by Terra Wolf
There was so much blood. So many small rivers of blood that had soaked into the concrete.
I saw Ford hovering over Grant as he grimaced on the ground. He was back in his human form. Blood was seeping from his shoulder as he held onto it, his face contorted in pain. I ran around to his head and fell to my knees, gathering his body and placing it on mine. I didn’t care that I was getting his blood on my jeans and I didn’t care that Ford was yelling at me to get back. I swatted at the men grabbing for me as tears rose to my eyes.
Grant had a huge gash of claws running down his torso.
Grant wasn’t opening his eyes.
“Just look at me,” I said in a whisper. “Just open your eyes, Grant.”
I brushed my fingertips along Grant’s forehead as I smoothed the dirt and sweat away from his skin. I could feel my body trembling as his blood soaked into my jeans. I started massaging his temples, looking for something to calm his shaking body. Jackson ran over and handed Ford a towel which he pressed onto Grant’s torso, eliciting a moan of pain from between his lips as tears began to trickle down my face.
I watched one drip onto Grant’s forehead, prompting his eyes to flutter open.
“Violet,” he said.
“‘Bout damn time you opened your eyes,” I said.
Ford pressed the towel farther into Grant’s torso as he cried out in pain.
“His healing abilities should have kicked in by now,” Ford said as he began wrapping Grant’s shoulder. “But he may have lost too much blood before he shifted.”
“I need you to keep your eyes open for me, okay?” I asked.
“Bit hard to do that,” Grant said.
“You’ve done hard. You keep those fucking eyes open for me, okay? You don’t have a choice.”
“Guess things could be… worse…”
Ford kept applying more and more pressure as the guys began to gather around.
“Will someone call a fucking doctor!?” I asked.
“Jackson?” Ford asked.
“Already on it,” Jackson said.
I smoothed through Grant’s hair as my other hand massaged his scalp. He was trembling so badly, and I was scared he would lock up. I massaged any stiff muscle I could get my hands on as Ford watched me carefully. I could feel the tension growing. I could feel the worry mounting. There was so much blood, and Grant was growing weak, and I was helpless to help the one man that had helped me.
That had helped me tap into a part of myself I refused to acknowledge for years.
“You gotta stop bleeding, Grant,” I said. “You only got so much.”
“Not sure I got control over that,” Grant said. “Sorry.”
His teeth started chattering as my eyes rose to Ford’s. I could see the questions and confusion running through his eyes, but I didn’t have time to answer his questions. There was so much that had to happen in order to save Grant, and I wasn’t sure if whoever Jackson was calling would get here in time.
Chapter 13
Grant
The moment I saw Ford drop I ran to be with Violet. I was not going to let her get hurt. I was not going to allow the asshole moves of some bullshit rival pack hurt her in any way. I could hear growls behind me and I knew I had to deflect them elsewhere.
I told Violet to stay put then did the only thing I could. I put my body between her and them. I shifted and stood my ground as I let the coyotes attack me. When they jumped onto my back I did my best to shake them off and slam them down to the ground. I killed every damn coyote I could.
I could hear people shouting at me to get back. Yelling at me to get behind something and take cover.
But I wasn’t having it.
No one was going to hurt the only family I’d come to know.
I don’t even know when I got hurt. It was sometime between the last coyote I took out and the time they started taking off like the pussies they were. All of a sudden, there was this searing ache in my abdomen. I could feel a warmth cascading down my stomach and I forced my body to shift back to my human form.
I laid there on the ground, the world spinning above me. I could feel the pavement slowly growing warm and wet as I laid there, trying to figure out what to do next. In my peripheral, I watch the coyotes retreat and I heard Ford shouting my name.
The panic in his voice told me it was serious.
Before I knew it, someone was lifting my head. My eyes were heavy, and my body felt like it was floating away. No matter what I did, I couldn’t get them to pry themselves open. And I knew enough from fight before that wasn’t good. I was losing too much blood, causing my healing abilities to be slower.
“Just look at me,” a voice whispered. “Just open your eyes, Grant.”
The voice was so sweet, yet full of so much despair. I felt the warmth of someone’s body underneath my skull, and it dulled the throbbing pain I was experiencing. I smelled a certain perfume that seemed familiar, and I felt something wet dripping on my forehead.
I managed to open my eyes and found myself face to face with the eyes of an angel. Violet’s face came into view, her wild red hair fluttering down towards me as tears dripped down her cheeks. Why was she crying? Why did she look so scared? Was she hurt? Was she scared?
If she was hurt, I was going to kill the bastard who hurt her.
The moments that passed by were a blur. People were gathered around me, and something was pressed into my torso. I felt a searing pain shoot through my body and rob me of my breath. I could hear Violet’s voice penetrating the crowd, pleading with me to do unspeakable things.
Like, stop bleeding?
“Not sure I got control over that,” I said. “Sorry.”
There were so many voices swirling around my head. I felt dizzy. Tired. Nauseous. I knew Ford was talking and I could hear remnants of Violet’s voice through her sobs. But the voice I heard the most was Lincoln’s.
“All right, kid. I’m gonna have to move you, and it’s not gonna be fun. On the count of three.”
That fucker didn’t even get to one before arms hoisted me into the air. I cried out in pain, my voice peeling from my throat and shattering the walls around me. Holy hell, there was no bullet I had taken on the battlefield that sucked as much as this one did. I felt my body being moved. Being whisked away as the smell of the lodge wafted back underneath my nose.
“What happened?”
I screamed out in pain as vodka was poured all over my torso.
“Grant. Grant. Open your fucking eyes and look at me.”
I fluttered my eyes open, my teeth biting into my lower lip as tears crested my eyes. I was staring into the eyes of Ford, his body trying to block what Lincoln was doing as a numbness began to take over my body.
“Talk me through what happened,” Ford said.
“Are you… are you ser-?”
Another shrieking cry left my throat as Lincoln dabbed my torso with something.
“Sorry kid, but it isn’t gonna get better. But I have to sew you up. It’s taking you too long to heal,” Lincoln said.
“Distract yourself. Tap into your bear’s strength. Tell me what happened out there,” Ford said.
“I-I-I… uh… well… I was out… side. The Violet was, too. We heard… I heard… the howls... And I knew… it was the coyotes...”
My teeth were chattering as the pain grew more and more intense. One sensation blurred into another, and I could feel myself being pulled under.
“Snap out of it, Grant. What happened next?” Ford asked.
“We were all here. A-a-and Violet was there, then you guys came out. Then I pushed her behind me t-t-to… to try and… and… uh…”
“Protect me,” Violet said.
I felt her hand slip into mine as tears started falling down the sides of my head.
“He was trying to protect me,” Violet said with a sniffle.
“What the hell was with you taking on all those coyotes at once?” Ford asked.
“Distraction,” I said. “All the coyote
s were… were stalking to… towards… the… the… car. The car. That Violet was… was behind. Um. Uh. Th-th-they kept coming, so I drew…”
“Come on, Grant. Say it,” Violet said.
“I drew the a-attack,” I said.
“All right, Grant. I’m not moving you until we get some shit into you that’s gonna help with that pain. We won’t be able to do anything else,” Lincoln said.
I squeezed Violet’s hand as best as I could, gritting through the pain as I looked over at her. My eyes studied her, taking in the tears barreling down her cheeks. She looked so sad. So desolate. So helpless as she sat there beside me. Violet brought my hand up to her lips, kissing each of my knuckles as Ford started at us.
I lobbed my head over, watching as my friend’s face morphed from confusion to a blank stare to anger.
“Ford, not now,” Violet said.
“What the fuck was that?” Ford asked.
“Not. Now,” Violet said.
“I-I-I… like your… um… she… I’d like to…”
I couldn’t get the sentence out. I wanted to ask Ford’s permission. I wanted to formally ask him to take his sister out on a date. I wanted things to be okay. I wanted to be a part of this clan and be a part of Violet’s life. I didn’t want to have to choose. I didn’t want to lose my family and the woman that had captured my attention.
“I got it!” Jackson yelled.
“Get him some fucking medication,” Lincoln said. “Then I can try and patch him up.”
I felt someone unraveling something, and I braced for the pain. The needle going right into my wound was agonizing. My eyes rolled into the back of my head as my legs shook. I wasn’t sure how much more of this I could take. But as the numbing solution kicked in and the lidocaine numbed the skin around the gashes in my skin, it became easier to breathe.
Easier to speak.
Easier to formulate my thoughts.
Violet laced her fingers within mine as the Lincoln started jerking me around. I rolled my head back over to Ford, his eyes darting between myself and his sister. I was ready for anything he threw my way. I was ready for him to strip me from being Beta or for him to tell me his sister was off limits. I was ready for him to start yelling and screaming and cursing me out for being a complete and utter asshole for fucking around with his younger sister.
But instead, his anger morphed back into a stern look.
“Thank you for protecting my sister,” Ford said. “That better be only a taste of what you’re willing to do to protect her.”
“I would’ve taken any of those coyotes out had they come even close,” I said.
“And if you hurt her in any way, for any reason… intentional or not… you’ll have to answer to me. And that shit isn’t fun.”
“I promise you; she’s safe with me. Always.”
I held out my hand to Ford, and he clenched it tightly. He pulled my fist into his chest, tapping it twice against his heart. Our clan had a sign. A signal they had adopted when things got tough and one of the brothers needed comfort. Someone would take their fist, curl it up, and then the stronger individual would tap it twice against their chest. It was a sign of mutual respect, a sign of sincerity, and a sign that shit was gonna get better.
Ford was trying to transfer some of his strength to me.
“You shouldn’t feel this, but I’m going to numb you up a bit more down here. I’m getting down into the muscle of your torso, and I’d rather be safe than sorry. Grit your teeth just in case.”
Ford and Violet both gripped tightly against my hands as I clenched my teeth. There was a pinch and a bit of dull pain but is disappeared immediately once the medicine started filling up my tissues. I could feel Lincoln tugging, slowly stitching me closed before he turned me onto my side. Claw marks were a bitch to sew up, but he seemed to be doing a pretty good job of it.
Once I was sewed up hopefully my healing abilities could take over.
“Violet?” I asked.
“Yeah, Grant?”
“Would you like to come over to my place tomorrow night and eat take out with me?”
“Are you really asking me that now? When you’re on your side being stitched up?”
“Figured I could get us some sodas, since I’m probably not drinking beer anytime soon. We could order some Chinese. Or maybe some pizza. Or subs from that place up the… the road. Dinner in and a movie? Whaddaya say?”
“I think you’re crazy and you should focus on being stitched up,” she said.
“I think that rejection was more painful than the claw marks,” I said.
“It’s not a rejection. I just… want you to breathe and focus on one thing at a time.”
“Come on, guys. I’m almost done here,” Lincoln said. “Let’s give them their space.”
“A few more stitches and you’re good to go,” Ford said. “
“Okay. Yeah. Thanks,” I said breathlessly.
I felt Ford drop my hand, my body moving with the stitches as Lincoln pulled the last one through my skin. I felt it a bit, wincing as he tied it off. He wiped me down with iodine and wrapped gauze and shit around my torso, then slowly helped me upright so I could think straight. The room was still spinning a bit, and I felt Violet’s hands on my naked chest. Her eyes were studying me as more gauze was wrapped around my wounds.
But the only thing I could focus on was Violet’s hands. Her warm touch against my skin. Her fingertips curling into my strength. My eyes locked onto her as the rest of the guys made their way to the bar, ordering a round of strong drinks to drown out the shit that had just taken place.
“So?” I asked. “Whatcha up to tomorrow night?”
Chapter 14
Violet
I giggled and shook my head as Grant’s insistence. His eyes were red and glossy from the pain medication, but I knew he was all there. My eyes dropped to the wound on his torso as I tried not to focus on the nakedness of his chest. My heart was still palpitating with worry. I wanted to know what I could do to help take care of him. To make this recuperation a little easier on him. My hand rose up, hovering just above the blood-soaked gauze as Grant kept his eyes on me.
I wasn’t ready to let him out of my sight. Not just yet.
“Sorry to ruin the moment,” Ford said, “but I got some things to tell you.”
“What’s up?” Grant asked.
“Got your medicine and shit,” Ford said as he held up a brown bag. “The orange bottle with the thick pills are your antibiotics. One a day until it’s gone. Take one when you get home. The other bottle with the smaller, round pills is your pain medication. One in the morning, one in the evening.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Grant said with a grin.
“We got another issue, though,” Ford said.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Grant’s gotta be monitored for the next forty-eight hours. Since your healing abilities slowed because of your blood loss, we have to treat you like a human for your recovery. Someone’s gotta be around you to keep your temperature and shit in check. You know, make sure you’re drinking fluids to decrease the risk and all.”
“So… no to the date, then,” Grant said.
“Not necessarily,” I said.
“Figured you’d take the hint on that. You guys have fun. But not too much fun. That’s my sister, asshole,” Ford said.
“Got it,” Grant said with a lazy nod. “Except I don’t know what anyone’s talking about.”
“It’s probably not a good idea for you to come to my place, with my parents and their work schedules,” I said. “But since you need someone watching to make sure you stay okay, I can come to your place. Make sure you take your medication and stuff.”
“So… yes to the date,” Grant said.
“Get off the damn date,” I said with a grin. “Let’s get you better first.”
I hugged my brother before I helped Grant to his feet. The entire clan was sitting in the living room, their eyes trying to conceal the fact that the
y were watching us. Grant was in no shape to drive his car home, so I slipped my hand into his pocket and pulled out his keys. I jiggled them in front of his face before I turned around, tossing them to Jackson as he nodded his head.
“Can you make sure that gets back to Grant’s place?” I asked. “I don’t think he’s in any condition to drive.”
“You got it. But if his car is one of the ones that got damaged, I’m takin’ it to the shop first,” Jackson said.
“Whatever you need to do. Just wanna make sure he’s not driving,” I said.
I turned back to Grant, and I found him smiling down at me. The numbing medication and the pain shot the Lincoln gave him were already making him loopy. The kindness in his eyes was intoxicating, and before I could think about it, I was slipping my arms around his naked waist. I leaned my cheek against the swell of his chest, taking in his warmth as his good arm wrapped around me tightly.
“Thank you for saving my life,” I said in a whisper.
“Your life is always protected with me,” Grant said. “Now come on, let’s get out of here. Everyone’s staring, and I need a shirt.”
With my arm around his waist and his body leaning heavily against mine, I led us out of the bar. I piled us in my car and drove us to Grant’s place, relieved when we pulled up. I turned the car off and walked around to help him out, trying to be careful of his arm. He steadied himself on me as we walked up the walkway to his home, but when he went to reach for his keys, he started to laugh.
“I don’t have my keys,” Grant said.
“Hold on. I think I can help with that.”
I felt around in my pockets, trying to find something sharp I could use. I found a few bobby pins in my back pocket, so I pulled out a couple as Grant leaned against his house. It took me a few tries to pick his lock, but when I heard the latch flip, I opened the door for him. He was grinning down at me, shaking his head as I stood underneath his good arm again.
“Come on. Let’s get you sitting down with a glass of water,” I said.