“I’m going to take a shower.” I want all this blood off right now. I close the door behind me and strip off my clothes. I turn the water as hot as I can take it and step in. I stand under the hot water and let it cleanse me. I don’t stay in too long because I really do want to sleep. I scrub my body, wincing when I get to the bruises on my stomach. My feet hurt as well, but I know they’ll heal completely within the next hour or so. The bruises on my stomach and neck will take a little longer, but it won’t be long. When I step out, I wrap a towel around my hair and another one around my body before cracking open the door. I open it all the way when I realize Hunter is gone. When I step out, I see the black t-shirt and black sweatshirt. I walk over to mydrawers and get a clean bra and underwear. I debate only for a moment. I’m too tired to pick something of my own, so I pull on Hunter’s t-shirt and sweatshirt. I'm actually surprised he even has a sweatshirt. I've never seen him wear it. Wolves run hot, so I figure he rarely needs a sweatshirt. I take his scent into my lungs and let it settle me. I pull on a pair of leggings and warm socks and then brush my hair. I’m just about finished brushing my long, dark hair when somebody knocks on the door to my room.
I walk over to the door and open it. Hunter stands there, leaning against the door frame. His eyes run the length of me. “Garrett wants to talk to you.” I stiffen. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to, but he just wants to thank you.”
I give him a wary look. “Can you just tell him you passed on the message?”
He studies my face. “I think Emma wants to make sure you’re okay.”
“Tell them I’m fine.”
“Are you though?”
His question surprises me. “Yes. I’m good. I’ll be completely healed in a few hours.” His eyes seem to see through me, and I shift warily. “Seriously, I’m fine.”
“Sherese,” a soft, feminine voice sounds from down the hall.
The only way to escape her is to be extremely rude and step back into my room and close the door, so I turn and face the alpha’s mate. I take in the sight of her, and guilt swarms me. She's still covered in blood, and her face is bruised, but she’s holding Daniel tightly. Suddenly, I want to find the vampires that did this to her and hurt them as they hurt her. I find myself walking over toward them before I realize what I’m doing. Garrett appears right behind her, and I can see his wolf in his eyes. He clearly hasn’t calmed down yet. When I stop in front of her, she looks up at me, and her eyes tear up. “How can we ever say thank you?”
I swallow hard, uncomfortable with the emotion. “You don’t need to. I didn’t do anything.”
She shakes her head. “Yes, you did,” she says fiercely. “You may undermine it, but we know what you did. And we won’t ever forget.” She kisses Daniel’s head, and I don’t want to be here for this emotional display. I look down at the little boy with the expressive eyes and focus on him, and not his emotional mother.
“Hey, little guy,” I say softly. Then he does something that shocks me. He puts his arms out and reaches for me. I go still, unsure what to do. Emma doesn’t even seem to know what to do, but Daniel is persistent. If I don’t take him, he’s going to fall forward. I meet the alpha’s hard gaze over Emma’s head, and he nods. I take the little boy from Emma’s arms awkwardly, but he doesn’t make it awkward. He drops his head on my shoulder and snuggles close. I close my eyes and breathe in his little boy scent and send out a prayer of gratitude that he’s okay. Emma suddenly jerks, and my gaze snaps to her. She puts her hand over her stomach.
“Garrett.” There’s panic in her voice, and the hair on the back of my neck stands up.
He’s there in a flash. He picks her up and holds her close to his chest as he strides into the living room. She cries out, and I hear his answering growl. I glance up at Hunter; his gaze is intense as he watches. I walk out to the living room, still holding Daniel, and watch as Garrett carefully lays Emma down on the couch. Talya tries to get close to help, but Garrett snarls at her. Then the front door opens, and Sage and Paul stride in. Paul drops onto his knees next to Garrett. Sage stands above Emma’s shoulders and closes her eyes when she places her hands on her shoulders.
“Momma,” Daniel cries softly.
I rub his back. “It’s okay. Momma will be okay,” I say softly.
Garrett’s eyes snap to his son and then to me. I wait for him to say something about handing him off to somebody else, but he doesn’t. He turns his focus back on his mate. Daniel shifts in my arms, and I’m suddenly reminded how weak I am. I stagger backward a step and hit something warm and hard. I try to pull forward, but two hands land on my shoulders. “I’ve got you.” Hunter’s low voice in my ear should make me move forward instantly, but it does the exact opposite. I feel the sudden urge to lean against his strength and let him hold Daniel and me up. I know he’s strong enough, but I don’t. I hold myself stiff and focus on holding Daniel. Max and Liam come inside a few minutes later, and Talya is in Liam’s arms moments later. I watch as Max and Raechel converse in low tones. Max’s eyes settle on me for a moment, and I stiffen. But he doesn’t say anything, and he doesn’t come over. Liam comes our way after a little bit.
“Sherese, you look like you’re about to keel over. Let me take him from you.” He turns his attention to Daniel. “Hey, Bud, can Uncle Liam hold you until your daddy’s ready to hold you?”
Daniel leans forward and reaches out for him. Liam takes him into his strong arms and holds him close. “Thank you,” he says to me and then takes Daniel over to the other side of the room.
Chapter Eighteen
Sherese
The room is nearly silent, but the tension is high. I want to leave to give them privacy, but that feels like I’m leaving them in this crisis. Emma cries out again, and the whiplash of Garrett’s power is felt by all of us. I can’t imagine what it feels like to his wolves because I can feel it, and I’m not even a wolf. The door opens, and a couple walks in that I’ve seen before but can’t remember who they are. “We came from patrol,” I hear the male say to Max.
“What’s going on?” the female asks.
Max talks to them in tones too low for me to pick up. Ava must see me watching them because she steps close. “That’s Kyle and his mate Madison; they’re enforcers.”
I hear a panicked cry from Emma, and my gaze shoots that way. “I can’t,” she sucks in a breath. Garrett talks to her in a voice too low for me to hear.
“It’s okay, Emma,” Sage soothes.
“Take a deep breath,” Paul says as he puts something over her stomach. “We can get it to stop, but you have to do your best to calm down. Breathe in and out for me.” I can hear her breath catch. “In and out.”
Then the situation escalates. “Paul, she’s bleeding.”
That comes from Talya, who’s standing near the end of the couch. That sends Paul into a flurry of activity. Ava moves over to Sage. “What can I do to help?”
Garrett growls low in his chest, and Bryce steps forward. But Max stops him with a shake of his head. I can feel the tension rising in the room. I don’t know what to do with myself; I feel sohelpless. I glance over at little Daniel and see that he’s asleep on Liam’s chest. I really hope he’s okay; Paul will have to check on him, too. I look over at the group around Emma and wish I knew how to use my healing ability or even knew if it still worked. I haven’t used it since that fatal day.
