Wolf's Fall (13 page)

“I thought you said she would be tube-fed?”

“That, too. The intravenous feed is extra insurance.”

He was all for that. A tube was pushed down her throat and he winced, wondering whether deep down she felt any pain or discomfort from that or the burns on her back. She was out cold, so he didn't believe so.

“She's already breathing easier,” Viktor observed.

“Thank God.” He closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, a female nurse was smoothing a white ointment all over every part of Calla that had touched the silver table. Including her buttocks. Nick's wolf growled, but was calmed by the knowledge that the person touching her was female, and had only her healing in mind. Even though the doctor had the same intentions, Nick doubted the wolf would have cut a male the same slack. Good move on the doc's part.

Calla was still pale as they finished cleaning her up, and got her into a hospital gown, then settled her in a fresh bed with warm, clean sheets. He followed when they wheeled her to an empty room.

“You were supposed to go outside with Tarron,” the doctor said.

“Yeah, well. You'll find out that I'll never follow orders where my mate is concerned, except when
it involves her well-being and immediate safety. Just so you know.”

“I understand. Just don't get in the way of my treatments, and we'll never have a problem.”

“I won't.”

That would never happen in a human hospital, but their world wasn't normal by a long shot—if “normal” even existed. The paranormal world was frightening, often brutal. Mates were a gift and nothing was allowed to interfere with that bond.

Nothing.

With a nod at Nick, Viktor and the nurse left him to sit with Calla. He would go get her brother in a few minutes. Right now, he was content to sit here, hold her hand, and watch. Make sure every single breath continued to get easier than the one before. That her cheeks pinked and she was no longer knocking at death's door.

He was a lucky wolf. He'd almost lost Calla today. His new lease on life. The reason he'd be glad to wake up every day from now on and embrace it.

Deadly determination seized his gut. He was going to find and rip apart the vampire who'd done this. No matter how long it took.

In the meantime, he was going to make good on the promise he'd made to himself.

He would get his shit together. Calla deserved a whole mate.

No, he wasn't perfect and never would be.

But he
was
falling for Calla Shaw like a ton of bricks.

*   *   *

Calla came awake slowly.

She listened to the sounds around her, unsure what to make of them. They were soft noises—beeps, talking from somewhere nearby, steady breathing. The talking between two people didn't sound like her captors. In fact, the male voice sounded like Viktor.

Am I free? Home?

Bits and pieces came back. Nick and his team arriving at the cabin as wolves. The white wolf leading the charge and decimating the human in his path. Trying to get to her.

She was lying in a comfortable bed, she realized. Her rescuers had succeeded. She could've wept in joy at the realization but she didn't have the energy. She settled for opening her eyes to determine the source of the breathing and discovered Nick, sleeping in a chair by her bed.

Her mate must be exhausted. His chest rose and fell evenly, and his body was loose-limbed in his awkward position. There were dark smudges underneath his eyes and his clothes were rumpled. She didn't want to wake him.

She watched him for a while, and as she did, emotion swelled in her chest and began to grow. He'd come for her, just as she'd known he would. She
hadn't expected to survive long enough to see him again, but she never had a doubt that he'd find her.

Nick shifted in his chair and stretched with a groan. He tried to work out the kinks, rolling his head on his neck and arching his back. Then he finally opened his eyes and looked directly into hers.

“You're awake,” he said, immediately scooting his chair close to grab her hand. His face was anxious. Haunted. “How do you feel?”

“Wiped out,” she admitted. “But overall, much better than I did last time I was conscious. I don't hurt as much and my head is pretty clear.”

“Thank God.” Raising her hand to his lips, he kissed the back of it. “You gave me quite a scare.”

“Sorry.”

“No. It's me who's sorry,” he said quietly. “This is all my fault. If I had manned up in the first place, you wouldn't have been captured. Forgive me, please.”

Such torture in those dark blue eyes. Pain. It wasn't right.

“Nick, you are
not
responsible for what those animals did. Not you, my brother, or anyone but those bastards and the monster they work for. Let's not place the blame anywhere but where it squarely belongs, all right? Because as long as we're all sitting around beating ourselves up, they're in control.”

After a moment, he gave her a tentative smile. “I have a smart woman for a mate. I'm lucky.”

“So you truly acknowledge me?” Her heart pounded in excitement.

“Yes, Calla.” Leaning over, he brushed his lips over hers. “We're mates. I'm sorry I didn't stay to talk it over with you before, at the falls. I'm yours, just as much as you're mine. I feel it, and so does my wolf.”

Taking a shaky breath, she nodded. “What do we do now?”

“Well, mates are almost always stronger together than they are apart. I suggest I remain here with my team while we're battling this new threat to your coven. We take the time we need to cement our bond. Then, when things settle down, we can decide where to live.”

The last part gave her pause. One of them would have to move away from family and friends. Calla or a guard could teleport Nick back and forth to work at the Alpha Pack's compound, but he should probably live on-site. That meant—

“You're thinking too hard.” Smiling, he ran a finger down her cheek. “One step at a time, okay?”

“Sounds like the best solution.” She tried to relax. “So, when are you busting me out of here?”

“Patience, baby. You just woke up after a pretty serious scare, and the doctor needs to clear you before I take you back to your chambers for complete bed rest. No arguments.”

“You're quite the hard-ass, Commander,” she teased.

“And don't you forget it.” He paused, growing serious again. “I have to ask. Did they touch you, sexually?” The last word was soft, as though he'd forced it out.

“That wasn't on the leader's agenda. The hunters planned on it, though, but never got the chance. You rescued me before that happened.”

He practically slumped in relief. “Okay. I'm sorry. I just had to know. If they had, I wanted to make sure you got help. Counseling, something.”

“Thank you. But it didn't happen, so I want you to forget that part. I have a question of my own, though.”

“Whatever you need to know.”

“Did you and Tarron . . .” She swallowed, pushing down the dread of his next answer. “Did you see the videos of wh-what they did to me?”

His blue eyes darkened with anger. Sorrow. “Yes. I'm sorry. I ran out to start tracking you while that monster was torturing you the first time, but I watched the rest of the recordings with Tarron a short while ago.”

“Why?” she whispered, the shame rushing back.

His reply was gentle. “To see if we could get any evidence off the recordings.”

“Evidence? Didn't you guys get the vampire? Is he dead?”

“No,” he said, voice betraying his frustration. “He got away.”

That news filled her with terror. “Any idea who he is?”

“Not yet. But we
will
figure it out, and when we do, he's going to die. Painfully.” He looked so fierce, she had to give in to a small smile.

“I'll cheer when you get him.”

“Bloodthirsty mate.”

“Literally.” Nick paled. She must've said something wrong—shit. “I'm not a danger to you, or to anyone I care about. I could never hurt you, ever. Please believe me.”

“I do. It's just hard for me to shut out what Carter put me through and move on.” He shook his head. “I believe you.
In
you. I just have to get past the mind fuck he left for me, and I'm going to do it.”

“That's a good attitude, but don't rush yourself,” she advised. “He put you through a terrible trauma. That's not something a person just
gets over
, like they're suffering from a cold.”

“Do vampires even get colds?”

“No, and quit trying to distract me while I'm lecturing you.” She frowned at him, and he laughed.

“I'd never presume. I'm looking forward to an eternity of listening to my beautiful mate.”

“Ha! You'll listen, but will you heed what I say?”

He arched a black brow. “If it's in our best interest as mates, yes. If I feel you're clearly wrong, then no.”

“I see how this is going to be.” She sighed.

“That's what you get for hooking up with the Alpha of the Alphas. You don't buy steak expecting bologna.” His grin said he was very much enjoying their small bit of sparring.

“Good grief,” she murmured, rolling her eyes. She liked his teasing as well. “Get me out of here, please? If I have to rest, I'd rather do it in my own bed.”

“Anything for the
princess
.”

His tone when he said “princess”
wasn't mocking, but rather lightly teasing, so she let it pass. A short time later, she was released with strict instructions to rest for at least two days. Then Nick seated her in a wheelchair, over her strenuous protests, and rolled her to her chambers, where he lifted her into his arms and carried her to bed.

“I kind of like this part,” she told him, resting her head on his broad chest.

“Me, too. But next time I'll be carrying you to bed for a much happier reason.”

The idea made her hot inside, flushed and feverish. She wanted him again. Couldn't wait for him to claim her. She just hoped he allowed her to do the same, because if he didn't—

No. That didn't bear thinking about. And she wasn't going to tell him, either, and have him feel
guilty. Nick had to allow it of his own free will. She wouldn't accept him if he was afraid or felt coerced.

Once she was settled, he leaned over and kissed her. “Rest.”

She didn't want to, but had no choice. Her eyes closed and she surrendered to healing sleep.

*   *   *

When Calla awoke the next morning, she was alone.

She didn't much like it, and wondered where Nick could be. Probably working with Tarron and his team to locate the rogue vampire and the hunters helping him. That alliance made no sense yet. But Nick and her brother's men would learn the reason if it took weeks or longer.

Rising, she pushed from the bed and took stock. She definitely felt better, though she was hungry. Blood was on the menu this morning and it pained her that it couldn't be Nick's. He could donate it to her in a cup, but that wasn't what she wanted. She'd drink from her mate's vein or not at all.

A donor it would have to be, then. Picking up the phone, she called for a pint and grimaced. Taking any blood from a mug was disgusting to her, but now that she had a new mate-to-be in her life, there was no chance she'd drink from other male and rouse his protective instincts. His jealousy. An angry, possessive mate was never a good thing.

The pint was delivered and the guard at the
door took a sip to make sure it hadn't been tampered with. After a moment, he deemed it safe and left her alone. This was a new measure and she hated the necessity, but after recent events she was hardly going to argue.

Curling up on her sofa, she sipped the lukewarm blood and flipped through a magazine. Try as she might, it didn't take away the heavy knowledge of today's significance. The anniversary of the day Stefano was kidnapped. Sorrow crept in, softer and more muted than in years past, not quite as debilitating. Because of Nick, the loss was bearable.

As if she'd summoned him, there was a knock on the door just before the commander stepped inside and closed it behind him.

“Hey,” she said, tossing the magazine aside. “Where have you been?”

“In a meeting with your brother and our men.” He crossed the room in a few strides and sat, gathering her into his lap. “Are you all right?”

Leaning back, she cupped his face and kissed him. “What makes you ask?”

“Tarron told me what today means to you.” His expression was one of concern, not jealousy or anger.

She swallowed hard. “Yeah.”

“Is there anything I can do, baby?” He stroked her hair.

“I'm okay. It's gotten a bit easier over the years.”

“But it never goes away,” he told her. “I understand, believe me. When Darrow murdered Jennifer, I thought my world had ended. And in a very real sense, it had. For a long time I just wanted to follow her to the other side, but something held me back.”

“Hope,” she guessed. “Somewhere, deep down, you hoped to reconcile with your daughter one day.”

“I like to think that was it, and not that I was too big a coward to end it.”

“I don't believe that.” She fell quiet for a moment, and then asked, “What was the mistake you made? Will you tell me now?”

His heart pounded under her palm as she laid it on his chest. He held her gaze as he responded. “I knew it was wrong to try to change the future. But I used my power as a PreCog to save Selene from being murdered by a rogue vampire—Carter Darrow. All it accomplished was turning his attention from my daughter to my mate. I saved Selene but caused Jennifer's murder in her place.”

“Oh, Nick. I'm so sorry.”

“Selene blamed me for years, thinking I'd actively and purposely killed her mother, and came here not too long ago intending to kill me. She met Zander then, and her plans didn't quite turn out as she'd thought they would.”