fiery pain dances along my nerves and a shiver travels down my body. At least I hope it’s a memory and not whatever it was they injected me with lingering in my system. My time in captivity might be nothing more than bits and pieces of disconnected images and feelings, but I know whatever was in those injections isn’t something I want in my body.

Rolling over to my back, I stretch out my arms and legs, concentrating on the sensation of the muscles lengthening and working out any tightness I can feel. This form still feels awkward and too long, but I should probably get used to it.

I may not have missed being human, but the world is a lot easier to navigate with opposable thumbs.

Pushing myself up to a sitting position, I catch sight of a reddish-brown wolf curled up on the other side of the bed. My memories of the last few… hours? are a little hazy, but I recognize the wolf as Luke, and warmth fills my chest, his presence bringing a sense of safety and security.

And a craving for his touch.

My cheeks heat as memories of his warm, soapy hands smoothing down my sides replay in my head. I can't say having a stranger give me a bath was ever on my bucket list, but I’m not complaining. Besides, Luke doesn't really feel like a stranger, not when I was feeling more wolf than human, and especially not now.

There’s a connection sparking between us that I don’t quite understand, but that I recognize on a subconscious level. It’s like I’ve spent most of my life about to float away and now I’m tied to Luke—grounded, solid, and safe.

And exactly where I belong.

Running my gaze over the wolf, I smile softly to myself. Luke’s dark fur is glossy and full, his wolf form sleek, but not skinny like mine.

He’s beautiful.

I lean closer, the action almost involuntary, and run my hand over the soft fur along his back. Will my own fur fill out like this now that I’m free of that place? Or will I always be scrawny and weak?

Here’s hoping for the former.

One of Luke’s eyes cracks open, and I instinctively snatch my hand away, holding it close to my chest as I bite at my lower lip. Luke lifts his head from his paws and studies me, tilting his head to the side. He doesn’t move except for that, simply holds my gaze as if he’s trying to let me know it’s okay, and I find myself reaching toward him again.

My palm brushes over his head and he closes his eyes, leaning into the touch with a contented sigh. Much like I did to his leg earlier.

“Hello,” I say, the word cracking as it crosses my lips.

Luke’s eyes fly open and he blinks at me, tilting his head again as if asking a question.

I suppose that was the first word I’ve ever said to him, so it’s not surprising he’s, well, surprised . He probably thought I couldn’t talk.

For good reason.

Until this moment, I wasn’t so sure I could still talk. My hand moves to my throat. It's nice to know I do still have my voice, even if it is hoarse and the sound grates painfully in my throat.

Luke leans forward slowly, his gaze not leaving mine, and nudges at the hand by my throat with his nose.

I give him a soft smile. “I guess they didn’t take as much from me as I thought they did.”

Luke’s eyes narrow and his lips pull away from his teeth, but the anger I see in his canine face isn’t directed at me. He shakes his head and moves closer to the foot of the bed. The air around him kind of shimmers and his body contorts for a moment before the wolf disappears, leaving behind a human Luke.

Which means there is now a very naked man in bed with me.

Where I am also very naked.

I pull my knees up toward my chest and tug the blankets higher. Without fur, I feel even more exposed, and now that my brain is tuned back into the “human” channel, emotions like embarrassment are much easier to access.

Heat fills my cheeks and I force myself to keep my gaze on Luke’s face. Well, mostly. I can’t help running my eyes over him in a quick once over. I might have seen it all earlier, but it’s different now that my mind isn’t locked into wolf mode.

He stays half crouched, glancing up at me through his hair as the corners of his lips curl into a smile and his eyes dance with amusement.

With human eyes and human… thoughts, I can see how handsome he is, his face made of hard edges with a square jaw and a defined brow. Unlike his wolf form, I wouldn’t exactly call him beautiful as a human. His features are a little too sharp for that, but he’s undeniably attractive.

His shoulders are broad and muscled and his torso tapers to narrow hips and strong legs. From earlier, I know he’s at least half a foot taller than me, if not more, but that’s not surprising. I’ve always been the smallest wolf in the pack.

Wait. Where’d that come from?

I scrunch my nose, trying to tug at the edges of the thought, trace it back to its source, but there’s nothing to find. The strange thought flits around in my head, unconnected to anything else, and brings reality crashing in around me.

I don’t know what I expected to happen once I escaped the lab, but my past is still lost.

“What’s wrong?” asks Luke, grabbing the edge of the blankets and tucking it around his waist before moving closer.

“I…” My voice falters. “I can’t remember.”

Luke’s brows pull together. “Can’t remember what?”

I look up at him from under my hair. “I can’t remember anything .”

Luke frowns and sits back. “You mean you don’t remember what happened to you?”

I shake my head, my mind spinning. “No, before that. I thought it was just the drugs they gave me, but…” I stare at him helplessly.

“Okay, let’s start with something easy,” he says. “What’s your name?”

My eyes burn as my brain fails to pull up an answer. “I don’t know,” I whisper.

Luke swallows, his brow creased with concern. “You mentioned drugs. Do you remember where you were? Who the people were that were giving you drugs?”

“A lab,” I whisper.

“A lab? Like a science lab?”

“I think so,” I say. “They wore white coats, but they weren’t doctors.”

He runs a hand through his hair, pushing it away from his face only for it to instantly fall forward again. “Do you remember why you were there? Or how you got there?”

“No.” I close my eyes struggling to pull up any memories from before my time in the lab. “I’m not even sure how long I was in there. The time all bled together… All I really know is that whatever they were injecting me with wasn’t getting them the results they expected.”

Luke frowns again. “Did the experiments have anything to do with you being an omega?” He pauses. “Uh, you know what that means, right?”

I nod slowly. “But I can’t explain how I know that or how I know you’re an alpha. My basic instincts are intact, I guess. It’s just my memories that are missing.”

“If your instincts are intact…” His voice trails off. “Do you understand what we are to each other?” When I don’t respond right away, he clears his throat and a pink tinge appears on his cheeks. Raising his hand, he places it in the center of his chest. “Right here. Do you feel it?”

“I…” I rub my palm over my own chest, focusing on the strange heaviness there. He’s right, there’s something… I frown, concentrating on the feeling. “Yes?”

Luke gives me a soft smile, his brown eyes twinkling. “That’s the fated mate bond.”

“Fated mate?” The words call up a hazy memory, one I can’t quite grasp, but it’s enough to know it’s important, this thing between us, even if I’m not sure exactly why.

“We’re made for each other,” says Luke. “Or the fates picked us for each other.” He chuckles. “Actually, I’m not quite sure what the ‘official’ story is, but it means we’re connected.”

That explains how drawn I’ve felt to Luke, how right it feels to be with him. We’re meant to be together. I belong with him.

And that settles something inside me that I didn’t even realize was restless.

“Are you, um, okay with that?” he asks, almost hesitant.

“Yes,” I say immediately, grinning as I scoot closer to him and place my hand on his chest. “I might not remember most of my past, but this feeling tells me you’re my future.”

He gives me a warm smile, brown eyes twinkling, but before he has a chance to respond, there's a knock at the door. I jolt at the sudden noise and scramble forward until I’m almost on his lap. He wraps an arm over my shoulders, his skin hot against mine, and glares at the door as if it’s personally offended him.

“Yeah?” he snaps, the word sharp and biting as his body tenses as if preparing for an attack.

“Uh, Luke,” says a female voice. “It’s getting a little late. Are you thinking we’re going to head home tonight?”

Luke’s muscles relax and he lets out a small sigh. “I don’t think so, Macy.” He glances down at me, curled under his arm. “Things are a little more complicated than I expected.” He pauses. “I’ll— we’ll be down in a few minutes and we can make a plan.”