Chapter 40

CHAPTER 40

B erni knelt beside Jacob as everyone quickly shifted and Fran and Robbie rushed to his side.

“He exhausted himself,” Robbie said, checking the wolf over. “And hyperventilating. I never should have suggested making for the trees, or I should have stayed in human form and monitored him better.”

“You did fine, Robbie, but I think for a while Jacob should have, say, fifteen minute shifts and just around the drive, until he gets stronger,” Berni suggested.

“Agreed. I’ll carry him upstairs,” Robbie offered.

“I can do that,” Fran said.

“Put these on first,” Clairmont said, handing out the discarded clothes.

Fran quickly dressed and carefully picked Jacob up, carrying his mate upstairs and back to the hospital room. He paused in the doorway, looking at Berni. “Maybe I should put him in my room.”

“I’d rather Jacob rested in the hospital room, just in case.”

Fran nodded and carried Jacob over to the bed, laying him gently down and then stroking Jacob’s nose.

“He’ll be fine, cuz,” Robbie said, touching his shoulder.

Fran nodded. “He will be. Have his results come back?”

Robbie shook his head. “Not before I left, but Emory said he would check and send them to me as soon as they did. But I’m guessing his lungs were damaged and always will be.”

“Would a puffer help?” Finn asked.

“An asthma inhaler? Probably, but I’ll have to do some breathing tests. If he does need one, he can lead a completely normal life, but will just have to initially pace his walking and running, and have frequent breaks until he figures out his limitations,” Robbie told them.

“We can all make sure he does. We can also make sure he shifts everyday, for fifteen minutes, that will help build his stamina up,” Berni added. “I also don’t want Jacob shifting alone, though, just in case he gets into difficulties.”

“That’s no problem,” Joe replied. “We can make sure someone is always with him.”

They felt a shimmer in the air and turned to look at Jacob, who had shifted back into his human form.

Fran picked the sheet up and covered him.

A moment later they heard Jacob sigh and open his eyes.

“Hey babe,” Fran said, bending down and touching Jacob’s cheek with his fingers. “How do you feel?”

Jacob grabbed his hand and kissed his fingers before answering. “Exhausted and my chest feels tight. I think I pushed myself too hard.”

“You did,” Berni said, looking at him in concern.

While Jacob moved to sit up Joe put pillows behind his back.

“Sorry,” Jacob said, looking at everyone and smiling his thanks to Joe.

“There’s nothing to apologise for. You needed to know what you can do and your limitations. For the moment I’m restricting you to just fifteen minutes a day shift and you’re only to stay within the drive around the castle. I also don’t want you shifting alone,” Berni cautioned.

Jacob nodded. “That makes sense. My wolf told me shifting each day would help, but that I’d have to pace myself when running and I’ll never be able to run like I used to as my lungs are damaged.”

“I’ll run some breathing tests on you later,” Robbie told him.

“If it’s only my lungs that were damaged and my fur being silver, I can live with that.”

“Iron Man really is out of the question now, but you can still become a vet,” Fran said, grinning at him.

“You wanted to be Iron Man?” Finn asked with a laugh.

Jacob nodded. “It was a toss-up between the two.”

“Excellent. I’ll make sure I have yours, Joe’s, and Finn’s educational records sent through, the three of you can go to our college. They’ll help you with the rest of your studies,” Berni said.

“Thanks, Berni,” Jacob answered.

“Yes, thanks. My parents made me promise that I would finish my education when I left. They would also like to come for a visit and meet my Frank,” Joe said, beaming at his mate.

“They will be most welcome. They can stay in the castle for the length of their visit.”

“Are you sure, Berni? I know they wouldn’t mind staying in a hotel.”

“Nonsense, they’ll stay here,” Berni said decisively.

“Thanks,” Joe replied, leaning into Frank.

“Do I have to stay in this hospital room, or can I move into Fran’s room?” Jacob asked hopefully.

“I’d rather you stayed in here tonight, but all being well, you can move out tomorrow—on the understanding that you take it easy, especially when shifting,” Robbie told him.

“I can live with that,” Jacob replied on a yawn.

“We’ll leave you to rest for now. I’ll have Clairmont bring dinner up for you later and I’ll contact the pack shaman and enquire about your silver fur.”

“Thanks, Alpha,” Jacob said, sleepily.

Fran got Jacob settled and sat next to him on the bed.

“Want us to stay?” Ezzy asked.

Fran shook his head. “No, as long as you don’t mind me borrowing your e-reader, Finn.”

“Nope, knock yourself out. We’ll come back later and check on you both,” Finn replied.

“Thanks,” Fran said.

“Yes, thanks,” Jacob added on another yawn.

Frank dropped a kiss on Fran’s head and everyone patted Jacob before leaving the room.

“My laptop is just there,” Jacob said, waving tiredly at the bedside table, “if you want to watch a film. I have most of the subscription services on there, so you should find something you like.” Jacob wiggled to get comfy before taking Fran’s hand.

“Thanks,” Fran said, lifting his hand and kissing Jacob’s knuckles. “Rest now, babe, I’ll be here when you wake up.”

“’Kay,” Jacob whispered and fell asleep.

Fran watched him for a moment, wishing he had a notepad and pencil so he could draw Jacob, when the door softly opened and Joe walked back in, carrying something.

“Your dad said you like pencil drawing. I had this new pad and my pencils in one of my bags. I thought you might like to use them,” Joe offered quietly.

Fran smiled at him. “Thank you. I was literally just wishing I had a pad and pencils.”

“And now you do. I have all sorts of pencils in this case, I’m sure you’ll find ones you like,” Joe said, putting them on Fran’s lap. “If you need anything just yell.”

“I will, thanks, Joe.”

And with a smile, Joe left the room, closing the door softly behind him.

Fran stared at the closed door for a moment. He couldn’t believe how much he liked Joe and how seamlessly he had fitted into the family and their band of friends. And for him to lend Fran his drawing equipment was touching. Fran shook his head wondering what would have happened if he didn’t like Joe. Thankfully he didn’t need to continue that thought.

Fran put the pencil case beside him and one-handed opened the A4 sized drawing pad. He then opened the pencil case to see what he could use. He only drew in grey and was pleased to see all the pencils were ones he liked. He picked one up and, looking at Jacob, started drawing.

After drawing a sleeping Jacob, Fran drew his wolf, both his original brown wolf and then his stunning silver wolf.

Some time later, Fran realised he would have to buy Joe a new drawing pad as he had drawn a lot of pictures. After drawing Jacob, Fran drew Finn’s white wolf, then Joe’s.

The door softly opened and Frank and Joe walked in, both carrying food trays.

Fran looked at the trays in surprise.

“It’s dinner time,” Frank told him. “We told Clairmont we’d bring dinner up and eat with you and Jacob.”

Fran smiled. “Perfect, but Jacob’s still asleep.” He closed the drawing pad and put it next to him.

“No, Jacob was asleep,” Jacob piped up. “But he woke up when he smelt dinner. He also has no idea why he’s talking in the third person.”

Fran, Joe, and Frank laughed as Jacob sat up.

Fran nudged his shoulder. “Nutter.”

Jacob grinned as Joe walked around the bed and placed the tray on Jacob’s lap, before taking a plate and leaving one for Jacob. He sat on a chair by Jacob’s side.

Jacob looked at Fran who now had a tray on his lap. Frank sat by his son.

“Thanks for bringing us dinner and joining us,” Jacob said. “I didn’t mean to sleep for so long.”

“You needed the rest,” Frank replied. “Never apologise for needing sleep.”

Jacob nodded and smiled at him. “Thanks, also if you ever want some embarrassing stories of Joe growing up, just ask.”

Frank laughed as Joe fake scowled.

“Whatever embarrassing stories you want to know about Jake, just ask,” he said to Fran.

The smile fell off Jacob's face. “That’ll be a quick conversation then,” he replied, looking down at his dinner, and pushing it around with his fork.

Joe snorted. “I could tell Fran about the time you tried ...”

Jacob quickly looked up and scowled. “No, you promised never to tell that story.”

Joe gave him an evil grin. “I lied.”

Frank and Fran laughed and finally Jacob did as well.

“Now I really want to know,” Fran said, looking at him.

“Maybe one day,” Jacob replied. He looked at the drawing pad. “Have you been drawing?”

Fran nodded and swallowed a bite of his dinner before answering. “Yeah, Joe leant me the drawing pad and pencils.”

“I had a new unused pad and Frank told me Fran liked drawing. I thought he might like to draw while you rested,” Joe added.

“Can I see?” Jacob asked, putting his fork down on his now empty plate.

“Sure,” Fran replied, picking the drawing pad up and handing it over, before collecting Jacob’s plate and putting it and his on the bedside table.

“Thanks,” Jacob said, opening to the first page. He saw a picture of himself sleeping. The picture was done with grey pencil and looked exactly like him. “Fran,” Jacob gasped, smiling at his mate. “You have amazing skills there, sweetheart.”

Joe leaned over and looked. “You really do, Fran. Maybe one evening you and I can have a drawing session together,” he said almost shyly.

Fran smiled at him. “That sounds good, I’d like that.”

Frank beamed at Joe then Fran.

“I could join you as well,” Jacob said.

“You draw, babe?” Fran asked in surprise.

Joe burst out laughing. “Your mate’s idea of drawing is stick men, stick animals, and stick trees.”

Jacob laughed. “You forgot stick flowers.”

“Sounds like me,” Frank said. “Franny has all the artistic talents out of the two of us.”

Fran patted his father’s arm. “I’m sure you have many other talents, Dad.”

That made everyone laugh.

“Your dad has lots of talents that he is happily showing me,” Joe said, smiling softly at Frank.

“Not sure I want to know,” Fran replied, screwing his nose up.

“Sorry, son, pretty sure you might be hearing a lot about Joe and I.”

“I can cope with that, but for some things, just talk in general terms is all I ask.”

“We’ll try,” Joe said.

Just then the door opened and Berni, Ezzy, and Finn walked in.

“Evening family,” Ezzy said, walking to the bed. “Are you rested, Jacob?”

Jacob nodded. “Yep, I am. Thanks.”

“Good,” Berni said. “Has Frank or Fran told you I have a builder coming in tomorrow to start creating your suites? Fran, Jacob, I did think of having you on the top floor, but I’ve changed my mind to make it easier for you, Jacob. The rooms next to the room Fran usually uses are free, so your suite will be there.”

“Thank you,” Jacob said. “But I can manage if you want us in the other rooms.”

Berni shook his head. “No, we can revisit the suite situation at a later date, but for now stick with this floor.”

“Okay, thanks.”

“I can show them to you tomorrow,” Fran said to Jacob.

“It’ll be nice to see something other than this room,” Jacob replied.

“Soon we can play with secret tunnels and priest holes,” Ezzy said, plonking himself down on the bed.

“Finn, have you told Dad or Uncle Berni our plan yet?” Fran asked him.

“Plan? What plan?” Berni asked, looking at them all.

Finn looked at Ezzy. “You tell them. They know you better than me.”

Ezzy laughed. “When Jacob is up and about, Rob and Em are home, and mum is out for the day, we’re raising the drawbridge.”

“Yes!” Frank exclaimed. “I’m in.”

Berni grinned. “Me too. If we all do it together, Aubrey can’t get mad at me.”

“You know if we get into trouble, we’re totally blaming Jacob, right?” Finn said laughing.

Jacob snorted out a laugh. “I’m happy to take one for the team.”

“Your sacrifice is truly appreciated,” Berni said, trying to be serious, but laughing.

“My hero,” Fran said, nudging his shoulder.

“Now, I’ve spoken to the pack shaman. He’s never heard of a silver wolf, so is researching that for me, as is Jonathan.” Berni informed them.

“Castle librarian,” Ezzy explained to Jacob and Joe before they could ask who he was.

“Maybe there’s nothing to find, it could just be a reaction to the silver poisoning,” Jacob pointed out.

Both Berni and Frank shook their heads.

“It can’t be that or other wolves back in the day would have turned silver,” Frank said.

“Being probably the only silver wolf anywhere, and you, Finn, being the only white wolf, you both need protecting and to know how to protect yourselves. If you were kidnapped, you would both fetch a lot of money on the black market,” Berni told them seriously.

“I can adapt my training for you, Jacob, and teach both you and Finn in wolf form and human form,” Frank told them. “Joe can join in your training as well.”

Joe nodded. “Yeah, I need to know how to protect both Jacob and Finn.”

“But remember, while training Jacob, take lots of breaks and no overdoing things,” Berni cautioned.

“I won’t. Exhausting myself everyday won’t help me recover faster.”

“We’ll make sure he’s sensible,” Joe promised.

If ads affect your reading experience, click here to remove ads on this page.