My sole purpose in life at that very instant was to get Sam. Stressed-out tremendously over the past couple days didn't waver hearing Jack tell him that he was at Sam's and I needed to get there right away. Flying up the driveway, the first thing that caught my eye was 10 of my pack brothers surrounding the house as well as 10 lions. Sitting on the steps was my Alpha and the Pride leader talking away with no cares in the world.

Jumping out of my jeep, I didn't notice Nickoli behind him until he spoke. "What the hell is all this?" Nickoli demanded. Going by the tone of his voice and how he just demanded something from his own leader, I knew I was not the only one having problems keeping my temper in check.

Meeting us at the bottom of the stairs, Lawrence addressed Nickoli, "First we talk and if you can control yourself and only then are you allowed in."

I took a side step to go around Jack. "Dmitri, that also includes you. Keep your voices down Sam is sleeping."

The mention of her name stopped me. If she was sleeping, she was probably all right. I stood motionless while Jack and Lawrence explained everything that had happened. After Nickoli told them that, he too felt a bad case of heartburn that he has not had for years.

"Why did it hit me harder? It felt like my chest was being ripped in two. It knocked me down to one knee," I said more to myself than anyone else.

Jack answered my question anyways. "It might have to do with that incident after our pack meeting. It seems the ones that have a closer bond with Sam felt it except for the mated pairs."

"What incident," Nickoli barked.

"It doesn't matter," Lawrence, cut in.

Nickoli ignored his leader. "What incident?" he growled.

"She bit me," I said with a smirk. Nickoli would know what that meant.

Nickoli tensed, nostrils flaring. "What!" he roared.

Lawrence jumped in between us. "Control yourself if you want to see Sam," his voice calm but I could feel his power swirl around. Lawrence was powerful.

I was still gloating, egging Nickoli on before Jack to step in. "Dmitri. You have a choice, knock this shit off and control yourself or jump back in your car and leave," Jack said, now throwing his power.

The thought of leaving Sam was not an option. Putting my differences aside, I faced my Alpha giving a curt nod. From the corner of my eye, I could see Nickoli, too, came to the same conclusion. Seeing Sam was more important than our squabble.

Jack and Lawrence shared a knowing look that made me nervous. Lawrence started it off, "OK, then. What we haven't told you is that we are treating her like we would treat one of our own."

Jack jumped in, "She needs full body contact. Right know Mason and Matt are with her, but the healing process slowed down drastically. Both doctors seem to think the stronger the wolf and lion the faster the healing process, just like with us," Jack paused, "So if you two boys can be civilized, Sam needs you. She needs both of you. A wolf and lion."

Following Jack to her bedroom door, Sam was the first thing that caught my eye. Not that she was naked, sandwiched between two men, but the black circles under her eyes, the way her hair was saturated with sweat and her pale almost grey coloured skin.

Tongue slipping out between pale lips as she stirred. "Mason?" she nuzzled closer, taking in his scent. "Mason, what's wrong?" her voice raspy just above a whisper.

"Nothing's wrong Sam. Go back to sleep," he lied to her staring at me with worry in his eyes.

Eyes still closed as if she was talking in her sleep. She rubbed her cheek against his neck. "It's OK Mason, your mine to protect. No one will ever hurt you," she mumbled, "My hips getting soar can we change sides, please?" she asked barely having energy to slide her arm off Mason.

"We'll move you. Save your energy," Mason never took his eyes off me. He reached to pull a light sheet to cover her naked body before they moved her. Just as Jack said, Mason never broke contact as he rolled over, and him and Matt shift Sam to her other side. Even with them being gentle, she moaned with pain. I, followed by Nickoli took an involuntary step forward before Jack and Lawrence stopped us with a hand on our shoulders. Struggling not to tear these men out of her bed at the same time not wanting to cause her any more pain. I felt helpless.

"She's not so much conscious as semi-conscious," Jack's voice broke my trance, "She has been mumbling about them being hers to protect on and off. It's as she can feel what they do. When, for example, they feel nervous she starts to come too. Plus other things," Jack sounded intrigue about the whole situation.

"What other things," my voice was edging a growl.

"Dmitri," Jack warned, "Just watch."

Forcing myself to calm down I painfully watched Sam snuggle up to Matt and once again took in his scent. "Matt? You too, are mine to protect," Sam's voice a whispered, then she seemed to drift back to sleep.

Eyebrows pulled together. "Did she just recognize them by their scent?" I asked, not sure on what he just saw.

Lawrence answered this question, "We think so, which is remarkable. Her semi consciousness state seems to be more adhere. The things that I witnessed today are phenomenal, miraculous. We are hoping the doctors will find out more, soon," he too seemed to be in ah over Sam's condition.

"So what, we just sit here and wait like good little cubs?" Nickoli said sarcastically, thrusting his hands through his hair.

"No. Smart-ass. You two are here to take Matt and Mason's place," Lawrence said, "That's only if you two can behave."

I looked over at Nickoli, and he too did the same. Without a word, we both walked to opposite sides of the bed and started to undress. I dreamed of being naked with Sam, but this was not how I imagined it. Sharing a bed with my biggest threat and with her so fragile and probably not having a clue on what was going on; was not one of my fantasies.

Placing a hand on the back of her head as Mason got up, than climbed in, her body warmer than it should be, I closed the distance covering every inch of her back with my body. It felt even better than in my dreams. Sam's naked body against mine as I protected her, resting my arm over her curvy naked hip.

Anger and jealousy kicked in watching Nickoli bring Sam's arm around his body, laying a soft kiss on her wrist. Her breathing began to pick up, body temperature skyrocketed, beads of sweat running down her temple as a moan of pain escapes her throat.

"Block it out boys, now!" Jack now at my side, "We told you she can feel what we do, and she seems to be more sensitive with you two. Negative emotions make her worse. So, right now block out all negative emotions," Jack stated, "If you can't do this then we will call others that she has no connection with at all," Jack's voice was rose when Sam moaned again.

No way in hell was I going to allow anyone else take my spot near Sam, I just thought of happy memories of me and Sam, pushing out the jealousy and anger. Breathing started to slow and her body began to cool.

Turning her face up, eyes still closed and looking confused. Rubbing her nose against my jaw line and inhaling his scent. "Dmitri?" her voice sounded weaker than just minutes ago.

"Yeah, babe it's me. Go back to sleep now," I whispered in her ear. Happiness rolled through my body because Sam knew my scent. Even when she snuggled up to Nickoli, it didn't put a damper on my mood. Lying naked with the woman, I would soon call my mate, helping her get through whatever was wrong with her. This is where I belonged.

"Nickoli?" her voice seemed a bit stronger but still groggy.

Tucking her arm closer to his body he said, "Yes, honey I'm here. Go back to sleep. We will be here when you awake," I could sense the joy coming from him as Sam said his name.

Feeling her body relax into sleep I too found myself falling after her in the dream world.