by Karen Lynch
“Anytime, chica.”
Roland
Home, sweet home.
Pete picked up the pace when we saw his house through the trees on Monday morning. I would have teased him about rushing to see his mate if I didn’t envy him so much. I could be coming home to my own mate today if I hadn’t handled things so badly with Emma Friday night.
Her story had floored me, and I hadn’t been able to deal with thinking about what she’d been or what Eli had done to her. She’d opened herself up to me, and what had I done? I’d left her there alone. Instead of staying with her and comforting her after all she’d been through, I’d bailed. If she wanted nothing to do with me now, it was what I deserved.
We stopped at the edge of the woods and shifted. Francis grabbed his clothes from the run box first. He yanked on his jeans and set off toward the house without a glance in my direction. It had been like that for the last two days. I wasn’t sure what Maxwell had hoped to achieve by sending us out together, but I didn’t think it had worked. It was going to take longer than a weekend for my cousin to stop resenting me for being chosen as the next Alpha. I’d give it a decade, at least.
“Catch you later,” Pete said. He barely waited long enough to zip up his fly before he followed Francis, eager to see Shannon. I had a feeling Pete was going to be a few hours late for work today.
I hurried to pull on my own clothes. After two long days away from Emma, I was dying to see her, but she probably wasn’t up yet. I had no idea what kind of reception I’d get from her, but I’d be outside her place, waiting for her to talk to me.
Pulling my phone from my jeans pocket, I powered it on. The battery was low, but I wanted to see if I had a message from Emma. It was more hope than expectation, and I wasn’t surprised to see nothing from her.
There were three voicemails from a number I didn’t recognize. When I hit play on the first one, I was surprised to hear Jordan’s voice. My surprise quickly gave way to apprehension when I heard her message.
“Roland, I hope you get this message soon. I’m at Mercy Hospital in Portland with Emma. The hospital called me because I’m one of her emergency contacts. She was in an accident yesterday in New Hastings and she’s a little banged up, but the doctor said she’ll be okay. She told me about you two, so I think you should be here. See you soon.”
I stared frozen at the screen for a moment before I set off running for my house. My keys were in my pocket so I jumped into the Mustang and took off. It wasn’t until I hit the interstate that I remembered to play Jordan’s other messages. Her voice was less friendly on the second one, which had come in last night.
“Roland Greene, where the hell are you? You have a lot to answer for, buddy. Emma said you were freaked about what she told you, but that’s no excuse for not being here. Do you know how upset she is? You better get your ass over here because your girl needs you.”
“Fuck,” I muttered, hitting play on the third message, which I’d received an hour ago.
“Wolf Boy, so help me. You better be lying unconscious somewhere because that’s the only excuse you can have for not being here with Emma. Especially since it’s your damn fault she’s here. Thank God at least one of us cares about your mate.”
“Oh, Jesus.”
My gut knotted painfully. Jordan’s anger didn’t bother me as much as the fact that Emma had been in the hospital for two days, thinking I didn’t care enough to be there. The thought of her in pain created a lump in my throat, and I hit the gas harder. Despite Jordan’s assurance that Emma was okay, I tortured myself imagining her in a hospital bed hooked up to machines.
I was a wreck by the time I got to the hospital and found out what floor Emma was on. I spotted someone at the nurses’ station and hurried over to ask for the room number. Before I could reach it, Jordan intercepted me, looking like a vengeful angel.
“It’s about damn time you got here,” she whisper-yelled at me. “Where the hell have you been?”
“I was hunting,” I said in a low voice. “I just got back an hour ago. How is Emma?”
“She’s asleep. You don’t check your phone?”
It was my turn to scowl. “Maxwell doesn’t allow us to take phones with us when we hunt.”
She pulled me into an empty waiting room. “Why would you go off hunting after what happened Friday night? That was a dick move, Roland.”
“I know.” I rubbed my face miserably. “Maxwell ordered me to go, and I thought it would help if I got away for a while.”
“You mean you ran away,” she accused. “That girl’s been through hell, and you have no idea how hard it was for her to open up to you. Yeah, the vampire did some horrible things, but Emma was a victim, just like Nate. If you can’t see that, then you don’t deserve her.”
My gut twisted. “Where is she? I need to explain…”
Jordan grabbed my arm. “Hold up. Before you see Emma, I want to know why you didn’t keep her safe from that she-wolf. You had to know that female was dangerous after she nearly attacked Emma the first time.”
A chill ran down my spine. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about that bitch Lex. She tried to kill Emma on Saturday.”
“What?” I croaked.
“Emma was riding her scooter on some old road down by the cliffs when Lex stopped her and told her to stay away from you. When Emma tried to leave, Lex shifted and chased her.”
I stared at her. “She caused Emma’s accident?”
“She chased Emma to the main road where Emma almost ran into a minivan. The driver told the police he saw a large white dog behind the scooter. What color is Lex?”
My heart began to pound and my hands curled into fists as I was swamped by rage and guilt. Jordan was right, this was my fault. If I’d reported Lex to Maxwell like I should have, she never would have hurt Emma. I’d thought she’d given up on me when she found out I’d imprinted on Emma. For Lex to try to kill a human, especially a werewolf’s mate, there had to be something seriously wrong with her.
Jordan snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Hey, chill. Your fangs are showing.”
I took deep breaths until I calmed down and my canines receded.
“I’ll take care of Lex,” I said in a hard voice. “But I need to see Emma first.”
“Second door past the nurses’ station. Fair warning, Wolf Boy. If you make her cry, I’m going to neuter you.”
I nodded and went to Emma’s room. Easing the door shut behind me, I walked around the curtain blocking the bed. My stomach clenched when I saw her lying in the bed, hooked up to an IV. Her face was pale, and her dark hair was fanned out across the pillow. She had a cast on her right arm from her wrist to her elbow, but I couldn’t see any head injuries. Thank God for the helmet or she might have…
I swallowed painfully and walked over to the bed. Her hand felt cold and small in mine, and her fingers twitched at my touch.
“I’m so sorry, Emma. I never should have left you.”
I sat on the chair beside the bed, still holding her hand. Seeing her like this scared me. It was a harsh reminder of how vulnerable she was, how easily I could have lost her. And her last memory of us would have been of me walking away from her.
Jordan was right, I’d run away at the time Emma had needed me most because I couldn’t cope. She had been through horrors I couldn’t even begin to imagine, and she’d confided in me because she loved me. And how had I repaid her trust? In one breath, I’d told her I loved her and nothing would change how I felt about her, and in the next, I’d turned my back on her.
An hour passed before she stirred. Her eyes opened slowly, and she turned her head to look at our joined hands. Her eyes lifted to mine, and the sadness in her gaze gutted me.
“Hey,” I said softly. “How are you feeling?”
She wet her lips. “I’m okay.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner. I was hunting, and I didn’t know about the accident. I came as soon as I got Jordan’
s message.”
She gave a little nod and looked away.
“Are you in pain? Can I get you anything?”
“No,” she said in a hollow voice that made my chest ache. I could feel her withdrawing from me, and I was desperate to set things right.
The door opened and a middle-aged doctor entered, followed by Jordan. Emma quietly pulled her hand from mine and looked at the smiling woman, whose name tag said Dr. Elyse Webber.
“Good news, Emma. We’re kicking you out of here.” She checked on Emma’s cast and took some of her vitals. “Everything looks good, but you’ll have to take it easy until those cracked ribs heal. The cast will have to stay on for six weeks.”
Cracked ribs and a broken arm? My anger flared again. Lex would pay dearly for this. If she were a male, I’d kill her for hurting my mate.
Dr. Webber consulted the chart at the foot of the bed. “I can give you a prescription for pain meds if you need them.”
“I’m good,” Emma said quietly.
“Okay then. I’ll send the nurse in to remove your IV, and we’ll get you out of here. If you have any problems, come back to see us.”
“I will.”
As soon as the doctor left, Jordan took over. She went to the cupboard and retrieved a plastic shopping bag that contained a pair of jeans and a top.
“I picked up some clean clothes for you to wear home. I figured you wouldn’t want to put on your old things.”
Emma smiled wanly. “Thanks.”
Jordan looked at me and pointed at the door. “You want to wait outside?”
“Yes.” I turned to Emma. “I need to make a call. I’ll be back when you’re ready to leave.”
She simply nodded, and her lack of response worried me. She’d barely said five words to me since she woke up.
The waiting room was occupied, so I went outside. I didn’t want anyone to overhear the conversation I was about to have.
Maxwell’s phone rang twice before he answered. “Are you calling to tell me why you’re not at work?”
“Yeah. I’m at Mercy Hospital with Emma. Lex Waters tried to kill her.”
“What?” he snapped.
I related what Jordan had told me. Then I told him about Lex’s pursuit of me and her growing aggression toward Emma, ending with the incident at the campsite last weekend.
“Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?” he demanded.
“I thought I had it handled and that Lex would let it go after she found out I’d imprinted. If I’d known she would do something like this, I wouldn’t have left town.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “Emma could have died. Lex has to pay for that.”
He let out a harsh breath. “This is a very serious allegation, Roland. I’m not saying I don’t believe your mate, but it will be her word against Lex’s.”
Anger surged in me. I knew the Alpha had to be an impartial judge, but there was no way Lex was getting away with this. She’d gone too far.
“The driver of the car Emma almost ran into said he saw a large white dog chasing Emma. How many white wolves are in town now?”
He was quiet for several seconds. “Two that I know of. I’ll call them in and send Francis to check out that old road. If a wolf has been there in the last few days, he’ll pick up their scent.”
“What will you do with her?” I asked, confident Francis would smell Lex at the scene of the accident.
“I don’t know yet, but if she harmed your mate, she’ll be punished. You have my word on that. How is Emma?”
I watched an ambulance arrive at the emergency room, and I shivered. Emma had been in one of those two days ago.
“She has a broken arm and some cracked ribs. They’re releasing her soon.”
He exhaled loudly. “Take the day off and be with your mate. I’ll call you when I know more.”
I hung up and went back to Emma’s room to find her dressed and sitting on the bed. She was still pale, and she held her injured arm against her stomach. I wanted so bad to hold her, but I was afraid of hurting her.
Jordan came in behind me, waving some papers. “All checked out.”
“I’ll get the car and pull it up outside for you.” I fished in my pocket for my keys.
“Jordan is taking me home,” Emma said softly.
Before I could object, Jordan dangled her car keys. “My BMW will be more comfortable for her than the Mustang. You can follow us.”
The BMW might be more comfortable, but it was clear in the way Emma avoided my gaze that she didn’t want to ride with me. I could feel the distance growing between us, but I couldn’t press her while she was in this condition. She was recovering from a terrible ordeal, and I’d give her space if that was what she needed.
A nurse brought a wheelchair for Emma. She protested weakly that she didn’t need one, but she soon gave in. I wheeled her down to the front entrance and stayed with her while Jordan went to get the car. Emma didn’t say a word the whole time we were alone, and I didn’t try to get her to talk. There was so much I needed to say to her, but now wasn’t the time.
Jordan pulled up the car, and Emma let me help her into the passenger seat and strap her in. My hand lingered on her shoulder before I made myself step back and shut her door.
I walked around to the driver’s side, and Jordan looked up from the cell phone in her hand. “I’ll take good care of her.”
“I know.” There were few people I’d trust with her safety, and Jordan was one of them.
My phone vibrated as they were driving away, and I pulled it out to read the two texts from Jordan.
Give her a day or two. She’s been through a lot.
Don’t ask me why, but I’m pretty sure she loves you.
I stared at the second text for a long moment before I laid the phone aside and started the car. Jordan’s words gave me hope that my stupidity hadn’t cost me the only girl I’d ever loved. I hadn’t wanted a mate yet, but I couldn’t imagine my life without Emma. All I could do was hope she felt the same way about me.
Chapter 24
Emma
It felt strange to be back in my apartment, even though I’d only been gone for two days. But it was nice to be surrounded by my things and not the constant smells of antiseptic and disinfectant.
The best part was being able to take a shower and wear my own clothes. Jordan wrapped my cast in plastic and helped me shampoo my hair. I was too tired and sore to care about modesty. She even dried my hair and brushed it out for me, prompting me to say I could get used to being pampered like this. And then, she ruined it by shoving another glob of gunna paste in my mouth.
“I couldn’t give you too much in the hospital because they’d notice how fast you were healing. If you take this four times a day, that arm will be better in a few days.”
I couldn’t argue with that. I’d only been wearing the cast for two days, and already I wanted it gone. Thankfully, my ribs were almost healed already.
Jordan’s cooking skills weren’t as good, so we had sandwiches for lunch. I didn’t have much of an appetite, but she wouldn’t let me up from the table until I ate at least half my sandwich.
“You’ve been pretty quiet today,” she said after she finished her second sandwich. “Want to talk about it?”
“Just trying to work out some stuff.”
She nodded and took our plates to the sink to wash them. “When you told me about you and Roland, I was kind of surprised. He never made any secret of the fact he didn’t want a serious relationship. But when he showed up at the hospital this morning, all he could think about was seeing you. He nearly lost it when I told him what that Lex chick did.”
I didn’t want to talk about Roland, but I couldn’t stop from asking. “Lost it how?”
She turned and leaned against the counter. “He started to shift. That only happens to pups or adult wolves in a highly emotional state. That boy has it bad for you.”
“He said he loved me before I told him about my past.” It was hard to think of that night
and how quickly the adoration in his eyes had changed to revulsion.
“You don’t think he still loves you?”
I shook my head. “I think he does, but sometimes love is not enough.”
Her brows knit. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that some people are not meant to be together no matter how they feel about each other. Roland is a werewolf, and I’m an ex-vampire. I don’t think you could find two people more unsuited for each other. I knew that from the beginning, and if I’d listened to my head instead of my heart, none of this would have happened.”
Jordan crossed her arms. “There’s no logic to love, and who cares how different you are. Obviously, Roland doesn’t, or he wouldn’t have imprinted on you. So, he freaked out a little when he heard about the whole vampire thing. He also came running the second he heard you were hurt. Give him a chance to grovel and plead his case before you write him off.”
“Grovel?”
She snickered. “That’s more for my amusement than anything else.”
I gave her a small smile. “I don’t want to talk about my disastrous love life anymore. Tell me about what you’ve been up to. You haven’t mentioned your Egyptian warrior in ages.”
She made a moue. “That one’s a lost cause. Last I heard, he was in South Africa.”
“That’s too bad.”
“Yeah.” She sighed loudly. “He had a really nice sword.”
It felt good to laugh, even if it made my ribs hurt a little. Jordan told me stories about her adventures in Los Angeles, and her face glowed with excitement. She and I were so different. She loved the warrior life, always moving around, fighting, and I wanted a quiet, stable life. She’d never be able to stay long in a place like this, and I could have stayed here forever.
Marie called after lunch, and I was careful not to tell her I’d been in the hospital. Since our reunion, our roles had somehow flipped, and she’d started acting like the big sister. She worried about me living here alone, pointing out that technically I was only eighteen. It still felt strange thinking of my ten-year-old sister as a woman in her thirties, but she was also trying to adjust to our new relationship.