“Super strength,” he said through clenched teeth.
“Sorry.” She relaxed her grip and swallowed the bile from the back of her throat. “You’re going to make it. If the magic is too much, I’ll heal you. Whatever it does to your body, I’ll fix it.”
Bryce nodded absently and looked at Luke. “So, I might not make it through the night?”
Luke pursed his lips, his brow raising apologetically. “It’s a possibility.”
He pulled from her grasp and cracked his knuckles. “Hey, Mace? Can you take me home?”
“Bryce.” Alexis reached for his hand, but he shot to his feet.
“I need to go home.”
“I can, but, Alexis, we brought your car back,” Macey said. “It’s parked down the street.”
Alexis stood. “I’ll take you home.” She couldn’t begin to imagine what he must’ve been feeling, but she planned to be there for him through the full moon and every second that led up to it. All of this was her fault. She’d run to Eric to ensure Bryce’s safety, and now he might die because of her.
Clenching her fists, she strode toward the door. She wouldn’t let it happen. She couldn’t live without him.
Macey padded into the hallway and returned with Alexis’s backpack. “The guys found it in the bedroom.” She handed it to her. “I washed your clothes, and Bryce, your keys and wallet and both your guns are in there too.”
He looked at the backpack and nodded before shuffling toward Alexis. “Thank you, everyone, for your help. Really, I can’t thank you enough, but I need some time alone to…” He inhaled deeply. “This is a lot to take in.”
“We’ll need to take you to the swamp tonight for the full moon.” Luke shook his hand. “Whatever happens, you won’t be alone.”
“Thanks.” He glanced at Alexis and walked out the door.
Bryce’s mind reeled as he stepped onto Macey’s front porch and jogged down the steps. He’d learned werewolves existed less than twenty-four hours ago, and now he might be one?
Or he might be dead before dawn.
The brisk morning air raised goose bumps on his skin, and he rubbed his arms to chase away the chill. Alexis followed behind, but he didn’t dare turn around. With the amount of pressure building in the back of his eyes, looking at her would probably make the tears fall, and he refused to look weak in front of her.
Spotting her car on the curb, he slid into the passenger seat, closing the door before she caught up. He managed two deep breaths before she got in the driver’s side. She shoved the key into the ignition and started the car, but she didn’t drive.
Dropping her hands into her lap, she looked at him with sadness in her eyes. “Please talk to me. Tell me what you’re thinking.”
What was he thinking? Between the strange electrical sensation tingling through his body and the news that he might have less than twelve hours to live, not a single coherent thought had formed in his mind in the last twenty minutes. “Take me home. Please.”
Her breath caught, and she nodded before pulling away from the curb. They meandered through the French Quarter, and Bryce stared out the window at the architecture. The festive displays in the windows of the historic buildings reminded him of the upcoming holidays.
He glanced at Alexis, who clutched the steering wheel in a death grip and stared straight ahead. He might not see Christmas this year—or tomorrow for that matter—but if he did survive, and she stuck around, he wouldn’t have to spend another holiday alone.
He needed to say something. To let her know he planned to spend the rest of his life with her, whether that meant the rest of today or the next fifty years. But he couldn’t make his mouth form the words. Instead, he shifted his gaze to the scenery.
They reached Canal Street and stopped at a light, waiting for a streetcar to pass before heading onto St. Charles and leaving the French Quarter behind. Highrise hotels and more modern architecture replaced the nineteenth-century buildings, and the roads widened as the traffic increased.
They entered the Central Business District, and he glanced up at the twelve-story building where Michael’s life had almost come to an end. A heaviness settled on his shoulders. Would the kid and his mom be safe living below him now that he was part of this supernatural world? At least they were moving in two weeks, but what would happen with the new neighbors?
As they left the CBD and approached the Garden District, he admired the Colonial and Greek Revival houses. How many times had he driven by these homes, not even noticing the grand columns and pristine gardens surrounding the structures? Today, he took it all in. The ornate fences, the detailed trim, the elaborate wreaths hanging from the doors, and the Christmas trees illuminating the windows. He’d overlooked the beauty of this city for far too long.
The beauty of life.
Alexis turned onto his street and stopped on the curb in front of his house. “Here we are.”
“Home sweet home.” He reached for the handle.
She put her hand on his thigh. “Can I come inside?”
He glanced at her, and the pressure in his eyes built again so he looked away. “I expected you to.”
As he climbed out of the car, Karen’s front door opened, and she struggled to drag a giant suitcase down the porch steps. He jogged toward her and lifted it from the ground. “Where you headed?”
She hit a button on her key fob, and her car chirped, unlocking the doors. “To my mom’s.”
“I thought you were staying another two weeks.” He followed her to the driveway, lugging the suitcase.
“After what happened yesterday, I…” She opened the trunk, and Bryce put the bag inside. “I want to get Michael away. It’s time.”
“I understand.” They’d be safer there, and if he didn’t make it tonight, at least they’d be far away. “Take care of yourself.” He gave her a hug.
“Oh, I have something for you.” She rummaged in her purse and pulled out a white envelope. Handing it to him, she glanced toward Alexis’s car and gave him a half-smile. “It’s a gift certificate for couple’s cooking classes. I thought it might be something you’d have fun doing together.”
She turned to Alexis as she approached. “I’m sorry we got off on the wrong foot. I judged you when I should have gotten to know you.”
Alexis smiled. “Thank you.”
“Take care of him. He likes to pretend he can handle himself, but he needs a good woman around.”
“I will.”
Michael brought out another suitcase and paused, his gaze cutting from Bryce to Alexis. The corners of his mouth twitched like he wasn’t sure if he should smile or not. “Is…everything okay?”
Bryce forced a smile. “Never better. I’ll see you around, kid.”
“Bye, Sergeant Samuels.”
Alexis slung her backpack over her shoulder and followed him up the stairs. As they reached the landing, she handed him his keys, and he unlocked the door. Silence greeted him as he stepped into the living room, and a sense of calm settled in his core.
“Where’s Sam?” Alexis asked.
“He’s at the emergency vet. Someone beat him up when they kidnapped Michael. Do you have my phone?”
She dug in her backpack and handed it to him. He had several missed calls and a voicemail from the vet. As he listened to the message, he let out a slow breath. “He’s okay. I’m going to take a shower and go pick him up.”
“I can get him. He’ll be good as new by the time I get him home.” She smiled weakly. “It’s my fault he got hurt to begin with.”
“It’s not your fault.” None of this was her fault. He’d gotten involved of his own free will, and he’d tell her so if he could compose himself enough to speak. If she’d give him five minutes to breathe, he might be able to pull all the broken pieces of his thoughts together and talk to the woman. He took a credit card from his wallet. “But if you could get him, I’d appreciate it. I’m not sure I should be driving with the way I feel.”
She put a hand on h
is arm. “How do you feel?”
“Like I’ve got electricity running through my veins, battling with my blood.”
“What do you feel when I touch you?”
He put his hand over hers. “Soft skin. Warmth. Concern, though I think that’s because I see it in your eyes.”
“Nothing else?”
“No. Should I feel something else?”
She dropped her arm to her side and lowered her gaze as her voice softened. “I guess not. I’ll go get Sam.”
Chapter Twenty-One
A weight the size of a bowling ball settled in Alexis’s stomach as she drove to the emergency vet clinic. Getting more than two words out of Bryce had felt like wringing grape juice from a raisin. The moment he learned about the magic in his blood, he’d become distant, acting as if she were nothing more than an acquaintance.
He had every reason to hate her. She’d endangered his job…his life and Michael’s…all because she was a rogue. She never should have tried to collect the money from Eric in the first place, much less gone back to him a second time to try and stop him on her own.
What the hell was her problem? She parked in the back of the clinic parking lot and smoothed the wrinkles out of her sister’s shirt as she strode to the door.
The receptionist stopped talking mid-sentence and stared as Alexis made her way to the desk. “Can I help you?” Her gaze lingered on Alexis’s hair.
She ran a hand through her locks, cringing as little flakes of dried blood rained down on her shoulders. She should have showered and changed clothes before she came, but Bryce had needed some alone time. “I’m here to pick up Sam, the Siberian husky.”
“Right, his owner called and said to expect you.” She rose to her feet, but hesitated. “Are you okay?”
Alexis smiled. “I was painting an accent wall. Forgot I got it in my hair.”
The receptionist let out a nervous giggle. “A technician will be bringing him out. He’ll need to lie on his side. Do you have room in your back seat?”
“Sure do.” She gave the woman Bryce’s credit card and cringed when she saw the eight-hundred-dollar charge. She’d pay him back, even if it took her five years to save up the money.
A door swung open, and a burly man cradling the dog in his arms stepped through. Sam whimpered, and she sucked in a sharp breath as guilt stabbed her in the heart. Poor boy. She stroked his head, and his tail swished.
“Thank you.” She held out her arms to take the dog.
“He’s heavy. I’ll carry him to your car.”
“I can handle it.” She took Sam into her arms and shuffled toward the door. Taking a deep breath, she began healing his bruised ribs on the way to the car. As she situated him in the back seat, she focused her energy on his leg.
Her head spun as the bone mended, and she stumbled around to the driver’s seat when she finished. Sam sat up and licked her cheek, leaving a trail of warm saliva on her skin.
She laughed. “Thanks, boy. We’ll get the bandages off of you after we get home, okay?”
Sam let out a quiet woof and sat in the back seat. The dog had forgiven her. Now, she’d have to work on the man.
Thankfully, Karen and Michael were gone by the time she brought Sam home. She killed the engine and let out a sigh. At least she wouldn’t have to explain how the dog had magically recovered. She opened the back door, and Sam jumped out and hobbled on his cast to the staircase. It took him a while to climb all the steps, which gave her time to figure out what she would say to Bryce.
A profuse apology would be step one. She’d follow that with another confession of her love…and hope he could find forgiveness somewhere in his heart.
She opened the door, and Bryce’s face lit up as Sam limped inside. He dropped to his knees and took the dog in his arms. “Hey, buddy. How you feeling?” He lifted his gaze to hers but quickly looked down. “Can we take the cast off?”
Her throat tightened. Was he so angry he couldn’t even look at her? “Yeah. He’s all healed.”
He rummaged under the sink and took out a small saw. “Can you hold him?”
“Sure.” She wrapped her arms around the dog’s chest as Bryce cut into the cast. Sam wiggled, desperate to be free, and Bryce grunted, making tiny back and forth motions with the saw.
Sam twisted in her arms again, and Bryce rubbed the dog’s head. “Be still, buddy. I don’t want to saw your leg off.”
“I can probably get it from here.”
The corner of his mouth twitched as he set the saw on the counter and took the dog in his arms. “Super strength?”
“Something like that.” Grasping the cast in both hands, she pulled it apart at the cut he’d made. Sam shimmied free from Bryce’s grasp and danced around the room, wagging his entire body.
She handed Bryce the receipt and his credit card. “I’ll pay you back for this.”
His eyes widened at the amount before he dropped the paper on the table. “There’s no need. You saved him from a week or two of pain.”
With her hand on the back of a chair, she traced her finger along the smooth wood, unable to meet his gaze. “He wouldn’t have been in pain at all if it weren’t for me.”
Bryce rested his hands on her shoulders and finally looked her in the eyes. “None of this was your fault, so stop blaming yourself. I don’t blame you.”
Her breath hitched. “You don’t?”
“No.” He dropped his arms to his sides, and the sadness in his eyes caused his brow to pinch. “But considering what could happen tonight…I’m going to see my mom.”
Sam nudged his leg, so he leaned down to pet him.
Alexis swallowed the lump from her throat. “I understand.” Of course he would want to see his mom and anyone else he cared about. Spending the day with the person who doomed him to possible death wouldn’t rank high on his last-day-of-life to-do list. “I’ll wait here for you.”
He straightened. “I was hoping you’d come with me.”
She missed a beat. “Really?”
“It could be the last time I see her, and I’d like her to meet the woman I love.”
A swarm of butterflies unfurled in her stomach, flitting its way up to her chest. “I thought you were mad at me.”
He sighed and took her face in his hand. “I’m sorry if it seemed that way. I needed a moment to gather my thoughts, but I’m okay now. If anything, I love you more after everything that’s happened.” He chuckled. “I didn’t think that was possible, and maybe it’s because I’ve got your blood…your magic…running through my veins, but I feel connected to you.”
He had no idea the connection she had to him. Now that he had werewolf magic inside him, could he possibly feel the bond between their hearts like she did? She rested a hand on his chest. “We’re bound by fate.”
“More like by blood, but you can call it fate if you want to.” He shrugged. “Whatever it is…blood, magic, something supernatural…I could never be mad at you.”
He didn’t believe in fate, but after tonight, he would. Once the magic took hold, he’d understand. They were meant to be together. To be mates.
“I’m either going to end the night as a werewolf, a human, or dead, so I’m going to make the most of the day. Will you come meet my mom?”
She smiled and pressed a kiss to his lips. “I would love to meet your mom. Let’s go.”
He stepped back and gazed at her, the corner of his mouth tugging into an adorable grin. “I think you look beautiful like you are, but the nurses might not appreciate the blood in your hair.”
She cringed. “Maybe I should shower?”
“Probably a good idea.” He dropped onto the couch and held out his arms to Sam. The dog bounded toward him and licked his face.
Alexis shuffled toward the bathroom and paused in the doorway, turning to look at him. Her fate-bound. “I love you, Bryce. I mean that.”
He smiled. “I love you too.”
“Don’t expect much.” Bryce pressed the elevator button an
d took Alexis’s hand. His heart felt like it was beating in his throat as the doors slid open and they stepped inside. “She might not recognize me. Sometimes she thinks I’m my brother.”
“That’s got to be hard.” She squeezed his hand. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll follow your lead.”
He kissed her on the cheek, and they exited the elevator, heading to his mom’s room. Pausing outside the door, he took a deep breath to calm the hummingbird trying to escape his chest. He lowered his head, saying a silent prayer to whatever gods—supernatural or not—that might be listening for his mom to be coherent. If this turned out to be the last time he saw her, he’d like to go out knowing she remembered him.
Alexis rested her hand on his back, calming him. “Are you okay?”
He forced a smile. “I’m good.”
Cold metal greeted his clammy palm as he twisted the knob and opened the door a crack. He leaned his face in the space between the door and the jamb. “Hey, Mom? You decent?”
“Bryce? Is that you?”
He closed his eyes and tipped his head back as he whispered, “Thank you,” to whomever answered his prayer. He opened the door wider and smiled at his mom. She sat propped against a mound of pillows in her bed, her legs covered with the blue afghan she’d knitted a few years back, before the arthritis in her hands forced her to give up the hobby. Someone had curled her hair and applied bright-pink rouge to her cheeks.
Grasping Alexis’s hand, he tugged her through the door. “You look like you’re having a good day.”
She beamed a smile, and her eyes were bright and coherent. “I am. And who is this lovely young lady?”
“I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Alexis.” His smile widened as Alexis gave his hand a squeeze.
She waved. “Hi, Mrs. Samuels. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Come here, hon.” His mom held out her arms. “I’m a hugger. You too, Bryce, honey, I haven’t seen you in ages.”
Bound by Blood (Crescent City Wolf Pack Book 3) Page 22
