When Colton announced his wolf was bound, Dylon almost lost it. For a brief moment he wondered if Cody’s brother really knew he’d just signed his own death warrant. But then, seeing the look on Mac’s face when Colton announced it, he realized they both knew. How the hell Jackson ever agreed to do it was something he didn’t want to think about, but the deed was done and now it was up to him to try to save Colton.
Bursting into their bedroom, Dylon found Cody sitting on the bed, crying over what was happening to Colton’s wolf.No time to talk about that now. “Babe, I need your help if we’re going to save your brother.”
Wiping away his tears, Cody began to feel some hope. Standing, he said, “Whatever you need.”
Heading to their closet, Dylon pulled out his old trunk that his mother had brought him when he joined the pack. Unlocking it, he rifled through its contents until he found what he was looking for. Turning around, he asked, “Are the twins asleep?” Seeing Cody’s nod, he grabbed the baby monitor from the bedside table and headed out of the room. “C’mon, there isn’t much time left.”
~/~/~/~/~
Mac waited for the word from Colton to proceed. It had taken longer than expected to stabilize Ian, but he couldn’t afford to take chances…especially with the lives of the pups on the line. Pausing to calm his mind, Mac held the scalpel poised over Ian’s protruding belly before taking a deep breath, and making his first cut. Within minutes he held the first baby in his hands, clearing her airway, then giving her a quick check before passing her to Colton.
My daughter!Carrying her over to another table, Colton quickly wiped her down and checked her color. Swaddling her in a soft blanket, he set her into one of the new hospital bassinets lined up against the wall. Then, postponing further procedures he’d normally do with a newborn, he hurried back to Mac. With just the two of them in the delivery room, every task had been prioritized.
Birthing the second pup, took longer than the first; he was slow to take his first breath. When he was finally breathing on his own, Mac handed the baby to Colton.
Oh, my gods!Cradling his son, he smiled, looking down at the spitting image of Ian. After the pup had been cleaned, Colton wrapped his son in a fluffy blanket, happy to see his skin had pinked up. Giving a quick glance at his daughter, he grinned at her tuft of red hair.
“Colton!”
Hearing the alarm in Mac’s voice, Colton rushed over to him. “What’s the problem?”
“The umbilical cord is wrapped around her neck and I can’t get it lose enough to extract her. I need you to hold her while I cut the cord. Hurry, her heart rate is falling!”
~/~/~/~/~
Stopping in the doorway to Colton and Ian’s bedroom, Dylon found the person he was looking for. “Jackson,” he said, “I can save Colton’s wolf, but you have to trust me!”
Stepping out of Steel’s embrace, Jackson frowned, trying to understand Dylon’s words. Shaking his head, he said, “There’s nothing you can do.”
Standing next to his mate, Cody replied, “Jackson, he can. It’s the only way to save Colton.”
Jackson’s despair was mirrored clearly on his face. “Cody, I bound Colton’s wolf…do you know what that is?”
“No…but…”
“Iknow!” Dylon exclaimed. “My Shaman told me about it…I know what’s happening to Colton’s wolf but if we don’t act quickly, it’ll be too late.”
“Mac and Colton never told me something could save him,” Jackson said, unconvinced.
“Probably because they didn’t know. See this?” Dylon held up a golden strap emitting a soft glow. “This ties Cody and me together. It’ll allow Cody’s wolf to talk to Colton’s wolf, and calm him down. It’ll buy more time for Mac and Colton to deliver the pups.”
“If Cody is tied to you, how does his wolf talk to Colton’s?” asked Steel.
“Jackson has to bind my wolf to his, just like he did to Colton’s,” Dylon explained.
“No way! I’m not risking your wolf, too!”
“You won’t be. The gods gave me the strength of Hercules…my wolf is just as strong as I am. He can handle it,” Dylon assured Jackson.
“What about Cody’s wolf? How will it affect him?” asked Steel.
“It won’t, since he won’t be bound. This allows him to speak directly to Colton’s wolf through my wolf…I’m only there to relay his message. It’s the only way to save Colton’s wolf.”
Looking at Cody, Jackson asked, “Do you agree to me binding Dylon’s wolf?”
“I do…you’ll see, it’ll work.”
Jackson sighed. “Okay,” he said, reluctantly. He’d have to trust Dylon knew what he was doing.
