Ariel

by Donna McDonald

  “Dying,” Heidi said flatly. “My heart is aching for him. They got the collar off, then cut him open and took the bullets out, but he’s not healing. Something about the blood loss being too much. He’s slipped into a coma.”

  Ariel dropped her hand. “Wait here.”

  Matt started after her. “You’re not going back there without me.”

  Ariel halted and swung. Her gaze avoided Matt’s and sought Brandi’s instead. “Sex restores your thinking to normal. Find someone willing to have sex with you and ease the ache. Matt took care of my problem. I can’t tell you how much better I feel.”

  His second stepped forward immediately and looked at Ariel. “I want to service your beta. If you want, I can service both females.”

  “No. No. No,” Heidi declared, glaring at him. “I’ve shared all I intend to in my life. The crawling thing inside me wants to rip your throat out for even suggesting it. I want my own volunteer for this—whatever this is.”

  “Gareth, you won’t be able to handle more than one of them. Trust me,” Matt declared.

  Ariel tilted her head at his comment. From what she recalled, Matt had recuperated within a few minutes and probably could have taken care of all three of them. White lies were obviously another trait they had in common. Maybe it was yet another ‘alpha thing’.

  Matt picked up his phone and sent a text. The response was immediate. “The Calder triplets are coming by shortly. Let her choose one of them. Come get me if they start to quarrel about her choice.”

  Matt turned to Heidi. “The men are not identical. In fact, they are very different. But they are all decent and will not take real advantage of you. They can be terrible teases and are not the most sensitive of males. They were raised in an all male household.”

  Heidi nodded and hung her head. “Thank you…Matt.”

  “Gareth, I leave you watching over these two while I go with Ariel. Take care of them.”

  “Isn’t taking care of people what I typically get the most lectures about?” Gareth replied.

  As he stood, Gareth inched his way closer to the new beta who bristled at his nearness. He turned to her.

  “If you don’t like me, you can pick from the men coming as well. I will be disappointed, but I want your needs to be met. If you fear me, just admit it. I promise I will not think less of you.”

  Brandi drew herself up to full height. “Listen buddy. I’m not afraid of you. I can kill you with my bare hands—in human form. Lucky for you, I already got my need to kill out of my system today. It’s just been awhile since I did anything with a man in a bedroom. But you’ll do.”

  Gareth nodded. “I thought I smelled a pure arousal. Then you can be on top until you feel comfortable enough to switch places. I can perform in any position for as long as needed.”

  Brandi lifted her hands to make finger quotes. “Yeah, I bet you ‘let’ all your women be on top. That’s just a polite way of saying you’re lazy, dude.”

  Ariel rolled her eyes. “Stop bickering so much. And don’t get attached to the males who help you. Just let them take care of your needs and thank them for helping. I’m good with Matt shadowing me to see Reed. I want you both completely functional as soon as possible.”

  She pushed open the swinging doors to the medical area with Matt on her heels.

  ***

  Brandi studied Gareth after Ariel left. “I assume we’re waiting until Heidi’s men get here, because I am not leaving her alone. She’s like a helpless deer in most situations.”

  Gareth nodded. Seconds later, the front door opened and three men entered. Brandi turned to see Heidi wince as she looked at them. She was small for a female and they were giants, all of them. Any one of the men could break her in half or do much worse.

  They all three skidded to a stop, staring at the two of them. One leered at her and Brandi narrowed her gaze. “Want to see me kill a man, Gareth? We can consider it foreplay.”

  Gareth sighed, ignored Brandi’s threat, and lifted his hand to point at the frightened Heidi. “She is the one in need of your services.”

  “Hi,” Heidi said, as all eyes turned to her. All three men walked in her direction, but she noticed one of them hung back.

  “Tell me your name, sweetness. I want to hear the sound of it on your lips,” the nearest one whispered.

  “Heidi,” she whispered back, clearing her throat when the answer came out a squeak.

  “Back off, Junior. She’s Heidi. I’m Brandi. And our alpha, Ariel, is going to kick your ass if you don’t show some respect to us. Can’t you see you’re frightening her? Put yourself at a respectable distance and talk nice.”

  “Heidi, Brandi, and Ariel? Sounds like a sexy bunch of strippers. I’ve never seen werewolf strippers before. Are you going to perform a little show before we get busy, honey?” the second one grinned as he asked.

  Heidi felt the growl growing in her midsection before it left her mouth. The two standing closest to her both smiled at her small show of aggression. She looked for the one who hadn’t said anything. He frowned at the floor, about as uninterested in being chosen as a man could be. Fortunately for her, overcoming penile reluctance was something she had mastered long ago.

  “Okay. I choose you,” Heidi declared firmly, pointing at the solemn man. She heard him viciously swear and felt bad for making him so unhappy. “Sorry. If you really hate the idea as much as you seem to, I guess I can pick one of your brothers.”

  Swearing again, Ryan stalked to her. His two brothers snickered, but stepped aside. “I haven’t been with a female since my mate died. I haven’t been able to. I don’t know why Matt made me come.”

  “All I’m asking for is simple sex to help me deal with the effects of my changes. But if you want to keep grieving for your dead wife, I’ll pick one of your stupid hyena brothers. Just know I’d still pick you over them to try this with, even if we can’t do what I need. Their attitudes are a complete turn off. I doubt they’re going to be able to handle me anyway. I have a strong sex drive.”

  Heidi watched him rub his forehead as he swore a third time. The man was practically sweating. He must want to do this with her a little. Plus, he seemed equally distressed by her willingness to let him off the hook.

  “My name is Ryan. Let me smell you and see if this is even remotely possible,” he demanded.

  Heidi saw his brothers snicker at Ryan’s request and cover their mouths trying to hold in their laughter as he took a few steps closer to her. They were razzing him about not being able to do anything anymore under their breaths until he turned a fierce gaze on both of them.

  “Leave us alone. You heard the woman. She doesn’t want either of you. Your disrespect is no basis for making a female desire you. You two will never learn,” Ryan barked.

  Heidi’s eyebrows rose when his brothers lifted their hands in surrender and moved away.

  “Stand still and let me do this,” Ryan ordered. Inching carefully closer to the nervous female, he leaned in and put his nose against her neck. She smelled exotic—different—like a werewolf and yet something else too.

  When she quivered and whimpered at his sniffing, things stirred below his waist. He wished he dared take a lick and taste her. His loud sigh barely covered her groan of arousal. Next thing he knew, he was fighting not to growl and tell his brothers to get the hell away. His need to protect the woman suddenly kicked in as hard as the rusty clutch did in his pickup when he stomped on it. The whimpering new werewolf was the first female to even make him twitch in three damn years.

  “Fine. Tell Matt I’ll do this. Or at least, I’ll try,” he said, his gaze going to Gareth’s instead of Heidi’s. When he heard her whimper of relief, his jeans tightened. He had a lot of time to make up for what he’d missed—surely he could satisfy her during some of it.

  “I think we’ll get Celeste to give us a couple rooms at her bed and breakfast. She’ll make sure we aren’t disturbed,” Gareth said calmly, not all surprised by the turn of events. Most mated m
ales grieved long and hard, but eventually got over it. Ryan had grieved more than enough already. Temporary relief was how you got going again. He should know. He’d lost two mates over the last couple hundred years.

  Brandi snorted. “Great. It’s not bad enough that I’m a wolf. No—now I’m checking into a sleazy hotel for a couple hours of boinking. This day just keeps getting better and better. The only good thing I can say is that it beats being dead.”

  “Are you always so negative about everything?” Gareth asked, studying the frowning female who had held his interest since the moment he’d seen her.

  “Yes. It’s called being a realist,” Brandi declared, shaking her head over Gareth’s complaining. Sex should be lots of fun with Mr. Always Calm, she thought. Gareth probably didn’t have an original move in his sexual arsenal. She imagined that a woman probably had to tell him what to do every step of the way. But the idea of getting rid of the fire between her legs overrode her disappointment in the two remaining choices being the hyena brothers who were still snickering about Heidi choosing Ryan. And really—did it matter whose hose she used to put out her fire? Not really. Heidi had already made the best choice of all the males in the room. She supposed she’d take Gareth over either of the remaining hyena brothers.

  Brandi heaved out a sigh. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. I just want to get this over with.”

  Gareth rose and nodded. “Okay. Let’s go then. With luck we’ll be back by the time Matt and Ariel get done helping Reed. I still don’t know what he plans to do with the three of you…or with Reed. I guess Matt is still thinking about the situation.”

  ***

  The black wolf on the table was still and unmoving. Ariel swallowed hard. She couldn’t let Reed die. She just couldn’t. His blood had created her. Perhaps her blood could save him. It seemed a viable risk to take given all they’d suffered together at Crane’s hands. She didn’t want to deal with this nightmare alone. She needed the creature on the table to help her survive what had happened to her.

  She looked at the medic, a native woman with a kind face. “Can you hook up a direct transfusion? I’m one of Reed’s…family members…and his alpha in training. My blood stands the best chance of helping him.”

  “He has lost more than we can take from you, Alpha,” the healer said softly.

  Ariel shook her head. “Doesn’t matter. I have to try. Take what you safely can. My blood is special. I should build it back quickly and it should build quickly in him. After you’re done though, you will not be allowed to take my blood or Reed’s again. You’re better off not knowing why.”

  Ariel turned her sincerest gaze to Matt.

  “If you trust me at all, see that the transfusion equipment is destroyed after we do this. Incinerate them completely if you can. I’m telling you this in case anything happens to me.”

  “What could possibly happen to you?” Matt demanded.

  Ariel shrugged. “I don’t have any idea about the long term effects of what was done to Reed, me, or the other women. My wolf turning was not natural. There’s no time to go into the whole story, but what I’ve become is the result of a science experiment. Now do as I say and protect your pack, Matt. I don’t want to die knowing I’ve harmed you or anyone connected to you.”

  Ariel watched the native woman walk around Reed’s bed and stop in front of her. “I see the Great Alpha’s life in your determined eyes, which look so much like his. I will do as you ask. There is no need to charge Matt with watching me. My brother knows my word is good.”

  “Brother?” Ariel said in surprise.

  “We have different mothers, but similar hearts,” the healer said.

  Ariel sighed. “Okay. Let’s do this then.” She turned to Matt. “It’s too cold to sit without clothes. Can you split this sleeve for me? I’d do it myself, but it’s too awkward a reach, and I don’t want to get naked.”

  Matt waited until Ariel had climbed up onto the gurney Eva had wheeled close to Reed’s bed. “Eva, shouldn’t Ariel shift to her wolf to make her stronger?”

  Eva studied the floor for long moments. Finally, she shook her head. “No. Something valuable will be lost if she shifts. We will try the transfusion with her in human form.”

  Matt stepped to the side and ripped the sleeve of the coveralls up to her shoulder. He flinched when Ariel saw the size of needle Eva brought to insert into her arm. She looked away while it was being done.

  “Damn. That was worse than the injections I got just before I was turned,” Ariel said. “I’m going to hate needles for the rest of my life now.”

  Matt grabbed her free hand. “Me too. Try thinking of something you like. That always helps me. Maybe you could think of a nice hot fire and how much fun it would be for us to put it out.”

  Ariel’s snicker made him feel marginally less helpless in the face of her pain.

  Eva opened Ariel’s fingers and put a hand pump into them. “Squeeze this to get it going. The pump will take over after the blood begins to flow.”

  Matt saw Ariel’s jaw harden in determination as she did what Eva told her to do. He tightened his grip. “You are one of the most unselfish, determined people I’ve ever met.”

  Ariel snorted, her fingers squeezing the pump. “Now I know why all those women are chasing you. You’re just an incredibly nice guy in werewolf’s clothing.”

  Matt gripped her hand tighter. “That was a terrible joke. And I am not always nice. You just bring out the nice in me.”

  “Well, we are friends-with-benefits now,” Ariel joked, hearing the pump finally kick in and take over. “Listen Matt. Seriously. If anything happens to me, take care of Brandi and Heidi. Okay?”

  Matt nodded. “I will, but nothing is going to happen to you, Ariel. I’m the alpha of this pack. I forbid it.”

  “Crazy Crane—the guy who did this to me—was an evil SOB. Anything is possible. And last time I checked, you weren’t God, though you did make me see heaven today,” Ariel said, feeling herself getting sleepy.

  From far away, she heard Matt calling her name, but sleep beckoned too strongly.

  Chapter 6

  Ariel woke in the dark. She was warm, dressed in soft flannel, and being held by a pair of strong arms. She sniffed, relaxing when she smelled a now familiar, sexy male. She whimpered when he rolled against her and nuzzled her throat.

  “I want another taste of you so bad. You have no idea what a torture it has been letting you sleep. Eva threatened my life if I didn’t take proper care of you and let you rest.”

  “Glad you listened to your sister. Can I have some water? And maybe a little space until my mind clears?” Ariel asked.

  Sighing, Matt raised up over Ariel and reached out to touch the lamp on her side of the bed. The resulting brightness had them both hiding their eyes. “Sorry. I keep meaning to get a lower wattage bulb for the lamp. I never have overnight guests, so I keep forgetting.”

  Ariel stared up at his chest and let her eyes trail down the front of him. “You have to be lying. Do you torture all your overnight guests this way just to come across as some caring guy?”

  “Don’t be rude. I never let a female stay here with me. I go to her place,” Matt said firmly, plopping a glass with straw on her stomach. “Eva said to drink this awful smelling stuff. It’s a native remedy—a blood builder. Smells awful, but she’s usually right about what medicine does.”

  Ariel slowly slid backwards until she sat up in the bed. She took the glass, sniffed, and then frowned. She took a sip and was thankful it only tasted half as foul as it smelled.

  “How’s Reed?” she asked, making a face with every sip.

  Matt scooted up in the bed and looked into her concerned gaze. He wondered what it would be like to have her be so worried about him. “Eva thinks Reed’s recovering, even though he can’t shift yet. She said it was you who saved him. The spirits were already calling him home.”

  Ariel sighed. “Is he mad at me for saving him? He seemed like he’d been
through a lot.”

  Matt shrugged. “You’ll have to ask him yourself tomorrow. He’s up and moving. Eva took Reed home with her. Her children treat him like a big dog and hug him to death.”

  “He is not a dog. Reed is canis lupis,” Ariel declared, lifting the horrible drink to her mouth again and drinking a big gulp. “Been there—took that class. Think I got an ‘A’ when I shifted on his command.”

  “Your wolf is quite large for a female, even an alpha. I find that interesting…and sexy as hell,” Matt said.

  “You forgot magnificent,” she teased, tipping the glass and draining the contents. “The guy I killed called me that. Here—it’s gone. Can I have some water now?”

  Matt leaned and snatched a bottle from his nightstand, handing it over.