Chapter 71
RAFE TRU
My wolf is irate. For the first time in our lives, I’m separate from him, and it’s physically taking a toll.
My muscles cramp and my head pounds without relief.
Lying in bed at the Tidal Inn provides no rest. And my dreams are the worst. Chason Harlow stars in them and haunts my waking moments too.
The ghost of his luscious lips against mine, soft yet demanding, creates an insatiable craving.
His scent blends with his taste, and now I’m not sure if they’re separate or the same.
Kissing Chason unlocked things in me I didn’t realize I’d hidden away. He’s the exotic bird calling to my adventurous side and makes me feel invincible. With him, the world is one endless possibility. He’s devotion and comfort while jettisoning me to space.
And my wolf can’t get enough. He’s as angry with Chason’s friend Ash as he is with me. She interrupted our kiss, so we didn’t take things further. As much as I desire him, it’d be foolish to claim him and solidify our bond. Not when our bond will bind us in misery.
I’ve been lying in this position for ten hours. If I leave, there’s an actual chance my wolf will gain control and go after Chason.
He’s working today, and my wolf doesn’t give a fuck that it’s not acceptable to barge into a hospital with fur and paws. Yesterday, I gathered things for Chason and took them to his house. Ash was lounging on his couch in a robe after spending the night.
My wolf wanted to tear her throat out and berated me for leaving our mate with her.
He can’t be my mate. He’s a witch. My pack will turn on me, and I’ll have nothing.
A stab of pain in my heart robs me of my breath.
Tomorrow he’ll scry for my sister, and I’ll leave town if there’s no sign of her. No lingering scent that she’s ever been here, I’m gone.
I clutch my chest, fearing I’m having a heart attack. The intense pain has cracked my heart open, and I can barely breathe. My only thought is getting to my mate.
“Sorry if I scared you,” I say from the hospital bed without looking at Chason. He’s standing in the gap of my curtain door while another nurse takes the heart-monitor leads off my chest. Apparently, Tasha Williams, the proprietor of the Tidal Inn, found me and rushed me to the emergency room.
He sighs, sending cedar and orange blossoms to envelop me. “You’re not the first person who’s come in sure they’re dying only to discover it’s a panic attack. You’re not even the first person today.”
“I don’t understand,” I complain, but refrain from insisting it couldn’t be a panic attack because I’m a fucking wolf shifter and we don’t have anxiety. It’s unheard of.
“You can put your shirt back on, Mr. Tru,” the nurse says.
“Thank the full moon,” Chason mutters so softly that I couldn’t hear him without my wolf.
“Row,” someone shouts, “an inbound ambulance two minutes out with shortness of breath. Bay one?”
“Yes, I’ll handle it.” Chason pivots toward me. “You take care of yourself, and I’ll see you tomorrow morning,” he says and disappears. The loss of him breaks my wolf, and I fall back onto the bed.
“Mr. Tru, can you hear me? Mr. Tru?” the nurse yelps.
But Chason’s gone along with my wolf, and my eyes close.
Silently, I follow our mate. Chason in charge. Decisive.
I watch from corner. I need him. We need him.
Mate needs us.
Keeping him.
Chason cares for man. Calm.
Alarms blare. man afraid he’ll die. Same as Rafe.
Chason’s voice soothing. Eyes tense and his jaw clenches. Others follow his words.
My mate saves man’s life.
Chason look at me over and over.
I watch and watch. Everyone touches him. Say good job.
No touch my mate.
He’s mine.
We stay for hours. Me, my mate, and his patient.
Later, Chason leaves room and yells, “He can’t still be here!”
He run, I chase.
I swim back to consciousness when gentle fingers press on the inside of my wrist. His fingers.
“His pulse is normal”—a beeping alarm interrupts him—“never mind, it just spiked.”
I wrench my eyes open and grab his arm so he can’t move away. “Need you,” I croak, soaking in his steadiness and calm. With my skin touching his, my equilibrium restores and I’m whole again.
My wolf has stopped fighting me, and it makes everything better.
Memories or a dream filter through my head, and shame washes over me.
I can’t deny it, Chason Harlow is my fated mate.
My wolf can’t leave me unless he thinks our mate is in mortal danger and needs protection.
He followed Chason and left me in a hospital bed.
It’s cruel not to claim him.
But if I do, I can’t shake my old, unfounded fear of being a lone wolf without a pack.