by Kris Norris
He sprang up the steps, motioning Jude to wait as he knocked on the door, easing it open when nothing sounded beyond the wooden slab. Shadows played on every wall, flecks of dust visible in the moonlight streaming through the windows. He made his way through the rooms, checking each one to ensure they were empty before heading back to the door. Jude stood on the porch, their girl still cradled in his arms.
Their girl.
Shit. When had he started thinking of her that way? That absolute? He was definitely in deeper than he’d imagined.
He opened the door, waving Jude inside. “We’re alone. I’ll clean off the table. We’ll do what we can for her then move her to the large bed in the other room.”
Jude headed inside, waiting as Ethan used a cloth from his supplies to wipe down the surface, before gently placing her on top. Ethan helped remove her clothes, leaving her dressed in pants and some kind of shortened corset that just covered her breasts and upper ribs. Blood had seeped through the bandages they’d bound earlier, the deep color like a knife to his heart. Damn, they should have tied the strips tighter.
He shrugged off his jacket, yanking his shirt over his head then placing it beneath hers. It lolled off to one side, another moan echoing through the room.
Ethan cupped her jaw, easing her head back. “Shit. We should have taken her to a damn doctor.”
“Afraid there isn’t one this side of Ralston. Besides, she wouldn’t have survived the ride. You know that.” Jude picked up a knife, slowly cutting away the bloody bandages. He hissed as he exposed the wound, tossing the gauze to the side as he reached for more water. “Fuck. She’s lost a lot of blood.”
Ethan grabbed his hand. “Use the whiskey. I’ve seen doctors use it to help prevent infection…I think.”
“Guess she’s already passed out. Shouldn’t feel too much.”
Jude opened the bottle, pouring some on a new strip of bandage before cleaning around the oozing hole. Her back arched slightly, the muscles in her abdomen flexing before her body went limp again. He nodded to Ethan, getting the man to roll her slightly so he could repeat the procedure with the other wound.
Then he balled up more gauze, looking up at Ethan. “She’s not going to stop bleedin’ unless we close those wounds. And last time I checked, we didn’t have anything to stitch her up with, not that I’d know how to do that, anyway. We don’t exactly require medical treatment.”
“We should’ve learned.”
Jude sighed. “Too late to worry about that now.” He nodded at the fireplace. “We could cauterize them.”
“And likely kill her in the process. She’s too weak.” Ethan stared at the puckered hole, leaning in to get a better look. “Is it just my imagination or has she healed slightly already?”
“What?” Jude placed his head next to Ethan’s. “Well, I’ll be damned. It does look like the skin’s closed more than it was when I first bandaged it. It’s less jagged, too.” His gaze rose to Ethan’s. “You don’t think…”
Ethan snorted. “That she’s a shifter? Those would be half healed by now, and she wouldn’t still be bleedin’ But there’s definitely something unique about her. And the fact she knew what we were…” He shook his head. “We’ll rewrap the area. Keep pressure on it. Give her body more time. If she’s no better in a few hours, we’ll start a fire and burn her skin closed.”
Jude nodded, frowning as he prepared the supplies.
Ethan nudged him. “You okay?”
Jude shrugged. “We can’t lose her. I don’t know how to explain it, but…”
He palmed his friend’s shoulder. “You don’t have to explain, and we’re not going to lose her. Whatever it takes. Let’s just give her a bit of time. Looks like we’re not the only ones with secrets.”
Jude didn’t answer, taking his time to bandage McKenna before easing her off the table and moving her into one of the bedrooms. He placed her in the middle of the mattress, removing her boots and guns then drawing a blanket over her. The man stared down at her, brow furrowed, hands twitching at his side. “You see the scar on her other side?”
Ethan nodded. “Hard to miss. Looked like a knife wound…one that would have killed most folk.”
“You think those Wilson boys did that?”
“Maybe. Wound’s old, though.”
“It’d explain a lot. And she did say it wasn’t the first time she’d had a run-in with them.”
“They knew her name, I’ll grant you that much. But they didn’t seem to know why she was hunting them down any more than we do. Not that their lack of memory means anything, seeing as it looks as if it happened years ago. Guess we won’t know either way until she wakes up.” Ethan scraped a chair over to the edge of the bed. “Why don’t you go and scout the area? I’ll watch her.”
“I was checkin’ the entire time here. Didn’t scent anything. She needs—”
“She needs to rest. You standin’ over her, willin’ her to get better isn’t going to change things. And you’ll drive me crazy pacin’ the floor.”
“I’m not pacin’.”
“Not yet.” Ethan held up his hand. “How long have we been partners, let alone friends? I know your wolf better than you do, and if you don’t let it expend some energy the damn thing’s going to bust free.”
Jude swung his gaze toward him. “Haven’t had it go rogue in years.”
“You haven’t been faced with losin’ your mate before.”
Jude’s jaw tensed as he looked back at McKenna. “You acknowledging it?”
“Whether I do or not doesn’t change the fact you think she is. Wasn’t my wolf that stared down those men.”
“Did you hear what they said to her? Shit. It was all I could do not to tear their fucking throats out. And the way McKenna tensed…” He punched his fist against the wall. “There’s got to be history between them, Ethan. And it’s not good.”
“We suspected that going in. Women like her… They don’t kill an entire gang for kicks. She was evening the score. I just hope she’ll trust us enough to tell us the truth.” He leaned back in the chair, crossing his feet at the ankles as he rested them on the edge of the bed. “Go. I’ll keep watch. And I promise to shout if anything changes. You can take next watch.”
Jude lingered for a few more minutes before turning on his heels and stalking out of the room. Ethan heard the man’s boots hit the floor before the door opened and closed, the lone howl of a wolf ringing through the night. He stared back at McKenna, silently willing her to heal. Though he wasn’t prepared to say the words out loud, he had no doubt there was something far deeper than simple attraction where she was concerned. And he knew he’d be running the range as soon as Jude got back.
He tilted his head to the side, wondering what it was that set his blood on fire. “You are a mystery at best, sweetheart. I just hope we figure you out before it’s too late.”
* * * *
“No! Don’t touch her. Stop!”
Jude cursed as McKenna flailed against the blanket before drifting off again, sweat beading her brow, her mouth twitching into a grimace. She’d been restless for the past hour, shouting out words and phrases that didn’t make sense…until now. This he understood.
The floor creaked outside the room, and he looked up as Ethan stopped in the doorway, leaning against the frame. His shirt hung open, his feet still bare after his prowl through the surrounding area. He’d been gone nearly two hours, and while he hadn’t admitted it, Jude knew McKenna’s presence was hitting the man hard—making him question his previous beliefs. Hell, he wasn’t the only one. Finding a mate had never really been part of the plan, but now that she’d fallen into their lives… Jude sighed, watching his friend study the girl lying beneath the sheet. At least their continued forays into the woods and across the plains meant they were safe, though how long that lasted…
Ethan stuffed his hands in his pockets. “She okay?”
Jude looked back at her, noting the flush of her skin and the rapid rise and fall of her
chest. “Fever’s getting worse. She’s obviously hallucinating, though I’m not sure about what, exactly.”
“I heard what she said, Jude. I think we both have a pretty good idea what demons are lurkin’ inside her.”
“If those bastard Wilson brothers so much as touched her…”
Ethan nodded, moving into the room. He walked to the edge of the bed, finally sinking onto it. “Reckoned it had to be something pretty serious for her to challenge them like she did.” He chuckled. “Don’t think I’ve seen anyone draw that fast, other than maybe us. She beat Frank and the man had already started movin’. She’s impressive.”
“She’s dying is what she is.” He pushed to his feet, pacing the room.
Ethan sighed. “The fever is part of the healing process. She’ll have to fight her way through it.”
“Or it’s the sign the damn wound’s infected beyond help.” He pushed his hand through his hair. “We can’t lose her. I can’t lose her.”
“I don’t want to lose her, either, but short of packing her up and ridin’ to Ralston, I don’t see that we have many options here.”
Jude stopped, looking from McKenna over to Ethan. “We both agree that she’s not like other folk. That she’s healin’ faster than she should be, not that it’s enough.”
Ethan’s brow furrowed. “There’s something special about her, but she can’t be a shifter. If she were, she’d have changed long ago, if for no other reason than to aid in the healin’ process. Wouldn’t make sense for her animal to let her die.” He gazed over at her. “Not sure what it is.”
“Maybe she’s got it in her blood but isn’t able to make the actual shift? Would explain her increased reflexes.”
“Just being good explains that. And I’ve never heard of anyone having it in their blood without being able to shift.”
Jude huffed. “Well, it’s not as if we know everything there is to know about our kind.”
“True, it’s just…”
His voice trailed off as McKenna bolted upright, sending the blanket billowing across the bed. Her fevered gaze landed on them, the fear in her eyes impossible to miss. She blinked several times then scrambled for the edge of the bed, half collapsing before swinging her legs off the mattress. Jude lunged at her, Ethan moving to her other side as they gently held her still. She fought against their hold, yelling at them to let go.
“McKenna. It’s us. Just relax.” Jude tried to cup her face, but she twisted away from him. “Darlin’, please. You’ll make your side bleed again if you don’t settle down.”
She screamed at them, still tugging against their hold. “I’ll never give myself to you. You’ll have to kill me. Do you hear me, you bastards!”
Jude looked at Ethan, noting the pain in the other man’s eyes, before focusing back on her. “We’re only trying to stop you from hurting yourself. McKenna!”
Her frantic breath filled the room as she stopped fighting, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment. Confusion marred her brow as she finally gazed up at them, eyes glassy. “Where are they?”
Ethan trailed one hand along her cheek, tucking her damp hair behind her ear. “Where’s who?”
“Those men.”
“There’s just us, sweetheart.”
“Not you!” She shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks before she blinked the others away. “Them. Bret. Frank. Their men. Where are they?”
Jude eased down beside her. “We left them behind in Tombstone.”
“Tombstone?” She shook her head. “Bisbee. It was Bisbee…” Her voice wavered into a series of sobs.
Pain and anger burned hot in Jude’s gut as he fought the pull of his wolf. The damn animal tempted him with images of the men dead beneath him, their blood warm on his tongue. “Easy, darlin’.”
“They killed her. They killed everyone.” She palmed her hands over her ears, squeezing her eyes shut again. “I can still hear her screaming. God, what they did…” Her body shuddered as she took a few shaky breaths.
Ethan cupped her jaw, waiting for her to look at him. “They’re gone. You’re safe. Promise. Jude and I—”
“Ethan?”
His smile seemed genuine. “That’s right, sweetheart. It’s Ethan and Jude.”
Her gaze turned to him and Jude damn near died. Compassion, love. Everything he’d ever searched for but never found gleamed in her eyes as she watched him watch her. The stunning smile she gave him made his knees weak, and he thanked god he’d taken the time to sit down.
“Jude? I…”
Her eyes rolled slightly as her body collapsed backwards. Jude caught her, cradling her head as he gently laid her on the bed, Ethan lifting her legs. She stared up at them, dampening her lower lip as she seemed to drag in her next breath.
Jude thumbed her cheek. “Rest. We’re here.”
Her chuckle morphed into a groan. “I told you names were dangerous. They make you care.” She swallowed with effort. “I don’t want to care.”
“But you do, don’t you?”
Those blues eyes gazed at him. “You’re not like the others. You make me feel…different. Whole. Is Ethan a wolf, too?”
Ethan reached for her hand, holding it to his chest. “Yes.”
Her smile lit up the room, though it took far too long for her to shift her focus to the other man. “What color are you?”
“I’m darker than Jude. Charcoal to his silver.”
“I bet you’re just as beautiful.”
Ethan laughed. “Not my first choice of a descriptive word, sweetheart. Doesn’t make me sound all that imposing.”
“You can be beautiful and strong.”
“We know. That’s you.” He brushed more of her hair back from her face. “Sleep. Give your body time to heal.”
Her eyes drifted closed. “Not going to be enough this time. The pain…it’s deep. Burning.” She shook her head. “I’ll try, but…”
Jude eased her face other toward him. “How do you know about shifters? Are you…”
She grinned, her mouth quickly curving into a grimace. “No. My great-grandmother. But I can’t…”
Her voice keened into a cry as her back arched upwards, her muscles tensing before she collapsed, her head lolling to one side, eyes shut.
“McKenna!” Jude reached for her neck, his heart thrashing against his ribs until he felt the faint thrum of her pulse against the pad of his fingers. “God. I thought…” He scrubbed a hand down his face, focusing on Ethan. “She’s not going to make it.”
“Jude…”
“You heard her. She knows. Whatever special ability being some kind of hybrid has afforded her, it’s not enough to heal this kind of wound.” He took a few heavy steps away before glancing at the bed over his shoulder. “We have to do something.”
“And what, exactly, would you have us do? It’s not as if we can transfer our healing abilities to her. I wish we could.”
“Not transfer them, but enhance hers… That we might be able to do.”
Ethan frowned, pushing to his feet. “What the hell is going through your head?”
“Nothing. Everything.” He fisted his hands, resisting the urge to punch one through the wall. “All I know is that since we met her in that saloon, my wolf has been hounding me. Filling my head with thoughts, images. I ran twenty miles and couldn’t get her scent off my skin. Couldn’t forget the soft press of her lips against my back. It’s like I can feel her heartbeat inside my chest, her breath fill my lungs. I close my eyes, and it’s her face I see.”
Ethan’s mouth pulled tight, accentuating the small lines around the edges. “I know you’re confused—”
“I’m not confused. I know exactly what I want.” He moved over to the bed. “It’s McKenna.”
Ethan kicked at the floor, strangely quiet for several moments before releasing a loud breath. “I want her, too, but—”
“But what?” Jude pushed a hand through his hair. “Whether you’re ready to acknowledge it or not, she’s our mate. Plain
and simple. And I can’t stand here and watch her die…not without trying everything to save her.”
“You think I want to sit here and watch her die? You’re not the only one who’s drawn to her. And yeah, I’m admitting she’s more than just feral attraction. But what more can we do?”
Jude glanced at McKenna, allowing his canines to lengthen as his wolf paced back and forth in his head.
“No.” Ethan closed the distance, firmly cupping his arm. “Jude, we can’t.”
“It might save her.”
“We don’t know that.”
“Mating binds us together. The few mated couples we know prove that it enhances the mate’s senses, emotional and physical, though I’ll admit it’s not to the level I’m hoping for. But that’s when the bonded partner is completely human. With her being part shifter already…”
“There’s no way we can guarantee it’ll be enough to save her.” Ethan shook his head, walking to the door then back. “This is crazy. We can’t mate with her. Not without her consent. That would make us as bad as Bret and Frank for taking what’s not ours.”
“You heard her. She said she cares…that we make her feel complete.”
Ethan held up his hands. “That’s a long way from wanting to be bound to us for life.”
“Fuck!” Jude stared at the ceiling, trying to calm the clawing sensation in his head. “I can’t…”
Ethan punched him in the shoulder. “Don’t bail on me now, buddy. There’s still a chance. All we have to do is ask her. Shit, a nod will be enough for me.”
Jude huffed, moving to the bed, sliding over until his body pressed against her side. She groaned but turned into him as if seeking his touch, his warmth. He brushed her hair back, stroking his fingers along her jaw.
He leaned forward, resting his forehead on hers. “McKenna. Darlin’ open your eyes.” He dropped a light kiss on her lips. “Come on. I need you to open your eyes and talk to me.”
Her lashes fluttered as she rolled her head back and forth across the pillow. She blinked, opening her eyes, though Jude could tell the simple act drained her. “Jude.”