Chapter 57

Sam

Everything hurt. My eyeballs, my ears, my neck, my shoulders, my back, my butt, my legs, my arms, my feet. I tried to roll over, get my bearings but groaned at the effort.

"Easy. You'll come to in a few minutes. Just slow down." Jennifer's voice.

"Jennifer?" I croaked.

"I'm here. You've had a nasty shot of suppressant, plus a few new punctures." She might as well have tsked for all her tone hid.

"What happened? Where is the pack? My dad?"

"Let me get Jonathan for you."

I felt the pressure of her fingers at my shoulder lift, and I cracked my eyes against the brightness of the room. I didn't recognize the room. It was little, and I realized it was actually fairly dimly lit.

It was a living room. Clean, but with old furnishings. Drapes were drawn across the windows, and lamps gave the room its light. I was still squinting when I recognized Jake laid out on the couch. Fear lurched into my throat until I took in his even breathing, his chest going up and down. I swallowed and tried to use my link.

Jonathan? No response. My head flopped back down to the table painfully. I realized this must be someone's kitchen table. I was lying on it. The strangeness of the situation struck me, and I nearly laughed but stopped before I made my head throb any worse.

"Sam!" Jonathan said as he came into the room. He stood next to the table and looked down at me.

"What happened? Did we get Dad?"

Jonathan cracked a smile. "The mission was a success. Your first battle was a success." His smile fell, and his face turned grim. "Dominic still has some pretty bad cuts and bruises and a few breaks, but he'll heal. Do you remember what happened?"

Relief washed over me, making me lightheaded. I closed my eyes for a second before answering. "I remember I was about finished, and then some wolf I didn't know bullied the black wolf out of the way. I don't remember anything after that."

"Well, the wolf you didn't know was none other than young Kypson, here." He motioned with his hand, and I winced as I craned my neck while Kyp walk into the room. His shoulders were tight, his head was down.

"Kyp?" I asked, more curious than anything. I hadn't given him permission to come. He wasn't officially a part of the pack, although Jennifer's ability to work medically with her knowledge of wolves was a valuable asset, even if Kyp turned out to be horrible.

"I know I shouldn't have come. I'm sorry. I…I wasn't ordered not to come. I was only trying to help." His eyes flashed up to me, and he whispered the last part. "Please don't send me back to the Kentucky pack."

Surprise rippled through me. "Kyp, I think you probably saved my life tonight. That means I owe you one." I smiled, then grimaced when a wave of nausea roiled through me. "Loyalty isn't something we forget in this pack. But next time, follow orders." I closed my eyes against the pain in my head.

"They used a much stronger dose this time. That's what made you black out. I think they were aiming to hit me—they were shooting guns packed with suppressant-filled bullets. They were trying to kill you, not wound you with suppressants," Kyp explained.

My dry mouth became even drier at the thought. Tonight had been a narrow miss.

"How long have I been out?"

"A few hours. Your new bite is starting to heal, but the drug appears to be slowing everything down," Jonathan supplied.

"Dad?"

"Is recovering down the hall. We'll get you up and around to see him soon."

"Has anyone called Cade or Megan to check on them?"

Jonathan looked sheepish. "Sorry. We were busy getting the wounded here and treating them."

"Hand me a phone, and then I want all the details. Who is hurt, where we even are, all that. But first I need to know that Megan is safe."

Kyp fished his phone from his pocket and handed it to me. My fingers felt fat and clumsy as I dialed Megan's number.

No answer. Panic bloomed in my gut. Desperation moved my uncoordinated fingers faster as I dialed Cade.

"Hello?" The voice on the other end was hard, cold, flat.

"Cade?"

"Sam? What happened to you? Yes—it's Sam, he's alive!" he shouted in the background. "I'm putting you on speaker!"

"Meg? Cade?" Guilt welled up—they thought I was dead?

"Sam?" There were tears in Megan's voice, and I winced again. "I, we couldn't hear you! Everything just stopped!"

Everything clicked into place then. When the drug-bullet had blasted me into unconsciousness, the all call had gone out again, leaving the rest of the pack in the dark.

"Guys, I'm really sorry. I'm all right. Or at least I will be. I've been drugged again, but otherwise, I'm good."

We spoke a few more minutes, reassuring each other that things were fine and that as far as I knew, things we under control.

When I hung up, I was exhausted, but still had things I needed to do.

"Okay, where are we? Literally and figuratively?" I asked as I rubbed my temple with the heel of my hand.

"You're at our house," Jennifer supplied as she handed me two of the same squares I'd eaten earlier and a couple of regular pain killers.

"We've got eleven that were shot, but all are recovering. Everyone who was shot got hit with those hollow bullets filled with poison," Jonathan said as Corwin and Rev moved into the room. Corwin moved slowly like an old man, though he was only in his sixties, which wasn't all that old for a wolf.

"I think they meant to capture, not to kill," Rev offered as Corwin moved Jake's legs over and sat down on the couch. "Except you. I agree, they were trying to kill you."

I sat up, wincing as pain flashed all over my body, but I stayed upright.

"And Dad?"

He's still asleep. They beat him pretty bad, but he's healing. It will take him awhile with as many injuries as he's got," Jennifer supplied.

"I want to see him soon," I said, not sure I could walk on my own yet. All considered, it wasn't a bad outcome. We'd got Dad back and hadn't lost anyone. We knew a little more about Atwood's pack, but still not how many or why he attacked us. But that would come. For the moment, sleep was the only thing I could think about.

The day was spent sleeping off the effects of the fight and the drugs. Dad came to and was prouder than I'd ever seen him. It filled me with a sweet sort of heat. Wolf and I both relished his approval. We hugged for a long time there in Kyp's bedroom where Dad had been laid out on the bed. His arm and at least one rib were broken, and his face was black and blue along with several other patches of his body.

I woke from a nap about six o'clock, finally feeling whole. I was still fuzzy around the edges, but I knew the drug was about out of my system, thanks to Jennifer's little miracle biscuits. I showered and threw on some borrowed clothes.

I called Cade, eager to be home. Needing Megan with me.

"Sam?"

"I think things are about wrapped up here. We're going to go ahead and move Dad home. The drug is about gone, and I'm ready to be home, too. Can you go ahead and take Megan up to the cabin? We should only be a little while longer here. There are extra patrols running, so it should be safe enough for you guys to move, but I want you to stay with her until I get there."

"Will do. Sam, about that." He huffed a breath, and I could picture him tugging his dark hair. Apprehension bubbled up in my belly.

"About what?"

His voice dropped. "She was talking to Rachel last night—right before the attack. She was talking about going back to her human skin and things being much less complicated. I…I think she might have made her decision. I didn't want to tell you but thought it might be best for you to be prepared."

The high I'd been riding burst. My limbs got heavy, and I felt like sinking into the floor.

"Okay." I swallowed. "I appreciate you telling me. Don't say anything to Megan, okay?"

"Sure," Cade said, his voice somber.

****

By full dark, I was exhausted but still riding the tide of adrenaline that had spiked again getting everyone moved out, and I was anxious to get back to Meg. I knew she was in good hands with Cade, but I knew I wouldn't relax until I saw her again. I was desperate to enjoy the remaining time I had with her before the next full moon. My heart sank as I thought about it. She'd be gone from me then. I had days at the most to convince her to stay with me. Forever. It was a lot to ask.

****

The cabin came into view, looking cheery because Meg was waiting inside. The door creaked as I opened it, as if waiting for my return had taken too long.

Cade was waiting right inside the door, knowing I wouldn't be long after I called, and assuming correctly that I'd want time alone with Megan.

"Dude. Don't ever scare me like that again," he said as he pulled me in for a tight hug and slap on the back. I gave him a quick squeeze across the shoulders in return.

"I'll do my best. But it looks like we'll be having bigger problems with these wolves down the line," I said, my mouth a tight line as I thought about it.

He looked me in the eye, nodded solemnly and gave me one more slap on my freshly healed shoulder, then walked out the door without another word.

I closed the door and wriggled out of my jacket before manning up and looking at Meg. I couldn't stand to be away from her but couldn't stand the torture of being near her only to lose her either.

Her eyes were wide in her face, her expression unreadable as she stood by the sink. Hands clasped under her chin, she watched me like a hawk. My mouth dried. I cleared my throat.

"Megan?"

Her chin wobbled. "I thought I lost you." Her strangled whisper filled the air between us. Before I had a chance to formulate an answer, she launched herself across the small room and collided into me.

My arms came around her as she pressed her lips to mine, shocking me speechless. Her arms wrapped around my shoulders, her body pressing into me, her lips aggressive against my mouth.

Fire swept over me as every cell ignited, and I kissed her back. My hands slid to her waist, and I heard myself groaning as her tongue swept my mouth. Sweet mercy, I was going to explode. Our mouths worked together, knowing part of this dance, eager to learn more. With her body tight against me, I could feel her curves, and it about drove me to my knees. A quick twist, and I rotated us around so that I pressed her back against the door, my lips claiming her mouth, moving to her neck and hovering there when she gasped. Her hands slid down my chest, fisting into my shirt as I kissed her collarbone and back to her throat.

I wanted her so bad, and my self-control was waning fast. I knew I was in serious trouble when she kissed me full on the mouth and her hands trailed down over my shirt, muscles beneath taut with emotion, to rest at the top of my jeans, her hands pulling me even closer. Wolf pushed me. I wanted her to be my mate. To stay with me. To love me. Wolf urged me again and I wasn't sure if I could keep kissing her like this without going too far. But I wasn't sure I had it in me to pull myself back.

"Sam." Her breathless voice had me needing a cold shower. I pressed against her as my lips traced their way down her jaw.

She groaned as my hands gripped her sides, and her head tipped to the side as I kissed behind her ear.

"Sam, stop."

No. No! Wolf lunged forward, my body pressing against hers once more, committing every curve to memory as I felt a tremor shake through me. I screwed my eyes shut as I felt tears prick the back of them. This was it. It was the final rejection. Her decision was made. I wasn't enough for her. She was leaving. Pain shattered my chest as I yanked my face and hands away from her body, bracing both my arms and my head against the door with her still enclosed in my arms but no longer pressed up against me.

My breathing was coming out in pants, and I tried to drag a deeper breath in but felt choked as her rejection washed over me in great crashing waves that threatened to take me under and never let me surface.

"Sam," she whispered. I couldn't look at her. Everything hurt. My heart was being ripped out and crushed and I couldn't look at her without flying to pieces. Wolf howled something primal inside me, and I think a whimper may have escaped. I was pathetic. I couldn't even face rejection like a man. Shame, anger, and loss burned in the back of my throat.

"Sam, look at me." Her soft breath on my cheek was agony. I shook my head, sure that one look at the pity in her eyes would be my complete undoing.

Her lips were soft on my cheek as she placed a kiss, and I felt myself crumbling. "Megan, please." My voice was raw. Did she have no idea what she was doing to me?

"Look at me," she repeated softly. Her fingers grazed my face, tracing up the stubble on my jaw and to my cheek, turning my face to her. I was powerless to stop her. At last, I opened my anguished eyes and looked at her. Her gaze was kind, sympathetic, but mercifully held no pity. Something else flashed in their depths, but I couldn't read it.

"Sam, I'm in love with you."

My blood froze, and all thought processes stopped. She what?

My mouth fell open, moving, though no words came out. She continued.

"I choose to love you," she whispered, her own eyes filling with tears. "I didn't want any of this at first, but it happened. And in the midst of it all, I found a family, I found a second half of myself I didn't know I had, and I found you. I was scared that I'd lose myself in the wolf, and never be me again, but then Wolf and I made peace, and in the end, I'd have to give up you if I want to stay human. And that's too high a price. I love you. And even though I don't think I fully feel the mate bond like you do, with my own free will, I will choose to love you each day from here on out. You and no one else."

Sparks edged my vision, and my heart started pumping again, galloping in my chest where it was momentarily frozen.

"Megan." My voice grated against the emotion lodged in my throat. "Are you sure?" I could have eaten my own tongue as the words left my mouth. "This is forever. And…and we'd have to—" I swallowed, hating myself for thinking it, let alone saying it. I wanted her more than anything. Every fiber of man and wolf screamed at me to take what she was offering and bind her to me forever before she could change her mind. But I couldn't. I loved her. And as bad as I wanted her, we'd both hate me for eternity if I made any of this decision for her. I found my voice again before my courage deserted me and I let my body make the decision. "If we do this—and I want to in every possible way—there will be no going back. The full moon isn't for a few more days. There's still a chance you could be human. If you give yourself to me right now, the wolf bond will be sealed. There will be no returning to a different life. You'll be bound to me forever, woman, wife, and wolf." My mouth was dry. I had no words left. Just a desperate, wild hope that teetered on the brink of the black abyss of despair.

Her eyes met mine and she smiled. "I'm sure."

A rush of air left my lungs and left me lightheaded. I couldn't stop myself then, my lips came down on hers in a kiss that was gentle but held the promise of more to come.

"I love you, Megan. So much," I murmured against her lips.

"I love you, too."

"Mm, one more thing," I said as I regretfully pulled back. Meg arched an eyebrow at me, apparently not liking my lips' absence any more than I did. I winked at her. She would like this. I dashed over to the top drawer of my dresser and pulled out what George Carmichael had given me weeks ago. It burned against my palm.

When I got back to Megan, I hesitated. I wasn't sure how I should do this. Plunging ahead, I dropped to one knee.

"Megan…" I took her hand as her mouth fell open. "Will you," I stuttered, "stay married to me?" I held out her grandmother's ring.

Her smile nearly split her face. "Yes. Yes, yes, yes!"

I slipped the ring on her finger and scooped her up in a hug. It was mutual when we turned our heads and our lips met once more. It was a kiss full of promise. A kiss that quickly deepened into something much more.

Her hands slid up my shirt, over the ridges of my stomach and up to my chest. I blissfully let mine wander, and a few minutes later we stumbled to the bed where we tumbled down together.

It was awkward and beautiful. Neither of us knew what we were doing, and that was the awkwardness and the beauty of it. I was hers, and she was mine.

Afterward, we lay together in the dark, content, still wrapped up in each other's arms. Sleep came easy.