7. Gage
Gage
One moment, I’m gritting my teeth through the pain, looking into the eyes of the woman I love more than anything in this world, feeling grateful our bond is already severed so she won’t have to go through the same pain I did when I lost her.
And the next moment, it’s as if I’m being struck by lightning. Not physically. It’s my head that feels as though it’s been jolted to life.
I can literally feel my insides stitching themselves back together, and yet, that’s not what my mind chooses to focus on.
It’s her. My Cherry. My mind is spinning to piece the clues together.
Her unusually red fur, how she loves lying by the fire, the smoky tint to her scent, the way she can literally come back to life, and now, the way her tears just healed me.
“Cherry,” I whisper, my heart growing stronger by the second. “You’re not just a wolf shifter.”
“I know,” she says, with a soft smile as she clutches my hand and wipes the tears from her cheeks. “I’m an omega.”
I slowly shake my head. “No, I mean, you’re a hybrid.”
She frowns at me, clearly not understanding, and I pull my hand from hers, pressing it to her cheek as I explain, “Cherry. You’re a phoenix.”
Her eyes widen as she stares at me, clearly stunned into silence.
“A phoenix?” Chase asks in disbelief, and I nod, moving my gaze to my chest as the last bit of skin heals over.
“It makes sense,” Maddox says, nodding. “Why didn’t we figure that out before now? The regeneration makes it so obvious.”
“Because phoenixes are a myth,” Alaric adds, unhelpfully.
“And yet, here she is,” I say, squeezing her hand as I turn back to her.
“Huh, I wonder if dragons are real too,” Chase says and Hunter laughs.
“Of course they aren’t. We would have seen them flying around if they were. They’re far too big to stay hidden for hundreds of years.”
“Gage,” Cherry asks tentatively. “How do you feel?”
I guess she’s going to ignore that little revelation for now…
I rub my hand over my chest, smearing my blood. The wound is completely gone, the pain along with it. “Good,” I say, sitting up. “All healed, thanks to you.”
Her eyes grow glossy, then she launches herself at me. I catch her with an “Omph!” as she straddles my lap, pressing her face into the crook of my neck. I inhale her sweet scent, letting it soothe my wolf and me as I hold her tight.
“I’m okay,” I tell her. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
She sniffles as she pulls back and shakes her head. “Our mate bond,” she says, holding up her hand. “It’s gone.”
Gently, I take her hand and turn it over, seeing only smooth skin where my mating mark should be. Somehow, even though I felt the bond was severed, I’d hoped she somehow would still bear my mark. Seeing it gone guts me.
Looking into her beautiful blue eyes, I can see how devastated she is. It’s mirrored in me. But I don’t want to scare her, so I pull her wrist to my mouth and kiss it. “Then I’ll just give you another one.”
“But wolves don’t get second chances at bonds.”
“Where you’re concerned, there doesn’t seem to be a rulebook to follow,” I tell her. “I promise we’ll figure this out. Besides…” I tilt my head and pull my shirt down a little to show her the place where she bit me.
She gasps. “My mark is still on you!”
I nod as I smile at her. “Yep. I’m still yours, Cherry.”
She looks at me with those big blue eyes filled with hope as she whispers, “I love you.” Then she presses her lips to mine for a far too brief kiss.
I pull her back in for another hug, grateful to finally be holding her again. “I love you, my sweet little Cherry.” I look around and see the others all exchanging restless glances.
I glance at where Alaric and Philip were kneeling and frown. “Where’d the others go?”
“They are rounding up all our prisoners so we can… deal with them,” Maddox tells me.
Right. We’re still in the middle of the facility. Not only do we have to deal with all the guards, but I haven’t even had a chance to make sure Cherry is actually okay.
Pulling back, I cup her face as I look it over and ask, “Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”
Her eyes drop to the side, and my stomach tightens with worry. “I’m okay,” she whispers, clearly a lie as she won’t look at me.
I glance over her head at the others and see Bain, Maddox, and Chase all looking like they’re ready to punch a hole in the wall, only worrying me further.
Looking at Maddox, I ask through the bond, “What happened?”
His jaw clenches as he visibly takes a deep breath then tells me, “We found her in a room with Dr. J. He had a knife at her throat and a hand down her pants.”
My eyes widen, and my skin starts to heat as the anger coils inside me, my wolf begging to get out. “He touched you?” I’m barely able to get the words out as I watch her face.
She flinches before whispering, “Just a little.”
I wrap my arms around her, and a strange sound starts to rumble from my chest. I glance up at the others in confusion, and it’s Maddox who tells me, “You’re purring.” I remember Bain doing this, after she had the nightmare. I didn’t realize I could do it too.
“Baby,” I whisper against the side of her head. “I’m so fucking sorry we didn’t get here fast enough.”
“But you did,” she sniffles. “He was trying to make me shift. And Blaze wanted to bond with me.”
“He didn’t, did he?” Hunter asks from where he’s still kneeling at our side, his hand rubbing her back.
She looks at him and shakes her head. “For some reason, he thought Dr. J needed to bond us.”
Looking at Bain, I ask, “Please tell me you haven’t killed that asshole doctor yet?”
“He’s alive, although he may be missing a few fingers,” Chase tells me. “Finn’s watching him.”
Cherry wipes her cheeks as she offers me a strained smile. “I’m really glad you’re okay, Gage.”
“Me too,” I say, squeezing her hips.
“Is it okay if I say hi to Hunter now?”
I grin at her and nod. She’s so sweet, wanting to make sure she spends time with all of us, even in the midst of her rescue. Hunter doesn’t waste time, pulling her from my lap into his as he hugs her tightly, swaying them back and forth as they whisper words of affection to one another.
“There’s something else you two should know,” Maddox says through the bond as he reaches his hand out to help me stand.
I take it, letting him pull me to my feet as I question, “What is it?”
“It appears that while she was here, Dr. J…”
He trails off, stares at her, and I have to place a hand on his shoulder and shake him a little to get his attention. “Dr. J, what?”
“He skinned her.”
I blink at him, not understanding. “Excuse me?”
“Are you serious?” Hunter asks out loud as he stands up with Cherry wrapped around his front like a monkey.
“What?” Cherry asks, pulling her head back and glancing around at us. Then her face pales, and I think she’s realized what we’re talking about. That is, until she speaks. “You’re speaking through the pack bond.” She shakes her head, looking devastated. “It’s gone. I’m not a part of it anymore.”
A tear rolls down her cheek as Hunter hugs her tighter against him, and Chase steps closer, rubbing her back as he tells her, “Don’t worry, pretty girl. I’m sure it will come back.”
Turning to Bain, I crack my knuckles as I tell him, “I think it’s time I pay this doctor a visit.”