SEVEN
Reyes
I drag myself home,eager to see my mate, but hoping that she’s sleeping.I don’t want her to see me like this.
My wolf whines inside me, pawing at me anxiously.
I’m fine,I promise him.The scratches will heal in a day or two.
He shakes his head and paces as I jog up the front porch steps.The TV is still on, and I let out a sigh of relief when I see Taylor fast asleep on the couch.If I’m quiet, I should be able to make it upstairs and shower before she wakes up.
I unlock the front door and tiptoe to the stairs, hurrying up to our bedroom.Stripping off the bloody clothes, I throw them right in the trash.I hop into the shower, praying that Taylor doesn’t hear the water running.
I wash off the blood , standing under the hot water until it runs clear.A few wounds are already healing, including the stab wound on my side.I’ll still have to patch it up.I hurry to dry off and do that before I go downstairs to my mate.
It’s after midnight, and I can already feel the mating heat as I sit beside the couch, brushing Taylor’s hair out of her eyes.It takes everything in me not to bite and claim her right here and now, but I promised to go at my mate’s pace.I won’t claim her until she says I can, even if it kills me.
Will she feel the mating heat, too?I meant to ask some of my friends, but I was distracted with finding Landry and bringing her home to my mate.
Taylor stirs and jerks upright in a rush, her eyes locking onto me.She tears her gaze away, looking around for Landry, before her eyes find mine again.
“She’s okay.She’s at the clinic.There was an incident.”
She looks stricken.
My wolf howls inside me, and I wince at his pain.
“We had to fight to get her out.They must have known we would come for her because they were waiting.”
Taylor grabs her phone.Is she alive?
“Yes, she’s alive.Just needs some medicine and rest.”
And you?Are you okay?
“A few scratches, but they’re already healing.And everyone else is okay,” I say before she can type it out.
She sags with relief.
I push to my feet, offering her my hand.“Come on.Get dressed, and I’ll take you to the clinic.”
Her hand slips into mine, and I lead her upstairs.I pass her some clothes, and she dresses in record time.Grabbing a phone charger and some tea bags, we head out to my car.I have a feeling we’ll be at the clinic for a while, and I need to be prepared.
We make the drive into town and pull into the clinic parking lot.Quinn, Christian’s mate, greets us at the door with a smile.
“Room four,” she says softly.
I take my mate’s hand as we walk to Landry’s room.
“Oh!”Taylor sobs when she sees Landry lying unconscious in the bed.
She rushes to her side, and I’m right behind her.I pull a chair closer to the bed, urging her to sit down.
“It’s just the medicine,” I reassure her.“She’s okay.”
Taylor nods, trembling as she grips her sister’s hand.
I crouch down next to her, squeezing her knee.“I know, mate.It’s okay to cry.”
