The warm water felt so good on her bare skin. The river water had, too, but there was something soothing about standing here in the shower with her mate's arms close around her, keeping her safe, protected. Blue knew she probably shouldn't have divulged all of what she had so soon, but she'd been unable to keep it in, if only for her own sanity's sake. Besides, the doc had always told them it was best to purge an infected wound so it could begin to heal.

Blue just wasn't sure how that worked in this sort of circumstance, but at this point, she was more than willing to give it a try. For both her and Omega's sake.

She felt him begin stroking her hair, smoothing the length of it all the way down her spine, and an involuntary purr began down in her throat; she couldn't help purring in quiet contentment whenever he touched her thus. Blue nuzzled at Omega's throat, silently willing him to be calm, soothing his ire with soft, slow strokes of her nose and mouth, just bare caresses wafting across his skin.

This, she could do. This was necessary, and not for her. She felt no fear in this. The scar on her abdomen hitched but Blue ignored it, focusing instead on the steady and sure beat of her mate's heart, solid beneath her cheek.