by Becca Van
Krista sucked in a deep breath and screamed at the top of her lungs as she bolted upright, staring blankly about for a few seconds and then blinking herself back to the present. “Oh god,” she groaned as she slumped back onto the mattress and curled into the fetal position and started sobbing.
“We’ve got you, darlin’,” Beck said as he spooned her from behind. “You’re okay, Krista.”
“You’re safe, sweetness,” Byron crooned as he shoved his arm under her neck and head, then wrapped it around her shoulders.
Bas rubbed a hand over her hip and up and down the outside of her thigh. “We’re here for you, baby. We’re not going anywhere.”
Beck hated that she was crying, but he was ecstatic that she was awake because that meant their DNA was healing her. Nevertheless, he was concerned over the deep, heart-wrenching sobs wracking her small body. She’d been crying for about five minutes already and it didn’t look as if she was going to cease anytime soon. He was worried that she was going to make herself ill.
He skimmed his hand over her body wherever he could, hoping his touch would comfort her. Another five minutes passed before her tears began to slow. Her whole body jerked with spasms as she tried to calm and regain her breath after such an intense cry.
Beck ground his teeth together, trying to keep his wrath down deep. The last thing he wanted to do was upset Krista further. There was only one certainty, though, he needed to find out what the hell she’d been through when she was a kid.
* * * *
Krista couldn’t seem to catch her breath. She’d probably just made a big fool of herself, but she was too upset to care. Her head was no longer pounding like a drum, but she was feeling a bit disorientated.
She remembered leaving the house to explore her new home town, but nothing much after that. Had she become ill? Had she been exposed to the elements and gotten hypothermia? Finally, her body stopped jerking, and she was able to inhale deeply. She was in bed, and while her clothes had been removed, she was wearing what felt like a large T-shirt.
“Have I been sick?” she asked, softly.
Byron lifted his head to meet her gaze. “No, sweetness. You fell and hurt yourself bad.”
Krista frowned. “I don’t remember falling.”
“You slipped on the porch steps and cracked your head on the edge of the step above you,” Beck explained.
“You fractured your skull, baby,” Bas said.
“When did this happen?” Krista shifted away from Byron and sat up, wincing when she felt something sticking into her hand. She stared at the IV cannula for a moment then concentrated on her injury. Her head wasn’t sore, but she felt rather thickheaded, as if she’d overslept or something. She lifted her hands, being careful not to move to fast and pull the drip out and felt all over her head trying to find where she’d been hurt, but she couldn’t feel anything. “Are you sure—”
“You were dying, darlin’,” Beck said.
Byron sighed. “We didn’t have time to airlift you to the nearest trauma center.”
“We would never have done it without your permission unless your life was endangered,” Bas said. “The only way we could save you was to claim you as our mate.”
Krista gaped at Bas, and when she realized her mouth was hanging open, she snapped it shut. She closed her eyes as she tried to collect her thoughts, but her mind wouldn’t grasp onto one thing. Her thoughts spun around and around in circles until she felt dizzy.
“Krista, are you in pain?” Beck asked.
“No. Other than feeling a little groggy, I’m fine. When did I hit my head?”
“Three days ago.” Bas combed his fingers through his hair.
“Three days? Are you kidding me?”
“We’d never lie to you, darlin’,” Beck answered.
“I need to get up,” Krista said as she pointed to the IV line. “Can I take this out?”
“Let me call Granger,” Byron said.
Krista gawked at him as his eyes seemed to glaze over as he stared into the distance. About twenty seconds later he blinked and met her eyes. “Granger will be here in a moment.”
“What?” She frowned at him.
Byron shook his head. “I forgot you don’t know about…we can all talk to everyone using our minds, sweetness. I spoke to him telepathically using the communal pack link.”
“You did?” she asked.
“Yeah. Now that you’re our mate you’ll eventually be able to communicate with us that way, too. There are two paths. A private one between you and us, and one with the whole pack. If you need to talk with one of the other men all you have to do is think about them and speak your thoughts in your head.”
“Will all of you or the other guys be able to read my mind?” she asked.
“No, baby.” Bas smiled at her. “If you accept us as your mates and we complete the mating ritual, we’ll be able to feel your emotions and you’ll be able to feel ours.”
Krista was about to ask another question but stopped when Granger burst into the room. “You’re awake. Thank fuck for that.”
She nodded, not sure why he seemed so relieved that she was conscious again, but she didn’t ask since she was too busy trying to keep her full bladder from exploding. She needed to pee in the worst way, and if she didn’t get to the bathroom soon she was likely going to wet the bed.
Byron sat up and moved aside to let Granger tend her. After donning gloves, the doctor pressed a cotton ball down firmly on the back of her hand after pulling the cannula from her vein. “Keep pressure on the back of your hand while I tape the cotton ball in place.” Krista did as he said and sighed when he nodded at her to remove her thumb and taped the cotton to her hand. “How are you feeling, Krista?”
“I’m okay.”
Granger frowned. “I need you to tell me exactly how you’re feeling in case you need more medical treatment.”
“Uh, can you give me a few minutes, please? I need to use the facilities.”
“Sure.” Granger stepped back to give her room to get out of the bed. Before she could scoot across the mattress, Bas was on his feet and lifted her into his arms.
She squeaked with surprise and tugged the hem of the shirt she was wearing down, hoping that her ass was covered. When she felt the soft material was indeed covering her, she sighed with relief then looked up at Bas. “I can walk, you know.”
“I don’t care, baby.” Bas carried her into and across the bathroom. He nudged the ajar door to the toilet open with his foot and then set her on her feet. She gripped his forearms when dizziness assailed her for a few seconds, but thankfully the wooziness didn’t last long. While she was no longer in pain, she wasn’t full of energy, either. In fact, Krista was downright tired even though she’d been out of it for seventy-two hours without being aware of it. She wondered if her weariness was because she’d suffered a major head trauma. “I’ll be right outside the door. Just call if you need me.”
Krista quickly did her business, flushed, and opened the door. Heat suffused her cheeks when she saw Bas leaning on the wall right next to the toilet door. Since he had enhanced senses, he’d probably heard everything. She tried to shrug her embarrassment off and walked toward the sink to wash and dry her hands as she looked at herself in the mirror. She cringed when she saw her hair was all over the place and how pale her face was, but at least she was still alive. If it hadn’t been for Bastian, Byron, and Beck, she’d probably be dead. She was ultra-aware of Bas watching her as she brushed her teeth and hair. Prickles of heat started at the base of her spine and rapidly sped over her body. Her breasts felt heavy, and her nipples were hard. Her pussy was wet, and her womb and inner walls kept clenching spasmodically. The heat in her lower belly was so hot she felt as if her insides were melting, but she tried to push her arousal to the back of her mind.
When she was finished, she turned to find that Bas was holding up a robe for her. She went to take it from him, but he shook his head. “Let me help you, baby.”
Sh
“Are you ready, mate?”
Krista didn’t know if she liked Bas calling her mate or not, so she bit her lip and nodded. He wove his fingers between hers and guided her back to the bedroom. Granger was leaning against the wall with his ankles and arms crossed and looking bored. “Sorry,” she said, hoping she hadn’t pissed him off.
“What are you sorry for?” Granger frowned at her.
“F-for taking so long.”
“Krista you didn’t—” Bas stopped when Granger held up a hand.
“You didn’t take long at all, honey, and even if you had, I’m in no hurry. Nothing is more important to me than making sure my patients are on the road to recovery.”
“Okay,” she sighed out.
“Why don’t you take a seat on the bed so I can check you over?” Granger nodded toward the mattress.
Krista tried to tug her hand out of Bas’s but he just held her hand more firmly and sat beside her. Granger lifted the stethoscope from around his neck and placed the chest piece under the robe and over her shirt as he listened to her heartbeat and her lungs. After checking her pupils’ reactions and examining her head with his fingers, he sat back on his heels and met her gaze. “Tell me how you’re feeling. Do you still have a headache or blurry vision?”
“No to both, but I’m still feeling a bit tired.”
Granger frowned. “I want you to rest up for the rest of the night and all day tomorrow. If the lethargy doesn’t dissipate, I’ll do full blood work on you. Get one of your mates to call me. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Granger got to his feet and headed toward the door.
“Thank you, Granger.”
“You’re welcome, Krista.”
Byron followed Granger from the room to see him out.
Krista shifted nervously when she noticed that Beck and Bas were both staring avidly at her. “What?” she snapped and blinked with surprise. Krista didn’t normally talk to anyone so snarkily and felt bad for doing so now. She had no idea what was going on, but she didn’t feel her usual self. Normally, she portrayed an even temper to the outside world because most of the time that’s what she was, but right now she was feeling out of sorts. Her insides were hot and there was a knot of anger growing, but no matter how hard she tried to push her ire aside, it wouldn’t be budged.
What the hell is happening to me? Did they do something to me when they claimed me to save my life?
* * * *
Bas was having a hard time keeping his hands to himself. The only way to stop himself from tumbling Krista to the bed, stripping her down, and sinking his hard, needy dick into her wet heat was to remind himself that she was still recovering from a near death experience. However, that was as difficult as fuck when each time he breathed in he could smell how wet she was. He’d bet his last dollar she had no idea how crazy she was driving him.
When he heard her belly rumble, he latched onto something to do and say because the longer he sat next to her, with her soft hand in his, the harder it was to control his lust. His fucking sabear wasn’t helping worth a damn, either. The big shit kept trying sneak attacks to get out so he could get to their woman, and when that hadn’t worked, the asshole had headbutted his insides with sheer determination. But thankfully, Bas was more determined than his beast.
“I can hear how hungry you are, baby. Let’s go out to the kitchen and get you something to eat.” He rose and helped her up. “I’m pretty hungry myself.”
She nodded, blushing when she met his eyes briefly before looking away. Bas would have loved to know what had just gone through her mind. Had his reference to hunger made her think of how they would claim her, make love with her if she agreed to be theirs? He pushed that thought aside since it was difficult enough to control his raging famishment. He didn’t need to compound his lust by thinking carnal thoughts. That would be just asking for trouble. Until she said that she was going to be theirs, she was off limits. He’d never forced himself on a woman in his life and wasn’t going to start now.
Beck had been quiet since Bas and Krista came out of the bathroom, and from the way his brother was clenching his jaw and fisting his hands, he was having the same trouble as Bas was.
Byron entered the kitchen a few moments after they had, and with his brothers’ help they got to work preparing something for dinner.
Krista sat at the counter looking into the distance, lost in thought as she drank the glass of water Bas had placed in front of her. He wanted to ask her about her parents and her childhood but didn’t want to upset her appetite. Nevertheless, he had every intention of finding out what she’d been through after dinner. He’d opted to make a beef and vegetable stir fry since it didn’t take too long to cook and had lots of iron and vitamins, which his woman would need since her body was changing at a genetic level. He had no idea how that worked but was glad that Krista would end up healing faster when and if she was injured, as well as not having to worry about getting sick ever again. He just wished that the emotional link was already in place so he could feel what she was feeling and try to understand her a bit more, but he was going to have to try and suppress his impatience.
That was easier said than done, because he could already feel the mating heat starting to build. He wondered if she could feel it, too. She certainly scented as if she was in the first throes of it, because each time he inhaled through his nose, the perfume of her sweet-smelling, musky sex got stronger and stronger.
Once dinner was ready, he passed a bowl over to Krista, then he and his brothers sat on the stools at the counter with her. “Thank you,” she said before digging in.
Bas watched her from the corner of her eye as she practically inhaled her food. He was kind of shocked to see her eating so quickly, when the last time she’d been so ladylike. Was she starving because her body had burnt off all her reserves? If that was the case, that would also explain why she said she was still tired after being out cold for three fucking days. They’d been the longest three days of his life.
“Would you like some more, sweetness?” Byron asked.
“Yes, please, but I can get it.”
Byron shook his head. “Stay where you are, mate. I’m closer.”
Bas watched at Byron piled her bowl high then passed it across the counter before getting himself some more stir fry. Bas and Beck handed their bowls over, nodding when Byron quirked a brow in query. They all concentrated on their food, but Bas was aware of every move Krista made, as were his brothers.
“That was delicious.” Krista sighed. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, baby.” Bas nudged her shoulder with his arm. “We have apple pie in the fridge. Would you like some with ice cream?”
“Yes, please,” she replied, then frowned.
Bas didn’t have to ask her what she was frowning about, he could see the question as clear as day on her face.
“Because you now have some of our DNA in you, your metabolism is a lot faster. You’re going to need to eat way more than you’re used to.”
“If I keep eating like I just did, I’ll end up gaining weight,” she said.
“No, you won’t,” Beck said. “You can eat as much as you like and whatever you like and not gain an ounce.”
“Are you shitting me?” she asked incredulously.
Beck grinned. “I shit you not.”
Bas almost choked on the sip of beer he’d just taken when Krista moaned and rubbed her belly. Her arousal was so strong the air was permeated with it. He wanted to swipe his arm over the counter to clear the dishes off, lift her onto it, rip her clothes off, and bury his face between her legs. His mouth watered as he imagined how sweet her honey would be on his tongue.
“How long have you lived on this island?” Krista asked before taking a bite of the apple pie and ice cream.
When she moaned as if it was the best thing she’d ever tasted, Bas had to shift his hard cock in his pants to a more comfortable position. Thank fuck she had her eyes closed so she didn’t see him.
“We grew up here, but we’ve been back for about six years now,” Byron replied hoarsely.
Bas knew Krista’s sexy unconscious moan had affected both his brothers, too. Beck was gripping his spoon so hard his knuckles were white.
“Do your parents live here, too?”
“Not anymore,” Bas answered. “They were killed just after we made SEAL training.”
“I’m so sorry for your loss.” Krista placed her hand on his arm.
Bas wanted to cover her hand with his and hold her skin against his for the rest of his life. Her touch somehow alleviated some of the aggressiveness roiling in his gut, but all too soon she withdrew.
“Thanks, sweetness,” Byron said. “They’ve been gone for over ten years now.”
“I’m sure time doesn’t make it any easier,” she said.
“It doesn’t.” Beck scrubbed a hand over his face. “The fucking Russians were testing missiles. One of the weapons malfunctioned and landed smack dab in the middle of Gambell, killing all but a few people living here. Ours and our friends’ parents and a lot of other locals died instantly.”
“That’s terrible.” Krista covered her mouth and moisture filled her eyes. She dropped her hand, sucked in a deep breath, and blinked her tears back. Bas was glad she didn’t start crying again, because he wasn’t sure he could deal with another bout of her tears. Not because it made him uncomfortable, but because he hated seeing her hurt in any way, shape, or form, even emotionally.
“What about your parents?” Bas asked. “Do you see them much?”
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