After more heartbreaking sniffling, as he wiped his nose on her shirt. “But, Mama, look at Mister Justin. He’s hurting and I don’t like it.”
She felt the tears stinging the back of her eyes too. This was the first time they’d been left alone together. Most of the time Justin’s family was hovering. With them gone now she was able to stand up carrying Carter and sit on the bed next to Justin.
He would always be a hero in her book. Although, right now he had dark circles under his eyes and his skin was a bit pale. His hair even looked dull, not the normal dark blond that seemed to shimmer in the right light. She sat next to him scooting close until her thigh bumped into his under the sheets. He was deathly still; the only movement was the shallow rise and fall of his chest. His mouth was slightly open and his lips cracked and chapped.
She put Carter on the ground gently and urged, “Can you go get me the lip balm from my purse? It’s right there in the corner.” She could at least ensure that he was comfortable if…no, when he woke up.
Carter struggled with her heavy purse and she felt her lips lift in a smile for the first time in a week. He ended up dragging it over to her and leaving it on the floor as he dug out everything else before handing her the lip balm.
Uncapping the balm she applied a thick layer to his parched lips and watched as it soaked in. She did make note of the fullness of his lips and remembered the kiss he’d landed on her hair before he risked his life saving her son. She looked down and saw that Carter was still rummaging through her purse so she took the time to run her shaking finger over his cheek. Where she touched she noticed his skin became pinker and brightened. She took a deep calming breath and gripped his forearm feeling a sharp pain in her abdomen she leaned over and heaved the contents of her stomach into a nearby trashcan.
Carter, who had been right next to her looked up and announced, “Eew, Mama, gross. You okay?”
She nodded her head before turning to watch Justin’s skin color change before their eyes. His breathing increased and his eyes blinked open. “Where am I?”
She opened her mouth to answer when she felt another round of nausea set in, she ran for the bathroom, trashcan in hand. She heaved again, hearing Blake enter the room, calling Justin’s name. Several other footfalls followed him into the room. She needed to get out of there before someone came along and scented her. She didn’t need everyone knowing she was a feline. Wolves didn’t like lynxes.
She cleaned up quickly, then asked Carter to get her purse and they slipped out the door as everyone was fussing over Justin, who looked surprisingly good. She ran as fast as she could out of alpha house, and back to the safety of her house.
*****
The next day Carter and Dee were at the flower shop. She was covered in her usual floral perfume and Carter was playing with her phone. Blake strode in like he owned the place, carrying a big box, and announced, “Justin should be fine. My parents took him home.”
Trying to restrain her concern she asked. “Is it safe? He was in a coma for a week, should he be traveling?”
Blake shot her a grin, “He’s fine. He didn’t want to go back, but I sent him away. If he’s going to be here he needs to obey me. Clearly, he won’t. I strictly forbid him from healing Carter because he doesn’t handle poison well. He refused and his alpha called him back when he heard what happened.”
She dropped her head and exposed her neck to her alpha. “I’m sorry, Alpha, I had no idea. If I’d known what would happen to him…I would have done the same thing. I think Justin would understand, and when you have cubs you’ll understand too.”
Blake’s grin was equal parts sinister and playful. “Speaking of Justin, he wouldn’t leave until I promised you and Carter would have extra protection. Here it is.”
He sat the box down and pulled out an adorable Husky puppy with its tongue hanging out; beautiful icy blue eyes gazed at her with surprising intelligence. Fluffy white, grey fur stood on end as his hackles rose and a slight growl sounded low in his throat.
“What the hell am I supposed to do with that?”
Blake smiled. “Him, what are you supposed to do with him? Honestly, he’s your protection.”
“I can’t have a dog. I’ve already taken your stray cat, Mr. Boo. I won’t take him.”
Blake’s face hardened. “You’ll do what I tell you, I’m your alpha. You knew the rules when you joined the pack."
“Yes, but I’m a lynx…feline. You can’t give me a dog.”
“Well…I didn’t give you the puppy, my brother did. And it’s probably because someone didn’t tell him she was a feline. I don’t see why it’s this big secret. So what, you’re a cat, big deal.”