55. Jaxon
After running Ava a luke-warm bath, I perch on the edge of the tub and study her drained face. Her skin is still on fire, despite the fact she’s shuddering as if we’re in the Antarctic. Guilt rides my chest like a wave. I’m not sure if her body is rejecting my mark because her human body isn’t strong enough to accept it. I don’t want to think about that fate.
“Ava,” I whisper and caress her face.
Her hand splashes into the water, and she retracts as if it’s toxic. I calm her by stroking back her hair and sending as much comfort through our bond as possible. Although, I can sense a barricade.
“How are you feeling?”
Ava’s eyes open, and they’re lazy, her lids almost shutting again. “C-cold.”
I examine her lips and move closer. The corners of her mouth are starting to fade into a light blue. Something is definitely wrong. Her body continues to shake, rippling the water aggressively. She wraps her arms around her legs in an attempt to keep warm.
My hands reach into the bath, and I pull her out. The bath isn’t working. Her wet hair rests against my bare chest as I wrap her in a towel and rub up and down her arms.
Gemma, can you come up to my bedroom? Something is wrong with Ava. I need her to be checked over.
Of course, Alpha. I’ll be up right away.
I carry my mate back to our room and dry the rest of her body before sliding an oversized T-shirt over her head and loose pants on her bottoms. “Ava.” I cup her face, but her head rolls. “Baby, I need you to tell me what’s wrong.”
Ava’s pain doesn’t flicker in my body. I’m numb to it, and I don’t understand why. She’s burning up, but I feel nothing. I release a frustrated sigh.
“Nothing’s wrong,” she says breathlessly. “Just tired. So tired. And cold.”
I frown at the same time there’s a knock at the door. “Come in,” I shout.
Gemma steps inside and glances over at Ava. “Alpha. What’s the matter with Ava?”
“I marked her,” I admit. “She’s not accepting it. Her body is hot, but she keeps telling me she’s cold. I did my research. It said humans should heal like wolves do, but it’ll take longer. I never expected for this to happen. If I knew, I would never of–”
Gemma offers me a smile. “Let me take a look at her.”
I stand back while she does everything she can. Fuck. I shouldn’t have done it. I shouldn’t have let my possessiveness get the better of me. No matter how pretty her mark looks on her neck, it’s not worth her wellbeing.
“She’s weak,” she states slowly. “She needs rest and water. Don’t cuddle her up in blankets, even if she says she’s cold. It’s like she’s got a fever, and we need to make sure she doesn’t overheat.”
My eyes flick between the doctor’s. “What if her body is rejecting it?”
“I’m not sure, Jaxon. I haven’t dealt with something like this before. But from what I’ve heard, a rejection isn’t always the end result. With time, you can try again, and her body might accept.”
I almost scoff. There is no way I’m chancing this again. What if it kills her next time? My heart strains at the morbid thought. I blink it away in an instant.
“But that might not be the case. Keep a close eye on her. I’m sure it’s her human body getting used to the mark. The saliva from your canines is flooding her bloodstream. Her body may be reacting in a way to protect herself, but eventually, her body may end up accepting the mark,” she states, and I listen to her words carefully. “If you’re concerned, please don’t hesitate to mindlink.”
I nod despite being on edge. “Alright. Thank you, Gemma. I appreciate it.”
When she leaves, I lay down next to Ava and delicately brush my fingers across her arm. I listen to her hoarse breathing and pray when she wakes up, her body has accepted my mark.
The next morning,Ava is covered in sweat from head to toe. Strands of dark hair clung to her beading face and her lips part, trying to draw in air. I didn’t sleep. I couldn’t. I watched her all night in case anything happened. But she slept like a rock.
I admire the mark on her neck once more, but it doesn’t quite fill me with the delight I expected. The red blotches around her skin look sore and unsettled. It churns my stomach.
It was too soon. I shouldn’t have done it at all.
Fuck.
Terror settles in my gut like a punch. I hear her grunt beside me as she rests in our bed. Her arms shiver harshly, but her eyes are clamped shut. A tear rolls down her cheek. Then another. And another.
“Baby?” I whisper, but she doesn’t react to my voice.
She grits her teeth at the same time her eyes squeeze shut. I hear the sounds of screams in my mind, and I flinch. I scoop her up in my arms and rush down the stairs.
Gemma. Something is happening to Ava.
I take her to the infirmary without a second thought and place her down on an empty bed, but her head rolls. “Ava. Ava. Look at me.”
Her eyes don’t even twitch.
Gemma rushes over behind me and presses a hand to her forehead. Ava’s body vibrates aggressively before she opens her mouth and releases a blood-curdling scream.
A slash of pain hits me square in the chest, and I clench my jaw in an attempt to ignore it. My eyes water at the sight of her thrashing against the bedsheets, her cries becoming louder by the second. The distress on her face shatters my soul into pieces.
“We need to get her outside!” Gemma exclaims. I stare at her, deeply confused. “She needs fresh air. She’s burning up.”
My arms slide around her body as I take us outside. She squirms against me, and I push all of my calming abilities into her body, but nothing works.
I’m right here. Okay? I’ve got you.
Gemma guides us towards the grass, and I kneel with her still in my arms. She jerks to one side and then another until she bursts through my strong hold and rolls onto the grass.
Holy fuck. She rattles. I’ve never seen a body react like this.
I rush to her side in a panic. “Leave her,” Gemma calls out.
My head turns to her with weary eyes. I’m not going to leave my mate when she’s having a seizure.
Lucy appears beside us. “Shit. What’s happening?”
“Do something, Gemma,” I say through gritted teeth. “Use a sedative. Something. She’s going to hurt herself.”
“Wait.” She holds up a hand.
I groan in frustration. “For what? She’s hurting!”
My gaze lands on my mate”s strained face, and I try to cuddle her into my chest with no support. Her body doesn’t stop moving. Those tears don’t halt for a second, and I’m breaking all over again. No. I need to do something.
Gemma is right beside me and yanks me back. “I said leave her!”
I open my mouth to shout back, but the mark I left on Ava’s neck last night starts burning red and bright until it’s glowing like gold. I shield my eyes from the unexpected flash—we all do.
Another deafening scream leaves Ava’s mouth. When I glance at her, I watch as her neck snaps at an angle that makes my heart slam into my chest. Her arm bends at an awkward angle and then her legs and her stomach. A groan mixed with a scream fills the air, and birds start flying from the trees.
All of her clothes begin to shred onto the floor, and she shifts into the most beautiful white wolf I have ever seen. Her fur is lined with gold strands that shine against the sunlight. I stare in shock. My wolf howls at me to move closer. He spins and claws at my insides.
But I can’t. All I can do is stare in awe and satisfaction.
A tingling sensation shoots through my body when Ava’s wolf opens her eyes. They’re dark yet ringed with a deep honey colour that glows when she looks right at me. She stands boldly on her four paws and takes a moment to look down at them, admiring in astonishment.
She’s a wolf. She’s been a wolf this entire time.
Ava, I shoot to her mind. My knees almost snap at the look she gives me.
Perfect. She’s beyond perfect. She’s mine.
I move towards her and kneel in front of my Luna. My fingers slide through her fur as she nuzzles her face into mine. Her scent of warm chestnut and vanilla infiltrates my veins, and I gladly inhale. It’s stronger than ever. My eyes almost roll behind my lids at the way it makes me tremble.
Hey. Her voice is quiet.
I crack a smile. Hey.
Guess what?
Ava’s fur is so damn soft I can’t get enough. My fingers massage through her skin, and she licks my chin. I release a thick breath of gratification. I never knew my heart could feel this full.
What?
I stare into those honey eyes and realise that she’s completely stolen my heart and run away with it.
I’m a werewolf.
A large grin spreads across my face. No shit, baby. Not just any werewolf. A badass white wolf with golden features. Beautiful. So fucking beautiful.
She presses her soft forehead against mine, and the strands of her fur tickle, but I don’t move. I savour this moment. My eyes close at the same time hers do. My wolf howls in approval and acceptance.
I’m so happy, she whispers through my mind.
Our bond connects on a level I never knew it could reach. Heights beyond my belief, but I welcome all of it with wide arms because it’s ours, and it’s perfect.