Chapter 32
Henry sidled closer to Maia, holding his breath.
Each of his senses worked overtime, trying to read his mate.
His nostrils flared, and terror tiptoed down his spine while he waited for a reaction.
Levi whined, picking up on Henry’s inner turmoil.
Maybe he should’ve informed Maia earlier about his otherness, but the time had been inopportune. She’d been dealing with enough.
Amanda shrieked obscenities, and Henry glared at the protesting woman Charlie and Laura dragged away in handcuffs. Her pretty face contorted in another scream, and he took satisfaction in her disheveled appearance. The bitch. He and Gerard might’ve been too late if it weren’t for the kids.
A shudder worked through him, a reaction to the close call.
The woman’s attack echoed the past so precisely.
Jenny’s ex had murdered her in this forest when she’d slipped into the trees for a quick toilet break while Henry waited for her.
Despite the runners and zombies filling the paddock, no one had seen or heard a thing.
He hadn’t suspected danger until Jenny had failed to reappear, and he’d gone searching.
Gerard nudged him, and Henry shook away the past. He visualized his human form and flowed into his shift. It was time to see what Maia thought of his secret.
The kids loved her, and she’d let them close without panicking. He prayed there was room in her heart for him in both forms. London and Megan would help and share their stories because they understood the devastation he’d face if Maia rejected him.
Swallowing hard, he kneeled beside her. “Maia, are you okay?” he asked hoarsely. “When Levi signaled Gerard and me… Those were the worst moments of my life.” He grasped her arms and lifted her to her feet. She wavered, and he balanced her while desperately assessing her reaction.
Her blue eyes were enormous in her pale, dirty face. The scent of coppery blood filled his next breath.
“Where are you hurt? Let me carry you to my vehicle.”
“I can walk.”
Henry tensed.
“Amanda can’t see that she injured me,” Maia said.
Henry assessed her in a quick visual sweep. He couldn’t see blood, but the scent…
Levi must’ve shifted again because he said, “The angry lady hit Maia with the stick. She struck her arm and leg. Should’ve bitten her,” he muttered. “She hurt my puppies and laughed about it. She is wrong in the head.”
Another kid added their two cents. “The lady wanted Maia’s place at the trials.”
“Yeah,” Sophia, one of Saber’s twins said. “She’s not even a good player. We watched the game where she hit the other lady. Why would you want her on your team if she lacks control?”
These kids knew about restraint. They learned early because their safety depended on it, especially in this modern world of smartphones and instant communication.
Henry focused on Maia and found her watching him. Her silence tossed him into a sea of doubt. Anxiety. Was it shock at Amanda’s behavior or terror at what she’d witnessed with him, Gerard, and the kids?
“How badly are you injured?” he asked.
“Nothing broken, but I have lacerations from not dodging fast enough. Bruises.”
Henry relaxed a fraction. She seemed calm. Too calm.
His gut roiled, and he wasn’t confident of what to do.
“Where are your clothes?” Gerard asked the kids.
Maia started at Gerard’s deep voice and whirled, immediately grunting. Pain flitted across her face. “You, too?”
“Yes,” Gerard said, glancing at him with sympathy.
He’d had to tell London, so he understood the anxiety riding Henry.
What if Maia rejected him? What if she told the wrong people and endangered the shifter community?
Amanda would tell everyone she’d seen wolves and leopards, but Laura and Charlie would handle that aspect.
Everyone would think she’d hallucinated.
The woman was deranged if she thought Maia’s absence would secure her a spot on the team.
“Your clothes?” Gerard prodded.
“We had to change fast,” Levi mumbled.
“Yeah, we heard the lady shouting,” another boy said.
A girl’s voice cut through the babble. Sophia, one of Saber’s kids. “We ripped our clothes ’cause we were in a hurry. I’m sure Mum won’t be too mad. It was an emergency.”
Levi raised his chin. “Yeah,” he said, nodding. “An emergency.”
“Okay,” Gerard said calmly. “Take me to your clothes, and we’ll see what we can salvage. Mothers prefer you to think first and undress fast if necessary. Please remember that.”
A flash of humor spurted through Henry at Levi’s long-suffering sigh. Given the circumstances, Megan and his dad wouldn’t growl, but no doubt Jacey would spout words of wisdom. Henry had been the recipient during his boyhood. The lectures hadn’t hurt.
“You ready?” he asked Maia.
She inhaled and released a slow breath. “Yes.” She took a staggering step.
Henry guided her along the winding path leading through the forest. It was slow going, and he felt every one of Maia’s pained winces and sighs.
Anger bubbled in him, the urge to swing at Maia’s teammate. He’d heard enough to ascertain Amanda’s warped jealousy.
But even so—he couldn’t wrap his head around the twisted things the woman had done to terrorize Maia. He’d bet this wasn’t the first time Amanda had stalked someone. Something to discuss with Laura and Charlie.
When they reached his vehicle, Maia wobbled. He settled her in the passenger seat, quietly grabbed his clothes, and dressed.
Gerard appeared, also dressed now and herding five naked kids. “Can you drop them at home? Megan and London will find clothes for them to wear.”
Henry opened the rear door. The five kids piled into the back seat, chattering like boisterous birds.
This had been an adventure, something out of the ordinary that they could tell their shifter friends.
He caught Maia’s frown but didn’t comment.
As soon as he dropped off the kids, he’d take Maia to Gavin because she was feeling Amanda’s blows.
He could still smell blood but couldn’t see any on Maia’s clothing.
The kids filled the silence, asking questions, which he answered truthfully. Yes, Laura would charge Amanda for the attack. No, nothing terrible would happen to them for showing their animal selves. No one would believe Amanda. Laura and Charlie would make sure of that.
Maia was listening closely, even though her head was back against the seat and her eyes closed. He hoped she understood no shifter would hurt her. They were the same people—hell, would she leave him and return to her house now that they’d captured her stalker?
He didn’t want that. He wanted to keep her close. Keep her safe.
But he couldn’t tell her any of that now—not when the kids were in the back seat.
Henry stopped in front of the family home. He texted Megan and told her Gerard would be home soon. He’d explain. “Tell your mum I’m taking Maia to Gavin,” he said to Levi.
“Yes,” Levi said before he and his friends sprinted to the house.
“They love you,” Maia murmured.
“They love you, too,” he replied because it was nothing less than the truth. “Are you okay?”
He didn’t mean physically because it was easy to see her injuries bothered her. He meant mentally. How was she coping after learning she was living with shifters?
“You and the kids saved my butt.” A noticeable shiver ran through her.
“Amanda would’ve hurt me worse without your intervention.
Right now, I’m numb. I can’t wrap my head around the fact Amanda was responsible.
She was friendly from the first day. Yes, she had a temper but never directed it my way. ”
Henry wanted to hug her, hold her, and tell Maia everything would be okay. It wouldn’t—not for a while, so offering platitudes was no use. He set his vehicle in motion, backing up and heading toward Middlemarch.
Maia’s eyes closed, but she wasn’t sleeping. Henry glanced across at her, worry filling him as he felt her pulling away. Was it that he morphed into a wolf? Or was it something else?
Ten minutes later, he pulled up outside Gavin’s surgery. Maia didn’t move, and his worry increased as he rounded his vehicle to open the passenger door.
“Maia, come on. Let Gavin assess your injuries, and we can get you home.”
She let him help her from the vehicle, placid in a way that wasn’t Maia. Henry’s worry increased, but he remained silent as he guided her to the front door.
It opened, and Gavin was there, his green eyes scanning Maia from head to foot in one visual sweep. “Charlie called and let me know you’d be coming. Bring her into the surgery.”
Henry nodded. Charlie would’ve told Gavin that Maia knew about shifters.
Once they were in the surgery, and Maia sat, Henry squatted in front of her. “Can I remove your clothes so Gavin can see your injuries?”
Maia stood and raised her arms, grunting in frustration when she couldn’t manage properly.
Henry helped her to peel the clingy fabric over her head before tugging off her leggings.
She winced and gasped when he pulled the fabric from her hip.
The stench of blood combined with mud was more prevalent now.
Blood trickled down her leg and plopped in spots on the tiled floor.
Gavin moved closer while Henry silently cursed, wishing he’d been faster getting to her. Her upper body bore bloody scrapes, and bruises were already forming against her creamy skin. It was her upper thigh that was the worst.
“When did you have your last tetanus shot?” Gavin asked.
Maia frowned. “I don’t recall.”
“I’ll give you one now.”
Henry held his breath, waiting for Maia to protest that Gavin wasn’t a doctor, but she said nothing.
“What hurts most?” Gavin asked.
“Leg,” she said without hesitation.
Gavin nodded. “Once I clean out the mud and wood splinters, it should heal quickly. When is your next rugby game?”
“This coming weekend,” Maia said, frowning. “I have a rugby camp the weekend after that.”
“I doubt you’ll be match fit by this weekend,” Gavin said, using his usual honest assessment. “But you should be okay for light training by next week. If I were you, I’d tell your management. Be honest about your capabilities because you might worsen the injury if you try to play.”
Maia nodded. “I refuse to let Amanda get away with breaking the law. I’ll call my coach tonight.”
“Can you move your arms?” Gavin asked.
Maia grimaced and did as he asked. She sighed, the sound coming from deep in her chest. “I don’t get it. Amanda is a talented player. She could’ve gotten onto the team on her own merits. She didn’t need to knock out the opposition.”
“You’re better,” Henry said without hesitation. His entire family had seen that when they’d watched her play. “Which made you a threat.”
Gavin moved around his surgery, collecting supplies. “Cleaning the wounds will hurt, but it’s better than an infection.”
Henry felt each wince and gasp as Gavin tended her wounds and wished he could’ve taken that pain for her. He wanted to howl on Maia’s behalf. This wasn’t fair. Although they’d caught Amanda, the woman might’ve done enough to derail Maia’s selection.
At last, Gavin finished. He gave Maia a tetanus shot before telling her she could dress again.
Maia eyed her tight-fitting exercise gear with foreboding.
“I have a jacket in the vehicle,” Henry said. “It will work until we get home.”
“Thanks,” Maia said.
“I’ll give you antibiotics because your wounds were full of dirt,” Gavin said.
Henry hurried and rushed back, relieved to find Maia speaking calmly to Gavin.
“Do you think I’ll heal fast?”
“Not as fast as Henry or me, but you’re healthy, and if you’re sensible, you shouldn’t have issues.”
Maia’s gaze shot to Henry. “You heal fast?”
“Yes,” he said.
She gingerly stood to don the coat he offered her. It covered her to mid-thigh.
“If you have any concerns, call me,” Gavin said. “Rest for a few days and ease back into your training.”
“Thank you,” Maia said.
“Thanks, Gavin.” Henry plucked several bills from his wallet and handed them to Gavin. He frowned as Maia limped from the room and disappeared outside without waiting.
“She’ll be fine,” Gavin said. “Congratulations. She’s a strong woman and perfect for you.”
“Thanks,” Henry said gruffly. Unfortunately, everything didn’t feel fine. While Maia was talking to him, she wasn’t looking at him. Should he have spoken to her earlier? Told her he had a dual nature. Fuck. He had no idea.
But he couldn’t let her go. She was his mate, his other half.
She was his last chance of happiness.