by Julia Talbot
Will it hurt? You can groom me….
No. It won’t hurt. I’ll help. And I can groom you after. Please, love. He’s a very good man.
For you. He sighed. For you.
Thank you, sweet. “Ed, can you tell Preston we’re ready?”
“I will. Should I bring tea back with me?”
“Please. Do you think Tanner would let me borrow you?”
“To fetch and carry and send alerts?” Ed said gently, laughing. “I bet. I’ll bring my perch down.”
“Thank you. You’re a good friend.”
“I am!” Ed laughed, and he sounded just like a magpie. “I’ll be back. You take it easy, Nathan.”
Nathan sighed softly, so tired he couldn’t even open his eyes.
“Sleep, love. I won’t leave you.” Tom kissed his snout. “Sleep. Preston will be here soon to look at you. Help you.”
For you.
Yes, for me. I love that you’re willing to try.
No more chains. No more cages. Swear to me.
Tom laid a hand on his back, just below the scars on his neck. “Never, ever again. I swear it.”
“They’ll start to heal now, Nathan.” A stranger’s voice filled the air. “The magic is gone.”
“Oh, good. Because he’s dead?” Tom asked.
“The ogre? Yes.” The voice came with gentle touches, nothing that hurt. “That magic was bound to him. The chains are broken.”
“Thank the Goddess.” Tom sounded so happy.
“Can you shift, Nathan? I can clean you up like this, but it would be easier….”
His answer was a curled lip.
“Oh.” The other voice chuffed out a laugh. “Very well. He is expressive, isn’t he?”
“He’s perfect.” That came from Tom, and Nathan was proud that someone thought he was good. The man had thought he was a troublemaker.
Never. A joy.
“I’m going to pour peroxide on your throat. It’s going to be cold.”
He knew what that meant. Bubbles. Sometimes it stung a little, but that was okay. That meant he was alive.
“Just cold. I swear to you, Nathan. Just cold.”
Nathan lifted his head, proving that he wasn’t afraid. He should be. This was a doctor like the one who had taken him to the man, but this man was good.
“A doctor did this?” Tom’s voice was shocked.
Nathan woofed softly. Yes. Yes, a man who was supposed to be healing them. His whole pack….
“What?” Preston’s voice turned to a low growl.
“His whole pack. He told me before that he had a family. Not a mate, but parents. Siblings.”
“Someone is selling us? Trapping us and selling us?”
Nathan winced away from the fury, trying to make his legs work.
“Shh. It’s okay, love. It’s fine. Not now, Preston.” Tom petted him again, soothing. “It’s all new to us, Nathan. That’s all.”
He looked at Tom, searching his eyes for truth, for peace, and he found it.
The bed held him when he relaxed. The fire was a long way away, and he shivered. That medicine really was cold.
“As soon as Preston is done, sweet. Then I’ll pile on more blankets.”
“Keep him still, warm. He’s healing, just slowly. Your presence helps a lot.”
“Okay. Thank you.” Tom hugged Preston, he thought. “Ed said he would stay. Perch, just in case we need you.”
“Of course. He’s an amazing friend. He can have rice, chicken. Nothing spicy.”
“What about water? He’s so thirsty, but I thought rationing was the way to go.” Tom sounded worried now. About him.
“Lots of little sips. No gulping. No vomiting with those ribs, hmm?”
“Nope. None at all,” Tom agreed. “I can’t thank you enough for everything.”
“I’m just happy I got here in time to help.”
“Me too. I need him. He’s… my mate.”
Mate. Nathan pondered that. Yes, he could see it. Tom was definitely protective enough for a mate, and it made his heart beat faster….
He just—he was so tired.
“Shh. You can be tired. You can rest, hmm?”
I can? Are you sure? He had to tease the worry away some.
“Here’s another blanket, love. I’ll crawl in with you in a minute.” Silly wolf.
Woof. They both chuffed together.
Tom moved around, making little sounds; then Tom came back to him to lift his head. “A little more water.”
He lapped at the bottle, tongue like dust.
“Good. Just a little bit. I’ll keep it here so you can have more.” Tom set the bottle aside. The blanket rose and fell, Tom sliding in with him. “Hey.”
He whimpered softly. Tom.
My mate. I’m so sorry he took you again. So sorry.
The candy. The memory hit him, and he jerked.
Candy? Tom automatically soothed him, stroking his back.
The candy. The store. The man found me.
“He wasn’t a man, mate. It was a monster.”
He blinked, trying to open his eyes to see Tom. Monster.
An ogre. Preston told me about them. They’re foul. They collect things. Usually humans, but this wasn’t totally unusual. Tom shuddered against him.
Monster. He whined softly, a dull terror hitting him.
“We got you out. You and the three others. He’s dead.” Tom just kept repeating the words over and over, in different variations. He was out. The monster was dead.
Nathan breathed in and out, his ribs on fire.
“Shh. Shh, mate. Easy. Easy, I have you.” Tom breathed into his face, slow and sure, giving him something to follow. That made it easier to calm, to just let Tom help him. “Oh, there you are. Back with me.”
A soft knock sounded. “It’s me. Ed. I brought tea and some soft blankets.”
“Thank you, Ed.” Tom sat up. “Can you bring them into the bedroom? Did you get your perch?”
“I did. Here we go. Tea.” Ed paused, the sounds of shuffling almost like a bird’s feathers rustling. “Is he going to be okay?”
“He is.” You have to be.
“Good. You are my friend,” Ed chittered.
He thought maybe Ed touched him, but the blanket muted the contact. Friend. He is my friend.
“Yes, mate. Ed’s your good friend. He found you, brought us to you. We owe him so much.”
“Thank you. I’ll go nap now, unless you need me. I had terrible dreams in the car.” Ed chuckled. “Thank Goddess that’s over. Rest, Nathan. We’ll play soon, huh? After we all sleep. Hard.”
Play. A rush of memory made him dizzy, the vision of another wolf and a magpie in the snow so happy. Such a good thing. Yes, they had played.
Tom stroked his ears, petting him, loving on him, easing him deeper into sleep.
He took a deep breath, then another, which pulled his ribs, but he didn’t care. How could he, when he was totally out?
Chapter Fifteen
TOM rested his head on his hand, his elbow on the bed. He’d stayed just that way for hours, watching Nathan sleep. A bathroom break or two, and he’d checked on poor Ed, but that was it.
His mate.
Tom could barely breathe, could barely focus as the tension relaxed in his center.
His mate had been taken and held by an ogre. Christ, no wonder those memories had been locked away when Nathan had escaped. God. He needed to talk to Preston about the collar and what it might have done.
Tom petted carefully, trying to balance the healing and comfort his touch gave with not hurting. Poor neck. Poor Nathan. Nathan wouldn’t want his pity, but Tom hoped he would want the care.
Nathan groaned and stretched for him, bones creaking.
“Mmm. You’re okay, sweet. The bed feels so nice, huh?” He kept murmuring.
Clouds. The word was sure and soft.
“It is. I swear, I was addicted to this bed once I stopped hurting all the time.”
N
athan blinked up at him, tongue flicking out. No more hurting.
Not for either of us.
Those pretty eyes were already clearer. Tom was glad to see it, and relieved.
“I was so scared,” he admitted. “I thought I’d lost you.”
You might have. Nathan blew his lips.
“No. No, you’re here.” Nathan didn’t mean it. He was teasing. Right?
I am. Now. I was going to get free, no matter what.
Yes. I’m so proud. I came for you, but you saved yourself.
I couldn’t let him take my balls.
No! Oh God. He would do that? Horrified, Tom pushed back nausea.
Nathan curled into himself, face disappearing under the covers.
“No. Don’t hide from me, love. I’m disgusted with him.” He snuggled in closer. “I would want you safe and here, no matter what.”
Nathan lifted out of the blankets, licking Tom’s face once he was free.
“There. There you are. A drink? Your poor tongue is dry as dust.”
Nathan bowed that big head, nose to the covers.
He grabbed the water to let Nathan get that poor dry mouth wet again. Then he had a sip of his tea.
Oh. Peppermint. Tingly. Whoa.
Yum. He sipped again, and his stomach immediately began to settle. Nathan chuffed softly, muzzle landing in his lap.
“That’s it.” He loved the contact. Nathan needed that bath, poor baby. His fur was stiff. “I’m going to get you clean soon, get you some food.”
Nathan sighed heavily, rolling to his side instead of his belly, a huge yawn opening and closing his jaws.
Sweet pup. He chuffed softly. “Maybe we can wait a second.”
Just a few?
Yes. Just a few.
Good. Nathan sighed and snuggled.
“Mmm. I’ll get under there with you again.” The covers had slid off. He’d been so scared that he’d lost this, after just finding it.
He slid down to put an arm over Nathan, who was already breathing easier. We’re fine, mate. We’re good. Together.
The words were more for them than just Nathan. Tom needed to believe things would go back to before, and even get better. He had to.
He rested his head down on the pillow, and Nathan whimpered for him, the image of a wolf embedded in his brain.
Tom chuckled, because that wolf was him. So he let the change come over him, easy as pie. It was as if Nathan drew out his wolf.
He’d never thought, in the beginning, that it would be easy.
He’d thought it would hurt every single time. Oh, he still had more than twinges, but it was so much easier. This was just shedding his skin for another form.
Chuffing, he burrowed in next to his mate, resting his muzzle on Nathan’s side. He could smell the hurting deep inside, and he breathed into it.
Preston said he helped, so Tom wanted to do that. He needed to make Nathan better. Free. He was made for this.
He just needed to remember that.
A PECKING woke him up, soft and careful, and when his eyes opened, Nathan saw a sparkling stone dangling from the sharp beak.
Someone had brought him a pretty. He chuffed, stretching out his legs. Tom wasn’t there with him, so he focused on the magpie. He reached out and batted the shiny bit lazily, finding the motion easier than he’d feared.
The magpie scolded him, but he just wanted to laugh. Ed. His friend Ed.
The bright eyes lit up, and his head bobbed.
Ed dropped the sparkly into the sheets for him, so Nathan stuck his nose against it, sniffing. The buzz of energy made him bark once, just in surprise.
Cackling, Ed flapped his wings, clearly so proud of himself. A healing crystal.
He bowed his head in thanks, chuffing softly before resting his chin on the jewel. A tiny crackle seemed to light it up, making his whole body tingle.
That was lovely. Ed was very good to him.
“Hey, Ed! You must be feeling better.” Tom came into the room, and he was carrying a huge tray that smelled very good. “Good thing I had Glenda make some hamburger meat.”
Ed fluttered. Oh, yes. His friend liked the sound of that.
Nathan hadn’t thought he would ever be hungry again, but he was now he smelled the food. A little drool gathered, so his mouth wasn’t as dry either.
“I know, mate. You’ve got to be empty as a worm.”
A worm? Worms were gross. But then, worms did get into bellies and eat food that was meant for the owner of the bellies, so they must be pretty empty.
Ew.
Silly. Time to eat.
Mate. Water?
Yes, and we need you to pee at some point before you explode.
Nathan thought about that. Help me?
“Of course I will. Ed, can you give us some room? I need to lift Nathan off the bed.”
Ed fluttered off, and Tom reached for him. He tried not to tense, not to whimper, but the pain scared him.
“Shhh. It’s okay. I’m sorry if this aches a little, but we need to go out, and Preston, um, wants me to check to make sure you’re not bleeding.”
He breathed, but the pain wasn’t what he’d feared. It was a dull ache, a low throb.
“Now, just let me—” Tom slid warm hands under him to lift him, cradling him against that broad chest. Oh, that wasn’t rough at all.
He rested his muzzle against Tom’s shoulder, breathing easy, inhaling his mate in.
“There we go. Okay, cold now.” Tom walked him about twenty feet from the cabin before setting him gently on his feet.
He held his stance, then took a few unsteady steps before relieving himself with a deep groan.
Oh, he’d waited a long time.
“Well, at least the snow makes it easy to see. No blood. Do you want me to carry you back in?” Tom smiled down at him, those eyes so much a wolf’s.
He walked slow and careful, trying to stay strong, to stay upright.
“My so brave mate.” Tom followed slowly, then helped him back up into the big bed. “It’s nice by the fire, but it’s so much softer up here. So what did Ed bring you?”
He nosed the crystal, the spark bright, shining.
“How pretty!” Tom lifted it, then gasped. “Oh, feel that. Here, you take this back.” Tom tucked the stone under his chest. “What a good friend. Let me text Preston.”
He tilted his head, but he didn’t worry too much. Tom had food and water, and he was on the cloud bed. He didn’t worry.
Tom bit his lower lip, fingers flying on his phone, which was sleek and yet large. “There we go. No blood. Yay.”
He vocalized softly, singing to his mate as he floated.
“I know, love. I know. I’ve got some yummy stuff here. Carter sent bread. I have some meat too, but it’s soft so it won’t hurt.” Tom never stopped touching. “We’ve got to get you washed too. You’ll feel so much better.”
Nathan snorted. I stink?
“You kinda do. It would be much easier if you could shift….”
No. No more men. He would groom himself.
Tom stared at him for a long moment, then lifted the cover on the tray. “Let me take Ed his hamburger.”
He sighed and watched Tom leave. Then he forced himself down off the cloud bed and pushed underneath, curled up quiet and small near the wall. He knew that was part of it, the smell in Tom’s bed. This could be his den. Underneath. He’d go roll in the snow later.
He hated disappointing someone who had been so nice to him.
“Nathan?” Panic filled Tom’s voice. “Nathan, where are you?”
Mate? He unrolled, sticking his nose from under the bed.
“There you are! Why are you on the floor?”
He stared at Tom. I wouldn’t foul your bed.
“I never thought you did. I was just sad that you didn’t want to be a man with me.”
He didn’t want to think about that. I’m here with you. Now.
I know, sweet. And I’m so happy and proud. The emotio
ns Tom named really did radiate off him.
He crawled out from under the bed halfway.
“There you are.” Tom rubbed his ears. “Come on, up you go.”
He leaned into the touch, moaning softly even though he didn’t get up. Oh Goddess. Something finally felt good, and he stayed where he was because he couldn’t move, not because he didn’t want to.
Tom laughed softly. “Oh, that’s good, is it?”
His tongue lolled in response, his tail thumping on the floor.
“It’s the little things,” Tom murmured. “You should have seen Ed with the meat.”
Ed was hungry. He got it. His belly was gnawing on his backbone.
“Here, sweet.” Tom, rose, then returned with the tray. “We’ll eat here.”
Tom settled on the floor with him, and he crawled the rest of the way out to join his lover.
There was yummy soft bread and some kind of cooked meat, which fell apart. He snarfed it down, the food going a long way to helping him, healing him.
He rested once he was done eating, his breath coming fast.
“Better?”
He nodded. Goddess, yes. So much.
“Good.” Tom kissed the top of his head, and he lifted up and licked Tom’s chin.
Tom laughed. “Can we go back to bed, sweet? The floor is hard. Or we could go lie down in front of the fire.”
He managed to find his feet, stumbling toward the hearth. It was warm, and he slumped in front of the heat with a sigh.
Tom joined him moments later in wolf form, curling around his cold side, nose against his head. He groaned and snuggled in, muzzle on Tom’s paws.
Sleep. You’re healing well.
I am. He felt stronger daily.
That’s my mate. Tom licked him, then settled. He could feel the thud of Tom’s heartbeat against him, and it lulled him, made him want to sleep.
Ed landed on him, carrying the healing crystal in his beak. It was draped over him—soft and gentle. Then Ed started grooming him, careful not to pull. Sweet, silly bird. So good.
Tom grumped a little, which made him chuff. Just Ed.
Birds. Tom’s mental voice was amused.
Friends. Feathery friends.
They all settled, Ed tucking his head under his wing. He didn’t think Tom minded a bit.
