“Apparently the theater has been a vandalism target several times during the virus outbreak since everyone knows they work with lots of non-humans. It was torched a little over a week ago.” Kade had to bite back a snarl to keep his emotions from contaminating the information.
Even though I knew Jules had only been filling in for that one play, my heart skipped a beat. “Was anyone hurt?”
“Yeah. There was a cleaning crew inside at the time, all humans. Two died of smoke inhalation and three more are still in the hospital. Other than them, there was one shifter inside at the time, an Omega who was doing costume inventory or something. He suffered burns and a head injury when he was trapped under a fallen beam but survived. The building is a complete loss.”
“Shit.” I sucked in a breath. “What can we do to help?”
“The Omega is getting death threats at the hospital. Rafe was wondering if there was any way that we could bring him to the compound to keep him safe while he heals, give the COPSD a chance to hunt down the perps.”
I needed another Omega under my care every bit as much as I needed three new holes in my head, but it never even crossed my mind to refuse. “Of course, we will. Did he actually think that we’d refuse to help an Omega in need?” I shoved back the irritation that tried to creep up. “Clint and Trevor wouldn’t have doubted us. Does Borrero want me to go pick him up?”
“No. Given the situation, he thinks it would be much safer to call in the big guns to handle the transport.”
I nodded, rubbing my finger over the tiny compass tattooed on the inside of my right wrist, the permanent reminder of my own years in the Böxenwolf Brigade. “Have the housekeeping staff get quarters set up, would you? If he’s injured, we’ll need a private room near the infirmary.”
“Of course.” Kade rubbed his palm over his face and sighed. “We’re going to need to consider some extra security ourselves, Chuck. Those fucking Hunters have been hanging out in the woods along the back acreage too much for it to be comfortable.”
I narrowed my eyes at my friend. “You’re just telling me this now?”
Kade shrugged. “I thought we had it under control until I checked the camera footage this afternoon. I was wrong.”
“Okay.” I stood and stretched before reaching for my phone. “When you call Rafael back, tell him I’ll make the request and forward the approval to him.” I forced back a twinge of annoyance and explained when Kade quirked his brow in question. “Borrero has to call in favors to get the detail. Since I’m still a reserve Brigade member, I can make a formal request through channels with no favors needed and let Rafael bank his favors for if he ever doesn’t have that option.” Even as the words passed my lips. I realized the lack of logic in thinking that Clint, the Alpha of the Coruscation werewolf pack who also happened to be a reserve member, wouldn’t have been the one to make the request.
Whether he missed my mistake or just let it slide, Kade nodded and blew out a breath. “I’ll let him know. This is some serious bullshit.”
I nodded my agreement, fighting the urge to tap the screen on my cellphone just in case I’d missed an incoming message notification as my mind drifted back to Julian. “It is but there isn’t much we can do about it right now except defend ourselves and look out for those who can’t.”
Julian
Everything hurt.
Even with my eyes and ears covered in what felt like layers of gauze, the traces of light and muffled sounds that filtered through were excruciating, and the slightest movement made my head pound for hours after the movement stopped. Something that I’d realized after waking up in unfamiliar surroundings and trying to sit up and pull the wrappings off my head. The waves of pain and nausea that followed had left me collapsed on a hard, cold floor, fighting to keep from retching.
“Hey, there,” the whispered words made me cringe even as a comforting blanket of Alpha pheromones wrapped around me, anchoring me as it soothed the rough edges of pain shooting through me. “Stay still so I can lift you back into the bed, okay?”
The best I could manage was a whimper of agreement as strong arms gathered me ever so gently and held me to a hard chest before carefully settling me on the mattress I’d woken up on.
“Time for your pills,” another voice, this one female and at full volume, rang out.
I barely had time to wince before the Alpha pheromones increased, providing a buffer between my mind and the pain signals.
When the man spoke again, it was still in a whisper, but his voice was rife with anger. “Lower your voice! You know he has a brain injury!” There was a shuffling noise and then the comforting presence was back beside me, oh so carefully easing me to recline against a strong arm. One finger barely stroked my bottom lip as the man’s tone softened again. “Open up so you can take your pain medicine, hm?”
Obediently I unclenched the muscles in my jaw, allowing the finger to carefully pull my mouth open. Two pills were placed on the back of my tongue and the rim of a plastic bottle barely nudged my lip. I managed to swallow a good amount of the cool, sweet liquid, only a tiny dribble escaping from the corner of my mouth which was promptly dabbed away.
“Good boy.” There was something familiar about both the voice and the masculine scent of my protector but damned if my throbbing brain could place how I knew it. Gentle fingers stroked lightly over the bare skin at the nape of my neck, just below where the bandages stopped. “Try to drink just a little more and then you can lay down again.”
Drawing on all of my energy, I managed a few more swallows, grateful for the Alpha pheromones blunting the pain as I was carefully eased back against the pillow and covered by a light blanket. I tried to say as much, to thank the man for helping me, but wasn’t able to make any sound. Still, it seemed as though my caregiver had understood.
“I’m here for you, Jules,” the whisper was smooth and tender. “You just rest and let me help you heal.”
I drifted in and out after that, possibly due to the pills that were eased down my throat at regular intervals. Each time I woke, I was surrounded by a comforting Alpha presence. It wasn’t until I was propped up against a pile of downy pillows, struggling to swallow the meat stew puree being spooned into my mouth that my mind finally cleared enough to recognize the scent.
“Chuck?” My voice was raspy and barely there, but the clink of the spoon against the bowl told me that he’d heard me.
“Yeah, Jules,” Chuck whispered back, his voice thick with relief. “It’s me, baby. I’m so dammed glad to hear your voice.”
“I..what happened? What’s wrong with me?”
