by Shannon West
His hands poised over Marco with the scalpel, he finally looked up at Nicky. “These are a great deal less than ideal conditions, you know. If this was anyone but a wolf, this wouldn’t work at all. He’d die in the middle of the procedure, and I can’t make any guarantees as it is.”
Nicky nodded tersely. “He’s strong. I’ve given him as much blood as I can for now, and I’ll give him more later. He’ll make it.”
Tate raised an eyebrow, but bent back over Marco’s body. His gloved fingers palpated the wound gently for several minutes. “It’s in his liver,” Tate said, almost as if he were talking to himself. But then he glanced up at Nicky. “The bullet must not have hit any of the major blood vessels or he’d have already been dead, but he’s lost too much blood.”
Nicky nodded—he already knew that, for God’s sake. He didn’t see how anyone could have lost so much and still be alive. He didn’t know much about the liver other than the fact that it was necessary for survival. He squeezed Marco’s hand again, but Marco was deeply unconscious. Tate had given him something to put him under, and was giving him oxygen too. A shudder Nicky couldn’t prevent went through him at the thought that Marco was completely at Tate’s mercy. No, not his mercy, because Nicky doubted if Tate had any of that to spare. But at least he was operating and Marco was no longer in pain. That had to count for something.
“The liver also functions as a blood reservoir,” Tate was saying. “Think of it as storage, in a way. Large amounts can be stored in its blood vessels, and in the hepatic veins and sinuses. That would account for some of the blood you saw, though the larger veins seem to be intact.”
Nicky looked down at the incision Tate was making across the right side of Marco’s abdomen. There was a lot of bruising and swelling around the entire area, and now the blood from the wound welled out over the scalpel. Nicky focused on Marco’s face as Tate worked quickly and efficiently, speaking softly to an assistant beside Nicky, who was handing him items from a tray.
Nicky was acutely aware of Tate’s breathing behind his mask as he worked. It didn’t seem excited or stressed in any way, but then why should it? Tate had nothing to lose if his patient died on the table. Still he was working steadily and Nicky hoped, efficiently. He only wished he knew more about the procedure so he could tell if Tate was really doing everything he could. For Nicky the procedure was taking forever, though he knew that not that much time had passed.
Talking to himself again, Tate muttered half under his breath as he gently probed for the bullet. “It went in clean enough. All I have to do now is…ah, I have it.” His assistant passed him small forceps and he plucked the bullet from Marco’s body, depositing it with a small clatter on the tray beside Nicky. It wasn’t as large as Nicky would have thought and the end was blunted from its impact with Marco’s body.
Fresh blood had spurted when Tate pulled the bullet free, but it was slowing already as Tate worked to close the wound. The entire procedure had gone quickly enough, but Marco had lost a lot of blood and his face was still and white under the oxygen mask. Only a slight twitching of his eyelids let Nicky know he was still alive.
Tate worked steadily for what seemed to Nicky like a long time and then finally stopped and glanced across the table at Nicky. “It’s up to Marco now. I’ve kept my part of the bargain and done all I could. I hope you can acknowledge that.”
Nicky nodded and dropped his gaze back down to Marco’s face. If the bastard hadn’t shot Marco in the first place, none of this would have been necessary anyway, but Nicky pressed his lips tightly together to keep the words from tumbling out of his mouth. He still needed Tate to help Marco survive this.
“What about the…”
“If he survives the night, I’ll take the heartsblood tomorrow,” Tate cut in. “He’s lost enough blood for now.” He turned to his assistant. “Take him to the recovery area and keep the oxygen on him. I’ve given him antibiotics. We’ll have to wait and see how he does.” Tate strode out of the room without so much as a backward glance, and Nicky breathed a sigh of relief. The man’s very presence was oppressive, and he wanted to get Marco away from his influence, but he knew that Tate had been considered a brilliant surgeon when he worked at the hospital in Brevard. He only hoped he still was.
Nicky could feel his wolf stirring restlessly inside him, wanting to…what? Protect its mate? Had his wolf finally accepted Marco? Nicky couldn’t be sure.
He followed as Marco was removed to a nearby room and sat beside him quietly, watching his face for any sign of returning consciousness. Logan opened the door quietly and came to sit on the other side of Marco, both of them holding a quiet vigil. The next few hours would determine whether or not Marco would survive this thing. Until then, all Nicky could do was wait.
Chapter Eight
Ian walked disconsolately down the trail leading to the highway, followed more slowly by Cade and Casey. They’d been down this same trail ten or more times at least over the last three days since Logan, Marco and Nicky had gone missing, but they were at a loss as to what to do next, and already feared the worst. Ian wouldn’t allow himself to think he might have lost Logan. If he did, it might kill him, and for now, at least, he had to keep his focus on finding some clue they might have overlooked.
All three stiffened at the same time as they heard someone crashing down the trail toward them. Ian caught a whiff of humans and immediately crouched down in the bushes beside the trail to lie in wait for whoever was coming. They were at a bend in the trail, so couldn’t see much farther than a few feet ahead, but whoever was coming seemed to be running flat out and Ian tensed as he prepared to confront him.
Logan burst around the bend in the trail, dirty and disheveled, his face scratched by the underbrush and still the most beautiful thing that Ian had ever seen. Completely unable to prevent his actions and without a word, Ian leaped up and pulled Logan into his arms, pushing him to his back on the ground and falling protectively on top of him. He kissed him so hard he almost gagged Logan, letting him take a quick breath only to thrust his tongue back inside Logan’s mouth, all the while grinding his huge, hard cock against Logan’s body and running his hands down his sides. Finally becoming aware of the alphas behind him, who were pulling urgently at his arm, Ian raised his head breathlessly and looked down into Logan’s stunned eyes and then back up at the other wolves.
“Give him a chance to breathe, Ian,” Casey was yelling in his ear, but he could barely hear him over the roaring sounds. His heart was about to thump out of his chest, and he couldn’t seem to let go of Logan, but he did manage to roll off him and settle him firmly in his lap, wrapping both arms around him and burying his face in his neck. Logan was trembling almost as much as Ian and was making soothing sounds and trying to pat his chest.
Cade knelt beside them and leaned in toward Logan, being careful not to touch him until Ian calmed himself a bit. “Logan, thank God. Are you all right? Are you hurt anywhere?”
Logan shook his head violently and jerked his head back down the trail behind him. “Nicky and Marco—they put us out in the car park, and we managed to get Marco just inside the woods, but they need help. Go to them, please!”
Cade and Casey were already jumping to their feet and running. Ian wanted to get up and follow them, but he couldn’t seem to let go of Logan. “Are Nicky and Marco okay?” he managed to ask and Logan nodded.
“I think so. Marco was shot but Nicky talked Tate into operating on him.” Despite the tears that were running down his face, Logan laughed at the expression on Ian’s face. “No, really, he did. Nicky’s given him a lot of his blood, but it’s not enough. Finally, Tate brought us back and put us out. I ran ahead to get help.”
“And no one hurt you? You’re all right?”
“Yes, yes, I’m good. Just really tired. We even tried giving Marco some of my blood—we were so desperate. I don’t know if it did any good, but he’s still alive, at least.”
Ian nodded, too overcome to speak. He knew Casey and
Cade would give Marco blood as soon as they found him, and he could only hope that it would be enough. He took Logan’s face between his hands and kissed his lips. “I-I thought I’d lost you. God, baby, I was so scared.”
Unable to wait another moment, Ian picked Logan up and carried him a few steps off the trail. He laid him down and stripped his pants down to his knees. Growling, Ian left the jeans bunched around Logan’s knees and folded his legs up to his shoulders, lifting his ass in the air. He swiped pre-cum from Logan’s cock, added his own, and smeared Logan’s hole, ramming inside, not giving Logan time to adjust to the force of his invasion. Logan didn’t fight him in the least. Maybe he was aware that Ian was mostly out of control. He wouldn’t hurt Logan, but he had to claim him and until he did, he wouldn’t be totally himself.
The pants around his knees were as effective as rope. All Logan could do was wiggle and squirm, not to get away but to ease the pressure and spread his lower legs as far as he could to allow Ian greater access. Ian had to be inside him, but at Logan’s choked back cry of pain, Ian froze a moment, panting for breath.
Letting Logan adjust a bit to his thickness, Ian’s voice trembled. “I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“It’s okay,” Logan said softly. “I need you too.”
Ian tried hard to gentle his movements, stroking instead of pounding him and angled his entry to reach Logan’s prostate with every stroke. Logan purred under him like a kitten, driving Ian almost mad with lust. With one or two more thrusts, Ian found his release and then collapsed down beside his mate, almost unconscious with relief and exhaustion.
When they both recovered, Ian got to his feet and helped Logan up, straightening his clothes for him solicitously. Now that Ian could think straight again, he started back down the trail to see if Zack and Casey needed any help, but he and Logan soon met them carrying Marco between them with Nicky trailing along behind, looking like he was about to collapse.
Marco was conscious, though he seemed to be not fully aware of where he was. Without a word, Ian stepped up beside Nicky and wrapped an arm around his waist, supporting him. Nicky gave him a grateful smile and with Ian on one side and Logan on the other, they followed the others down to the lodge and home.
* * * *
When their group stumbled back into the yard at Cade and Jax’s lodge, pandemonium ensued for a few moments. Excited wolves yipped and crowded around them to touch them and welcome them home. Nicky was pulled out of Ian and Logan’s arms to be engulfed in Jax’s, and when his knees gave out and he sank to the ground, he allowed himself to close his eyes for a moment and bask in the happiness of being back with his pack again. He felt a warm hand on his brow and opened his eyes to look up into Gabe’s beautiful face.
“Hello, gorgeous. I’ve never been so glad to see anyone in my life.” Gabe’s lips were trembling and his eyes were brimming with tears. Nicky reached up a tired hand to touch his cheek.
“I’m glad to see you too, Nicky,” a deep voice said from beside him, and he flinched a little to see Zack bending close. He patted Nicky’s chest though and then bit down into his wrist to start a blood flow. “Feed from me, Nicky. It won’t taste as good as Marco’s but it will make you stronger.”
Nicky nodded and glanced around for Marco before he fed himself, but Gabe knew who he was looking for and spoke soothingly in his ear. “The doctor is looking at his wounds and they’re giving him more blood. He’ll be okay, Nicky.”
Too tired and weak to even speak, Nicky sighed and latched onto Zack’s wrist. He closed his eyes again and allowed the hot blood to flow into his mouth.
Nicky awoke what must have been hours later, feeling—actually not too bad. He stretched his arms over his head and looked around himself, needing to find Marco and check on his condition. When he sat up, he saw him right away, lying on a bed next to his. He quickly crawled in beside him and wrapped a leg over Marco’s, pulling his body close.
“So you’re finally awake? I thought I might have to come over there and resuscitate you.”
Nicky raised his head in surprise and blinding relief to hear Marco’s voice speaking to him. He sounded weak and tired, but more like his old self again, and Nicky peppered his face with kisses. Laughing, Marco pushed him gently away. “Give me a second to breathe, sweetheart, and then you can have your way with me. I guess I’ll have to get used to it now that I have a badass alpha mate.”
“You’d better,” Nicky growled playfully, nibbling at his throat. “I plan on having my way with you every chance I get in the future.”
“Now that we actually have one,” Marco said softly, his chocolate brown eyes going almost black. “I thought for a few minutes there at the waterfall…”
“Don’t think about it. It’s mostly over now, thank God. I, uh, I do have a lot to tell you. I had to let Tate take a small amount of your heartsblood to get him to agree to operate on you. I think he’s going to make up his elixir and come after us again—this time as an alpha wolf.”
“Cade filled me in a little while you were asleep,” Marco said. “Let him bring it. I’d like nothing better than to face him in the ancestral ring. I’d like to tear him apart for what he’s done to you over the last couple of years.” Marco’s hand traced little circles on Nicky’s back as Nicky settled in closer to him and sighed.
“I have to say I’d have promised him anything to get him to help you.” He looked up and smiled into Marco’s eyes. “I think my wolf is even finally on board. He came out on the trail and fought for you. He wasn’t sure yet who he was, but he knew he was fighting for his pack. For the ones he loved.”
Marco squeezed him and kissed the top of his head. “That’s wonderful, baby. I’m so proud of you.”
“I think he still needs a little more training though. Maybe the next time I shift, you could show him how a wolf makes love to his mate,” Nicky murmured seductively. “Maybe your knot would, um, calm him down a little and show him for sure whom he belongs to.”
Marco closed his eyes again and smiled. Nicky thought he’d never looked so handsome…or so self-satisfied. “Now that I think I could definitely arrange.”
“We’re both counting on it,” Nicky said and snuggled down beside his mate.
*The End*
About the Author
Shannon West lives in the South with her husband and family. A lover and avid reader of M/M romances, she began writing them a few years ago and now has over forty short stories, novellas, and novels to her credit. Her series about wolf shifters, the Dark Hollows Series and the Love Slaves of the Alphas, produced sixteen international bestsellers with four of them going to number one on the third party sites. She was a finalist in the Rainbow awards for 2013, a nominee for best sci fi series in the Love Romances Café and very honored to be named an All Romance ebooks top ten author for 2013. She writes BDSM and some ménage as well. She loves men and everything about them, and believes that love is love, no matter the gender. She mostly spends her days at the keyboard, trying to elude housework, which stalks her relentlessly.
Links: www.shannonwestbooks.com
Twitter: @shannonwest8
Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/Shannon-West/e/B006M4L976/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1378053402&sr=8-2-ent
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shannon.west.399
Other Books by Shannon West
Winning Bette
Street Angel
Lube Job (with Remy Devereaux)
Georgia Heat (with Remy Devereaux)
Come Hell or High Water (with Remy Devereaux)
Fire and Ice
Training Tristan
The Alpha’s Pet (Dark Hollow Wolf Pack 1)
Cry Wolf (Dark Hollow Wolf Pack 2)
Logan’s Choice (Dark Hollow Wolf Pack 3)
Remember When
Breaking Up is Hard to Do
Gabe’s Alpha (Dark Hollow Wolf Pack 4)
Hot on His Trail (with Remy Devereaux)
Taking Charge of Brandon
/> Wolfsbane (Dark Hollow Wolf Pack 5)
Breaking Up with the Alpha (Dark Hollow Wolf Pack 6)
Gettin’ Pumped
Taking Dylan Down (with LL Brooks)
Defending Devon (with LL Brooks)
Most Wanted (Love Slaves of the Alphas 1)
Bad Moon on the Rise (Dark Hollow Wolf Pack 7)
Gettin’ Plugged
Gettin’ Picked
Gettin’ Pierced
The Alpha’s Concubine (Love Slaves of the Alphas 2)
Konnor and His Omega Mate (Love Slaves of the Alphas 3)
Gettin’ Played
Dead Reckoning, Dead Hot Vampires (with LL Brooks)
Deader Than Hell, Dead Hot Vampires (with LL Brooks)
Twice in a Blue Moon (Dark Hollow Wolf Pack 8)
Bloodlust (Dark Hollow Wolf Pack 9)
Blood of the Alphas (Dark Hollow Wolf Pack 10)
Secret Cravings Publishing
www.secretcravingspublishing.com
