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Suddenly, he was dizzy as hell, and he stumbled, but the women held him upright. “We’ve got you,” Natalie said.
Her words didn’t make sense. Maybe both women needed emotional support. One thing about being at alpha-level in his pack, over the years he’d gained a better understanding of women.
He didn’t know why, but suddenly he started feeling light-headed and his vision began to fade at the edges. When another gurney appeared, some instinct had him hurtling toward it.
One thought went through his mind. Oh, shit. Some of the blood was mine.
Then he passed out.
~ ~ ~
“He didn’t know he was wounded,” Natalie explained to the nurse now tracking the gurney on his right side.
“I figured. These big wolves never know when to quit.” It was more a statement than a criticism.
“It’s a good thing. If Officer Grant hadn’t carried her here, I know I couldn’t have done it. I’m grateful beyond words he made it this far.”
When he’d picked the woman up off the ground, Natalie had almost stopped him. He was bleeding profusely from a deep cut in the well of his right shoulder and he was horribly pale.
But he was also pumped from battle. She’d seen it before. Adrenaline could do amazing things, like blocking pain and keeping a warrior upright. Besides, what had their options been? Zero, if he’d fallen. The fae would have died. Officer Grant might have as well. Now both of them had a chance.
So, she’d flown beside him and kept sending up prayers to an alter God she wasn’t sure existed, hoping Grant would be able to make it all the way. Funny the things you do and think when you’re desperate.
Two nurses worked on Grant. One set him up quickly with an IV of wolf blood. In their alter condition, blood-type didn’t matter. The other nurse used a big-ass needle and quickly started setting stitches in his shoulder. Natalie helped since some suction was needed. The artery had been nicked, hence the level of blood loss, but nothing the nurse couldn’t handle. The refuge doctor was busy with the near-dead fae. Emergency room tactics were down and dirty.
Even so, Grant was in excellent hands.
When he began to pink-up, though he wasn’t yet conscious, Natalie moved to the other bay to check on the victim.
The team was still working on her and had IV’s in both arms. The doctor was closing the abdominal damage. Alter medical assistance was very different from the human world. The alter transformation gave long life as it stripped the humanity out of each person. Alters could self-heal and viruses and germs were rarely an issue.
Blood loss, however, was a different matter. The woman was deathly pale. Healing from this kind of mauling was almost always impossible.
Movement to her right shifted Natalie’s gaze. A witch entered the facility on quick, levitated flight. Natalie knew her well. Emma had a facility in Elegance that took in all kinds of strays. Someone had called her in to help.
The different alter species that worked in a variety of refuges and shelters were a loose network. Each territory had several, staffed with people determined to save lives while working against way too many people intent on taking them.
Their world was a mess.
“She’s in here.” Natalie lifted her arm and gestured to the bay, though it was hardly necessary. The blinds were open, and the level of activity was visible from the distant, front entrance.
Emma rushed in. The team made way for her to pass to the head of the table. She placed her hands on top of the woman’s head and let her healing ability flow.
Even in her unconscious state, the woman released a sigh as though her body recognized that the right kind of help had come at last.
Emma was an amazing woman, with beauty to match. She had long, thick auburn hair. The front part was pulled into a top knot that seemed to suit her, while the rest cascaded to her waist. Her eyes were a lovely green.
Natalie?
For a moment, Natalie didn’t recognize the masculine voice in her head. When she realized it was Grant, she left the bay and moved next door. His eyes were open, and his color was much better.
“You rang?” she asked.
His answering smile was weak.
She shifted to stand at the foot of his bed. A second nurse wiped the blood off his arms and chest. Because he was naked from the waist up, and the crisis had passed, Natalie blinked a couple of times. Her thoughts grew completely inappropriate.
Damn, he’s built. Grant had muscles on muscles.
