“She’s got this,” Rab stated, staring down my husband.
I couldn’t focus my attention on the dominant male pissing match, I had to concentrate on this energy and power that I felt. I needed Astra to regain consciousness before I pulled my magic back.
‘Astra … come back,’I whimpered, the pain in my stomach growing unbearable.
Just when I thought that I would die from this agony, it eased, and Astra’s eyes snapped open.
“Alpha.” She looked at me weakly and I felt the power she’d sucked from me so freely shut off like a faucet.
The pain stopped and I reached for her shirt, pulling it up to see there were puckered holes there. They looked red and angry, some still bleeding, but closing slowly.
Relief rushed through me. I wanted to shake her for doing such a stupid thing as risking herself for me, but thought better of it.
“Don’t do that again.Don’t die for me.Ever,” I told her angrily. I fucking loved this girl. Somehow along the way she’d become like a little sister to me.
She gave me a small smile, a smile that said she would do it all over again, and I just shook my head in disbelief.
Walsh showed up just then with the only remaining pack surgeon we had left at his side.
“Get her into medical and make sure she’s not internally bleeding,” I snapped to Dr. Pearson. “I think it’s sealed but … she needs fluids, and let me know if we need to donate blood.”
He nodded, bending down with Walsh to take her.
Willow placed a hand on mine. “I’ll go with her. Make sure she’s okay.”
I squeezed her hand. “Thank you.”
Everyone had gathered in rows and rows of people, fanning outward into the village, to see the big show. Their eyes went from me, covered in blood, to Sawyer, their alpha fresh out of prison, and then to Luka, a traitorous vampire on our lands, before finally resting on Pearl, the motherfucking dragon that no one knew existed until now.
‘Please make them leave. I can’t right now. I need to process,’I told Sawyer, looking down at my bloody clothes.
I … died. I remembered this bright light, and then I was floating among the stars looking down on the planet from thousands of miles away. I remembered Sawyer’s voice calling me home, and then Astra’s energy, before being sucked back violently.
Now I wanted time with my baby and more time with Sawyer. I needed to regroup and I didn’t want my people to see me weak like this.
“These men…” Sawyer pointed to Luka, Bennett, and Talon. “…are here as my guests. They willnotbe harmed.” His voice was clear. That was an order and a threat. “Get back to your tents and continue your chores. We’ll have a pack meeting tomorrow to discuss our plan to get Wolf City back.”
There was a chorus of cheers at that and everyone disbanded. When the meadow was clear of most of the people, Sawyer reached down and pulled me into his arms, lifting me up off the ground. “Are you hurt?” His voice was gruff.
I shook my head. “Creek?” I looked around and Sawyer nodded, walking me over to Sage.
Sage handed me my son and I pulled him into my chest, a sob ripping from my throat. I fucking missed him so much. Babies, puppies, and new cars all had this distinct smell, and Creek was no different. I wanted to bottle it and keep it forever; he smelled so fresh and clean.
He leaned into me, trying to nurse through my shirt, causing Sawyer to chuckle. “Looks like I’ve got competition.”
I grinned. “Take us home. I want one night as a family. Tomorrow we can plan a war.”
He nodded, and I told Rab to make our guests comfortable giving them whatever they needed, including Pearl. Then Sage led the way to our small but quaint two-bedroom cottage across from Astra’s meeting hall-church. The second Sawyer stepped inside, I could see that he was impressed. His approving gaze ran over the handcrafted furniture and then into the kitchen.
“You can set me down.” I held on to Creek, who was now asleep.
Sawyer shook his head. “Where’s the bedroom?”
Sage pointed down a hall and he nodded, walking in quick strides through the living room and kitchen and down the hallway into my room.
“Astra gave me this place, got it all ready for me,” I told him. Everything that was adorable and handmade in this home was because of Astra. I wanted him to know that.
He nodded, looking around with a reverence. “It’s nice. She’s a very special girl and I’m grateful to her.”
