The fuzz deadening my brain barely stops me from throwing myself at the man and scratching his eyeballs out. If I had the energy, I’d do it, but Callisto gets us signed in before I detonate, and we endure a halfhearted body search, and then I’m finally in the same room as Zack.
His unrestrained barley scent fills the air as I cross to the bed where my wild alpha rests, handcuffed to the railing. He lies on white sheets, arms akimbo, the hospital gown barely coveringhis powerful body. Dark bruises mottle his face, and a bandage covers his swollen nose, but his chest rises with even breaths. My alpha’s really here. Covered in bandages, head shaved, but alive.
The moment Calli read those messages, an irrational part of me feared Zack was dead, but now the chilling terror fades away.
“Ohm-ga!” my alpha cries, eyes widening as he thrashes bedding out of the way to sit up. His deep alpha voice sends tingles exploding through my belly.
“Zack!” I gasp out.
He opens his arms, and I dive into his embrace, one leg up on the bed, angled over his knee. His alpha presence jolts through me, splintering another crack in the mask shutting me out from the world.
His grip tightens, stronger than ever, and his heart beats vigorously under my ear through the bandages and hospital gown. A glorious purr vibrates into me.
A garbled mix of rage and joy makes my ghost shell shiver, fragile as crystal. I punch my alpha’s shoulder with a trembling hand, and then stroke him all over. “Fuck, Zack. I missed you. They cut your beautiful hair! And why didn’t you fight back, you dummy? Don’t let anyone hurt you!” I choke on the words as relief pours through me in a cooling tidal wave.
I lean back and clasp his solid jaw between my hands, hissing at the black bruising around his eyes and the split lip. The idiot grins at me, happiest I’ve ever seen, and leans in for a kiss. I drop my mouth to his, and the last fragments of numbness crumble to dust.
“Missed ohm-ga,” Zack rumbles against my lips. “Missed Red.” He dives one hand into my hair, holding me in place for a longer kiss.
My name on his clumsy tongue sends heat pulsing through me.
“Fuck, I missed you too,” I say, trembling with relief.
In a single rough motion, I strip my shorts and underwear and climb him. Zack gets the picture, his dick already hard from our kiss, and it springs through the flap in his boxers with a little encouragement.
“Well, fuck me sideways,” a deep male voice says from the next bed over. “That really is Red Jones, the actress.”
Callisto stalks over and zips a curtain between the beds, oozing irritation, but I ignore the interruption. Only Zack matters right now.
Beaming, Zack holds me with one hand around my waist and bucks his hips, lodging his thick cock up inside my pussy. I gape at the sudden stretch, unable to breathe for a moment as my body adjusts. My alpha presses his mouth to mine again, suckling my lip like he’s ravenous. He kisses along the side of my neck, and then nuzzles under my collar to find the bond mark. His tongue traces the divots, making me gasp.
I missed him more than I can put into words, so I show with my body, clinging to his neck and writhing.
Zack hisses, and stiffens.
I freeze. “What’s wrong?”
“He’s got two broken ribs,” Callisto whispers.
“Shit!” Guilt floods through me. What was I thinking, when he’s clearly injured? “I’m sorry, Zack,” I mutter, trying to climb off.
Zack growls, and his fingers dig deeper into my hip, locking me in place. “No,” he says simply before kissing my scar.
I giggle, his message loud and clear. “All right, love, I’m not going anywhere. But how about you lie down?” Wrapping himself around me like this must be agony.
Gently I press his shoulder until he lies back on the bed, stormy blue eyes never leaving mine. I straddle him properly and brace my weight on the upright sides of the bed so I can thrust slowly over him. Zack rumbles with pleasure, and hisdeath grip on my hip relaxes. He runs his fingertips in gentle circles over my stomach, teasing a fluttery warmth beneath my skin.
“Ohm-ga in heat?” he asks.
I shake my head. “No,” I say through soft pants. “Finished. But it will happen again in the future.”
He gazes up at me, eyes roving my face and the scarlet ponytail spilling over my left shoulder. “Zack worry.”
I melt a little more inside. “I’m sorry. We tried to warn you, but something went wrong. I don’t like my heats but—” I flick a glance over my shoulder at Rickon who waits to one side, a tender smile on his face. “We got through it okay.”
Zack follows my gaze and lets out a huff. “White Mine. Come.” The alpha command in his voice slices through me, making me shiver even though he ordered someone else.
Rickon balances his hands on the bed and leans in to kiss Zack.
