Chapter Fourteen
Striker
“Good morning, omega.” Wulf’s voice was the last thing I’d heard before I went to sleep and the first thing I heard the next morning. There wasn’t a better way.
“Good….oh…” I tried to turn around and immediately felt the twinge of pain. Familiar but still totally unwelcome.
“What is it?” He cursed under his breath. “Oh, omega. Your leg is so tense. This is my fault. Last night was too much. I—”
“Hey,” I grabbed his wrist as he began to spiral. “Last night was perfect but I’m not your average partner. A hot shower and some stretching should do the trick.”
For a moment, I forgot I was speaking to a physical therapist. Now, he was my alpha. My mate. I had the bite mark on my throat to prove it but it was less sore than my damned leg.
“Let me help.”
I nodded. I really didn’t have a choice in the matter. Usually, my morning routine on a bad day consisted of prayers to whatever deity would listen and forcing myself to move through the pain. Or, my least favorite, taking a pill. “Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me, mate.” Wulf helped me stand up and, once I took some steps, some of the angry shooting pains subsided. A wave of shame and humiliation washed over me. This alpha, so kind and amazing, deserved someone who would have a sweet morning after without these complications.
By the time we made it to the bathroom I had come down on myself so hard I could barely look in the mirror.
Wulf turned on the shower, and the room filled with steam as I leaned against the counter.
“Tell me what’s going on in that head of yours.” He wrapped his arms around my torso and laid his chin on my shoulder. “I can scent something is wrong. Talk to me, sweetheart.”
“I wish I wasn’t so broken. You’re stuck with a mate you have to help take care of for the rest of your life now.”
“Striker, what if I got injured or sick and couldn’t lift heavy things? What would you do? Leave me? Or if I went blind or something worse? Would you walk away?”
“Never. We would get through it together.”
He turned his head and kissed the side of my neck. “Would you think of me as a burden?”
“No. Of course not.”
“The same goes for me. Our morning routine together will be a little different than most, but who cares. I don’t. A shower with my omega every morning to get him going doesn’t sound like a bad time to me.”
I nodded. Goddess, he was the sweetest. “It’s too late anyway. You can’t get rid of me after last night. I’m totally addicted.”
“Didn’t plan on it. Let’s get you into the shower.”
After a long, hot shower and my mate stretching my leg the way only he knew how, we walked out of the bedroom and shared a big breakfast. Wulf said more protein would be good for my muscles.
“There’s something I wanted to talk to you about,” he said after finishing his second cup of coffee with only a splash of creamer. He probably thought I was a sugar addict. I was when it came to coffee.
My heart sank. “What is it?”
“Nothing bad. Nothing bad, omega.” He put his arm around my shoulders and squeezed, sending some of his calm through our bond. “Your wolf has been talking to mine. A lot.”
I nodded. Our connection was brand new but so alive. It buzzed with loving energy and each time it sparked, another thread took shape. “I know.”
“Would you like to shift with me this morning?”
“I-I haven’t shifted since the accident, remember? I…don’t know if it’s even possible.”
He nodded. “It’s absolutely your choice, but my wolf thinks yours is ready again.”
I thought about it. It had been so long. “I can try.”
“Good. I think it will help you. I’m not a pack alpha, but my energy may help.
My wolf thinks it will. And even this long after your injury the shift can heal some things and help.
I’m not saying it will be a complete fix, and usually it needs to be right after the accident to be most helpful, but… Am I being too pushy?”
“Not at all.”
We got dressed and drove out of the city to an area where local shifters could run without suspicion or eyes on them. Wulf undressed and shifted immediately. His wolf was huge. Deep brown fur and gorgeous, fierce brown eyes meeting mine, seeking. He walked over and nudged me with his muzzle.
“Okay. Okay. I’ll try.”
I took off my clothes and reached inside myself to that crossroads where my wolf’s subconscious and mine had an understanding.
He was hesitant but, more than that, he wanted out to meet his mate properly.
He finally had enough motivation to want to run again, and I was grateful for it. The miracle of a fated mate.
Wulf’s alpha power surged, tingling over my skin, and before I could doubt myself, I stood on four legs again Fur and power and the ability to run wild.
Wulf’s animal pushed on my middle, and he took off, wanting me to chase him. And chase him I did.
We ran for hours. When we shifted back, I felt better than I had in ages. Years. Maybe ever.
“You did it!” Wulf wrapped me up in his human arms.
“Thanks to you, mate. Thanks to you.”