Chapter 25
Jackson
Ava nods, but she doesn’t look super confident.
I take in the droop in her shoulders and her pale face and realize that’s all we’re going to get from the healer tonight.
I remember what happened to Kayla after she healed the man that was stabbed and feel grateful that she was able to heal Kayla as much as she did.
“Thank you,” I tell her, meaning it. She only nods, leaning heavily against her mate. I pause a moment. “Will you be okay?”
She nods. “I just need something to eat and some sleep.”
Her mate pulls her up into his arms. “We’re going to get both of those things.” She drops her head on his chest, and he looks over at me. “I’ve got to get her back to the hotel.” I nod. “Keep in touch; let me know what you need.” He looks over at Max and Raechel.
“We’ll help,” Raechel says.
But a quick look at her shows she’s not doing so hot either. I make the call. “Just go; get some rest. We’ll get Kayla and Noah to our hotel.”
Raechel looks like she might argue, but Max nods. “You have our numbers. Call if you run into trouble.” I remember every other run-in I’ve had with her; she’s always mouthy. The fact that she’s quiet must mean she’s really sick or something. I can’t help it; I turn back to them.
“Are you sick?” I ask Raechel directly. Her eyes widen in surprise, and I run a hand over the back of my neck. “I was just checking,” I mumble.
She seems to dissect me a moment before coming to some sort of conclusion. “Not sick,” she says. “Well, not with anything contagious anyway.” She rubs her stomach, and it finally sinks in.
“Congratulations,” I say to the two of them.
“Thanks,” Raechel says for the both of them. She frowns. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay with her?”
I resist the urge to growl at her and force myself to remember she’s just trying to check on our mate. “Yes.” That’s all I say because that’s all I can get out without biting her head off.
“Let’s go,” Max says, urging her forward.
Ransom steps back into the room after leaving for a few minutes. “Anything?” I ask.
“Nothing that catches my attention. Let’s go while we can.
” He lifts two bags. “I found these in the apartment; they looked packed and ready.” I nod and kneel next to Kayla.
I take in the up and down movement of her chest, reassuring myself that she’s still breathing.
Then as carefully as I can, I put one arm under her knees and one around her back and lift her to my chest. The feel of her against me is both rewarding and upsetting.
On the one hand, it feels incredible to have her in my arms, to be reassured that she’s safe now.
On the other hand, I’m horrified at how light she is and how bad her face looks up close.
Her uncle really did a number on her. I keep my simmering rage tamped down; my sole focus is on getting Kayla to safety.
I turn to Noah. “We’re going to get out of here.
Stay close when we get upstairs.” He nods, eyes wide.
Ransom stops in front of us. “I’ll go up first.”
I let him get about halfway up the stairs before I look at Noah. “Go ahead; I’ll be right behind you.” He stops at the first step. “You’re safe, Noah. Ransom and I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“Or Kayla?” he asks. His voice is so soft; I wouldn’t have heard him without my shifter hearing.
I know empty words mean nothing to someone who’s been through something awful, so I keep my answer short.
“I’ll keep her safe.” Anything more than that, I’ll just have to show him.
He follows Ransom up the stairs, and I keep my wolf close to the surface to ferret out any threat.
We leave the creepy basement behind and make our way down the hallway and outside.
Bryce and Ava are already in their car. He rolls down the window when we pass.
“You need to make a call about the doctor from the Northwoods Pack.” I know it’s because he’s worried for his mate, but the fact that he’s giving me orders rubs me the wrong way. I nod, not trusting myself not to say something I may or may not regret.
“You’re free to head back to your pack,” I tell him.
He hears the not-so-subtle hint. “I appreciate your help.” The words are hard to get out, but it’s the truth.
“Thank you for helping my mate,” I tell his mate, leaning low to be able to see into the car.
She has her head against the seat, and I can’t help the words that come out of my mouth.
“Why do you healers heal when it takes so much out of you?” There’s anger in my words, but I’m not directing them at her.
I hate that this is what will happen every time my mate heals someone.
I absently wonder if I can convince her to never heal again.
Somehow, I don’t think she’ll agree to that.
“We can’t not,” she says. “It’s pretty much like telling you shifters not to protect your mates.” My low growl matches the one that comes from the alpha sitting next her. “Exactly,” she says waving her hand at the two of us. “You proved my point.”
I take in her words as Bryce meets my gaze.
“We’re going to leave today. If you need us, you have my number.
Listen, I know I told you about Alicia; but I need to remind you.
She’s a force to tangle with. She's both vampire and wolf, making her incredibly strong but also incredibly fast. If she gets Kayla, it’s already too late.
I don’t know why she left Kayla today, but I don’t trust anything any of the vampires do.
Watch her carefully.” I resist the urge to snarl at him and force a nod instead.
“She used to be in my pack, but she’s no longer the same person.
” There’s a deep sadness to his words. “My team is doing what they can to track her now.”
I nod. “Thank you, both of you.” He drives away, and I walk over to where Ransom is waiting with Noah. But before I get there, Max walks our way.
“Paul’s on his way.” His words are gruff.
“Paul?” I question, not bothering to hide my irritation. I don’t want to deal with anybody else. I just want to get my mate and her brother to a safe place.
“Pack doctor.”
“The guy on the phone?” I question. He nods. “When?”
“Two, three hours. We’ll stay while they’re here for added security, and then I’m taking my mate back to our pack.”
He doesn’t look happy about this development. “You don’t need to stay,” I tell him.
“I do when my alpha tells me to,” he argues in the gruffest of voices.
“That’s why I don’t have an alpha.” He levels a look at me. “That’s why I’m not in a pack. I need to get her to my place.”
“We’ll follow you,” he says behind me.
I make it over to Ransom, and he opens the back door of the truck I’m renting. I climb in, keeping Kayla against my chest. Noah’s already in the backseat. He looks at Kayla in my arms with a solemn face. “Is she going to wake up?”
My heart gives an uncomfortable squeeze.
“Yes.” I leave no room in my tone for doubt.
I don’t tell him that I’m bonded to her, and that bond will keep her alive.
I don’t tell him that she may never forgive me for what I’ve done or might possibly hate me for the rest of her now long life. I keep all that to myself.
“Ready?” Ransom asks from the front seat.
“Yeah,” I grunt out.
The drive doesn’t take long, and I will Kayla to wake.
But she never does. I check her breathing every other second or so; it continues to be steady.
That gives me hope. I think of the vampires that put her in this situation, and I pledge to end each and every one of them.
But the one who caused this? The one who got close to my mate and betrayed her and put both her and Noah in danger?
I’ll save special treatment for her. My wolf agrees wholeheartedly with me.
Ransom parks. “I’ll scout things out and come right back.
” I want to argue with him, but I look down at my still mate in my arms and know it’s the right thing.
I want to be the one to scout it out, but I’m not about to hand Kayla off to anyone right now.
She’s safest with me. Ransom disappears from view, and I climb out of the truck, being careful with Kayla.
I count her breaths again and listen to the sound of her heartbeat.
It’s not long before Ransom comes back. “We’re good; let’s go.
Noah, you and I will head inside.” He turns to me.
“I’m going to open the door that leads right to the stairwell; fewer eyes that way. ”
I nod and walk that way. Thankfully, the parking lot is mostly empty right now; so, we don’t get a lot of attention.
I only have to wait a minute or two for Ransom to let us in, and then we head up the stairs.
“Noah, you’re with me.” He doesn’t say a word but follows me to my door, a few away from Ransom’s.
I’ll keep an eye on things, Ransom sends.
Thanks. Holding Kayla with one arm, I manage to get my keycard from my pocket.
“I can do it,” Noah says, taking the card from me and unlocking the door. He holds the door, and I stride inside and right over to the king-size bed. I gently lower her to the bed, regretting it the moment I lay her down. I already miss the feel of her in my arms.
“When’s she going to wake up?” Noah asks quietly.
“I don’t know,” I tell him truthfully. “But there’s a doctor on his way.” Relief shines in his eyes.
“Really?”
I nod, and he steps close to his sister and takes her hand in his.
“It’s going to be okay, Kayla; there’s a doctor coming.
Just be strong, like you always tell me.
” His voice is a quiet whisper, and I pretend I don’t hear him.
But my gut twists, and that strange tugging sensation in my chest is back.
I wonder how much the two of them have really been through.
I hate it that I haven’t been around to protect them, but I am now.
Nothing will ever hurt either of them again.
Of course, that means keeping a close eye on them.
I have a feeling Kayla will fight me on it.
But when I look down at her, I know it’s a fight I’m willing to take on.
Because the healer isn’t going anywhere without me for a very long time, if ever.
They’re both under my protection now. There’s a knock on the door, and I sniff the air.
I frown when the scent hits me. With another glance at Kayla, I stride towards the door.
I open it and take in the male leaning against the door frame. “Lucien.”
“Jackson,” he says lazily. He tries to look around me, but I don’t move. “Are you going to invite me in?”
“No.”
He chuckles. “Let me guess; your mate’s inside.” I don’t move a muscle or show any expression on my face, but something must give me away because he chuckles again. “Yep; she’s inside.”
“What do you want, Lucien?” I ask, still blocking his view of my room and the occupants in it.
He stares me down a moment, and I wait him out.
“Heard you ran into some trouble. Wanted to offer my help.” He waits a beat.
“Let me put it this way; I’m helping.” He pushes off the doorframe.
“You staying here a while or heading back?” I don’t answer him either way, and he nods.
“Staying. Got it.” He turns to walk away.
One second passes, two, three...I step out into the hallway.
“Do you need a room?”
He shakes his head. “No. I’ll be staying outside.”
I watch him go a moment before I step back inside and close the door.
Lucien’s here, I send to Ransom. I go back inside and sit in the chair next to Kayla’s bed and wait.
Almost three hours later, there’s a knock at the door.
I recognize Max and Raechel instantly. My eyes take in the male and female with them, the Northwoods’ pack doctor and his mate.
I remind myself they’re here to help my mate and open the door.