by Alicia White
“Tell you what…I’ll go into the bathroom and do a thorough inspection. If I need a doctor, you’ll be the first to know.” That sounded reasonable to her. Hopefully he would nod and back off.
The door swung open, and in walked Mahkah. “What’s going on?” That was said to Takoda as if she wasn’t present.
“She won’t let me undress her.”
Mahkah pinned her with a look. He moved toward her, and Emma had the impression of being stalked. “I need you to remove your clothes, Emma. We’d like to make sure you weren’t hurt in the attack.” He jerked his chin toward her body, but his eyes never left hers. The concern she saw there was almost endearing. Almost.
“I can check myself.”
“I’m sure you can, but you’re tired, dead on your feet. We’re here to help. If you would get out of those clothes, Takoda can start your bath water. My mom is downstairs making you a nice meal. Let’s not waste time, Emma.” She stood there for a minute, uncertain and little more than embarrassed. Heat traveled up her neck and spread across her cheeks. Here goes nothing.
Emma spun around and began undressing with jerky movements. She unzipped the thin jacket she wore and realized she wasn’t wearing a shirt. She’d left it in the truck under Chayton’s head. She stood there in only her bra, panties, and pants. Tears filled her eyes, and she kept her back to them in hopes they wouldn’t notice. Her mind and thoughts were on Chayton, and she just wanted to hold him, and tell him she accepted him, loved him. If anything happened to him…she didn’t finish that thought.
“Emma. What’s wrong?” Mahkah’s voice was gentle. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against his chest, rocking her slowly. It felt so wonderful, his warmth surrounded her.
“I–I just miss Chayton. I want to see him,” she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks.
It wasn’t that she didn’t feel comfortable around Mahkah and Takoda, she did. For some unknown reason, she knew they cared for her, but she still wanted to be near Chayton. She needed to know his status. Was he in surgery now? Was he in pain, asking for her? The tears continued to fall. She couldn’t hold them in. Her heart was being squeezed in her chest. Her throat ached with the effort to hold back a wail. Emma stood there, gasping for breath in the warmth of Mahkah’s arms.
“Shhh, baby.” He kissed the top of her head. “After you take a bath, I promise I’ll take you to see him. Okay?” His voice was sincere. He was telling her the truth. She wasn’t sure how she knew, but she did.
“You will?” She took deep breaths to try and rein in the tears. She instinctively trusted him.
“Of course. I promise you, Emma, as soon as you have taken a bath and are dressed in warm clothes, I’ll take you straight to him.” Emma swallowed the lump in her throat and gave a sharp nod.
Mahkah stepped back, giving her some space, and Emma took off the rest of her clothes. Goose bumps covered her naked flesh, and she brought her arms up, in an attempt to cover her breasts. Large, callused hands touched her body, and Emma closed her eyes. He gently rubbed up and down her legs, checking every square inch of skin. Finished with his inspection, he took a step back. She opened her eyes and blinked at him. He checked her over efficiently and effectively in a nonsexual way.
Before she had time to mull that over, he swooped her up once more. He carried her in to the bathroom before Emma had time to take it all in. The room looked to be as big as her apartment back in Anchorage. It reminded her of a spa, and Emma could barely contain her gasp of wonder.
“I take it you approve?” Mahkah asked, and Emma could only nod.
The entire room was warm and inviting, the lights were dim, and candles were placed around the huge tub that dominated one part of the room. An open shower stall took over another wall, and she counted eight showerheads that could be maneuvered to cover multiple bodies. Beautiful artistic tiles filled the space, giving it a southwestern feel. The room was decorated in warm browns, honey gold, and Caribbean blue. Taking a deep breath, Emma smelled honeysuckle and closed her eyes. How did they know that honeysuckle was her favorite?
“Approve?” She exhaled. “This room is amazing. I could live here.” She murmured the last sentence to herself. If given the choice, she would gladly pack up and move into their bathroom.
Mahkah laughed as he carried her to the bathtub and placed her in the warm water. “That’s good hear, because this is all yours.” He winked before stepping back.
She sat rigid for a minute, wondering if he planned on joining her. He must have sensed her thoughts. He gave her a rakish grin and shook his head.
“Take your time and relax. I’ll bring you some clothes and dinner in a little bit.” Turning away from her, Mahkah left the room and softly closed the door behind him. Emma glanced up at Takoda, who had remained quiet thus far. He appeared pained. She could see the strain around his mouth, the subtle lines around his eyes that showed his exhaustion. This man who looked so much like her Chayton was an enigma.
* * * *
Takoda watched Emma interact with Mahkah. Why was it so much easier for his older brother? First, Chayton had bonded and marked her, now she obviously drawn to Mahkah as well. She’d allowed him to touch her and inspect her little scrapes and bruises. She’d prevented him from even touching her clothes. What was wrong with him? Why didn’t she feel anything toward him? He was almost an exact copy of Chayton. It didn’t make any sense. Confusion and anger assailed him at once. He needed to get out of there before he made a fool of himself. He stayed. He could no more leave her than he could stop breathing.
After Mahkah left the bathroom, Emma looked at Takoda. She gazed at him with her big doe eyes as if seeing him for the first time. He felt out of place, like he didn’t belong. The bear inside him recognized her as his mate, the man knew she belonged to the three of them, but for some strange reason she was only drawn to Chayton and Mahkah. Why was he the one left out?
Takoda took a deep breath and searched for words, but none came. She continued to stare at him, and Takoda became uncomfortable. He turned on his heel and exited the bathroom. He kicked himself as he went. Why couldn’t he be a smooth talker like Mahkah or a pleaser like Chayton? He was completely lost. She may never accept him. It was a devastating possibility he didn’t want to face.
“Hey, what’s going on with you and Emma?” Mahkah asked as soon as Takoda stepped out of the bathroom. He continued on, ignoring his brother’s questions. So it wasn’t just him. Mahkah noticed it as well. That thought bothered him more than he cared to admit.
“Takoda? What’s up?” Mahkah followed him, and he continued on his course. He needed time alone, to think. He was exhausted and itching to run. He needed to eat first.
Taking one step at a time, Takoda went down the stairs to the kitchen. He was hungry and tired after his quick trip to Anchorage. There were still quite a few people in their home, all sitting around, waiting for news on Chayton. He maneuvered through the crowd of people and ended up where he wanted to be, in the kitchen with a few members of the clan.
Pulling out a barstool, he swung his long leg over and sat down. He watched his mom move around the kitchen, keeping busy feeding the clan members. His dads helped her by doing her bidding. She was a bit bossy. She said, “Jump.” They said, “How high?” Grinning, he watched them work together. This was what he’d grown up with, a house full of love, three parents and a clan that took care of their own. A tight ball formed in his gut when he thought about his own future.
“Son, what’s going on?” His father, Honaw, approached him with knowing eyes. He had always been in tune with his children. Takoda tried to cover the pain he was feeling with a shrug and a shake of his head. “I know something is bothering you. You can’t hide from me.” Pulling out the seat next to him, his dad took a seat and leaned against the counter. “I remember when I met your mother.” He smiled, and Takoda nodded. Both of his dads told them this story repeatedly.
“Your mother, she was very young when Shiloh broug
ht her here to our home. I thought she was too young for me, figured she thought I was an old man.”
“Oh hush, you know that’s not true. I thought you and Shiloh were sexy beasts.” She giggled before turning around and stirring a big pot on the stove. Takoda watched as his dad, Shiloh, wrapped his arms around her waist. He turned his attention back to the conversation, not wanting to intrude on their private moment.
“She doesn’t remember everything. She only remembers becoming our mate. I remember seeing her and loving her right away. That’s our way, son. We sense our mates and love them immediately. They don’t have those same feelings. Humans, their feelings must grow over time. It took your mother months to admit her feelings. Your mate needs to heal from an attack. She bonded with Chayton and was instantly drawn to Mahkah.” Takoda ground his teeth together, not wanting to hear the rest of his father’s words.
Slipping off the stool, he wanted nothing more than to make a break for the exit. He needed to run. To clear his head. Maybe he would do some hunting for a while before he returned. Before he could walk away, his dad grabbed his forearm, stopping him. “She will love you, Takoda. This I promise. It’s different for everyone. Don’t give up.” Takoda could only nod. His attempt at a smile fell short.
He pushed the front door open and began stripping before it shut behind him. He took off at a dead run, heading straight for the tree line. The air was cold against his skin for a moment, before he shifted. He slowed and took one more look at the house before lumbering off through the forest.
Chapter 12
Mahkah watched Takoda go. It was hard being the head of the family when his brothers refused to open up to him. He knew something was bothering Takoda. Damn him for being so stubborn. First Chayton ran off in the middle of the night from their local hangout with Emma. Now Takoda was running from something he couldn’t see, much less name. They had waited six weeks for Chayton to bring Emma home, only to have him shot and Emma attacked by a wolf. Now, Takoda was fighting some internal demons, and he felt helpless to do anything. Mahkah ran a hand down his face and left the kitchen with a heavy heart.
Mahkah stomped off down the hall trying to rid himself of the agitation he felt. He needed to check on Chayton, take food to Emma, before taking her to see his brother. Would this night ever end? He was feeling tired to his bones, but he had to hold it together. His family needed him. His parents were downstairs with the rest of the clan waiting to hear news of Chayton. He knew his Mom was keeping busy in the kitchen to keep from breaking down. His heart went out to her. She was the glue that held this family together. If something happened to Chayton, it would destroy her.
The whole situation felt a little too similar to Conner and Chloe. Whispers were already spreading through the house, and some of the clan was starting to wonder if they should keep to the old traditions. Sending the younger brother off to find their mate didn’t seem to be the best plan any longer. Then again, he didn’t know about Emma until Chayton was already with her in Anchorage. He hadn’t sent Chayton off to find her. She found them.
Mahkah tapped on the door and waited for someone to give him news. He held his breath as the door eased open. He didn’t want to disturb them or disrupt Chayton’s surgery. He just needed to check on his brother’s progress. He would also see about an estimate time to recovery. Emma would demand to know. He couldn’t approach her again without news of his brother. He recognized his need to get back to her. She needed food and clothing.
The Alpha emerged looking drained and weary. He closed the door behind him and ran his fingers through his hair. He gestured to the room he’d just exited and looked pointedly at Mahkah.
“The bullet is out. He held up his hand before Mahkah could interrupt. It’s still touch and go. He needs time to heal. He lost a lot of blood. Doc’s cleaning him now.” Adam’s voice was low, almost a whisper, and Mahkah wondered if he was telling him everything. Adam seemed to read his mind. “He’s going to pull through. He just needs time.” Mahkah stared at him, trying to gauge whether he was being completely truthful. Not sensing any deceit, he nodded.
“Emma wants to see him. I promised that I would bring her to him as soon as she bathed, changed, and ate something.” If Adam was surprised by that, he didn’t show it. Approval shone in his eyes, and the corner of his mouth lifted.
“Try to hold her off as long as possible. She should see Chayton when he looks a bit better,” Adam warned. “She doesn’t need to see him like this.”
Mahkah’s gut clenched. How bad was it? The urge to go to Chayton was strong, but he held himself still.
“Did he shift?” Mahkah held his breath, hoping that Chayton hadn’t shifted during the procedure. Was Adam minimizing his brother’s condition?
“Yeah, as soon as the bullet was out, he shifted.”
“He needs to shift back. Shit! He needs to be in bear form for rapid healing.”
“I know, and Doc is cleaning him up right now. Perhaps the bear will emerge soon, but for now he’s simply a man.”
“I’ll go as slow as I can with Emma, but I promised, and I need to follow through.”
“I understand.” Adam nodded before clasping his shoulder. Adam dropped his arm and turned to go with a promise to update with any changes. Mahkah rubbed the back of his neck and gave a weak smile. He walked back to Emma with heavy steps and an even heavier heart.
* * * *
Emma climbed out of the tub after her skin began to wrinkle. Tiptoeing around the huge space, she searched for a towel. She located them quickly and wrapped her hair in one and her body in another. The room felt warm, as did the floor. That surprised her. She’s expected her feet to be freezing the moment she stepped from the bath. She bent and ran her fingers along the tile.
“The floors are heated here during the fall and winter months.” She shrieked and jumped, dropping her towel in the process.
“I didn’t mean to scare you.” Mahkah handed her the towel, and Emma grabbed it, wrapping it around herself. She looked at Mahkah and watched his eyes look her up and down. He licked his lips, and Emma couldn’t believe how she felt. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She took a few deep breathes, trying to calm herself. She wanted him. “Come on out, I have some clean clothes for you.”
Emma followed Mahkah into the bedroom. He turned away to give her a few minutes of privacy. She quickly pulled on a long-sleeve T-shirt and sweatpants. Mahkah tossed her a thick pair of socks, and Emma slipped them on her feet. “Thank you.” She hoped he knew how truly grateful she was. She was finally clean and warm.
Her stomach growled loudly, and she cringed, feeling a tad embarrassed. Mahkah smiled widely and winked. “Let’s go downstairs and get some dinner. I know it’s late, but I’m hungry.” Holding out his arm like the perfect gentleman, Emma wrapped her hand around his bicep.
“After I eat, I can see Chayton, right?”
“Of course. I did promise didn’t I?”
“Yes, I–I uh just wanted to remind you.” She hoped she hadn’t offended him. Mahkah had been very kind to her. He seemed to be able to read her so easily.
“I will always follow through on my promises, Emma.” He guided her out of the room and back down the stairs. A lot of the people from earlier were gone. The house was almost empty.
Emma strode into the kitchen still holding Mahkah’s arm when she noticed two older gentlemen that Chayton, Takoda, and Mahkah resembled. Emma suddenly stopped. Mahkah seemed to understand. She wasn’t ready to meet his parents. Not after Chayton being shot. She somehow felt responsible. If there was a hole, she would have crawled in it. Under different circumstances, she would love to meet his parents. Would they blame her for what happened to their son? Emma took a deep breath, trying to gather her courage.
“Poor girl, are you feeling okay?” A sweet-looking lady came over, wrapped her arm around Emma’s waist, and pulled her into the kitchen. Trying to smile, Emma nodded her head, unsure of what to say. “I’m Beverly, but everyone calls me Bev. I�
�ve got some soup for you.”
She ushered Emma around Mahkah, bumping him aside with her hip. She looked over her shoulder and made eye contact with him. He shrugged and followed behind, pulling out her chair before seating himself next to her. Emma folded her hands in her lap and let her gaze fall on the group in the room. She studied them under lowered lashes. The family resemblance was amazing.
She could almost visualize what Chayton and his brother would like when they grew older. She smiled to herself, imagining a much older Chayton. Her smile faltered when she imagined him somewhere in this house having a bullet removed. Her stomach dropped, and she twisted her fingers together to keep them from shaking. She couldn’t think of the future, not yet, not when his life was in jeopardy.
“Smells great, Mom. Thank you.” Mahkah’s smooth voice reined in her train of thought. Looking down, she saw that Bev put a large bowl of soup and breadsticks down in front of her.
“Thank you.” Emma picked up her spoon and took small, quiet sips of her soup.
It was difficult for her to sit here and eat, when her mind wouldn’t stop displaying images of Chayton bleeding out in the back of that truck. The wolf at her throat. Takoda’s anger on the ride back. Takoda. The more she thought about the way she’d acted toward him, the worse she felt. She wondered where he was but couldn’t bring herself to ask.
Mahkah spoke to his parents in a hushed tone, his voice a calming salve that washed over her. Emma closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She called on every energy source she could think of, to no avail. She laid her head on her hand and rubbed her tired eyes. This couldn’t be happening.
“Emma? Hello, Emma?” Jerking her head up, she looked into Mahkah’s concerned face. She wondered how long he had been trying to get her attention. “Are you okay?” She nodded, cleared her throat, and looked around. His parents were sitting at the table, eating, but it was obvious they were all looking at her, studying her.