Jake rubbed the back of his headnervously. “I told her we were from a private research group and we wanted totry a very risky gene therapy procedure to cure her cancer. Now she is willingto hop on the next flight to Oregon.”
Kai groaned. “Well, it’s not like wecanchangeher here. Poor thing will be in for a scare when we reallytell her who we are and what we have to do to save her life.” A look passedover his face. I knew he was thinking of when he bit me to save my life. Icould already see he was becoming protective over Anna. He was alreadyaccepting her as pack.
After introducing myself to Anna asVice President of the research company, and Kai as President, we made our wayout of the hospital. Jake tenderly pushed Anna in her wheel chair.
“How did you hear of my case? Did Dr.Pasternick call you?” She asked in a frail voice.
“Yes, he called us. Like I said, wehave a very high success rate. Once you get to our clinic in Oregon, we cantell you more about our methods,” Jake offered. We all exchanged a look.
“Well, I am surprised my case passedyour approval. I had given up.” The look on Jake’s face was torture. Anna wasslumped in her wheelchair and her skin was translucent. Her hair was gone, evenher eyebrows, but her eyes were a deep hazel and there was so much life, somuch fight left in her. I could see that she would survive thechange; shehad no fear of death. Maybe that was the key. Even in her sickened state, shewas beautiful. She was ready for a new beginning.
The Scottsdale Alpha had sent twowolves to tail us from the airport, and they leaned against our rental car.Jake let out a low growl. Kai motioned for Jake and Anna to hang back. Iapproached the men with him, ignoring his gesture for me to stay back as well.
Kai stood tall, nodding to the men. “Weare just retrieving our friend and we will be on the next plane back to Oregon.Give our thanks and respect to Steven for allowing us to spend the day in yourterritory.”
One of the men, a tall, broad-shouldered,thirty-something guy with a scruffy beard, nodded his head and locked eyes withme. I inhaled deeply. Second in command, I could tell. He wasn’t looking awayand neither was I. I wasn’t sure what the protocol was for meeting other packs,but I sure as hell wasn’t going to look weak in front of a stranger. ‘Threat,’my wolf told me. Should I look away? I didn’t want to start a fight. ‘Starefor as long as you are able. Don’t look weak,’Kai told me. With thatpermission, I stood taller and took a step towards the man lifting my chin. Theman grinned and I could see tension creasing his forehead. I flared my nostrilsin anger. How dare he challenge me. I came with permission, with my Alpha toretrieve a frail human. Who the hell did he think he was?
‘Stop it. Calm down. You’re shifting,’Kai told me. Shit! I could feel myfingers turn to claws. The man broke his gaze and I took a cleansing breath.
Kai stepped forward. “Now that wehave had a little fun, I think we will be going.”
I stepped forward to get in the carwhen the second in command took a deep breath. “She smells new and unmated.” Hegrinned, licking his lips. Kai’s arm flew out faster than my eye could trackand grabbed the man by the back of the head. He slammed his head into the hoodof the car.
“Did I give you permission to smellmy mate? Do you want to start a war? We asked your Alpha for permission and itwas granted, safe passage for the day. You were curious about my mate and howdominant she was, so I allowed you to have a little fun. Your fun stops here.If you want to fight, I would be happy to oblige that request.” Kai releasedhim and opened the door for me. I stood there in shock for a second and thensank myself into the seat. Holy crap! This possessive mate thing was real.
A few more words were exchangedoutside the car and then the two men walked off. Anna looked shaken but allowedJake to hoist her into the car. He tenderly buckled her next to me. She leanedinto me and whispered, “You’re not cancer researchers, are you?”
I gently held her hand. “You’re goingto be okay.” An edited version of the truth was best.
“I’m too tired to care,” she said alittle louder and leaned her head on my shoulder, falling asleep. Her hand wasclammy. I didn’t let go.
We flew back to Oregon in a privatejet. I was going to have to ask Kai what he did for a living. Once we had Annaback at the house and asleep in my bed, Jake, Devon, Emma, Max, Sadie, Kai andI were in the kitchen whispering.
“How do wechangeher? Who shouldchangeher? What if she doesn’t survive?”
Jake stepped forward. “She is my mate. I amchangingher!”
Kai nodded. “If you want to be the one, Iwill grant it.”
“No.” I spoke through the hushed voices. Istared at Jake, holding his gaze. He started to argue, but I spoke first.“Jake, this is the woman you will spend the rest of your life with. Havechildren with. Do you want her to remember you as a monster or a savior? Takeit from me. Being the one tochangeyour mate isn’t always a positivething. Some images you can never get out of your head.”
I could hear Kai’s breath leave himin a rush. The look of hurt that crossed his face was undeniable. I knew itwould hurt him, but I wanted better for Anna. I didn’t want her to see her loverwith shreds of flesh in his mouth and yellow murderous eyes.
I placed a hand on Kai’s shoulder, buthe brushed it off. “I’llchangeher then. I seem to have no problembeing a monster.”
Dammit. That didn’t go as planned.Note to self: Talk less. We all agreed that a quick attack was best. Weshouldn’t tell her of our kind until after herchange. No use infrightening her more. Kai had a few private words with Jake and then took asleeping Anna, draped in his arms, to the basement.
We all waited anxiously upstairs.Jake was pacing back and forth. Maybe Kai would forget what I said and we couldtalk about when my mom could visit.
‘Do you think I enjoy this?Enjoy attacking a young, innocentgirl? I’m doing this to give her life!’Kai screamed into my head. Well,there goes that idea. He wasn’t letting this go.
‘No, I don’t think you enjoy it!I’m sorry. It was scary for me and I didn’t want that for Anna… for her to seeJake like that,’I responded. No reply.
A few moments later, a hair-raisingscream ripped through the house. Anna. Jake began changing into wolf form oninstinct. I changed instantly into my wolf. If this went wrong and my visionwas wrong and Anna didn’t survive thechange, then I had to protect Kaifrom Jake. I was already in full wolf form and in front of the basement doorbefore Jake was halfway changed. Jake bolted for the door with his hacklesraised. More screams. I prepared to pounce. Sadie stepped in front of me facingJake. “Jake, you aren’t thinking clearly. Kai isn’t hurting her. Not in thelong run. I know how you feel. I’m going mad sitting around while we get yourmatechanged, knowing my mate is a three-hour drive away in Seattle. Heis so close! But I have to be patient. It has to be like Aurora’s vision. Thetiming needs to be right. You have to be patient. Trust her vision. Anna willsurvive thechange, and she will be your mate. You wouldn’t know that ifAurora hadn’t told you. She’s on our side.” Jake whined and rolled overexposing his belly. My inner wolf was pleased. I relaxed and approached Jake,giving his muzzle a nudge. He stood and we both began to change back.
We all decided it was best to waitoutside. Once I had put on some clothes, I met everyone out back. After acouple of hours of idol chatting, Kai spoke into my mind. ‘She will survivethe change. Bring Jake and Emma.’A huge sense of relief washed over me. Istill wasn’t even sure about being a werewolf, or if I felt confident being a Matefinderand having visions. This was confirmation that my vision was correct. It gaveme chills.
“Jake, Emma, we are needed,” I toldthem. Akash and a few others had joined our backyard party and now everyonelooked at me expectantly. “She will survive thechange,” I said,grinning. Jake picked Sadie up and swung her around as she laughed.
