Ian looked up as he heard shouting coming from down the hall and saw Cody, Steel and Slate running toward him. He stood, waiting for them to arrive and when they stopped in front of him, Ian said, “Colton’s with Dr. Luna who’s running some tests to determine the extent of his injuries. I don’t know anything yet.”
Cody slammed his fist into the wall. “Fuck! What’s taking so long?” he roared. Hearing a door open behind him, Cody whirled around, and after seeing Dr. Luna’s face, he dropped to his knees, howling.
Steel swallowed. “Is he…?” unable to say the word.
“No, no, Colton is alive…for now. But his condition is beyond my ability…”
“Who can help him? Tell me. I’ll have them here as fast as possible.”
“No. There isn’t any doctor who can help him. He needs his mate.”
“But he isn’t mated yet.”
“I know that. But Ian is his mate. He has to claim him so his wolf can join with Colton’s wolf. Together, they will have the power to heal Colton.”
“But how can I claim him? He’s unconscious.”
Dr. Luna explained, “You must give Colton a claiming bite. When you bite down, do not let go. Your wolf’s spirit will enter through the connection and will be able to merge with Colton’s wolf.”
“But how do you know it’ll heal him?”
“I spoke with Oracle and she told me it can be done to save him.”
“But I can’t claim him without his permission,” protested Ian. “It’s forbidden! Oh, my gods, what the fuck is going on? I have the power to save my mate, but I can’t because of a law? SHIT!!!”
Rising after hearing his brother could be saved, Cody grabbed Ian’s shirt. “I DON’T CARE ABOUT ANY LAW! YOU BETTER DO THIS RIGHT NOW OR I WILL KILL YOU!”
Steel removed Cody’s hands and shoved him into Slate’s iron arms and away from Ian, who by now had tears streaming down his face. Turning to Dr. Luna, he said, “Ian’s right. Who do we need to get a waiver from?”
“After I talked to Oracle, I spoke with Jackson. As Colton’s Alpha, he has the authority to waive the law in life-threatening situations. Jackson gave his approval after I explained his condition.” He turned to Ian. “Are you willing to claim Colton as your mate forever? If not, I can’t allow you to bite him.”
Chapter 17
Shocked, Ian stared at the four men facing him, waiting for his answer. Previously his decision would’ve been so clear—he’d never take a mate. He made peace with that choice many years ago. But his life changed, he changed and now he wanted nothing more than to claim and be claimed by his mate—his Fated Mate selected just for him, someone to love, someone to cherish and someone who would know and accept the importance of his calling as a doctor. His wolf had stopped crying and now, standing up, growled in anticipation of claiming his mate. Ian said, “Colton is my mate forever and I will do anything and everything for him.”
Dr. Luna grasped Ian by the arm, leading him into Colton’s room. “You don’t have a minute to waste. Climb on the bed and I’ll help you move Colton so you can bite and keep your teeth in him.”
“When will I know to remove my teeth?”
“When your wolf reenters your body. Then you can retract your teeth.”
Ian climbed up on the bed and lay next to his mate as Dr. Luna turned Colton and propped him up with pillows. “Will you leave?”
“Not right away. After your wolf has entered and he’s stable, I’ll leave. His life is in your hands…or teeth as the case may be.” Dr. Luna’s face showed a hint of a smile. “Okay, Ian, do it.”
Ian licked his mate’s neck as his wolf’s teeth appeared. Then, after a moment of hesitation, Ian bit Colton, sinking his teeth into his flesh, then the muscle and blood below the surface. There, his wolf’s spirit entered through the connection, seeking out his mate. Ian felt the two wolves join in spirit and Ian’s strength flowed intoColton. He could feel his mate’s subconscious reaction to the invasion of his wolf by the sudden stiffness of Colton’s body.
Ian tightened his grasp on Colton, to provide a distraction against the pain. He wanted to spare his mate as much discomfort as possible but was unable to do much more than hold him—and so Ian did. And then an amazing thing happened. He felt the love the two wolves had for each other as they worked together to stabilize Colton and keep him alive. Deep within his mate, the wolves combined their abilities to become so powerful, that Colton’s body began to heal, albeit very slowly. Ian was in awe as he witnessed the power of their wolves’ spirits. And at that moment, he knew he’d made the right decision.
He and Colton, with their combined love of medicine would be more powerful together than apart, leading to more lives saved. He’d been wrong for so many years about taking a mate; Colton would never prevent him from helping shifters, no, he would stand by his side through the long hours, the rough conditions and even the failures, always there, always supportive.
Ian was humbled by these thoughts as he started to pray to the gods to save his other half, his soul mate, his love. He knew if he lost his mate, life would not be worth living and he vowed at that moment to treasure the gift the Fates gave him. As prayers tumbled from his lips, he felt a presence in the room, unseen but clearly felt. He knew it wasn’t Dr. Luna because he’d left the room and Ian did not hear the door open again. Ian didn’t know who was in the room with him, but he hoped the gods sent someone to answer his prayers.
He felt his wolf’s spirit reenter his body and his teeth receded from Colton’s neck. Licking the claiming bite tohelp it heal, he was suddenly blinded by a bright green light. Closing his eyes against it, Ian felt a strong buzzing coming from Colton’s body which threw him back from his mate—and then he fainted.
Colton felt someone touching the skin over his heart.Strange there wasn’t any pain. Then he heard a voice in his head.
“I am the Archangel Raphael who brings the gods’ healing light to the Earth. Get up and claim your mate as I have made you whole. You have been given the same power and when you call upon me, my power will be channeled through your fingers to anyone you find in need of it. Use this gift to compliment your ability. Do not doubt your power Colton, for the gods have found you worthy of this great gift because of the purity of your soul and your love for your fellow shifters.”
