Chapter 17
Shocked, Ian stared at the four men facing him, waiting for his answer.
Previously his decision would’ve been so clear—he’d never take a mate.
He made peace with that choice many years ago.
But his life changed, he changed and now he wanted nothing more than to claim and be claimed by his mate—his Fated Mate selected just for him, someone to love, someone to cherish and someone who would know and accept the importance of his calling as a doctor.
His wolf had stopped crying and now, standing up, growled in anticipation of claiming his mate.
Ian said, “Colton is my mate forever and I will do anything and everything for him.”
Dr. Luna grasped Ian by the arm, leading him into Colton’s room. “You don’t have a minute to waste. Climb on the bed and I’ll help you move Colton so you can bite and keep your teeth in him.”
“When will I know to remove my teeth?”
“When your wolf reenters your body. Then you can retract your teeth.”
Ian climbed up on the bed and lay next to his mate as Dr. Luna turned Colton and propped him up with pillows. “Will you leave?”
“Not right away. After your wolf has entered and he’s stable, I’ll leave. His life is in your hands…or teeth as the case may be.” Dr. Luna’s face showed a hint of a smile. “Okay, Ian, do it.”
Ian licked his mate’s neck as his wolf’s teeth appeared.
Then, after a moment of hesitation, Ian bit Colton, sinking his teeth into his flesh, then the muscle and blood below the surface.
There, his wolf’s spirit entered through the connection, seeking out his mate.
Ian felt the two wolves join in spirit and Ian’s strength flowed into Colton.
He could feel his mate’s subconscious reaction to the invasion of his wolf by the sudden stiffness of Colton’s body.
Ian tightened his grasp on Colton, to provide a distraction against the pain.
He wanted to spare his mate as much discomfort as possible but was unable to do much more than hold him—and so Ian did.
And then an amazing thing happened. He felt the love the two wolves had for each other as they worked together to stabilize Colton and keep him alive.
Deep within his mate, the wolves combined their abilities to become so powerful, that Colton’s body began to heal, albeit very slowly.
Ian was in awe as he witnessed the power of their wolves’ spirits.
And at that moment, he knew he’d made the right decision.
He and Colton, with their combined love of medicine would be more powerful together than apart, leading to more lives saved.
He’d been wrong for so many years about taking a mate; Colton would never prevent him from helping shifters, no, he would stand by his side through the long hours, the rough conditions and even the failures, always there, always supportive.
Ian was humbled by these thoughts as he started to pray to the gods to save his other half, his soul mate, his love.
He knew if he lost his mate, life would not be worth living and he vowed at that moment to treasure the gift the Fates gave him.
As prayers tumbled from his lips, he felt a presence in the room, unseen but clearly felt.
He knew it wasn’t Dr. Luna because he’d left the room and Ian did not hear the door open again.
Ian didn’t know who was in the room with him, but he hoped the gods sent someone to answer his prayers.
He felt his wolf’s spirit reenter his body and his teeth receded from Colton’s neck.
Licking the claiming bite to help it heal, he was suddenly blinded by a bright green light.
Closing his eyes against it, Ian felt a strong buzzing coming from Colton’s body which threw him back from his mate—and then he fainted.
Colton felt someone touching the skin over his heart. Strange there wasn’t any pain. Then he heard a voice in his head.
“I am the Archangel Raphael who brings the gods’ healing light to the Earth.
Get up and claim your mate as I have made you whole.
You have been given the same power and when you call upon me, my power will be channeled through your fingers to anyone you find in need of it.
Use this gift to compliment your ability.
Do not doubt your power Colton, for the gods have found you worthy of this great gift because of the purity of your soul and your love for your fellow shifters. ”
Colton felt his body heat up as Raphael’s power surged through is body.
The healing occurred rapidly and he could feel the bones of his skull knit together.
He became aware of the world around him—the man lying against him, the soft lights overhead, the sound of his strong heartbeats and air easily entering and exiting his lungs.
He could smell the most delicious scent surrounding him and realized in a split second who the man next to him was, as his cock hardened.
My mate! Who’s my mate? He opened his eyes, trying to turn around to see the man who would be his forever but he was unable to get a glimpse.
Then he heard his brother Cody in the hall arguing with Dr. Luna.
Why is my brother here? Why am I here? Colton sifted through his memories until he found the ones he was looking for.
He was kidnapped by Pablo, sold at an auction, but escaped and eventually found Steel.
But then it all went to hell when he fell through an opening in the rocks, landing thirty feet below where he smashed his head.
How the fuck did I survive? Oh yeah, an angel.
He reached out through his mind link to Cody, asking him to come in.
Colton could feel his brother’s pain about what happened and he needed to reassure him.
“I’m telling you, I must go in. Colton is asking for me now.” Cody turned to Steel after his futile argument with Dr. Luna, “Please Steel, you know Colton and I share a mind link. Colton is asking for me. Please, at least let me peek in to see if he’s all right. Please.”
Steel glared at Cody. He was reaching the end of his patience with him. Granted he was Colton’s brother but still, he’d behaved very badly throughout this day—screaming, attacking, yelling and threatening to kill Ian. Dr. Luna didn’t want Ian to be disturbed so why should he go against…
“Steel, think how you’d feel if Jackson was lying in there.
Colton isn’t my mate, but he is as close to me as Jackson is to you.
We share a mind-link like you do. What would you do if you were standing out here and Jackson was in there sending you a message to come in?
Would you wait as you’re asking me to do? ”
Scowling, Steel knew Cody was right. “Okay, just peek in to make sure Colton and Ian are all right.”
Cody quickly moved to the door, opening it slowly and peeked in. What he saw amazed him. His brother was sitting up, pulling out needles and disconnecting all the medical equipment connected to his body. “What the fuck are you doing?” Cody exclaimed.
Steel, Slate and Dr. Luna rushed in to see what was happening. But they were also shocked to see Ian unconscious while Colton was sitting up, apparently healed. Pushing into the room, Dr. Luna walked over to Colton. “Please let me check you over first.”
“I’m fine, Dr. Luna, Really, I’m completely healed.” But after seeing the looks of disbelief on everyone’s faces, he muttered, “Okay, go ahead. But first you have to take care of my mate. I think he fainted.”
Dr. Luna examined Ian and concluded Colton was right.
Turning to the medical cupboard in the room, he grabbed smelling salts and waved them under Ian’s nose.
Slowly Ian woke up, but was slightly disoriented from his wolf’s experience in his mate’s body.
Dr. Luna helped him sit up while holding his arm to steady him. “How are you feeling Ian?”
Colton stiffened. Ian? Ian Wallace? DR. IAN WALLACE is my mate? Oh shit!!!
Ian sat up, his back to Colton, taking stock of his body and wolf.
Everything seemed to be in order and working.
Wait! The green light! The buzzing in his mate’s body?
What happened? Quickly turning to search for Colton, Ian lost his balance and tumbled to the floor.
Fuck! He felt Steel’s strong hands lift him up and set him on his feet.
“Are you all right?”
Ian didn’t answer. Instead his eyes were focused on his mate sitting up on the edge of the bed, seemingly healthy, with no signs of his near-fatal injuries. “It worked! I saved him!” Ian cried.
Colton looked at him with amazement. “What worked?” he asked Dr. Luna, who was taking his vitals again.
“You were near death when you arrived here and beyond any known medical intervention. After speaking with the Oracle, I asked Jackson if Ian could claim you so his wolf’s spirit could join with yours to help boost your self-healing power.
And it worked,” Dr. Luna said, smiling as he finished his explanation.
Colton was stunned. The angel had healed him.
This knowledge was clear as day to him, but.
.. If I told everyone about the angel, it would hurt my mate.
How could I take away my mate’s pride in saving me?
My mate! Wow! Jeez, get knocked out and look what happens!
Colton knew in that second, he wanted his mate.
The mating pull was there, the scent was driving his body crazy and his mate had already proved what a brave and admirable person he was—willing to do anything to save someone.
He stood and approached Ian. Holding his mate’s face in his hands, he said, “Thank you so much for caring enough about me to do that. I’ll never be able to repay you.
” Then, Colton, drawn in by Ian’s dark green eyes gazing at him, lowered his lips to his mate’s, ghosting over them before deepening the kiss.
He could feel his wolf howling with joy as his body responded to the sweet luscious taste.