Chapter 30 #2
As Judge takes his boot off, he sways slightly. Barely noticeable if you’re not looking for it. But I am, and being a nurse, I’m extra observant of any signs of possible fainting.
I don’t know for sure if I can approach him, but I don’t give a fuck as I realize my alpha is still pretty damn injured and fucking alive! I push past the men in front of me, who look around like they’re not sure what to do, before Kitty yells out, “Just let her through!”
Judge’s head sharply turns my way like he’s about to fight whoever is charging him, only for his eyes to soften as he realizes it’s me.
I motion for him to get back into the medevac. “Come on.”
Relief floods his face that I can now see is paler than it’s supposed to be, making it three steps toward the inner doors before his knees buckle, and he leans against a wall. “Someone grab the head,” he comments, to which they do before shutting the door as lights come on inside.
I don’t remember growling, but I’m actually snapping at anyone who’s coming near him as I drop to my knees, touching him as if it will solidify that he’s not just alive, but he’s staying with me. “Back,” I snap, voice ripping out of me raw and feral. “Get back.”
They all hold their hands up like they don’t know what to do.
Judge laughs.
My god, it’s a beautiful sound.
I cup his face, force him to look at me. His eyes find mine immediately, fierce even now. When he smiles, it’s crooked and stunned and so relieved it nearly breaks me. Whatever happened to him clearly has wiped him out, as he looks like he could fade at any moment.
But his eyes are so alive, so I kiss him hard, not caring that we both clearly need bathing and hygiene to tend to.
It’s desperate and clumsy and full of teeth because I need him to know I’m here and he’s alive and this isn’t a cruel trick my mind made up to cope.
His mouth opens under mine, a soft sound breaking out of him like he’s been holding it in for days.
He purrs.
“Let’s go,” I say, pulling back, looking around— “Maggie?”
“I see you’re okay,” she says with a rough smile. “He’s in shit condition, but he’ll live. But you’re right. We do need to go and get him a new IV with torch water. He’s pretty unstable without it, and we ran out.”
The entire ride, I’m practically petting his face as he just stares at me. It’s all another blur as we drive back to the Iron Castle, as the medevac backs up to a door so Judge doesn’t have to walk far.
“A stretcher—” I start.
“I’ll walk.” There’s an assertiveness there that I know not to challenge, a sense of the alpha returning.
We make it to the infirmary, and he looks paler by the moment, but finally we reach a bed as he collapses onto it. Sunshine beautifully enters the space despite the winter, and there are fresh linens stocked in here.
As Judge lies there, he sits up for a moment to remove his jacket and then collapses back down with a grimace on his face. I’m stuck between being a nurse and loving this man that I’m terrified of losing again.
I stand by him as I watch them cut at his bandages and clean the wounds, injecting syringes into his vein, monitoring vitals on equipment that hums and beeps in a way that comforts me.
I stand right there, one hand tangled with his fingers, grounding both of us.
Maggie and I catch each other’s gaze at times, and all she does is give me a warm smile.
“What’s his status?” I ask Maggie.
“He’s surviving wounds that normally kill most people, and in fact, did kill nearly two dozen right on the spot. He’ll be okay, Diana. He’s lucky he’s an echo. He’s in good hands with you.”
“Why… um. Why are you here?”
“Deals, and all that,” she casually replies. “I plan to keep the Enclave well stocked after this.”
Judge’s eyes are on me the whole time, the tether humming low between us.
I almost start laughing when I feel that he’s very pleased with my concern.
When they finally step back and say he’s stable, I crawl up onto the bed without asking permission and lie next to him, my cheek against his chest, listening to the steady, stubborn thump of his heart.
The bond is loud now—aching, tender, full of aftershock.
I’m terrified to sleep.
What if I wake up and he’s gone?
“I’m here,” he murmurs with a deep rasp, having sensed it. His hand slides into my hair, heavy and warm. “I’m going to live, Diana.”
“I love you, you idiot. Don’t die.”
The tether is so powerful with affection and possession that I’m sure he’ll live now just to claim that.
“I never considered how much it would hurt an omega to lose her alpha. I’ve seen it, but never felt it.
I only did what I did to protect you. I felt you break for a moment over the last few days. What happened?”
I grip him harder. “I felt you die.”
“They said I did for a moment, but Maggie revived me.” He inhales deeply. “You should have been in a Humvee, ready to depart in case it wasn’t me.”
I laugh a little. “I told Kitty that Beast can suck my dick because if you were going to die, then I was, too. We either have a happy ending or a tragedy; either way, I don’t want to do this life alone, Judge. I don’t trust the world anymore. You’re the only person I do.”
That sense of pride and accomplishment is back in the tether, but it mixes with sorrow, then deepens into a purr to comfort me. His grip tightens, too, and I can tell he’s at a loss for words.
I don’t remember falling asleep.
I just know that at some point, the fear and utter joy exhausts me, dragging me under while his hand stays firm in my hair, his body solid beneath my cheek, while I just breathe him in without any restraint.
Some time passes, and I’m not sure how long, only that the sun looks like it’s traveled a fair distance across the sky when someone knocks softly on a door.
“There’s a visitor,” a voice says from the doorway. “For her.”
I lift my head, confused, heart already tightening with suspicion.
Judge tenses, that intensity returning as if he isn’t currently fighting for his life right now. “What? Who?”
“They said it’s her brother.”