Mia screamed his name as darkness tried to take her. Seth slid on his knees through the wet grass, cradling her head.
Then nothing. She fell into unconsciousness with a soft sigh.
Chapter37
Seth sat in the chair next to the hospital bed, his face in his hands. His whiskers burned his palms, but that was nothing compared to the pain thrumming through his temples.
Mia stretched beneath the blankets.
His eyelids flew open, his gaze narrowing on her pretty emerald eyes. “Hi.”
She blinked, her gaze slowly focusing on the hospital room. Then she peered down at the bandage around her upper arm. “How bad?” she croaked.
He stood and poured her a glass of water. “Flesh wound with the bullet grazing you. Silver bullet. There’s enough of me in you, enough of the mating, that the silver will scar.” He handed over the cup. For the rest of their lives, she’d wear that mark. Proof that he hadn’t protected her.
She struggled to sit, and he helped her, using her good shoulder. “I passed out from a simple flesh wound?” Horror filled her voice.
Against all rational thought, amusement tickled through him. “No. You hit your head on a rock and have a slight concussion. But it was the silver that short-circuited your system, to be honest.”
“Oh.” She looked down at the hospital gown. “Please tell me you haven’t called my mother or aunt.”
“I have not,” he said easily, sitting again and taking her free hand. “It’s well after midnight, and they should be asleep. Figured we didn’t even have to tell them if you didn’t want.”
Relief crossed her features. She frowned. Then she jerked up. “Wait. Pete.” She pulled her hand free and tossed back the plush blanket. “Pete. Where is he? Is he okay?”
Seth kept his hand gentle but firm as he planted it on her good shoulder and pressed her back against the pillows. “Pete took three bullets to the upper left shoulder and is sleeping peacefully in the adjacent room. All three went right through his body as if they didn’t want to hurt him.” The surgeon had just stitched the guy up and then went home. “He’ll be fine and can probably go home tomorrow.”
She settled, her gaze returning to Seth’s face. “How did Pete even get up there?”
Seth sighed. “Apparently someone called the fire in, and since he remembered my people being there before, he did his job and investigated. He shot Alice to protect you, not knowing that human bullets wouldn’t take her down for long.”
Mia blinked. “I’m so sorry, Seth. Alice—”
He nodded. “I know.” Never in a million would he have thought the woman capable of something like that.
“She loved your father to a scary degree. Did she finally confess to your mother’s murder?” Mia shook her head. “To think she also killed those women from Seattle, just to cover her tracks. Then Ruby and Mandy.”
The whole idea churned like acid through his stomach. “She didn’t confess to anything. Wouldn’t say the words.”
Mia blinked. “Where is she? You have her contained, don’t you?”
“She’s dead,” he said simply, meeting Mia’s gaze, which turned a deep green.
Her mouth opened and then closed. “Tell me you didn’t.”
He gently caressed her chin. “Are you asking as a cop or my mate?” It was a fair question.
One she took proper time considering. Finally, she exhaled. “As your mate. I won’t take action, I promise.”
“Claire Fulsome killed Alice, knife in throat,” Seth said, reliving the moment. “Alice shot Pete and went down from his human bullets, though bounced up almost instantly. Claire was behind her husband and heard everything. She believed that Alice had killed her daughter, and she went for the kill. I’m not going to exact any punishment. Period.”
Mia looked toward the doorway. “The system is in place for a reason. Vigilante justice isn’t the way to go.”
“A mother avenged her daughter’s death,” Seth said. “As the Alpha of the pack, it’s my decision what happens next. I’ve decided, and it’s over. Claire will be left alone. Tell me you understand.”
Her long lashes swept up and she studied him. “I understand,” she said softly. “This time.”
Good enough.
