Chapter 43

Ronda had inspected the entry wound but determined there was nothing she could do where they were.

"Are you sure you can't shift? It could force the bullet out." she asked.

I feel like my chest is being ripped open when I try. I think it's against a nerve or in a bone.

"Okay, Are the others ready to go?" She asked looking up at her husband and mate. He shook his head.

A few minutes later they had carefully loaded Sebastian into the backseat.

Jack had walked into the barn. "Hello?" he called into the darkness. His Lycan eyesight was perfectly capable of seeing in the darkness. Charles said come out like your startled. He told his colleagues at the same time as he called out the hello.

The wolves bolted.

He pretended to be surprised as they ran past him and out the door. "What the... who?"

"Hey! Back here! The dogs attacked me. I need help. I'm here." James yelled through pain clinched teeth.

Jack called over his shoulder. "Lark! There's someone in here, he's hurt." he stumbled forward, but it wasn't fake. He had caught that scent again. His brain swam with curiosity.

He didn't even notice Lark coming into the barn. His brother shone a light around and stopped the second it landed on James. His brother moved toward the injured man, Jack was drawn in another direction. He had to follow that smell. It was like watermelon and rain. As soon as he pulled open the cellar door he knew who was down there. His mate.

Ronda drove slowly back through the field. She winced with each bump, knowing it caused Sebastian pain. She stopped briefly at the vehicles so Lightfoot and Branon could retrieve the trucks.

Charles waited for the transportation.

"Good thing we were jogging by, man. If we hadn't heard that gunshot we wouldn't have known anyone needed help." Lark said as he wrapped a torn piece of James's shirt around the wound. The man cried out when Lark tightly tied the makeshift bandage.

"Sorry man." he lied then reached out and ripped another piece of the shirt.

"W-w-wweren'ttt t-there tt-twoo of y-you?"

"Yeah, my brother, he heard something in your cellar. He went to make sure there wasn't another dog down there." It was an outright lie. Lark had no idea why Jack had gone in the cellar. The less witnesses they had the better. Plus someone needed to be getting rid of Sebastian's blood in the dirt. That was a task much easier said then done.

"Nnnnn-nnoo.No. G-ggget back h-here you nosy b-bbastard!" James cursed and tried to lift up. Lark pushed him back to the ground in fake concern.

"Careful, man. You'll bleed to death if you're not careful." He scolded. What are you doing Jack? He demanded over the link.

Taking care of my mate. I found her. The human girl.

This just got more complicated. Lark could feel his brothers rage. What ever James had done to the girl Jack wanted revenge. Charles, the human is Jacks mate. If he comes out of the cellar he'll probably kill this idiot. Lark had to push the idiot back to the ground three more time before he stayed there.

Shit. Charles said with the link. The police are on the way. I called before Ronda headed out. Jack, I understand what you are going through but you have to keep your cool. Do you understand me? The human police are on their way here.

She's my mate, Charles, but she wont let me near her. She is terrified. Of me.

***

Sebastian wished for the thousandth time that he could shift. He loved his wolf form but the fact of the matter was that there were some things that needed to be done while human.

Laying under a exam light with Steven poking around in his chest with stainless steel tools was not what he wanted at the moment. They could only give a wolf so much pain medication before the body relaxed to the point of shifting back to human form.

"This is ridiculous, Sebastian. I just released your mate this afternoon. Could you not give me a full day before needing me in the O.R.?" Steven complained.

Sebastian knew that he was trying to lighten the mood but that wasn't his concern. He could feel Sara pushing against his mind. He refused to grant her access. He wasn't a fool he knew that if her gift was what they thought it was she could push her way in with out the slightest hesitation. Thankfully she wasn't one of those people that would forcefully invade someone's thoughts.

She waited, pushing gently every few moments. Sebastian's body hurt so badly that he was grateful for the distraction of keeping her out. There was no way he wanted to share this kind of pain with her. He was sure she had plenty of her own to deal with.

Sebastian felt a sharp spasm in his chest. He heard himself whimper despite the pain medication Steven had given him.

"Almost got it, Seb." Steven soothed.

Regrettably that was not the last of the pain. Steven had made and incision and found that the bullet had struck a bone. The poorly made bullet had splintered. One half lodged in the bone, the cause of intense pain when he attempted to shift or move. Another in a part of the lower left lung, which was the cause of pain when he breathed.

The pain soared as Steven gripped the bullet shard with forceps, twisted slightly and pulled it from the bone. Surprisingly just removing it from the bone lessened his pain a great deal.

One of the nurses held out a steal bowl and the bullet shard pinged when Steven dropped it into the bowl.

"One more, Seb."

***

Sara sat in the waiting area with Luna Barbara, Alpha Alexander, Lark, Charles, Ronda, Lightfoot and Branon. The room was only the size of a living room felt suffocatingly small with so many people present.

No one spoke and Sara was grateful. She couldn't imagine making conversation at the moment. She noticed the human look over at her a few times but he didn't ask about her bandages.

"The humans believe he was attacked by feral dogs?" The Alpha asked the older Lycan, Charles.

"Yes, sir. As far as they know Lark and Jack scared the 'dogs' away after the attack. They were stunned that Jack found the teen in a storm cellar chained to a wall. I imagine they'll have some explaining to do when it's made public the girl had been held against her will."

"The parents are planning to press charges. But I imagine it wont go to court. They'll likely settle out of court to save the city money, time, and reputation." Lightfoot the human added.

"We can hope. How is the girl doing?" Alpha Alexander asked.

"She may not know about us but she clearly formed an instant attachment to Jack. By the time all the humans arrived she refused to leave his side or let him leave hers."

"And touching?" The Luna asked. She looked concerned, touching for Lycans was a big deal. They tended to need the physical recurrence from their mate. It could be as simple as a brush of hands as they passed in a hall, a cuddle on the sofa, to acts of a more intimate nature. Even some humans had the same need when mated to a Lycan.

Sara watched as Lark shook his head. "No. She seems more comfortable when Jack's in sight but he said over the link that she had spent the last ten minutes crying because the nurses and doctors have to touch her to examine her and collect evidence. It's driving him crazy, not being able to comfort her. She-" he broke off when a nurse came out of the door.

Sara jumped to her feet.

The woman smiled, "He's in his room. He's shifted back to human and Steven stitched him back up. Steven sedated him so he'd out at the moment. It took a lot of energy to get through the surgery. Steven said that he'll be good as new in less then a week." She walked over to Charles and bowed her head. "He said you saved everyone from discovery. You took charge as soon as you realized he was incapacitated. He wanted me to thank you." she smiled.

"I just did what needed doing." Charles stated blandly.

"Steven wanted me to ask if any of you would be willing to donate blood." the woman said looking around at everyone present. "We gave him the last of the O+. We are actually in need of all blood types at the moment, if any one is willing to donate." she smiled encouragingly.

"I'll do it." the alpha said then there was a flurry of volunteers.

"I don't, I don't know my blood type." Sara whispered. A wave of guilt flowed over her. Sebastian was hurt because she sent him away and she couldn't even help him.

"Your blood type is O- Ms. Allen. We had to type it and give you blood after your injury." the nurse said. Sara looked more closely at the woman. She had no memory of ever meeting this woman. "However, you aren't eligibility to donate at the moment. You'll have to wait at least six months." The woman gave her a reassuring smile. "But I'll take you back to sit with him if you would like. If it's okay with the alpha and luna."

Sara turned to look at the alpha and luna. She hoped that they didn't mind. She needed to do this. They both nodded simultaneously. Sara eagerly looked away and moved towards the nurse.

Even as she stepped forward she sent a mental probe to Sebastian. She knew that he was sedated but she wanted contact. The fact that she would be at his side in just minutes didn't matter.

Sebastian lay on his back. His eyes were closed and his features looked relaxed. Sara's heart swelled with longing and shame. This was her fault because she had sent him away.

His hospital gown had been put on backwards to give access to the bandage over his chest. It wasn't large but a red tinge had appeared almost in the exact center of the white gauze. He had a heart monitor hooked to wires over his chest. The IV dripped the contents of two bags of liquid evenly. His chest rose and fell at a study rhythm. Sara stood there and watched his chest move even after the nurse had left. For a moment Sara simply stood there watching him as her chest felt too tight until the need to touch him over-road her unease.

She slowly moved forward. She let her hand rest on his wrist. The heart monitor gave three rapid beeps and then returned to normal. The feel of his skin felt like heaven.

Because he is ours. Evodine whispered in her head.

Sara started to tell her that he deserved more. He deserved someone he didn't need to pity.

Like you pity him, now?

I don't pity him I ache for his pain. It's my fault.

Now do you not understand?

Sara blinked. Her palm caressed his forearm. The hair over his skin tickled her palm. A tear slipped down her cheek. She understood. But would this last? She hadn't been raised for this life. She didn't know what she was doing.

Mate, Luna, Alpha will show us how to be true Lycan. Pack will show us.

Okay, Ev. You win. I'm done. I wont resist any more. She lifted her hand and caressed the line of Sebastian's jaw.

We win. We have mate.

When he wakes I'll tell him I want to complete the bond.

When healed. Taron say's when healed.

How are you-

Taron never block me. I know his pain when doctor fix him. He sleep now.