by Jade Alters
He flung his skinny arms around me and I held on tight. I kissed the top of his head. “I love you.”
I gave Debra a quick hug too and then I took off through the edge of the woods.
Shit. Now the first guy was back up, and he had a knife. I kept running. I might be able to create a distraction, but once I got there, I wouldn’t be much good in a fight. Hunter had shown me the gun safe last week, and he’d given me a refresher course in shooting, but I’d have to get to the guns without being seen.
Getting back to Debra and Jacob was my priority, but if they were safe in the woods, I couldn’t leave Hunter unprotected.
Still hidden in the woods, I made it to the house. I waited in the edge of the woods for a minute or so, but I didn’t see any other men. I crept up to the front porch, and through the open door. Bingo. Hunter’s keys were on the entryway table, right where they were supposed to be. After I got his truck backed up, a howl of pain filled the air.
Hunter.
I couldn’t leave him.
The ground wasn’t wet, and his SUV could handle the grass. I pulled the SUV around the house and drove. One of the men was dead, but the other had wedged himself behind the grill, and he had a shotgun. Making sure my seatbelt was tight, I drove straight at him.
He didn’t have time to move. I really didn’t want to kill anyone, but I wasn’t going to watch while a low-life criminal killed a really good man. So I rammed the car into the grill. If I killed him, I’d have to deal with that later.
The impact jerked my seatbelt tight across my shoulder, but the airbag didn’t go off. As I jumped from the car, I paused to kneel beside the man. He was pinned in between the grill and house, but he wasn’t dead. Before he could wake up and start shooting again, I grabbed the shotgun and ran to Hunter, who was lying on the ground.
His eyes were open, but his breath came in great, gasping pants and blood matted his fur.
“Hey.” I ran my hand over his fur. “I called your Colonel. He should be here soon. Just hang on.”
Hunter shuddered, and within seconds, he’d shifted back into a man. Blood covered pretty much every part of his body.
“Need my leg,” he said.
“I’ll get it for you,” I assured him. “Just stay there and don’t try to move.”
“Well isn’t this a pretty picture,” a voice said. “A woman standing by her man.”
Oh damn.
Behind me, a third man stood in the doorway. Of course, he was armed.
“Fuck,” Hunter said. “Cassandra, he won’t hesitate to shoot you. Don’t provoke him. Give me a second and I’ll shift, and you run to the safe room. Stay inside until I’ve dealt with him.”
The man had an odious laugh. “Now. Lady, you push that shotgun away, and get up. Then you come up here and stand by me. I’ve got a nice pair of handcuffs to keep you from causing any more trouble.”
Slowly, I stood up. Before I could get any closer to the man, my heart stopped.
No.
Jacob was back, running at full tilt from the woods.
“No,” Jacob screamed. “You can’t hurt him!”
I had to put myself in between my baby and this lunatic on the porch. “Jacob, get down,” I yelled, taking off toward him.
Hunter
No.
Not Jacob. I would not let anything happen to him.
Not the cub, my bear added.
A second before, I’d been half-conscious, desperately trying to find the energy to shift and give Cassandra a chance to get away from the man.
When Jacob came flying across the yard, and the thug pointed that gun at him, adrenaline spiked through my veins. Without trying, I shifted. I jumped to my feet and rushed at the man on the porch.
When he saw me coming, his mouth hung open; his gun dangled from his hand. I leaped at him, claws out, teeth bared. Within seconds of making contact, he was dead.
Was he the last one?
I couldn’t smell another one. But I’d missed this one. I’d missed the fact that these three criminals tailed me and Cassandra from her house.
My body hit the ground. My cheek smashed into the edge of the porch. The copper taste of blood seeped into my mouth and coated my tongue.
I’d failed her. And Jacob.
In the distance, Debra’s voice rang out.
Jacob’s face appeared in front of mine. “Please don’t die,” he cried. “I want you to be here,” he sobbed.
I tried to lift my paw, but it didn’t move.
“Hunter, can you shift back to human?” Her voice was frantic, but everything was fine. I tried to tell her that, but the words didn’t form.
Someone poked my cheek. “Hunter Kensington. You shift back right this instant.”
Aunt Debra. Maybe I could do it for her. With the last bit of strength, I managed to push my body back into its weak human form.
“Oh thank God,” I heard Debra say.
My eyes closed as the scent of lemons filled the air around me.
Cassandra.
Mate.
Mine.
She was safe. Jacob was safe. Debra was safe. That was all that mattered.
Their voices faded out, as darkness closed over me.
Cassandra
“Hunter!” I grabbed his wrist to check his pulse. It was faint, but it was there. His breathing was unsteady, but it was enough to keep him alive.
I looked at Debra. This might be her nephew, but I needed her to be a nurse right now. “If you have a first aid kit, I need it. Along with some blankets.” I tapped Jacob on the arm. I would have preferred to comfort him, but it would have to wait. “Sweetie, bring me a bowl of water and the towels in the kitchen.”
With the water Jacob brought, I washed away the worst of the blood so I could see the gunshot wounds. Hunter had one in his shoulder, and one in his thigh, but he had a long, deep gash along his ribs. One of them must have gotten close with a knife.
Debra returned with the first aid kit, which was very well stocked, and we got him covered with a blanket to keep him warm. After that, I packed all his wounds with gauze. “I can get these bullets out,” I said. “But it’s been a while since I worked in an ER. What do you want me to do?” I asked Debra.
“Let’s get them out,” she said. “I was a midwife to the shifter clan a long time ago. I can help.”
I didn’t want Jacob out here, but I didn’t want to send him away either.
Debra must have noticed my distress. “Jacob, can you go inside and make two glasses of hot tea?”
“I saw him. I knew he was the bear,” Jacob said in a tiny voice. “That’s why I ran.”
Debra reached for his hand and squeezed. “You’re a wonderful boy, Jacob Wyecraft.”
He sniffed a few times. “I’ll get the tea,” he said and ran off, probably wanting to help as much as he could.
“Thank you,” I whispered to her. “I don’t see rubbing alcohol in here,” digging through the kit.
“Most of our medicine is the same as a human’s would be,” she said. “But one perk is that our immune systems are better, so he won’t get an infection from this. So don’t worry about that.”
At that point, I was able to go into the zone and find the same quiet in my head that I’d found during my time working in the ER, with Debra as a quiet and capable assistant. It was very different than focusing on a sick child in a clinic. Once I’d gotten both bullets out, and stitched the cut in his side, I heard a gravel crunching.
Distantly, I heard car doors slam. Flinching, I looked around for Jacob, but Debra patted my hand. “It’s Colonel Levine and Sergeant Jones. They’ll take care of the mess around here. If we need to take Hunter to the base hospital, they can help with that too. I always prefer to avoid doctors when I can. I don’t trust them.” She gave me a wry smile. “No offense, honey. You are a great nurse.”
She turned her head and said in a loud voice, “Boys, give us just a minute. Then I’ll be at the front door.” She must have gotten a
satisfactory reply because she nodded. “They’ll keep for a few minutes,” she said.
Hunter’s face was pale, but he was still breathing. I brushed my hand across his forehead. I’d have given anything to see his blue eyes right about then. “I’m pretty sure I got all the bullets out, and the stitches should be fine, but I can’t tell if he has internal injuries.”
“He absolutely won’t want to go. I’m afraid some of my distrust of the medical profession has rubbed off on him, and the smells and sounds are hard on a shifter in distress. If I thought these wounds would endanger his life, I’d override that desire, but we can take him tomorrow for a checkup. With both of us here, we’ll recognize the signs if he’s not getting better.”
She put her hand on my cheek. “Plus we wouldn’t be able to take you and Jacob with us, not yet. I’m sure he’s told you, but the shifters can be pretty stingy about letting humans into their spaces.”
“Wouldn’t that be a problem if we decided to get serious?” Hunter’s declaration about wanting us to have a real relationship stuck in my mind.
“For a few, yes. But most of them will happily accept a human once they get to know you, especially if she or he is a mate.”
Mate? That was something to ask about later. I was pretty sure I had zero ability to cope with whatever Debra meant by the word mate. That was just too much to process. “Okay. Thank you for telling me,” I managed to say. Wow, what a feeble reply on my part.
Thankfully, Debra took charge. “Now, I’m going to go let the soldiers in that are at the door, and they can get Hunter moved into his bed.”
As she stood, Jacob came out carrying two mugs. “Thanks, sweetie,” I said.
Debra accepted the mug from Jacob. “Thank you. You are a remarkable young man.”
“Will Hunter be okay?” he asked with a tremble in his voice.
“I think he will,” she said. “He’s tough.”
She looked back at me. “You go and have a hot shower, then take this young man and relax. I’ll stay with Hunter, and get everything else squared away.”
I looked down at my hands which were covered in blood. Blood had also soaked into most of my shirt and pants.
She was right. I needed a shower, and to give Jacob a break from all this trauma. “Okay, let’s go.” I led Jacob to the room where I’d been staying and locked the door. I got Harry Potter set up on my tablet and pointed to the armchair in the corner. “Sit there and watch this, and do not leave this room.” I pressed a kiss to his head. If I hugged him, I’d probably never let go, and I didn’t want him to see me covered in Hunter’s blood any longer than he had to, and I sure as hell didn’t want to rub any blood on him.
Poor kid. He’d seen his new friend and mentor turn into a bear, be forced to kill people, and then had to deal with seeing him seriously injured. I would definitely be calling a therapist for both of us sooner rather than later.
And we’d have to have a serious discussion about him keeping the shifter details to himself.
That would be alongside the other serious talk we’d have, about Jacob about throwing himself into danger. I didn’t look forward to it, because I knew he’d insist that I’d taught him to stick up for people who were in trouble. And he was right. Part of me admired the kid’s courage, but the mom part of me wanted to lock him in a room and never let him out.
Under the steaming water, Hunter’s blood washed away, down the drain. He could have died. Because of me. I’d been the one to show up while he was working on a case. I’d distracted him, and he’d insisted on following me home. Then the smugglers found us, and he’d had to save us again.
Why hadn’t I told him I’d date him? What was my hold up? Because of Jacob? No. That kid was obviously willing to run straight through fire to get to Hunter.
Because I was afraid of losing another partner?
I wanted nothing more than to go crawl into bed with Hunter. I wanted to tell him his idea was perfect -- that dating sounded like a great idea.
But I couldn’t because he was lying on the ground, terribly injured because he’d been trying to protect us.
The following morning, Hunter’s color was a lot better. His breathing was steady, and his heart rate was normal for a shifter, according to Debra.
“He’s fine, honey. You can leave for a little bit.”
I’d been sitting by his bed for several hours.“I hate to go while he’s still out.”
“He’ll understand.”
Every year since we lost Richard, I’d held a small memorial to honor him on the anniversary of his death. I’d planned it a month ago. My best friend would be there, and some of Richard’s unit would be there.
I let Debra convince me, and I went on to the memorial.
This year, along with the gaping hole that Richard had left in our lives, I had a new problem. Standing there in the cemetery under the blazing sun, and the smell of summer grass in the air, I missed Hunter, and I wanted to be at home with him when he woke up.
Richard was gone. I’d always hold this memorial and celebrate his father’s life with Jacob, but I didn’t have to stop living my own life. Jacob needed to move on, and so did I.
After our friends had paid their respects, Jacob and I placed flowers on his father’s grave and sat down to talk to him.
Hunter
Waking up feeling like shit was nothing new. It had happened multiple times on missions, but most of the time I woke up on the ground with other shifters nearby.
The surface under me was my bed, not the clinic at the base, thank God. The last time I’d felt this bad was after I lost my leg. I froze, heart pounding until I moved all four limbs. Everything was still there -- I hadn’t lost any more body parts.
My shoulder and thigh throbbed in unison, and my right rib cage was a straight line of fire.
The house was quiet. I couldn’t hear or smell anyone but my aunt.
Fuck. Jacob.
The last thing I remembered was shifting so I could get in between him and the man with the gun.
Where was he? Was he okay? I shoved myself up, ignoring the searing sting that shot through my body. Someone, probably Debra, had left my prosthetic propped against the bed.
And Cassandra. Where the hell was she? She’d rammed my SUV into one of the smugglers. Impressive, but terrifying to watch.
Mate. Protect.
I know, buddy. We’re going to find them.
Before I could get out, my bedroom door flew open. “What do you think you’re doing?” Debra marched straight toward me and pushed on my good shoulder. “If you get up, you need to move slowly.”
“Where’s Cassandra? And Jacob.”
“Ah. I should have left you a note. I didn’t think about you panicking.”
“Yeah, the last time I saw them, a hardened criminal had a gun pointed at Jacob!”
“Right. I’m sorry honey. He’s fine. Cassandra’s fine. Today was the anniversary of her husband’s death. She and Jacob went to the cemetery.”
Oh. I guess I had my answer. She hadn’t mentioned this to me. I was never going to be able to compete with Richard, and I didn’t want to. Cassandra wasn’t ready to date, and I would never want to pressure her.
“You should go to the cemetery.”
“That seems intrusive.”
“No. If he’d died last year, maybe. But not now. Even if you aren’t going to be anything but friends, you can show her that support. You can show that support for Jacob. That friends show up for important days.”
That was true enough. My own unit had never left me alone to stew after my accident, and Debra had always been there for me too.
I heaved myself up out of the bed. I had a memorial to get to.
At the cemetery, Jacob saw me first. He came rushing at me, skidding to a stop at the very last second. “Hunter! You’re up!”
“Come here.” I opened my arms and he threw his skinny arms around me. It wasn’t comfortable on my ribs, but it was worth it.
He lowe
red his voice to a whisper. “I told my mom magic wasn’t real. And I didn’t think it was. But it is. You’re magic. I won’t tell anyone.” He sighed into my chest. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Jacob.” I ran my hand down the back of his head.
My bear rumbled in agreement.
“Hi,” I said. This was a new one for me. In our extended clan, I’d comforted mates who’d lost their significant other. I’d never been trying to date one. But it was clear I needed to put that on hold and be a friend.
“Hi,” she replied. “How are you feeling? I’m shocked to see you up already.”
“Shifter healing has some definite benefits. Although Debra drove me.” I motioned over my shoulder. “She’s waiting in the car for now.” I cleared my throat. “This isn’t the best time, but I spoke to my CO earlier. The three men that followed us were the last of the active smuggling ring. The FBI is going to keep the investigation open, but the threat to any of us should be gone.
“That’s great news. Thank you.”
He nodded. “I wanted to pay my respects.”
“That’s so thoughtful of you. We both appreciate it.” Cassandra rubbed her hands over her bare arms. “I usually take Jacob to lunch after we’re done here. Do you think there’s any way Debra would take him?”
“I’m sure she’d love to. Why? Do you have to work?”
“No. I’m off today.” Her eyes went to the sky, then back to the ground before she finally looked at me again. “I was hoping for some time alone to talk to you.”
“I’ll ask her.”
Was it a good sign that she wanted to be alone to talk to me? I had no idea. She might not want to date, but in light of what happened yesterday, I was going to tell her I loved her, and if she ended it, then at least she’d know how I felt.
Cassandra
After he left for Debra’s car, I put my hand on Richard’s headstone. “I love you,” I said. “You were the best husband and a wonderful father. You told me to move on, and I think I’m finally ready.” The stone was cool under my hand. “Goodbye, Richard. We’ll see you again at Thanksgiving.”