“I do. Hey, I’m your Healer and know ‘bout this shit. Anyway, that’s my thoughts on it and it will be good for the Pack to have you mated, and it will be good for you too. A soulmate is something precious and will change you in so many ways that I can’t begin to list them all. I wish you nothing but happiness, Shade.” “Thank you, Lana.” Shade turned his full attention to her now, smiling. “I appreciate that.” “I’ll come back tomorrow morning and see how she is. For now, all you need to do is keep an eye on her. If there’s any change, call me and I’ll be here before you can say lickety split.” Shade raised an eyebrow. “And when in hell have you heard me say that?” “You know what I mean,” Lana replied grinning. “I’ve got to go check on my other patient, he’s not healing well, I’m afraid.” “What? Who?” Shade asked, concerned that he wasn’t aware that a member of the Pack was injured. He hadn’t felt anything through his link to the Pack and was horrified that he’d not picked up on the fact that one of his people was in pain. Had he been so self-obsessed that he’d not felt it?
“The Evans brother, Alpha, he was gravely wounded and with that partial shift palaver, well, let’s just say it’s not been easy for him. I think he’ll be here for a few more days before I’ll feel comfortable moving him.” Relief flooded through him when he realized that he hadn’t neglected one of his Wolves, at the same time as concern at having one of the Evans’ brothers still on his land. “Shit, I’d forgotten about him. Be careful, Lana. I don’t trust any of that lot, especially as their Alpha advised me he’s banishing them because of the trouble they’ve been causing. They’re not going to be overjoyed when they find that snippet of information out. Keep your wits about you and ensure there are guards on him, and any visitors, at all times.” “I will, don’t you worry. He gives off a vibe that’s just wrong. I’ll do my duty as a Healer, I can’t help admitting that I’ll be happy to see him leave.” Lana visibly shivered, rubbing her hands over her arms. “He’s not right, Shade, definitely not right.” “Tell me ‘bout it,” Shade agreed. “I’m sure there’s been inter-breeding in that family. Apart from the fact they all look like clones, their scent is . . . off. I’ll be happier when they’re gone. Remind Ash on your way out that I’m unhappy that the Evans guy is still here and I want guards doubled on him, around your cabin, and to add another one here too. I’m not taking chances with Marissa’s safety.” “As you wish, Alpha, I’ll pass that on.” Lana collected her things and with one last look at Marissa she left him alone with his mate. Shade went to work moving the bedside drawers and pulling his comfy armchair next to the bed. He wanted nothing more than to lie next to her, take her into his arms and hold her safely in his embrace. At the same time, he worried that she’d waken and be terrified. In a strange room, in bed and being held by a stranger. Not the way he wanted to introduce himself to the woman that meant the world to him. However, he did want to be as near to her as possible, so the armchair situated next to her was as close as he could get. His arm able to reach over and touch her, soothing his beast, his heart, and his soul. His eyes never left Marissa’s body, ingraining every detail that he could. Those details were limited with most of her body covered by his comforter, but he could spend a lifetime studying her face alone. The freckles that sprinkled across her nose, the merest hint of a small mole on the underside of her chin, her dark lashes that were so long and curled upward without any need for mascara. Those were only a few of her beauty points, and he hadn’t even started on her long auburn locks that held a dozen different shades. Her hair started with dark chocolate, with golden tints, with unusual hues of red working their way through her long tresses.
Shade couldn’t resist running his fingers through her silky mane, longing for the day he’d grasp it in both hands as passion filled her face. He’d ensure to do that often. Shade wanted to give her everything, pleasure in abundance, love in copious amounts to fill her so full she’d never think again of the scumbag father she’d left behind, and of course he would give her anything her heart desired. No matter what it was, he’d do whatever it took to make it happen. Hell, he’d even take her to Disney if that’s what she wanted.
“Hold up,” he mumbled, chuckling at the obscene lengths his mind was going to. “That’s taking things just a bit too far.”
“What is?” Ash asked.
Shade’s head lifted to find his friend leaning on the doorframe, arms and legs crossed. Shade saw Ash’s lips tugging up at the side. “How long have you been there?” “Long enough to see a miracle happening before my very eyes. It’s wondrous to see you like this, my friend. How is she? Any change?” “No,” Shade admitted sadly. “She’s just the same.” “I’m sure she’ll be all right. Lana’s confident she will be and she’s rarely wrong.” Ash stepped inside. “I just wanted to reassure you that I’ve put extra guards at Lana’s cabin, and here, but I’ve also added a couple extra sentries around the camp too. Just in case. We’ve got a precious person here to keep safe and I take that duty seriously.” Shade gave him a curt nod, emotion thickening his throat. “Thanks, Ash. I know you do. That’s why you’re my Beta and why I gave you the most important job in the Pack. The one of keeping everyone safe, not just me, or now Marissa, but every single person here.” “Hey, don’t go getting all sentimental on me,” Ash blustered, his cheeks flushing with pride at the complements. “I’m just checking to see if you need anything? Royce and I are going to go and get some food from the mess hall and thought you might want something brought back.” “Yeah, sure, anything will do so long as it’s hot and a beer would go down well too.” “Okay, we’ll be about an hour.” Ash glanced at Marissa. “She’s awfully pale.” “I know, but Lana says she’ll be right as rain once she wakes up and we can feed her up.” “As soon as she’s awake I’ll get out hunting for some fresh meat for her. There’s nothing like fresh deer meat roasted on the grill to get an appetite going again.” Shade chuckled. “Ain’t that the truth.” “Sure is, see you in a bit.” Ash nodded then left Shade to his thoughts once again. His hand reaching for one of Marissa’s, his fingers linking with hers gently, he stretched his legs, allowing his head to fall back and closed his eyes. A short nap would do him good while he waited on Ash returning. With his mate’s hand in his he remained connected to her and he finally relaxed, lids drooping, until he fell over into a dreamless sleep.
When he woke, Shade saw it was pitch dark outside, checking his phone he saw it was two in the morning. Damn, Ash had obviously not disturbed him but now he was ravenous but he didn’t want to leave Marissa. He sent a quick text and when his friend replied immediately Shade couldn’t help but smile. “I’m downstairs, be up in min.” Sure enough, Ash appeared shortly with a tray of food, freshly warmed up. “It’s just out of the microwave but I didn’t want to wake you earlier. You needed to rest.” “Thanks,” Shade whispered, taking the tray and devouring the food while Ash sat on the window seat, leaning forward, arms on his knees. “Have you tried contacting her?” Ash asked quietly. Shade stopped chewing the burger in his mouth, frowning then raising an eyebrow in question. Ash shook his head as if Shade should know what he meant. “Your Wolf, you know, in your head via your bond. Have you tried that?” Shade quickly rid himself of the food in his
mouth, almost choking as he swallowed. “What? No, we’re not mated yet. I don’t think that would work until after we’re actually bonded.” “It might,” Ash returned quickly. “We don’t know, that’s the point, Shade. She might respond to your Wolf on a subconscious level or what about actually sealing your bond now? I’ve heard of other Wolves doing that when their mate is injured and they do it to help heal them?” Shade shook his head firmly. “No, Ash. I couldn’t do that. It feels wrong to force that on her. I want this, so fucking bad, but I won’t force it on her. She’s not injured in that way. If she were I’m sure I’d think differently about it, but she’s not.” Ash sighed. “I suppose you’re right, I’m just trying to help because I can feel your turmoil, Shade. Sorry if I overstepped. You can think abou
t trying to contact her beast though, that can’t do any harm, but you can leave that for tomorrow. Let her rest tonight and try in the morning. See what happens, if it works then great. If not, at least you tried.” “I guess it can’t hurt,” Shade conceded. “I agree I should wait though. She needs rest and I won’t disturb her tonight. Thanks for the food, Ash.”
“I’ll be staying until she wakens,” his friend advised firmly. “I won’t leave until I know she’s going to be all right. Your attention will be on your mate, as it should be, but that leaves you both vulnerable and I can’t have that.”
Shade’s throat closed, emotion rolling through him as his friend rose. He managed a nod but no words made it past his lips. Ash stopped at the bedroom door, looking at Marissa then back at Shade. “She’s going to keep you on your toes. Don’t ask how I know that. I just do.”
Shade smirked, his eyes lingering on his prone mate. He’d thought the same thing more than once since he’d found her. Visions of her spunk when she’d faced down her father running like a loop in his head. She was full of fire and strength, that was for sure. When he looked over to answer his friend Ash had already left, leaving Shade alone with his worry once again. Not a condition he was used to and one he wasn’t comfortable with but feelings he’d need to suck up and deal with. At least until Marissa awoke and he knew for certain that she’d be all right.
Only then would Shade’s intense fear for her abate.
T he long hours of night dragged by so slowly that
Shade wondered if time had slowed somehow. He grew jumpy, anxious, and bad-tempered. The first two were new to him, the last not so much, but all he wanted was for morning to arrive so Lana would come by to look Marissa over and advise him that she wasn’t declining. She didn’t look as if she were, not to Shade’s eyes, and he’d spent hours scrutinizing Marissa closely. He was certain her pale skin wasn’t as white, a faint hint of color now staining her cheeks. Or was that just wishful thinking on his part? He’d also felt her fingers twitch once or twice while he held her hand. That definitely wasn’t a figment of his imagination. He’d almost fell out of the chair when it happened the first time, leaning forward eagerly to see if she were about to wake up. Unfortunately, that did not
occur, but it did give him some hope in an otherwise bleak and lonely night. When the sun’s rays finally broke over the trees Shade breathed out a long sigh of relief, now counting the minutes until Lana arrived. His impatience growing as time passed. Ash appearing with breakfast didn’t improve his mood either, until finally he’d asked his friend to summon the Healer. Shade could wait no longer to test Ash’s theory but didn’t want to proceed until Lana had given him the all-clear. He would never do anything to endanger his mate in his own haste for a connection but he was growing desperate for that first tendril of their bond to connect him to Marissa. Shade still held her hand when Lana rushed into the room, her face flushed and concerned as she asked. “What’s wrong?” “Pardon?” Shade looked at the state of her clothing, obviously thrown on in haste. “Ash said I had to come immediately. Has something happened?” Lana put her satchel on the bed before starting to check Marissa. “Shit, sorry. I didn’t mean for that to happen. I just needed you here to check her and so I could ask you something before, well, before I tried something that Ash suggested.” Shade finally released Marissa’s hand, standing to pace back and forth anxiously. Lana stopped her inspection of his mate, turning to stare at Shade, hands on hips. “I see. I don’t actually, I assumed something was wrong and almost had a heart attack in my haste to get here. But I’m glad nothing’s amiss, in fact, on my first short look at her, she looks to have some color back but I’ll check her properly in a minute. Tell me what you’re talking about first.” Shade continued to stomp around his room, his heart thudding hard in his chest. He inhaled deeply before explaining what Ash had said, waiting on his Healer’s response. Lana cocked her head to the side, tapping her chin for several moments as she thought before answering. “I can understand why Ash said what he did, but I agree that forcing a mating would not be a good idea. You’ve seen her scars, Alpha. They testify to a life that’s been harsh and not one of her choosing. Taking away her choice in this isn’t something I’d advocate. Now, the other part, about your Wolf trying to contact hers, that’s another thing entirely. I can’t say for sure if it will work, or not. An
Alpha is stronger than any other Wolf, so possibly your link will be too. I guess it’s worth a try, Shade, but let me check her over first. Okay?” Lana returned to her examination of Marissa, checking her closely for long minutes that seemed to last an eternity. Shade’s nerves were strung so tight he wasn’t aware he’d made a sound until Lana’s head spun around, eyes wide and fearful. The growl in his head must not have only been inside his mind. Shade merely shrugged at the Healer who slowly stepped away from his mate. “Well?” Shade asked, his tone sharper than he’d intended. “She is better than she was yesterday and I think she’s progressing well. If you want to attempt to reach her then you should try that now, while I’m here. If it works and she wakens then I can remove her IV and we can get her some chicken broth to start her off.” Shade’s stomach suddenly felt as if he’d taken a leap off the highest cliff imaginable, doing all kinds of weird somersaults as he returned to the chair beside his bed. Glancing at Lana he had to confirm. “Are you sure I won’t harm her?”
“No, you won’t, of that I’m certain. I just don’t know if it will work, that’s all.”
Shade took hold of Marissa’s hand, linking their fingers once again. He now knew every part of that hand, every line, every joint, every small bump of her joints as if it were his own. It was soft against his rough skin but he noticed it wasn’t as cold as it had been to begin with. Shade closed his eyes, focusing on his inner Wolf asking for its help. If ever he needed his beast it was at this moment and luckily he answered his plea.
In his mind, he saw his dark beast lift his head, howling in search of their mate before taking offin a swift run through a forest he was unfamiliar with. Shade didn’t recognize the landscape as his beast darted around rocks and trees, leaping over a stream to land sure-footed on the far bank to drop his snout to the ground in search of her scent. His Wolf searched back and forth for long minutes before her aroma assaulted his senses and nothing could hold his beast back from there on. He sped onward, following the fragrance of their mate as it grew stronger, leaving the forest behind and heading toward a mountain range.
His beast ran on and on, his large paws eating up the ground until finally it slowed, easing toward a cave opening where the odor of his mate hung in the air. Shade watched as his Wolf walked inside the darkness, his eyes taking in the dark interior of the cave in search of any predators. He sensed nothing, only the presence of his mate further back in the dark cavern. His Wolf carried on fearlessly, intent on reaching his elusive mate, turning a corner to find her lying cowering and backed up in a corner. Her lips curled back in a snarl, warning him off, fear permeating the air surrounding her. His beast lowered his stance, attempting to show the scared beast it was no threat, a soft whine emitting from his throat. Marissa’s Wolf faltered, her head cocking to the side, but still snarling fearfully. Shade decided to intervene, talking to his own animal. “She’s terrified. You have to calm her and tell her she’s now somewhere safe and it’s okay to wake up. Tell her that her father is gone and she’s with a Pack that will protect her.” His beast slowly approached, his body language conveying more than mere words ever could, before finally lying prone before Marissa’s to expose his
Shade: A Wolf's Hunger Alpha Shifter Romance Page 6
