~/~/~/~/~
A cry pierced the night, jerking Mac up from sleep. Disoriented, he stumbled to his feet, quickly looking around to make sure he was alone. Seeing no one, he relaxed. Since volunteering to cover nights for Colton and Ian, he used the time to read up on Dire Wolf pregnancies while his only patient slept—but working his way through the voluminous amount of reading material Ian had given him often caused him to nod off. Leaving his office, he headed to his aunt’s room to make sure she wasn’t in distress. Hope’s improvement since coming out of her coma was nothing short of miraculous, but he knew how quickly that could change.
Walking towards her room, Mac quickly ran through her recent test results in his head and, though reassured they were all normal, he nevertheless worried about the emotional trauma she’d suffered. Even though Kieran explained to him that he’d removed her pain and guilt, it was still hard for him to accept his aunt might not still suffer after effects. Silently opening the door, he found her sitting up at the edge of her bed, waiting for him.
“There you are,” Hope said.
“Why are you awake?” Mac asked, checking her vital signs and finding everything normal. “Are you in pain?”
“No, sweetie,” Hope replied, trying to stand. “I must speak to Jackie. Can you take me to him?”
“Now?” Mac asked, quickly reaching for his aunt’s arm to steady her. “Can’t it wait till morning?”
“I must see him now, Mac. It’s very important,” Hope insisted, grabbing the arm of the wheelchair next to her hospital bed and, with her nephew’s help, lowering herself into it.
Seeing determination written on his aunt’s face, Mac inwardly sighed. She was just like his mother; once she made her mind up, nothing could stop her. “Okay, let me call him, but promise you won’t try to get out of the wheelchair while I’m gone.”
“Cross my heart…now go,” Hope said, giving Mac a warm smile.
At the nurses’ station, out of his aunt’s hearing, Mac dialed Jackson’s number. Not sure who’d answer, the last thing he wanted was for Hope to get upset if Steel refused to wake his mate.
“Mac?” Jackson’s sleepy voice came through Mac’s phone. “Is Mom okay?”
“Yeah,” Mac replied, “but she wants to see you…right now.”
“Now?” Jackson asked, sitting up.
“Babe, what is it?” Steel growled.
Oh shit!Mac grimaced.
“It’s all right. Go back to sleep,” Jackson murmured. “It’s Mac, Mom wants to see me.” Sliding out of bed, he said, “Give me a few minutes to get dressed.”
“Sure. See you shortly.” Mac ended the call and headed back to his patient.
~/~/~/~/~
Fighting the fog, Cody felt panic fill him as he batted away the swirling mists surrounding him. Try as he might, he couldn’t see who was crying. Stopping for a moment, he listened, gasping when he heard Jessica’s voice in front of him. Rushing forward, Cody crashed through the wall of clouds, seeking to save his daughter from harm, but the faster he ran, the further away her sounds of distress became. Desperate, he yelled, “Jessica, where are you sweetie?” Hearing no response, Cody waved his arms wildly in the suffocating fog, trying to push it aside but to no avail. Finally, driven to despair, he screamed, “JESSICA!”
Jolted awake, Dylon turned quickly to his mate, finding Cody thrashing about, totally covered by their sheet. “Babe!” Stripping the sheet off his mate, Dylon gathered Cody into his arms, crooning, “Babe…I’m here…everything’s all right…shhhh…babe…c’mon, wake up…you were dreaming…just a nightmare.”
“J-j-j-jessie!” Cody cried, shuddering, unrelenting fear consuming him.
“She’s fine, babe,” Dylon murmured, holding his mate tightly. “Jessica’s sleeping, hon.”
“No…no…we have to save her,” Cody insisted, pushing Dylon away before rolling out of bed and standing. Dazed, he hesitated, looking around their bedroom; the fog was gone. Taking a step forward, he paused, cocking his head as if trying to hear Jessica’s voice. Then it hit, taking Cody by surprise, forcing him to his knees.
“What’s wrong, babe?” Dylon asked, springing out of bed to join his mate. Searching their mind link, he immediately knew what was happening. Scooping Cody into his arms, he rushed toward the bedroom door, hearing several knocks before reaching it. Yanking it open, Dylon found Colton facing him.
“Another one?” asked Colton.
“Yes! He has to go outside…now!” Dylon exclaimed. “Watch the twins!”
“Go! I’ll stay with them.”
Dylon rushed his mate outside to Cody’s spot in the woods. “Everything will be okay, babe. I’m here and will be waiting for you when you come back,” he said, setting his mate down before stepping away.
Falling to his knees, Cody assumed his submissive pose, his hands palms-up on his thighs and closed his eyes. The glow started slowly, spreading through and around him until his body was encased in it.
