Without another thought, Eli ripped the corks out with his teeth, then poured the liquid from the vials into Olivia’s chest and stomach wound.
Please. Please. Please.
He held her hand tight, staring down into her beautiful violet eyes. Time had seemingly slowed down, but in reality he knew it only took seconds for her wounds to close up. Olivia let out a sob of relief before passing out.
Every muscle in his body gave out at once and he slumped forward, pressed his forehead to hers and finally breathed.
“Eli …”
He held onto Olivia tighter, ignoring Sloane.
“Eli!” She tapped at his shoulder insistently. “C’mon, we gotta go.”
He forced himself to move. Rising to his feet, he lifted Olivia into his arms. Sloane’s expression was a mix of confusion and disbelief. Jacob’s was similar, but there was something else there.
Recognition.
He would have to deal with that later. For now, they had to leave. “Let’s get her to the car.”
There was no time to go back to the hotel and grab bags or check out because they had to get the hell out of Boston. Jacob had sprinted ahead of them out of the diner, and had started the SUV by the time they reached the parking lot. Sloane held the back door open while he climbed in as he cradled Olivia against his chest. Her stillness and the clamminess of her skin was alarming, but he knew his potion had worked, so she would be fine. Still, his hands couldn’t stop shaking and his wolf paced restlessly.
“Go,” Sloane said, barely getting her own door shut before Jacob floored it.
The entire ride out of Boston was silent, save for the roar of the engine and Olivia’s slow and even breathing. He could only stare out the window, the view outside blurring as they sped along the highway.
His mind kept replaying the last hour. His last words to her, the anger at her, and mostly, himself when he recalled the look on her face when he snapped at her. Yes, she had brought up the one topic in the entire world he refused to speak about, but he shouldn’t have been so harsh.
He’d gone to Jacob and Sloane, told them about Garret’s escape and the fire at Lone Wolf. But there wasn’t much more to discuss beyond what he’d already heard on the phone. Truth was, he went to their room because he needed to be anywhereelse except his. But even as he listened to Jacob and Sloane strategize, the only thing on his mind was Olivia, alone in their room, hurting from his words and thinking he didn’t trust her enough to let her in.
He had rushed back, intending to apologize. But all he came back to was an empty room. Her purse was gone and so were her shoes. The bed was still unmade and smelled of a mixture of their scents. At that point, he wasn’t alarmed that she was gone, but knowing she was starving, he made his way to the diner.
The chaos as soon as he entered turned his blood cold and he just knew it had something to do with Olivia. He never wanted his instinct to be so wrong as when he saw her on the floor, covered in blood, screaming in agony.
A small sound pulled him back to the present. Olivia stirred against him, her eyelids fluttering. Her fingers curled into his shirt.
“Eli?” Her voice was barely a whisper, but it was enough for his wolf to settle down.
“I’m here.” He tightened his arms around her. “You’re safe.”
She blinked up at him, disoriented, then looked down at the blood on her ripped shirt and chest. “What … I thought I was …”
“You’re okay. It’s over.”
“The baby?”
“Fine. You’re both fine.”
She pressed her face into his neck, and he felt the dampness of tears against his skin. He held her and said nothing.
The SUV slowed, then pulled off the highway at an empty picnic rest stop. Glancing outside, Eli knew they were well past the Massachusetts border. There was nothing around them but trees and highway.
Jacob killed the engine and he just sat there for the longest time, both hands on the steering wheel, staring straight ahead.Then he turned around, his green eyes locking onto Eli’s before he spoke.
“What the hell are you, Eli? And why are you still lying to us?”
“Jacob, please.” Sloane put a hand on his arm. “I’m sure he has a reason?—”
“Didyouknow,” he bit out at his mate. “Know he could do that?”
