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After verifying that the equipment ordered would arrive tomorrow, I stood and stretched the kinks out of my muscles. My tiger paced, needing a good run. The pull in my chest to check on Amelia was strong. I felt along the bonds, directing my thoughts only to Miguel.
“Miguel, just checking in. Any change?”
“She woke up briefly, reaching for me. I snuggled up to her, adding my warmth as best I could. She fell back asleep. No change other than that.”
“I’m heading out to run the perimeter. I’ll stop by on my way back with some food for you and a change of clothes.”
“I’d appreciate that.” I felt an odd sensation vibrate along the bond, but it was gone before I could analyze what it might have been.
I walked the path around the playground and through the park, nodding at a few of my guys who were watching the kids and their caregivers. I took the path that led to my home. I jogged up the porch steps and stripped, folding my clothes, and neatly placing them in the cupboard next to the door. I relaxed and let my tiger take control, the joining of our spirits and mind as magical as the first time.
I sat back and let him take the lead, padding down the steps and heading for the security door strategically placed in the wall behind my house. Once through, thanks to the guard on duty, I opened my senses and took off at a slow pace.
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary around the perimeter, but I caught a whiff of something or someone else at the side entrance that Amelia had snuck out of. I tried to follow it but lost it a few feet into the jungle. I cataloged the nuances of it in my mind and headed back to the compound. Miguel was probably starving, and I needed to see Amelia. The need to return and protect her was overpowering.
I wanted to grab a quick shower, but my tiger was having none of it, instead heading straight for Amelia’s room at the clinic.
“Hey, Niko,” Miguel whispered as I walked in. His eyebrow quirked in question. My tiger, satisfied that Amelia was safe and healing, finally allowed the shift back to human. I stood naked and grimy, but it was easier to speak this way than through the bonds.
“Hey.” I grabbed a pair of pants from the bottom drawer where all the patient gowns and such were kept, along with a couple extra pairs of scrubs. “Let me go get some food ordered.” The receptionist was eager to assist, and within twenty minutes, we had half a dozen large subs, chips, cookies, and drinks set out on the counter.
“Where’s mine?” Amelia’s groggy voice sent shivers down my spine. I hesitated to turn, knowing the flimsy material of the scrub pants wouldn’t hide my already half-erect cock. I began filling a plate for her to give me time to cool my hormones down.
“Hey, angel, how are you feeling?” Miguel left his food to return to her side. A streak of jealousy ran through me at how accepting she was of his care and affection.
“Still rough. My leg is throbbing, my ankle is numb, and I can’t feel my foot at all.” She yawned.
“Let’s get some food in you. Niko’s fixing your plate now.” I heard the motor of the bed and assumed Miguel was raising her up so she could eat.
“I’m starved.” Sheets rustled behind me, sending images of her naked beneath me amongst rumpled sheets through my imagination. My body responded in kind, but I wasn’t going to keep her waiting any longer.
“Here, pet.” I placed the plate on the tray Miguel had maneuvered over her lap, along with a bottle of water and a can of Sprite with a straw.
“Thank you, Niko.” She gasped as her eyes zeroed in on the bulge below my waist before returning to my face. The blush creeping up her neck took my breath away. My blood boiled with the need to claim her, my tiger riding me hard to sink my fangs into her neck. My chest puffed out, knowing I affected her as much as she did me.
“Okay, can we cool the sexual tension in here?” Jax’s voice broke the mood as he walked in. “I’m glad to see you sitting up and eating, Amelia.” He pulled on a pair of latex gloves. “Let me check that leg again.” He moved the blanket off her lower leg and began prodding along the incision. “Any pain, heat, or numbness?”
“Her shin and muscles are throbbing, her ankle is numb, and she can’t feel her foot,” I filled in. My body had moved next to the bed on its own even as my head was trying to wrap around my previous reaction. I had only ever felt that gut-deep need to mark someone once before in my life, and that shifter was lying next to the female who stirred that desire up in me once again.
“I think she can speak for herself.” Jax glared at me before turning a warm smile to Amelia.
“He’s right.” Her soft words brought my gaze to hers. I watched as her breathing became shallow and her eyes glazed with desire.
“Okay, none of that, you two.” Jax clucked his tongue at us. “Amelia, things are healing slowly as expected after your ordeal. It would move along much faster if you were to shift.”
She closed her eyes for a moment, her brow furrowing in concentration. She heaved a sigh and opened them again. “I can’t get her to come forward.” Tears shimmered along her lower eyelid.
“That’s okay.” Jax nodded.
“She’ll come out once she realizes it’s for your own good.” Miguel rubbed her arm as he spoke.
“What if she doesn’t?” Goosebumps rose on her skin as she began to shake. Her eyes widened, the irises enlarging as she tried to pull away from my touch...
“Well,” Jax paused, glancing between Miguel and myself, “if it comes to that, we could try to help nudge her along.”
“How?” She looked between each of us, begging for someone to answer.
“Through the bonds.” I squeezed her hand, bringing her attention back to me. “My tiger and I can try to coax her to come out, nudge her along.”
