Chapter Twenty-One
Sky
Once my body had transformed back to human, I found myself standing in front of way too many people I barely knew – and even more that I’d never met – naked, shivering, and unsettled. It was like there was an entirely different side to me that was buried deep and it – he – was as proud as he could be of taking out the intruder. Unfortunately, the rest of me – the human part of me – saw the blood splattering the walls and the crumpled body as a horror and not a victory.
I don’t really know how Trevor got there, but he wrapped me in the softest blanket I’d ever touched and bustled me over to the couch. Chloe immediately snuggled up next to me, prattling on excitedly about something – honestly, I couldn’t focus enough to follow along – and then Trevor covered us both with another thick blanket and offered to make hot tea while Clint lit a fire in the hearth.
When Colt finally arrived back at the house, I was bundled up under two blankets, sipping hot tea laced with whiskey in front of a blazing fire and I was still chilled from the inside out.
And I was more than a little tired of Chloe’s wandering hands.
Once Colt came back in from talking to Clint and Rafe on the porch, he knelt in front of the couch. “Are you sure you’re not hurt?”
I managed to shake my head, but his eyes were so deep that I started to lose myself in them.
Chloe launched into yet another play-by-play of the attack and subsequent rescue, and when she finished, Colt patted her shoulder gently.
“You were both very brave,” he said softly. “But I think we need to get some rest.”
Chloe hopped up and reached for my hand with a wide grin. “Maybe I can show my appreciation to both of you.”
I couldn’t stop my eyes from widening in horror as I stared at Colt. Surely she didn’t mean what itsoundedlike? By the wince that twisted Colt’s face, I was pretty sure she did.
“I really don’t think that’s a good idea, Chloe,” Colt said in that whiskey-smooth Alpha voice. “Sky is new here and you’re both recovering from the trauma.” He gestured to the room behind her. “Clint has security guards at all the windows and both doors; you’ll be fine.”
Chloe pouted, but nodded agreeably and went to her room. Trevor and Clint had already excused themselves, each one carrying a sleeping boy in their arms, and Rafe was directing the police transport crew in the processing of their prisoner. On the way out, I’d heard him tell Clint that he’d crash in one of the empty dorms.
That left me wrapped in a bundle of blankets and Colt still kneeling before me, his face troubled.
“Areyouokay?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
“If you are.” Colt stroked my cheek. “Come lie down with me?”
I must have nodded, because he stood, scooping me in his arms, blankets and all, and carried me to the bedroom. Setting me on the bed, he stacked the pillows behind me for support and stood by the bed.
“I’m so sorry that I didn’t prepare you, Sky,” he said bluntly. “That had to be scary as hell.”
I couldn’t hold back a wry laugh at the understatement. “Yeah. It really was.”
“Did Clint explain anything to you?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. I was pretty freaked out after.”
“And you’ve never actually seen a werewolf shift, have you?”
I shook my head again.
Colt leaned down and brushed his lips over mine. “I’m going to show you, okay? Don’t be scared. If you can’t take it, just say stop.”
I swallowed hard and tried to agree. He must have understood, because he reached the button on his jeans and slowly began to disrobe. By the time he stood naked before me, my brain wasn’t controlling enough of the blood flow for me to do anything but gawk at him.
“I’m going to change into a full wolf first,” he said softly.
My eyes screwed shut against the horrific sound of snapping bones. When the room was silent, I forced them open and gasped in surprise.
The massive wolf before me was a smoky black with silver shooting through his coat that caught the light and almost made him sparkle. Deep brown eyes were ringed in gold and deadly-looking claws capped massive paws.
I didn’t have words to say how beautiful he was.
