Page 8 of Awakening His Mate

How do I stay mad at that? “I don’t want to fight you either, but you and the others refuse to listen to me.”

He nods, his eyes lowering to the leaf-strewn ground. “Your choices scare me. This lone wolf shit is going to get you killed.”

I don’t say anything back, because there is truth in his words. The pack survives; the lone wolf doesn’t, but I can’t come back into their fold while they stand against me.

“I don’t intend on dying.”

He doesn’t speak for a moment, then says, “We need to get back to the Sanctuary. We’re exposed out here, and you need Halle.”

I don’t tell him there’s no way in hell I’m letting his little mate heal me. I don’t trust magic, not anymore, but I’m too exhausted to argue.

Cade heaves our captive back over his shoulder, though he’s not as sure-footed as he was before. I don’t release my hold on Dove, and she keeps pace with me, never faltering even when my steps do.

By the time we reach the perimeter, I’m dragging my feet, and I’m pretty sure the only reason I’m not on the ground in a heap is because of the grip I have on Dove.

My legs feel as if they are dragging weights, and my head is throbbing fiercely with every step. Fatigue has my body failing.

It is a relief when I feel the ripple of energy as we step through the wards that protect our little slice of paradise from the outside world. Safety. Or at least the illusion of it for now.

My legs choose that moment to give out on me, and my hand slips free of Dove’s.

No, no, no!

I don’t want to release her, but I have no choice. Collapsing onto all fours, I try to suck in air as my vision wobbles and nausea bubbles up my throat. I’m so weak that my arms fail me as well, and my wolf whimpers as I sink into the grass, the coolness of it against my bare skin causing a full-body tremor.

Voices sound far away as I try to focus on where she is. I can sense she’s close, that she hasn’t moved far from me, but I want her in my line of sight.

Get up.

My body doesn’t respond to my demands, and I lie still, the grass tickling my face as I stare through the blades in front of me.

“Jackson!”

Who’s yelling for me? My eyes shutter, slipping to half-mast as the world around me ebbs out of focus.

Am I dying?

That thought rolls around my brain as something warm is wrapped around me—a blanket—and a face wobbles in front of me.

“Jackson?” Halle’s voice penetrates the ringing in my ears. “Hey. Don’t try to move. I’m going to fix you.”

I open my mouth to stop her, but my throat is so tight I can’t get the words out, and she’s already summoning her power.

I feel the moment she directs the magic at me. It is as if every cell in my body is suddenly wrapped in heat. It’s not searing or painful, but warm and almost soothing.

Closing my eyes, I let myself float as I begin to feel stronger and more alert by the second. As much as I hate magic and what it can do, I can’t deny its usefulness. It would have taken weeks for me to recover from my injuries, but within thirty seconds, I’m already coming back to myself.

My vision clears enough for me to see Halle sink back on her heels, dark circles under her eyes, the paleness of her skin showcasing them even more. Her smile is weak, but it’s genuine as she directs it at me before she slumps to the side. Cade is quick to react, grabbing her shoulders as he slides in behind her so her back hits his chest.

“I’ve got you,” he murmurs into her ear. “Take your strength from me.”

Her eyes close as she swallows. “I’m okay,” she assures him, pushing the words through barely parted lips. “It’s done,” she says weakly.

Strength buzzes through my body, along with a sense of elation, as I sit up slowly, gathering the blanket around me. I may not like magic, and I may be mad at Halle and the others, but I can see how much it cost her to help me.

“Thank you, Halle,” I say in a quiet voice that I’m not sure reaches her until she nods wearily.

Cade says nothing, wrapping his own blanket around himself and his mate. He doesn’t have to. I can feel his irritation rolling off him, and why wouldn’t he be annoyed? My actions caused his mate to suffer.

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