“Narae!” she breathed and reached for her, so Koe carried her closer.
Jury was looking at Narae, but Koe was watching Daemon. Daemon understood. He knew that with his mate injured, Koe would know that both he and Demon would be riled up and on edge. It was situations like this that made shifter males act out of character. Right now, Demon could see anything as a threat.
Jury squirmed in Koe’s arms until he gently set her on her feet, his hands steadying her at her hips as she looked at the machines hooked up to Narae and stepped closer, asking, “Would my blood help?” Her gaze slid to Oliver as she held out an arm. “You can take it!”
Oliver offered her a smile but shook his head. “Not with the drugs in your system. The last thing we want to give Narae is anything tainted, especially with sedatives.”
Jury dropped her arm, disappointment swamping her. Bending over Narae, Jury kissed her forehead, then pressed her cheek to the top of Narae’s head, hugging her as best she could.
“It’s okay,” Koe said. “You’re doing enough just being here.”
“I think she’s out of the woods,” Oliver was checking the machines, speaking clinically. “Her numbers are up, and with Daemon’s blood and the rest from our shifters, her healing is accelerated. It’s better than if we’d had to rely on human blood.” He shot Jury a smile. “All good signs.”
“Why was I kept from this?” Jury demanded, standing up as angry tears flooding her eyes. “I could have helped her. I’m a fighter, Koe. I would have done something…contributed. I could have protected her. You took that from me,” she seethed accusatorily.
“I’m sorry,” Koe offered. “I just…I couldn’t lose you.”
And that admission pissed Daemon off. Maybe it was because he hadn’t thought to do the same for Narae. Mostly, it was because Daemon was recalculating whatcouldhave happened if Jury had been at Narae’s side. His rage rose to a rapid boil before he slapped the lid on it. Emotion left him on an explosive sigh as he looked down at Narae, shoulders slumping. Blaming Koe or anyone else for Narae’s state was just a waste of fucking time, and conjuring up what-ifs was torture. The facts were that Narae raced headlong into war to save his stupid cabin, to defend his honor. She’d taken on that Biter fuck, Lionel. The one Daemon had sworn would never touch her again. Any failings were his and his alone.
Oliver came forward, “Koe, she’s gotten blood from her mate and the pack stores, and it’s helping immensely. But she could use more.”
Koe nodded immediately, ripping off the flannel that sat over the top of his t-shirt. “Absolutely.”
And again, warring emotions raged inside Daemon. An Alpha’s blood was one step below a mate’s, and Daemon knew he was tapped out. Oliver refused to take any more from him, so Koe’s was second best. And while Daemon knew he should be grateful, he was pissed at the myriad of male scents on his mate. He wanted her carrying just him. He’d have to endure this for Narae’s sake, and he would. Taking up Narae’s paw, he stayed close while Oliver prepped Koe.
Jury backed toward the door. “I’ll…” Her eyes dipped to Narae, then to Koe, before she whispered. “I’ll leave you to it.”
Daemon could scent her anguish. It carried notes of sadness and regret over Narae, but it was most prominently hurt.
As Jury slid out the door, Koe called, “Jury, wait!”
But she was gone, hurrying away while Koe was stuck gifting his blood to Narae. Unfortunately, Daemon didn’t have it in him to leave Narae to chase down Jury for his Alpha. He wasn’t leaving his mate again. Not ever!
Chapter 35
Jury left the medical unit and then the house. Out front, an Enforcer was standing guard in the yard. He nodded at Jury as she stalled a moment, unsure if he’d let her leave. She took a tentative step and then another, and when he said nothing, she walked down the driveway. As soon as she passed the stone wall surrounding the manor, she shifted into her wolf form and ran.
Jury ran harder than she’d ever run in her life. The cold Montana air, crisp and sharp against her fur, made her eyes water and her nose tingle as she raced across the prairie. Her knees had an opinion about the uneven ground, but she just pushed harder, her paws slapping against the still-wet Earth. The storm passed in the night, and the sun was just cresting the horizon somewhere behind her, sending reds and purples slashing into the reluctant night. Absently, she realized her feet were carrying her toward the scent of the battlegrounds. Smoke and blood drew her in. She needed to see where it all happened, where she’d almost lost Narae.
Narae.
A lump clogged her throat, threatening to choke her as she thought about her sister going into battle alone. She must have been terrified.
No.Never!
Jury denied that thought as soon as it formed. Narae wasn’t afraid of anything. She was the bravest, strongest person Jury knew, and that included Koe, Daemon, and every wolf in the Allegiance pack. Narae had endured things that would never be required of a male. They both had, and it had shaped them into such two different beings that it made no sense to Jury. Where Jury had grown into a scream, Narae had grown into quiet thought. Guilt bit hard at the knowledge that Jury needed constant motion, where Narae simply sought stillness, was what constantly drew Bragga’s attention and punishment. She’d caused a lot of her own pain, and in the doing had injured Narae collaterally. They were one outward and one inward. Jury had always longed for a new life, a new place where she could grow into something wonderful. But Narae didn’t want a new life; she just wanted the one she had not to hurt. And because Jury knew the terrain of Narae like theback of her hand, she knew that Narae was afraid to hope for more because she was afraid of being stripped of it. Crying now, Jury hurtled herself forward, too fast. Paws tangling in the tall grass, Jury went down hard, her body slamming into the ground, where she slid through the mud and slick grasses. Sliding to a halt, chest heaving, lungs aching, Jury lifted her head and was assaulted by the scent of Narae’s blood. Standing on shaky legs, she looked down at the trampled field all around her. There were still pools of rain filled with crimson and fur and shreds of clothing. The violence that had happened here was obvious, and Jury took it all in. Stomach clenching at images of Narae battling Biters, and not just any Biters. They would have sent their heavy-hitters here for the ambush.
“She’s alive”,Narae muttered, needing the reassurance. She padded through a blood-drenched pool and walked slowly toward Daemon’s cabin, which was now just a pile of still-smoldering embers. It was a total loss; only one wall remained, one with a stone fireplace and chimney that rose defiantly from the wreckage. Jury reminded herself that Daemon had almost lostNarae too, and she was grateful for how dutifully he remained at Narae’s side. It was obvious to everyone that he was gutted by what had been done to Narae, and Jury didn’t doubt for one second that had he been there, no one would have touched Narae. He was a good man and would be a good mate, and that was everything Narae deserved.
Thinking of mates, Jury couldn’t help but think about Koe and her anger at what he’d done. Yeah, he’d taken something from her, but he’d done it to protect her. Could she fault him for that? Should she? Even now, just thinking about him had her pulse racing and something molten coiling low in her belly. She wanted him. She wanted him in a way she’d never wanted anything before. Turning to look toward the house, she wondered if she should apologize to him.
“Leave one wolf alive.”
The words from behind her had Jury whipping around, and her belly dropped, the ground shifting beneath her.Sid? The Biter Beta was still alive? But how?
Sid sauntered forward, clothes drenched and covered in soot, hair a wreck, blood smeared on one cheek. He shrugged negligently. “Figured if I could get lost in the mix and ride it out, I could take over as Alpha once the Allegiants finished off Bragga for me.”
“Take over as Alpha?” Jury huffed, slowly backing away. “Alpha of what? Everyone’s dead!”
