Chapter 18 JERICHO #2
Evan stops, panicked eyes lock with mine, and for the first time, he seems to realize what’s happening. He shakes his head, like he can’t stand to look at me. “What the hell happened?”
“Go back to the house,” Grant says. “Forest is getting him some blood.”
Evan doesn’t seem to hear him. “Was it the vamps? Did they do this?”
“Go back!” Power ripples off him, but of course it does nothing to Evan. He’s human.
“Go,” I manage, my voice hoarse.
Evan’s face crumples, his gaze never leaving mine. “Jer, please.”
I shake my head, wincing from the pain. I haven’t felt a thirst like this in a long time.
“Get you and your mother upstairs for now,” Grant says. “Jericho will come find you when he can.”
It’s a long few seconds before he turns. As he does, I notice a silver handgun sticking out of his pants. Where did he get that?
Grant slowly eases his hold on me. “Let’s go.”
I barely notice anything except for the lovely scent leading upstairs. It fades when we reach the hall behind the fireplace, replaced with something equally as tempting: blood. I pull away from Grant and follow it to what appears to be a medic room.
Forest holds up a large glass of crimson gold. I down it in four large gulps.
“Another?” Forest asks.
I avoid his eyes as I nod.
“Sit down. I need to see the leg.”
While he pours more blood, I take a seat on the metal table. It’s like a hospital room in here, complete with overhead lights, monitors, and tubes galore. I finish the second glass just as two people enter the room.
“Evan, I told you to—” Grant tries, reaching for Evan, but Evan shoves past him, eyes wild as he looks for me.
“Sorry, but I can’t!” he says. “I literally can’t stay away when you’re hurt like this!” He steps in close, scanning my body. “What the fuck happened?”
I close my eyes and inhale, ignoring the pressure behind my gums. It still burns, but not unbearably. I want him… I want Evan so much.
Forest taps my arm, offering me a third glass. I hesitate, fully aware of Evan standing right in front of me.
Evan rolls his eyes. “Drink it, asshole, then tell me what happened.”
I would’ve laughed if it weren’t for the pain in my leg. Such a typical Evan response.
I down the blood easily, relieved when Evan barely cringes. He slowly moves closer, reaching for my leg.
“It looks deep.”
“A young shifter from another pack attacked him,” Forest explains.
Evan snaps his head up. “What?”
“I believe he thought he was siding with the vampires. Or he didn’t remember what Jericho looked like. I don’t know.”
Evan scoffs. “They just met him like two days ago! How can they forget?”
“As I said, he’s young.”
Ivy enters the room, pulling a shirt over her head. The moment she sees me, she lets out a long breath. “Oh, thank God. Mom just told me what happened! Are you okay? I’m going to strangle Xavier!”
“I’m fine,” I say, though it comes out much weaker than I intended. Evan frowns. “I’ll be fine,” I amend. “I can feel it… it’s healing already.”
Evan’s jaw ticks, like he’s thinking of hunting the wolf down himself.
Grant crosses his arms. “This isn’t good, Alpha. Two of them got away, which means Foxx will not only know our location, but that Jericho is surrounded by shifters.”
“I know.”
“We need to increase patrols and tighten our perimeter. No one is allowed outside without at least two other wolves. That includes you, Jer.”
“It’s not me I’m worried about!” I snap. “It’s Evan! And Evelyn. It’s you! All of you!” I wave an arm. “Do you really think I put myself before you? Or the other packs? It’s my fucking fault you’re in this mess!”
Grant furrows his brows, then shakes his head. “We were in this before we ever knew you.”
“Yeah, Sasha died because of Foxx, remember?” Ivy says. “We fight for her.” She winces as she takes another breath.
Forest gives her a pointed look. “What happened to you?”
“Missed a jump,” she says. “Pretty sure I cracked a rib.”
“Then go shift!”
She sweeps her dark hair over one shoulder. “I had to make sure Jericho was okay.”
“Go,” Forest commands.
She gives me one more parting glance before leaving the room. Grant follows her.
“What happened here?” Evan asks, pointing to my arm.
I wince. I forgot all about that. “One of the vamps has daggers for fingernails. Cut me to the bone. But I’m fine.”
Evan scoffs. “You’re not fine.”
“I will be.” I already feel a thousand times better, thanks to the blood.
He steps in close, studying my face. Slowly, he reaches for my hand, like he needs that physical contact but isn’t sure if I can handle it yet. “Don’t ever do that to me again.”
Setting the glass down, I slide an arm around Evan’s waist to pull him close. His warm breath is a sweet caress against my cheek. When my hand bumps the gun in his jeans, I raise a brow. “Where’d you get this?”
“Grant gave it to me.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean why? If I’m going to be your boyfriend, I need a way to protect myself from all the crazies.”
My heart skitters, and I immediately forget all about the gun. “Boyfriend, huh? After one make-out session?”
Evan smiles. “It was a damn good make-out session.” He leans in like he’s going to kiss me again just as Evelyn enters the room. I turn away quickly, tipping my chin at the door.
Evan freezes when he looks over his shoulder. “Uh, hey.”