Chapter Seventeen
Sherese
I try to catch my breath as I walk up the stairs.
It will take me a little bit to recover from this burnout.
I manage to walk up the steps. The black spots aren’t as prevalent as they were moments ago.
Hopefully, that means I’m past the worst of it.
Hunter opens the door but stops to put on pants.
I walk inside, feeling lightheaded and weird.
It kind of feels like an out-of-body experience.
I haven’t burned out in a very long time, not since I first learned what happens.
I look over and see that Daniel has his head on Talya’s shoulder.
She’s rubbing his back and speaking softly to him.
Raechel’s and Sage’s eyes follow me when I walk into the room, but they don’t say anything.
I walk to the far side of the room and stop.
My legs don’t want to work anymore. Bryce stands close to me but doesn’t touch me.
I don’t know if he’s waiting for me to drop, or what.
The door opens, and I feel that dark energy before I see him.
Hunter comes through the door and locks that dark gaze on me.
He prowls his way across the room until he stops right in front of me.
I’m aware of nothing else in the room except for him.
He shocks me by stepping close and then dropping his head to my neck.
My body stiffens and locks up tight. I have no idea what he’s doing.
I feel his warm breath on my neck, and a shiver rolls down my spine.
When he lifts his head, those dark eyes clash with mine, and the air in my lungs suddenly doesn’t seem sufficient enough to keep me breathing.
But then I hear a rumble of a voice that snaps me from whatever this is with Hunter.
“Son.” I look over to see Daniel reach for his father.
Garrett takes him from Talya’s arms and holds him close, eyes closed.
Daniel starts to cry then, and it’s heartbreaking.
It’s like the little guy tried to stay calm when he had to, and now it’s all coming out.
The door to the room suddenly crashes open, and Emma flies inside.
I swallow hard at the sight of her. She’s got blood all over her clothes, and she’s limping.
Garrett eats up the distance between them.
And when she throws herself into his arms, he catches her and holds her close with one arm.
The other arm is still locked around their son.
“Daniel.” Her voice is hoarse and desperate.
“Momma.”
And then he’s in her arms, and Garrett holds them both close.
Emma’s sobs ricochet off the walls, and it suddenly feels too personal to be here.
I turn to walk back to my room, but I must turn too fast. The world spins for a moment, but a hand at my elbow steadies me.
I start towards the back room, but those dreaded black spots are back again.
My steps are slow, and I have a hard time staying on my feet.
Then Hunter’s in front of me, his eyes dark.
“What do you need?” I hesitate. A vampire is never weak, unless they’re in burnout.
That’s the only time that they’re weak. Telling him now gives him complete power over me.
“I’m not going to hurt you. Not now, not ever. ”
There’s something about his words that is so sincere, I know they’re the truth. And when my body sags, I know I don’t have any other option. I meet that dark gaze. “I’m in burnout,” I whisper. “I need blood.”
He nods and leans me against the wall. “I’ll be right back.
” Blood and rest. That’s the only way to recover from burnout.
He returns seconds later with a blood bag.
He hands it to me, but I drop it next to my side.
“Pretty sure you have to drink it for it to work.” I nod, or at least I try.
His eyes darken. “Sherese?” I feel myself falling, and I hear his low curse.
He takes the blood bag from my hand and lifts it to my lips. “Drink.”
I want to. I really do, but I can’t get my body to respond. He kind of fades, but then the taste of the blood hits my tongue. It takes a few seconds for it to hit my system. When it does, I feel my energy returning. “Is she okay?” I hear Ava ask.
“She will be,” Hunter says.
“Garrett wants to talk to her,” I hear Bryce say. There’s a low growl that sounds far away. “There’s nothing to worry about,” he continues in a low voice. “You made your intentions abundantly clear.”
“Yeah, what was that about?” Ava asks.
Hunter responds in a low voice, but the voices kind of swirl around in my head.
I’m suddenly so exhausted, I can’t keep my head up.
Before I realize what’s happening, we’re moving.
“Drink the rest of this,” Hunter’s bossy voice says.
My senses are returning; I don’t feel quite so loopy.
I know that’s because of the blood. But now, the exhaustion is hitting hard, and so is the pain.
I think the adrenaline was keeping the pain at bay, but now it comes roaring back.
I grit my teeth, but I know all my injuries will heal in a few hours.
I finish the rest of the blood and start to lean back on the bed.
“Not yet,” bossy Hunter continues. “We’ve got to get you cleaned off first.” I’m suddenly conscious of the fact that I’m covered in blood.
I manage to get to my feet and start towards the bathroom.
“I’m going to take a shower.” I want all this blood off right now.
I close the door behind me and strip off my clothes.
I turn the water as hot as I can take it and step in.
I stand under the hot water and let it cleanse me.
I don’t stay in too long because I really do want to sleep.
I scrub my body, wincing when I get to the bruises on my stomach.
My feet hurt as well, but I know they’ll heal completely within the next hour or so.
The bruises on my stomach and neck will take a little longer, but it won’t be long.
When I step out, I wrap a towel around my hair and another one around my body before cracking open the door.
I open it all the way when I realize Hunter is gone.
When I step out, I see the black t-shirt and black sweatshirt.
I walk over to my drawers and get a clean bra and underwear.
I debate only for a moment. I’m too tired to pick something of my own, so I pull on Hunter’s t-shirt and sweatshirt.
I'm actually surprised he even has a sweatshirt.
I've never seen him wear it. Wolves run hot, so I figure he rarely needs a sweatshirt. I take his scent into my lungs and let it settle me. I pull on a pair of leggings and warm socks and then brush my hair. I’m just about finished brushing my long, dark hair when somebody knocks on the door to my room.
I walk over to the door and open it. Hunter stands there, leaning against the door frame. His eyes run the length of me. “Garrett wants to talk to you.” I stiffen. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to, but he just wants to thank you.”
I give him a wary look. “Can you just tell him you passed on the message?”
He studies my face. “I think Emma wants to make sure you’re okay.”
“Tell them I’m fine.”
“Are you though?”
His question surprises me. “Yes. I’m good. I’ll be completely healed in a few hours.” His eyes seem to see through me, and I shift warily. “Seriously, I’m fine.”
“Sherese,” a soft, feminine voice sounds from down the hall.
The only way to escape her is to be extremely rude and step back into my room and close the door, so I turn and face the alpha’s mate.
I take in the sight of her, and guilt swarms me.
She's still covered in blood, and her face is bruised, but she’s holding Daniel tightly.
Suddenly, I want to find the vampires that did this to her and hurt them as they hurt her.
I find myself walking over toward them before I realize what I’m doing.
Garrett appears right behind her, and I can see his wolf in his eyes.
He clearly hasn’t calmed down yet. When I stop in front of her, she looks up at me, and her eyes tear up. “How can we ever say thank you?”
I swallow hard, uncomfortable with the emotion. “You don’t need to. I didn’t do anything.”
She shakes her head. “Yes, you did,” she says fiercely.
“You may undermine it, but we know what you did. And we won’t ever forget.
” She kisses Daniel’s head, and I don’t want to be here for this emotional display.
I look down at the little boy with the expressive eyes and focus on him, and not his emotional mother.
“Hey, little guy,” I say softly. Then he does something that shocks me.
He puts his arms out and reaches for me.
I go still, unsure what to do. Emma doesn’t even seem to know what to do, but Daniel is persistent.
If I don’t take him, he’s going to fall forward.
I meet the alpha’s hard gaze over Emma’s head, and he nods.
I take the little boy from Emma’s arms awkwardly, but he doesn’t make it awkward.
He drops his head on my shoulder and snuggles close.
I close my eyes and breathe in his little boy scent and send out a prayer of gratitude that he’s okay.
Emma suddenly jerks, and my gaze snaps to her. She puts her hand over her stomach.
“Garrett.” There’s panic in her voice, and the hair on the back of my neck stands up.
He’s there in a flash. He picks her up and holds her close to his chest as he strides into the living room.
She cries out, and I hear his answering growl.
I glance up at Hunter; his gaze is intense as he watches.
I walk out to the living room, still holding Daniel, and watch as Garrett carefully lays Emma down on the couch.
Talya tries to get close to help, but Garrett snarls at her.
Then the front door opens, and Sage and Paul stride in.
Paul drops onto his knees next to Garrett.
Sage stands above Emma’s shoulders and closes her eyes when she places her hands on her shoulders.
“Momma,” Daniel cries softly.
I rub his back. “It’s okay. Momma will be okay,” I say softly.
Garrett’s eyes snap to his son and then to me.
I wait for him to say something about handing him off to somebody else, but he doesn’t.
He turns his focus back on his mate. Daniel shifts in my arms, and I’m suddenly reminded how weak I am.
I stagger backward a step and hit something warm and hard.
I try to pull forward, but two hands land on my shoulders.
“I’ve got you.” Hunter’s low voice in my ear should make me move forward instantly, but it does the exact opposite.
I feel the sudden urge to lean against his strength and let him hold Daniel and me up.
I know he’s strong enough, but I don’t. I hold myself stiff and focus on holding Daniel.
Max and Liam come inside a few minutes later, and Talya is in Liam’s arms moments later.
I watch as Max and Raechel converse in low tones.
Max’s eyes settle on me for a moment, and I stiffen.
But he doesn’t say anything, and he doesn’t come over. Liam comes our way after a little bit.
“Sherese, you look like you’re about to keel over. Let me take him from you.” He turns his attention to Daniel. “Hey, Bud, can Uncle Liam hold you until your daddy’s ready to hold you?”
Daniel leans forward and reaches out for him. Liam takes him into his strong arms and holds him close. “Thank you,” he says to me and then takes Daniel over to the other side of the room.