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“It shouldn’t be long now, hang in there.”

Really, she had no idea what she was asking. I would rather have done anything but stay there. Chew broken glass, fold three loads of laundry, sort holiday decorations with my mother… Honestly, anything would have been preferable to remaining at his side. I hated this particular alpha with all my heart and soul.

After a moment, I grunted. That was overly dramatic. I didn’t loathe him with my entire being. At least, not anymore. Though there was definitely some residual hostility or there would be no compulsion to run.

Though, if I was being honest, seeing him now after a year wasn’t as bad as I’d thought it would be. Plus, it was petty to leave anyone hurt and bleeding all alone because they had rejected you. It was his prerogative to do so, after all. I was a bigger person than that, an adult now at twenty-four, so I needed to not act like a child. And surprisingly, there wasn’t the instant surge of homicidal fury I’d expected, so that was a bonus. Maybe it was because he was injured, or perhaps, even better, I had finally moved on from being rebuffed. It was my own fault, after all. Just because I knew in my heart that the man was my mate, didn’t mean he felt the same. He’d been entirely within his rights to say, in front of all of his friends at the gathering, that he would never consider anything as weak, vapid, and useless as an omega. Anything, not anyone. In his mind, like many alphas, omegas were things, not people.

I had caught myself then, and stopped rushing forward to speak to him. His scent had nearly driven me mad when we’d passed one another in the ballroom of Graeme Whitaker Davenport’s home. But simply because I wanted him, didn’t mean he wanted me.

The thing was, I had been very excited—more than that; over-the-moon blessed—to have found my mate, as most omegas did not. Thank goodness I had told no one, made no announcement, so the pain of being rejected was mine to deal with alone. Later that evening, when he’d sneered at me and said something snide about me being another meaningless “ass-in-the-air omega,” hate had settled into my heart.

But now, seeing him on the ground, bleeding, I didn’t want to give him a swift kick, nor was I pleased to see him hurt. Instead, I was sorry that he’d been attacked. I was sure his very old, very rich, very powerful family would be out for revenge.

“What’s your name?” The 911 operator interrupted my thoughts.

“Aleksander Norwood. I also got the license plate of the SUV that threw him out onto the sidewalk.”

“Please give me that information.”

I read it off the photo in my phone as I heard sirens in the distance.

“They’re close now,” she said, sounding relieved.

“Thank you for staying on the phone with me.”

“Thank you for remaining there with him.”

Two police cars pulled up, along with an ambulance, and she let me go as the EMTs reached me. I stood up and moved back, getting out of their way, giving my attention to the police officers, who immediately started asking me questions.

I told them what time I saw the SUV and explained that I was on my way home. I showed them the picture of the license plate and sent it to the officer so he would have it for his report. I then told them who was on the ground, and though I had no contact information for his family, the officer explained that as witnesses went, I was a great one.

“Thank you.” I smiled.

He took all my information and said that a detective would get back to me with any questions, and was in the process of telling me I could go when Deacon began having a seizure.

I knew why, of course. His body wanted him to shift. Changing from man to wolf would heal his injuries, but it might also kill him. The strain on his heart might be too much.

“He’s lost a lot of blood,” the male EMT stated. “We need to get him to the hospital, but his heart rate is through the roof, so I don’t know if he’s gonna make it there.”

Without thought, I moved fast, slipping around the female EMT to reach Deacon. Instinctively, I leaned over and hugged him, giving him my body heat and releasing my pheromones at the same time. I had to nearly drown him in them, but the moment he inhaled my scent, the seizure stopped and he went still.

“Oh shit, you’re a wolf too?” the male EMT asked me.

“I am.”

“Ohmygod that’s perfect,” he rasped. “Let’s get him in the rig, and you can come with us to—what’s your name?”

The assumption that I would go simply because I was a wolf and it was somehow my duty made me bristle. And really, he would probably make it to the hospital easily now, with my scent in his lungs.

“Hey,” the female EMT said, and I turned and looked at her. “I apologize for my partner. He wasn’t thinking. We would really appreciate you coming with us, but of course, you’re not obligated to do so.”

My eyes met hers, and I weighed the right thing to do.

“I’m Jillian. What’s your name?”

“Aleksander, but please, call me Sasha.”

“Sasha, we would love it if you would come, if you’re able.”