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A low whimper from Garrett tore at her heart. How had she even, for one moment, doubted that this was her destiny? That he was the man she was meant to spend the rest of her life with? How had she even entertained the idea of leaving him?
"I don't know what to do,” she said in all honesty. “I don't know how to help you."
"He needs to shift."
Her head whipped around and she stared at Robert, their eyes locking. His face was cut and bruised, but he was alive. And standing.
"Where's Braedan?” she demanded.
"Unconscious.” He tilted his neck from side to side, cracking his neck. “But that won't last long."
Serena's attention returned to Garrett. “What do you mean, ‘he needs to shift?’”
"It's the only way he can heal himself. He's got to be in human form to do it.” Robert knelt down on the opposite side of the long body of the beautiful wolf Serena gently stroked.
"So why doesn't he change back?” she asked, hearing the panic in her voice, understanding the gravity of the situation. If Garrett didn't heal, surely he'd die.
"He won't do it in front of you.” The deep, scratchy voice that came from the walkway was filled with triumph. Serena and Robert's heads popped up at the same time. Braedan stood off to the side, looking smug and victorious. “And he's too weak to attack me, so...” His amber eyes glowed in the moonlight. He knew he had the upper hand and that made Serena's heart sink.
She glanced back down at Garrett. “You're not too weak,” she whispered. “You're going to be fine. Just ... do whatever you have to do to get better.” Her gaze lifted to Robert. “Can't you do something?” Panic rang in her ears, but she didn't care. She didn't care if Braedan knew how terrified and freaked out she was that Garrett was lying here, dying.
The bastard who'd surely been the one to inflict such deadly wounds on Garrett continued to stare down at her, his arms crossed over his chest. She noticed that his cuts were nearly healed. That gave her hope that Garrett could recover quickly, too. If he'd just change back to human form.
"You've got to get back inside the lodge,” Robert told her. “Go back up to the suite. Stay away from the windows."
"I'm not leaving him!” she said, incredulous. “He's dying, if you haven't noticed."
"Serena.” Robert's voice was clipped and forceful. “You're not helping matters."
&nbs
p; "Well, I'm not leaving,” she insisted in an equally stern tone. Her eyes dropped to Garrett. “I'm not leaving,” she repeated. “So do your thing."
The wolf groaned.
Serena rolled her eyes, which had suddenly turned watery. “Goddamn it.” Her head bent to his and she said in a softer voice, “I'm not leaving you. Ever. I love you."
This earned her a low howl that made her choke back a sob.
But Serena didn't get the chance to persuade Garrett further. Not that she needed to. Suddenly, the wolf leapt to his feet. In the next instant, Robert dove toward Serena, toppling her. He covered her body, but she could still see the flurry of activity that broke out. Without so much as a running start, Garrett flew through the air and closed the small space between him and Braedan. The wolf's body crashed against the man who, once again, had not expected the sudden burst of hostility. Braedan's large frame hit the cobblestone pathway and Garrett landed on top of him.
"Don't watch this,” Robert ground out between clenched teeth. He shifted his body, trying to shield Serena from the fight. But she caught a glimpse over his shoulder just as the wolf's sharp teeth closed over Braedan's throat.
Serena's distressful cry echoed in the courtyard. Her eyes snapped shut and her head rolled to the side. But the vision of the attack was stamped on her brain.
Robert's body tensed above her for a moment, then relaxed. Seconds later, he lifted himself off of her. Serena's eyes opened as he got to his feet. He reached a hand out to her.
She recalled how, just last night, she'd been so overcome with fear that she had barely been able to stand on her own two feet. Her legs had trembled so badly, it was a wonder she hadn't collapsed to the carport floor.
She felt the same way now.
Her heart hammered in her chest and her breath came in shallow pants. Robert knelt before her, still offering his hand. But Serena's attention was not on him. Her eyes were glued to the wolf that snarled and sputtered. Garrett began to limp away. The way he moved, so slow and unsteady, left no doubt that he was in a great deal of pain, and deeply fatigued.
"Where's he going?” she asked, her voice nothing more than a sharp squawk.
"To change. I told you, he won't do it in front of you."
"He can't hide it from me forever.” Her voice hitched up a notch. “He'll have to do it sooner or later. And it's not like I don't know about this part of him.” Shifting her gaze, she called out in a steadier voice, “Stop. Garrett ... stay!"
