Page 101 of Evan and the Alpha

“Hey, Evan,” Ge-Ro says. “Wake up.”

Min gives the rest of us a guilty look over her shoulder. “He’s lost a lot of blood,” she says.

I want to ask how—I don’t see any cuts or bruising on his face—but then he sits up, braced by Ge-Ro, and I see what’s nestled in his arms.

Our child. Evan gave birth out here. From what the humans told me, that’s a messy, bloody affair.

“We’re about a day and a half out,” Vince says, and Min shakes her head.

“He won’t make it.”

I look at them, then at Evan, who looks like Death himself. Then I turn and yell at the rest of the search party, “Make camp!”

“I need to get the bleeding stopped,” Min says as I crouch down beside her. “He needs stitches. Honestly, I’m surprised he’s lasted this long, but if we don’t get the bleeding fully stopped …”

Evan finally opens his eyes. It takes him a minute to focus on me. “Hey,” he says, and I want to grab him by his shoulders and shake him. What kind of greeting is that?

“Hold still,” Min tells him sharply. “Don’t talk too much. You’ll make it worse.”

He turns his head to her slightly, then looks back at me. “You came looking for us?”

“Of course,” I almost snarl. “What kind of alpha do you think I am?”

He laughs, then winces and curls back against Ge-Ro, mouthingowover and over again.

“I told you to keep still,” Min admonishes. She’s rooting through the pack of whatever Darwin and Vince brought.

“Tent’s up!” Yafir calls.

“Set up a bed,” Min says. “As little sand as possible.” She glances around. “I know that’s a tall order.”

Yafir just nods, then disappears into the tent again. Min crouches down beside Evan. “We’re going to move you, okay? I have to stitch you up.”

“Yeah, sure.” His voice is so weak, watery.

“You’re going to have to let go of the baby,” Min says.

“Nn, don’t wanna.” Evan looks down; he’s moving a little faster as he puts a hand on the baby’s head. “Hey, little dude.”

“Is he breathing?” Ge-Ro asks, leaning closer.

“Think so,” Evan says. Then he looks up at me and startles, like he just registered I’m standing there. “Sobek.”

I glance at the others. “Yes,” I agree.

Evan stares at me but doesn’t say anything. I glance at Min, then back to my mate. “Min needs to move you into the tent.”

“Yeah,” he agrees. “Stitches.”

I nod. “They need to move you—can you …”

I hold out my arms, then glance down at our child. If Evan had any strength left in him, he’d be crushing the babe. As it is, he’s barely holding the child to his chest.

“Huh?” Evan crunches his brow in confusion. Then he looks down at the baby. “Oh. Yeah. Oh. Hey, little dude. You wanna go see daddy?”

He holds the baby up, and both of them are shaking. The baby curls in his four limbs, his tiny tail twisting away from his body. He crumples his face, like he’s about to cry.

I snatch the baby before Evan can drop him. Just in time too; Evan lets his arms fall to his sides. “There ya go, bud,” he slurs, then slumps against Ge-Ro. He’s broken out in a sweat; his breathing is labored.