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“Take my truck,” I said. “Bring her here as fast as you can.”
To his credit, Clayton grabbed my keys and clenched his jaw. I could almost see the resolve in his expression. He’d get Rosemary here. I could count on him.
“Put her on the counter,” Zoe insisted.
Morgan’s eyes fluttered open again, and she glanced around before taking gasping breaths. Her lips went blue, then the breathing stopped.
“Shit. Zoe. Do something.” I carefully set Morgan on the counter and Zoe pressed her fingers to the female’s neck.
My chest tightened and sharp pain exploded from within. I stumbled back, suddenly unable to focus. The whole room was spinning.
Arms wrapped around me. “I got you.” I could barely make out Scarlett’s voice. “You better bring that girl back. Luke doesn’t have much time.”
I was vaguely aware of Zoe pressing her mouth to Morgan’s, breathing life into her. My vision blurred, and I felt hot. Beads of sweat rolled down my face.
“Hurry up,” Scarlett called. She sounded so far away, and I could no longer feel her arms around me. Was she still there? Was I still here?
There was a strange, almost weightless sensation tingling along my limbs. Wake up, Morgan. It was the only thing I could think of. She had to wake up. I needed her to wake up. I needed her to wake up more than I needed oxygen. Fuck if I died, she couldn’t. It couldn’t end like this.
My vision cleared and I took a deep, gasping breath, as the room righted itself. It was like emerging from being under water for a little too long.
I untangled myself from Scarlett’s grasp and moved toward the counter where Zoe was still working to resuscitate Morgan. Suddenly, Morgan gasped, and her eyes fluttered open before closing again.
I held my breath until I saw the steady rise and fall of her chest. My shoulders sagged as relief unlike anything I’d ever felt overcame me. I had to resist the overwhelming burning urge to cry. Watching Morgan nearly die would have undone me, and I wasn’t sure if it was because of our bond, or if it was the guilt that I was the one who caused this.
“She’s going to be okay, I think,” Zoe said. “But we have to stop this bleeding.”
Scarlett handed Zoe a towel and Zoe hesitated for a moment before taking it. The two women worked in silence, binding the wounds while I caught my breath.
I’d never stood by and done nothing before, but I felt paralyzed, terrified that I would do something wrong. I couldn’t help, I had to stare at her chest, make sure it didn’t stop moving. I didn’t realize that was what I was doing until Clayton returned with Rosemary in tow.
Zoe and Scarlett both moved aside for the healer. Rosemary was the best. She’d tell us if she needed help. I shook myself out of my stupor. “Tell us what you need.”
“Tell me what happened,” she countered as she began to inspect Morgan.
“She was attacked by one of our own in his wolf form,” I said.
She hummed, a sound that would have been threatening in her wolf form. “Not you?”
“It wasn’t him,” Zoe was quick to respond. “He saved her.”
“It was still my fault,” I admitted. “It’s that damn life bond.”
“You were the target.” She opened her bag and began setting containers and gauze and various supplies on the counter around Morgan.
“Yes.” That one word crushed me. I was supposed to protect her, not let her end up dead because someone wanted to get to me.
I’d been too cavalier with her since bringing her here. I’d ignored her and let her wander free. I couldn’t do that anymore. I knew we had a traitor, but I never saw this coming. I’d been blinded by my disinterest or my fear of getting too close to her. Whatever it was, it nearly cost both of us everything.
“I need a bucket of clean water,” Rosemary said. “And I need you to leave.”
“Me?” I took a step closer. “I’m not going anywhere. This is my fault.”
“And you are so pale you look like you might fall over. You’re no use to us if you’re on the ground. Go. We’ll come for you when she’s stable.” I opened my mouth to argue, but Rosemary gave me a look that reminded me of my mother when I was about to talk back. There wasn’t any time for arguing.
“We got this, Luke,” Zoe assured me. “Go sit down.”
Gritting my teeth, I exited the kitchen and took a seat on the couch in the living room. Clayton sat down next to me. “She’ll be alright. Rosemary’s the best.”
