Chapter Twelve
Sky
Once Rafael had gathered up his notes and left the room, Colt slid back into the bed and gathered me in his arms. I could hear his heart beating under my ear as his chest slowly rose and fell beneath my cheek.
"How are you feeling?" his smooth voice wrapped around me, making me sigh.
"Better, I think," I said. "My feet are still killing me, but everything else is feeling better and I'm not having trouble talking anymore." I laughed when my stomach rumbled. "And I'm guessing that being hungry is a good sign."
"I think we can fix that," Colt said with a laugh of his own, reaching for the slick cardboard menu on the table by the bed. "Doc said you could order whenever you were hungry," he reminded me. "Let's see. They have a burger, a chicken sandwich, a salad, macaroni and cheese, a roast turkey plate, and a salmon filet. Any of that sound good?"
"Not really," I admitted with a huff. "This is crazy, but I am dying for a thick, rare steak." I laughed again. "I'm usually not much of a meat eater and I never eat it rare, but I'm seriously craving it now." I shook my head and then noticed that Colt wasn't laughing with me. Actually, he looked upset. "It doesn't matter," I said, trying to lighten the mood. "The burger will do just fine."
Colt nodded and dialed down to the kitchen, ordering two burgers before tossing the menu back down beside the phone. He wrapped his arm back around my waist, holding my back tight to his chest as he stared out the window, his frown deepening.
"Are you okay, Colt?" I asked, concern starting to build in my gut. "You seem upset."
Instead of answering, the Alpha heaved a deep sigh and threaded the fingers of one hand through my own. We sat like that for awhile, fingers locked together, our breaths matching. When Colt finally spoke, his words definitely took me by surprise.
"I'm sorry," he said, his voice oddly hollow. "This wasn't what you wanted. I gave you my word, but then I betrayed you."
I angled my head back and to the side to see his face. "It's okay, Colt." I reached my free hand up to stroke his cheek, smiling when the scratchy stubble tickled my palm. "I didn't want to die, I just don't trust those doctors back home." I rubbed my thumb over his bottom lip. "You said that you'd keep me safe and you have." I threaded my fingers into his hair, tugging lightly until Colt lowered his face to mine. I pressed my lips gently to his. "Thank you."
Instead of relaxing or returning my kiss, Colt choked back a broken sound and stiffened behind me.
"Colt? What's wrong?"
"Do you remember anything that happened before you woke up in the hospital?" Colt asked, his voice thick.
"Not really," I admitted. "I mean, I remember your friends trying to help me and all, but that's about it."
Colt nodded. "I told you I could turn you into a shifter, that that would give you a better chance of surviving. Do you remember that?"
I nodded slowly. "I guess I do, but I thought that was one of the crazy dreams I was having," I admitted. "I mean, either you're born a shifter or not, right?"
Colt bit down on his bottom lip and dragged a whistling breath in through his teeth. "Well, not necessarily," he finally said. "There is one way. One type of shifter that can change a human."
"Okay," I said, ignoring the ache that was starting in my neck from the odd angle it was stretched in. "What happened to me, Colt? Did you turn me into a shifter?"
He nodded slowly, but his voice was firm when he spoke. "You weren't in any condition to consent," he told me, "which means that you have the right to file charges. Rafael already knows, all you have to do is sign the complaint."
"What complaint?" I asked, confused. "You saved my fucking life and got me the hell away from the bastards that tried to kill me. What exactly do you think I'm going to complain about?"
"I'm not just any shifter," Colt finally said with a deep exhalation. "I'm a werewolf." He paused for a second and then pushed on. "It might have been reversible, but when you crashed in the operating room, you needed a transfusion." Regret was evident in every line of his face. "When they gave you my blood, they solidified the change."
I must have been staring at him, because Colt sighed again. "I'm a werewolf, Sky, and now, so are you."
