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Rook and Wulf are bothstill unconscious, and Terrance is still in rage mode when the other members of our clan arrive at the club. As soon as Nick went outside to shift, Terrance set me down and started destroying things. The club looks as bad as it did the first time I saw him go into a rage—the time a female troll from his home clan was kidnapped. Booths are torn. Stools are smashed. Couches are overturned. Holes have been punched through walls. Liquor bottles are broken. It’s a disaster.
So far, Terrance hasn’t let me move from my spot on the floor in front of the bar. Any time I stand up, he hurries over and blocks me from going anywhere. He doesn’t stop destroying things until Parker, Oliver, and Director West come inside with Nick. Then he’s back to playing bodyguard for Rook, Wulf, and me.
Oliver comes straight over to us, and I’m not surprised when Terrance lets him. Oliver is his clan as much as I am. Oliver looks exhausted. “How are you?” I ask.
“Tired,” he admits. “I was going to call it quits and go home before we got your call. Are you okay?” He glances at the blood covering me. “Were you hurt at all?”
I shake my head. “Not my blood.” My gaze falls on Rook and Wulf.
Oliver pulls me into his arms. “They’ll be okay.”
“Why are they still unconscious? They should be healed by now.”
Oliver sits down with me and pulls me onto his lap. I want to protest because he’s still weak, but it feels too good to be in his arms. “It’s the silver,” he says. “It slows the healing process. But don’t worry. They got the silver out before it could kill them. They’ll be all right.”
I sigh and reach out to run my fingers through Rook’s fur. My chest aches as if it can tell Rook is weak. It’s almost unbearable. Oliver squeezes me in a tight hug. “We’ll get everyone home as soon as we can get Terrance calmed enough to let us leave.”
I look at the troll in question. He’s getting better. He’s watching Oliver and me carefully. He’s coherent enough to recognize Oliver as family.
Unfortunately, Henry shows up then, and that sends Terrance into another tizzy. I cross my fingers that T-man rips the vamp apart limb from limb, but Henry wisely doesn’t come anywhere near us. He gives me a long look but heads for Director West, Parker, Nick, and the vampire I killed.
Enzo is the next person to show up, and I let out a breath of relief. Wulf and Rook may both be out of death’s grip, but I’ve never seen them look so bad. Terrance stiffens when Enzo comes near, so I get to my feet and place my hand on his arm again. My touch always seems to calm him down. “Hey, Terrance, it’s just Enzo. He wants to help us. He can help heal Rook and Wulf. Will you let him help?”
Enzo moves slowly, looking as nonthreatening as possible and making eye contact with Terrance the whole time. Terrance watches him like a hawk, but he stays beside me. I don’t release my grip on his arm. He needs the physical contact.
Enzo gets to work without a word, starting with Wulf. My heart wishes he’d start with my mate, but my head knows that Wulf is probably worse off. One of the bullets that hit him nearly pierced his heart. We almost lost him.
Wulf, still in human form, finally wakes up with a low groan. “Wulf!” I cry and scramble toward him. I take his hand in mine and let out a sob of relief. He looks my direction, but I don’t think he recognizes me.
Enzo swipes his hand over Wulf’s forehead and murmurs, “Shift, my friend. You will be more comfortable, and you will heal faster.” He presses his hand once more to the wounds in Wulf’s chest. “Shift.”
Wulf obeys and lets the shift take him. It’s slower than normal, but once he’s in his wolf form, his body relaxes. His eyes close, but I think he’s just resting this time as opposed to actual unconsciousness.
Enzo moves to Rook next. “How are you, Miss Nora?” he asks me as he presses his hands to the wounds on Rook. “Are you feeling any effects through your mate bond?”
I watch Rook again and run my fingers through his thick fur. “My chest hurts like it’s being squeezed, but it’s not as bad as it was. That’s from the mate bond?”
Enzo nods. “Your souls are linked. You will feel it when your mate’s soul is in peril.”
I blink, and my heart flutters with anxiety. Rook’s soul was in peril? Had I come that close to losing him? I’ve been surprisingly calm and collected through this whole ordeal, but that truth makes tears fall from my eyes.
“He’ll be okay, Miss Nora. I can feel him getting stronger already. Wulf is all right, too. You have my word they will both be fine by tomorrow.”
I wipe at my eyes and suck in a deep breath. “I’m so sick of people trying to kill my men!” Anger wells up inside me with startling force. “When I find out who it is, I’m going to make them wish they’d never messed with what’smine.”
Rook whines and suddenly shifts form back to human. He coughs and cracks a smile. “Am I the only one who finds Nora’s possessiveness sexy?” he croaks, pulling an incredulous bark of laughter from me.
“Rook!”
I nearly fall on top of him and kiss him. He puckers his lips, but that’s about all he can do to return the kiss. “You should shift back,” I tell him, raking his sweaty hair back. “Enzo says it will make you feel better and heal faster.”
Rook sighs and clasps my hand. He holds it to his face and lets out a sigh. His thoughts are focused on my touch. He sends me a specific one.But your touch feels so much better in human form. The memory that flashes through his mind makes me blush, and I pull my hand away.
Enzo sits back, looking nearly as pale and sweaty as Rook. “I’ve done all that I can,” he says. “They will need a day to rest, but they are as healed as my skills can make them.”
I surprise Enzo when I throw my arms around him. He startles, but then lightly returns the hug, chuckling softly. He’s blushing when I pull back. He’s so shy. It’s cute. I give him my most grateful smile. “Thank you, Enzo. I know that’s not nearly enough to make up for all the times you’ve helped this clan, butthank you. If you ever need anything—anything at all—you just let us know. We’re in your debt.”
Terrance’s deep, gruff voice startles me. “Nora has requested we invite you to join our clan. There were no objections. If you are interested, we would be honored to have you join us.”
