Chapter 28
CICELY
I thoroughly disliked all that. Watching him react to the news that he’s the way he is because of medical experiments on his father.
And I’m no doctor, but I agree – I think the abuse he suffered as a child led to a splintering of personalities.
His wolf’s protectiveness over what Jared endured makes it want to kill everything it comes in contact with.
Because it’s disconnected from him, it still sees everything as a threat.
Watching him climb into that cage and shift, seeing his wolf go berserk at being caged, how much it wanted to eat the approaching doctors, and then seeing Mitch jab that long needle into his skin through the bars?
Watching Jared’s wolf drop, tongue lolling out and making him look dead? None of it was easy.
I got a little upset, and Tyson pulled me back against the door where we stayed and he kept his arm around me, comforting me while they did their measurements and tests, including more blood drawn and another mouth swab.
It took only two hours for him to shift back and wake up, thankfully.
I’m glad he let his wolf out for a run the other day or it might have been all day or longer waiting for him to shift back.
But still… all that left me shaky, angry, and wanting a long, hot bubble bath, a stiff drink, and alone time with my mate.
To reconnect. To comfort him. Because I can feel that this is affecting him.
Mitch and Cat had their heads together over lab equipment while I paced the office and waiting room, waiting for Jared to wake up. Everyone else left, besides Linc, Tyson, and Erica who stuck around to keep me company.
Mitch described Jared’s wolf as a super predator after they had nodes attached to his head, running scans of his brain, talking about his wolf having intelligence, not being just a mindless brute.
When Jared woke, his eyes found me and he assessed my wellbeing. It felt good that this was the first thing he did.
As he dressed, Mitch went over the results of their tests and talked about having another discussion in a day or so.
When we got to the parking lot I asked, “Can we go to the apartment for a while? I want a hot bubble bath and some booze. I have lots of booze in my cabinet.”
“Yeah,” he said, even though I don’t think he was all that happy about it.
“Want me to drive? Still feeling groggy from the sedative?”
“Naw, I’m good,” he said.
I gave him another chance to go back to the camper instead, but he drove us to the apartment.
***
“I’m gonna take a bath and order food from Roxy’s. Ask if someone can run it over,” I say.
“Bath big enough for two?” he asks.
“Absolutely,” I tell him.
“Shower first please, babe, and get Tyson Savage’s scent off your body.”
He doesn’t look pissed off about it. He looks tired right now.
“Tyson was comforting me when I got upset after you shifted,” I explain.
“Because it scares you?” he asks.
“Seeing how angry your wolf is, knowing he’s the way he is because he’s trying to protect you. And watching them poke and prod at your wolf... just made me… sad.” I choke up.
He grabs me and hugs me, holding me for a long minute.
“Your wolf is intelligent, Jared. He’s not just a mindless monster. He’s your protector. He just… he doesn’t know you’re safe now. He doesn’t know everyone around him isn’t out to hurt you.”
He sighs.
I kiss him softly on the lips before I dash the wet off my cheeks and back away.
I kick my shoes off, take off the utility belt, drop my jeans, and throw my t-shirt off. I leave a trail of clothing behind me, but take the belt to the bathroom and set it on the vanity.
I soap up in the shower from head to toes until the water is clear of bubbles, then drop the plug in and step out to fetch some towels and the bubble bath.
When I reach into the linen cupboard, I feel him directly behind me, so I turn to face him. He lifts me, sets me on the vanity, and moves in close, holding my jaw with both hands. The intense look of emotion in his eyes has me feeling all sorts of feelings.
“You,” he says, then swallows before he again says, “You…”
He doesn’t know how to finish that sentence. He doesn’t know the words. But I don’t need them; I see the emotion and even more, I feel it. He’s glad I was there today. He’s crazy about me. He’s happy I’m his mate.
“You,” I parrot and I hope he knows I feel the absolute same way.
His eyes drift shut and he blows out a breath.
“Come have a bath with me. I’ll put lots of bubbles in it.”
“Of course you will,” he says, smiling.
“Bubble baths help in every situation,” I advise.
“You’re lucky I’m off my game or I’d give you shit about this ridiculous shower curtain,” he quips.
“You think it’s ridiculous?” I ask, fake-aghast.
“Completely,” he teases.
“Well, now it’s the camper shower curtain,” I threaten. “Or should I get a new shower curtain for the camper that’s double ridiculous?”
He rolls his eyes. “Do your worst, woman.”
“I plan to,” I tease before I kiss his soft lips and pour a big glug of bubblegum-scented bath foam into the tub.
***
We’re snuggled on my couch with the TV on after having finished cheeseburgers and chili fries that Linc ran over for us.
He left it all just inside the door downstairs along with a six-pack of giant stuffed cookies sent over by Stacy Blackwood with a sweet little note on the box, and a six-pack of beer that I’m assuming is a gift from Linc.
I’ve had a text from Cat to invite us to brunch tomorrow at her apartment above the clinic, so we can talk more about the experimental drug. Or if we want to ask more questions. And just because.
I read him her text message and am just about to wax on about the cinnamon streusel coffee cake she always serves but he says, “I’m thinkin’ of taking the drug.”
“I don’t know,” I say.
He frowns.
“Well,” I say, “On one hand, it could connect you to your wolf. You could let him know he doesn’t have to kill everything that moves, that you’re safe.
But… what if it makes things worse? What if it costs you your sanity and they want to put you away like they did your dad?
” I storm to the counter and grab the bourbon bottle to pour us each another shot.
“Maybe I ought to talk to that alpha who has control over his wolf first.”
“Yeah. Because what if the drug turns you like the crazy one that’s on the loose right now? I think we should find out more about him. You’ve got the skills to dig in for more information if you know his name, right?”
“I do.”
“And really, you should just take a beat and think about it. Sleep on it. And we’ll talk more about it tomorrow. And the day after if you need more time.”
“Yeah.” He thrusts his hand through his hair.
“Wanna watch a movie?” I ask. “Veg out for a while?”
“Meh,” he mutters. “Whatever.”
“Wanna go back to the camper, have a fire, and stare at the stars instead?” I ask.
He lets out a heavy sigh and says, “You’re perfect, you know that?”
“Of course I know that!” I reply haughtily.
He swats my ass. “You’re such a fuckin’ brat. Bring that Jim Beam, woman. And those cookies.”
***
“Look at the moon. Are we supposed to have some sort of lunar event tonight” I ask, looking up at the sky. The moon has a yellow tinge to it.
We’re at the camper, in front of it while having a fire. Dad’s car wasn’t here, so it looks like he went home to Kathleen. Either because he feels okay about me being here or because he didn’t think we were coming back here tonight.
We waved to Sean and Gus coming in and decided to have the fire up here, so we don’t have to feel like we’re being watched by the camera.
But the sky does look strange. It looked normal a few minutes ago.
He looks up. “The fuck?”
“Weird, right?” I say from his lap on the camp chair.
“Fuck!” he says. “Off me.”
He lifts me by my hips off his lap and sets me on my feet before he grabs his mask from the ground and storms away.
“What’s wrong?” I ask while following him. “Are you feeling like you might shift?”
“Spontaneous lunar event. Not fuckin’ good,” He calls back while pulling the mask on his face.
He almost immediately drops to the ground.
“Jared?” I shout, but he’s perfectly still.
What the fuck?”
I’m not wearing the belt with the weapons.
It’s on the ground beside his camp chair.
I’d better get it. Shit, but he’s unconscious, so I’m torn between doing that and checking his vitals.
I actually dart toward him, stop, pivot toward the camp chair, and emotion wins over common sense as I choose him. I squat and touch the skin of his neck.
He’s stone cold. But he’s breathing. He’s got the mask on, but is he about to shift?
Shit. Shit!
The camper is about forty feet away. The camera is on the exterior of the bunker. Dad’s not here and Sean and Gus won’t see us unless I dash toward it and wave. I don’t have my phone. Where is it? In the camper.
I’m panicked, and a wave of heat floods me, like I’m overheated.
I’m wearing a tank top and a pair of shorts but feel like I’m bundled up for winter.
Fire thrums in my veins. It’s the stress.
All the stress of this. It feels like I’ve been here beside my unconscious mate for too long, but it’s probably just been seconds.
I run for the camp chair to grab the utility belt and quickly get it on.
But it feels like someone has walked across my grave. My entire body is suddenly cold. I’m tackled to the ground from behind.
Growling!
Fuck! Jared’s wolf tackled me.
I’m pinned under his heavy body. They may or may not see from here. Our fire setup is about fifty or sixty feet in front of the camper. The bunker is about the same distance behind the camper. The camera is mounted above the door. I don’t know if they saw him shift, if they see us now.
I reach for one of the weapons on the belt, but the growling gets louder, and I can’t quite reach it. His large body is in the way.
Fuck!
Now I hear him sniffing. He’s sniffing me.
“Jared,” I whisper. “You’re part of Jared. Please understand me. I’m your mate. I’m not an enemy. We’re soulmates.”
The moon looks more yellow and brighter above us. A glimmer of light from somewhere makes the green crystals on my bracelet glow. It’s like a message reminding me to use it.
Something wet hits my neck. Drool? He sniffs again. And now he’s growling again.
Fuck!
I’m not three feet away like the potion needs.
I’m directly under him. I carefully pluck a green crystal from the bracelet and slam it on the ground so I can buy a minute, hoping when we un-freeze, I can scamper away quickly and get three feet on him so I can throw another one at him or grab a weapon and halt him.