Astrid Cielo

by Begging for Forgiveness (Pinewood Creek Shifters)

  "The ambulance is on the way and Dr. Weber should be here any minute. She keeps an emergency kit at home, and I've had her on standby since Aspen went missing," Caleb told the pale man.

  Skylar sat on the ground and pulled Aspen's head into his lap.

  "Everyone needs to get dressed. If Aspen goes to the hospital then humans are going to be involved. Someone show me this cabin so I can do damage control," Wesley yelled to the crowd.

  Skylar watched as he and Daphne left. He and Xavier even managed to slip on a shirt and sweats. Andrew said it best to leave Aspen naked since they would just unclothe her in the emergency room.

  Dr. Weber showed up and she and her mate, Paul, took over Aspen's care. Xavier held her hand and Skylar took a washcloth from the emergency kit and wiped at the blood caked around her mouth. His mate was fierce and had protected herself and their baby. Grey eyes stared at him and then looked around. She hunted her other mate.

  "Xavier, Aspen needs to see you." Xavier came closer and cupped her cheek.

  "I thought I'd lost you," he whispered.

  Aspen smiled then grimaced as Paul started an IV in her arm. "Sorry, Aspen, but it's all over now."

  Everything happened in a blur after the ambulance arrived and the paramedics loaded Aspen onto a stretcher into the back. Aspen began to cry and struggle when the doors began to close.

  "Don't leave me, please! Skylar, Xavier."

  Skylar jumped into the back and cupped her cheek. "It's okay sweetheart. I'll never leave you."

  The paramedic sighed. "Look, I've got to get her back and I can't have everyone in my ambulance."

  "Oh, come on Tom you know if that was Christy you'd be beside yourself. Let the boys ride. She's stable enough."

  Tom frowned at the younger male but nodded. "Climb in, but I'm in charge. Got it."

  Xavier didn't waste time getting in.

  "Dr. Weber, I'm sure you and Paul can fit up front with me. It'll be a tight fit."

  Skylar didn't hear the rest of the conversation as he bent and kissed Aspen.

  "I thought I'd never see you two again." Aspen's eyes filled with tears.

  "Honey, I'm so sorry," Skylar said before moving so Xavier could see her.

  "Hey."

  Aspen laughed and Xavier wiped her tears. "You scared the hell out of me."

  Aspen's smile faded. "I was scared too. He was going to-"

  "Shh, baby, we'll hear about it soon enough."

  Aspen nodded and closed her eyes.

  "She's going to be just fine. It takes more than that to take down a cougar," Dr. Weber said from the front seat where she sat in Paul's lap.

  "Let's go, Branston," Tom said from beside Xavier. "Alright guys give me room to work."

  Soon Aspen was sleeping and then they were pulling into Pinewood Creek's hospital.

  Andrew, Miranda, and Caleb stood outside the Emergency room door and Skylar could tell they almost didn't restrain themselves when the door to the ambulance opened.

  "Let me out of here Paul before Caleb makes a scene."

  Paul laughed and helped his mate from the front cab where she made the interception.

  "You know they're only going to let one back and those two are already going nuts."

  Caleb laughed. "Calm down Teresa, I'll keep this under control."

  Teresa patted Caleb's shoulder. "She's gonna be okay."

  Skylar was glad Aspen had so many people who cared for her, especially since he'd done such a fucked up job from the start.

  Xavier grabbed his hand and he followed Aspen's stretcher into the hospital. The brown-haired plump nurse from Aspen's previous ER visit frowned at both of them but didn't say anything while she focused on Tom during his report on Aspen.

  "This is Aspen Clarke who has suffered many lacerations and two deep stab wounds to her thighs. She was conscious on scene and fell asleep en route. She rouses easily to verbal stimuli. She is approximately three and a half months pregnant. BP ninety over fifty-two after a liter bolus of normal saline. Paul started a sixteen gauge IV to her right AC. She was pale and diaphoretic on scene. Bleeding is controlled and knife was left in her left thigh."

  "Did you give her any medications?"

  "Ondansetron four milligrams. She vomited once on scene when I got there. I would have given her pain meds, Destini, but she refused."

  Destini frowned but nodded. "Thanks, Tom."

  Tom stopped and held out his hand. Xavier took it then Skylar. "Look guys, she's in good hands and you heard Dr. Weber, she's going to be just fine."

  Skylar stepped closer to the bed.

  "Did y'all get this mating thing worked out?"

  Skylar stared at the brunette and Xavier laughed. "You could say that."

  Destini placed monitors on Aspen and Skylar held her hand. "Baby, why did you refuse the pain medications?"

  He thought he'd be speaking to himself, but her eyelashes fluttered and she grimaced. "I didn't like the way those tranquilizers made me feel."

  Skylar nodded. Xavier stood at the end of the stretcher. "How come there aren’t all kinds of people swarming?"

  Destini laughed. "You watch too much TV, besides this is a small town hospital and there was a pretty gruesome wreck, so everyone's taking care of less stable patients. Besides, I'm the only one down here with a background in OB. Dr. Weber is calling her doc right now. Don't worry guys, she's stable. Stubborn, but stable,” Destini turned her stern gaze to Aspen, “Now, you listen to me sweetheart, it's perfectly fine to refuse treatment, but don't lie here and hurt when there is something we can give you."

  "But the baby-"

  "Will be just fine, now, would you like me to get you something for pain?"

  Aspen's face scrunched up and Destini sighed. "Now, sweetheart, you're safe now and with your mates." Destini turned to Skylar who growled. "None of that, wolf. Now, come up here and console you mate."

  Chapter 19

  Aspen's fear was like a boulder sitting on her chest. She couldn't even focus on forgetting the pain that wracked her body for the fear that her baby was harmed. Skylar and Xavier had been oddly quiet, only saying they thought they'd lost her over and over again. She needed answers dammit.

  "None of that, wolf. Console your mate," Destini said to Skylar.

  Skylar's green eyes captured hers and she felt as though she could breathe again, mix that with Xavier's gentle play with her hair and she could almost relax. Almost.

  "I need to know he's alright."

  "Who's alright?" Xavier asked.

  "We're both fine, baby. Just relax."

  Aspen shook her head. They didn't understand. She moved her legs, she was going to get up, but the sharp pain that shot up her leg caused her to cry out.

  "Lay still, Aspen. The knife is still in your leg," Skylar said while restraining her by pressing down on her shoulders.

  "But the baby-"

  "Will be just fine," Xavier said. He meant it to be soothing, but from the worried look in his eyes it was anything but.

  "Oh, for heaven’s sake, Aspen, I'm going to do some fetal heart tones, let you hear your baby's heartbeat. Will that relax you?"

  Destini stood hands on her hips her eyes kind despite her words. Aspen nodded. Destini smiled and pulled the sheet down to her hips. She frowned at her then left her side only for a moment to hand a gown to Skylar.

  "Put that on her." Skylar nodded and Aspen wanted to laugh at how he followed directions. Xavier caught her eye and he smiled.

  The cold squirt of jelly made her jump then moan in pain as it wiggled her leg. "Why can't we just take the knife out?" The damn thing hurt.

  Destini placed a piece of small equipment on her abdomen and never lost her concentration. "We don't know what it hit, so I'm sure they'll do x-rays or something just to be safe."

  "It hit bone. That's what it hit."

  Xavier's face paled and Skylar's jaw clenched. But all her worries melted when Destini smiled and turned the volume up. It was so fast, but she'd heard it
before. Beautiful didn't start to cover how she felt as the sound of her baby's heartbeat filled the room.

  "Heartbeat accounted for. Feel a little better?"

  Aspen nodded. She didn't trust her voice through the tears. She looked to Skylar then Xavier and frowned. Neither seemed to react to the sound of their child's heartbeat-well Skylar's--but she was under the impression they would raise him together. Destini removed the device and her son's heartbeat faded. Destini cleaned her belly, careful of the marks left behind by that bastard. She swallowed but knew it wouldn't do any good.

  "I'm going to be sick."

  Strong arms held her in a sitting position while another held her hair back as she vomited in the blue bag held out by Destini. Her mind kept rolling over and over how she'd ripped his throat out, the coppery taste of his blood coating her tongue and the sick gurgling sound he made before sliding to the floor lifeless.

  "I killed him," she cried.

  Xavier and Skylar both began talking at the same time their words meant to be reassuring, but it wasn't helping. The tears flowed harder and each sob sent pain shooting up her leg.

  "Aspen, hon, you need to settle down. We've got to do tests and sew you up."

  Dr. Weber stood at the foot of the stretcher looking over a chart. "Destini, did you give her the pain medication?"

  "She refused."

  Dr. Weber--or Teresa--funny how she turned into Dr. Weber when in her lab jacket, stared at her with a frown. "Aspen, why don't you want the pain medications?"

  Aspen shook her head. "I can't go to sleep again."

  Understanding dawned in Dr. Weber's eyes and she nodded. "Well, we've got to do some things that will end up being pretty painful without the medications. Now, Skylar and Xavier are ready to gnaw someone's face off because you hurt. Do you want them to suffer?"

  Aspen looked up at Skylar who supported her in her sitting position and noticed for the first time how his jaw clenched, his eyes glowed and the slight bite of claw dug into her back. Xavier's expressions weren't much different. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

  Skylar cupped her cheek and brought her gaze back to his. "Baby, don't suffer." His words were nothing more than a growl, his fangs showing with each word. Skylar bent and kissed her on the forehead then kissed her neck his mouth lingering for mere seconds.

  Xavier tugged her hair gently after Skylar's lips left her neck and she turned to him. His hand raked through her hair and he growled low in his throat before bending to nip at the base of her neck. "Don't hurt, Aspen. It can't be good for our baby."

  Aspen smiled when he called her baby ours. She cupped her abdomen then nodded.

  "I'll take the pain medication."

  Destini smiled and left. She came back in a matter of moments and started to push the drug into her IV. Slowly but surely the feeling of lethargy took her down. Panic started crowding in, but Skylar and Xavier were there, and their presence kept her calm enough to slip peacefully into the arms of unconsciousness.

  ***

  Wesley stared into the cold blue eyes of the male who'd caused so much pain since coming to Pinewood Creek. Two human females dead and instead of being able to give their families closure he was contemplating ways of covering up the entire fiasco. But, the world wasn't ready to accept shifters, so that left only a cover up to perform. Still didn't mean he had to like it. The cop in him rebelled at the thought of placing another unsolved case on the shelf.

  Not to mention his bear was going crazy that they'd left their mate. The strawberry blonde female explained a lot about those odd feelings he had when he visited the pride. Her scent, although he'd only caught a brief whiff, assured him that she was all his. His cock hardened and he smiled. He couldn't wait to spread her thighs and...

  Daphne's whistle captured his attention.

  "Damn, that feline sure did a number on him."

  Wesley growled. "She was protecting herself and her unborn child."

  Daphne flashed her teeth the hint of fang a clear warning. Damn wolf was too easy to rile.

  "Didn't imply any different. Just commending a job well done."

  "Shit. We can't just call this in, but Aspen's injuries need a story, because I'll have to file a report since she was stabbed. How are we going to explain the absence of a throat?"

  "This used to be my sanctuary."

  Wesley stared at Daphne. Gone was the devil may care attitude to be replaced with something he'd never thought he'd see--vulnerability. Daphne gave him a half smile and he thought that would be the end of their conversation, but she continued much to his surprise.

  "My Dad used to bring Elias and me up here to hunt, run, and just plain get away. After Mom and Dad passed and Elias took over I just used this as an escape. Trying to forget."

  He looked around the small cabin. Rustic to the extreme it boasted one room with a stove and fridge, cot, and fire place. Utilitarian at best.

  "Forget what?"

  Her shoulders tensed and she shook her head. "Just stuff."

  She was lying and he knew it, but she was one sly wolf.

  "Let's just burn it down. We'll get Aspen to corroborate she kicked a lantern over and was able to crawl out after the fire started but he wasn't. It'll cover up the ripped out throat."

  Actually, it wasn't a bad idea, but...

  "I thought this was your sanctuary."

  "Key word: was. I can't consider this place relaxing after seeing this, besides what else are we gonna do?"

  Wesley nodded.

  Thirty minutes later he watched the flames devour the small cabin and Daphne attempt to wipe the tears away discreetly. He clapped her on the shoulder and pulled out his ringing phone.

  "Wesley Chambers."

  "Hi, this is Destini Shields with the Pinewood Creek ER and I'm calling to ensure that Aspen Clarke's stabbing had been reported."

  "Yes, Destini, Dr. Weber was with us on scene."

  "I understand, but Dr. Weber is busy suturing. Thank you."

  "You're welcome...Aspen's...well, you said she was stable."

  Wesley heard only silence. He was sure she'd hung up on him.

  "Look, I'm not supposed to say, HIPPA and all, but she's doing fine--physically. Mentally and emotionally, well how do you think anyone would be after what happened to her? I just hope her mates are patient enough to let her heal."

  "Thank you, Destini. And, I've not known them long, but Skylar and Xavier seem strong enough for the task."

  Wesley pressed the end button and slid the phone back into his pocket.

  Damn it was hard to concentrate on the here and now when he knew she existed. How had she eluded his attention especially since he'd been going to Caleb and Miranda's for supper at least once every other week since he'd met them. To a lonely bear like him, they were almost family, but finding Essence--well that changed things.

  He'd really have a family. Soon she'd be bearing one of his children. And until she was pregnant, he planned to fuck her every day and night. Who was he kidding? He'd fuck her every chance he got. Just thinking about her strawberry blonde hair spread out across his pillows as he thrust between her thighs made him so hard he hurt.

  "I've got to get back to the pack. Elias is having a coronary because the pride came onto pack lands."

  Wesley looked at Daphne and smiled.

  "Tell him I said to just piss along his border so that mistake never happens again."

  Daphne's face lit up with her smile and she laughed. It was good to see her smile again.

  "I will, but I'm not responsible for your ass kicking."

  "Yeah, yeah."

  Daphne's change was fluid, the mark of an alpha of her kind. One second she stood pulling her shirt off and the next before anyone could catch a glimpse of any of her flesh she was a russet colored wolf. The wolf cocked her head to the side and stared up at Wesley before bounding into the forest. Wesley shook his head. He had a case to wrap up and a woman to claim.

  Chapter 20

  Three days later...


  Skylar looked at his sleeping mate and his gut clenched. Aspen could have died and it was his entire fault. He couldn't imagine his life without her. Strong arms encircled him from behind and he relaxed into Xavier's embrace. Aspen sighed in her sleep and shifted, her leg peeking out of the sheet. Skylar tensed at the stitches that lined her once flawless appendage and Xavier's growl rippled through his body.

  "We almost lost her."

  Skylar's jaw clenched so hard he could hear it pop. Xavier had reminded him of that every waking moment. Of course, he never said it was Skylar's fault. But really he could see it in his eyes.

  They'd spent a restless night at the hospital while Aspen had been admitted under observation. Dr. Weber and Dr. Sanchez both said she was stable enough to go home, but both felt better for her to stay. Two days ago they'd brought her home and she'd mostly slept, but that could be them slipping her pain medications to her. She'd needed the pain medications less for pain and more for sleep, her nightmares waking her up at night. It happened in the hospital too. She'd sat up straight in the hospital bed and screamed, tears streaming down her face. It made him feel helpless. She'd already killed the fucker that had dared touch her, but her screams made him want to revive that asshole and kill him all over again.

  Aspen whined in her sleep, her movements becoming erratic. Xavier released Skylar and in tandem they crawled in the bed on each side of her. Xavier pulled her into him so that she faced Skylar. Skylar watched as her eyes popped open, the tears threatening to spill over until one lone tear broke through her lashes and fell down her cheek. Skylar caught it with his thumb and caressed her cheek.

  "Don't cry, baby. Don't do that."

  She bit her lip and more tears fell down her cheeks. "I'm sorry," she murmured.

  Xavier pulled her even closer and yet the tears continued. "Don't apologize, sweetheart," he whispered in her ear.

  Skylar leaned over her and licked her tears with his tongue. Her tears ran dry, and something else replaced the sadness that lurked there. Something he was sure he misread. Arousal.