Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 95748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“Damn it,” Erik muttered. “We need to have a meeting of the coalition.”
“Agreed.” Jackson glanced over at the couch.
Erik rubbed a hand down Luna’s hair, his gaze beyond her. “Em? You doing okay?”
Emily nodded. “Yes. We appreciate the help.”
Erik winked. “Well, I am your ex.”
Jackson’s chin lifted, and his chest heated.
Emily caught his gaze. “In name only.”
Erik smirked. “Tryne? Let’s step into the kitchen. We need to talk.”
Luna smiled, her tone soothing as she touched Emily’s shoulder. “I’ve got her. She’s all right.”
Emily pressed a hand to her temple. “I’m fine, Jackson. Just a little weak.”
“We’ll get some tea into you.” Luna offered her the mug. “Sip it slowly, okay? Then I have some herbs I want you to take.” Her voice softened with empathy. “So, you got shot with silver?”
“Yes. We need to figure out an antidote for that stuff.” Emily’s shoulders stiffened.
Jackson shook his head, guilt weighing heavily on his chest. Under his watch, she’d been kidnapped, shot with silver, and now caught in a helicopter crash. He clenched his fingers into a fist. He certainly wasn’t taking decent care of her.
Luna adjusted the blanket over Emily with care, her soft voice filling the room. Emily’s cheeks had regained some color, but she still looked too pale, fragile.
He had to force himself not to sit and drag her onto his lap. “Em? How are you really feeling?” he asked, not caring that the Alpha of the Copper Pack wanted to speak with him. Now.
Emily sipped more of the tea. “I’m fine, but I don’t know when I’ll be able to shift again. I feel…empty.” Tears filled her eyes.
He took the tears like a punch to the gut. A hard one.
“You will,” Luna said with quiet confidence, patting Emily’s knee. “Believe me, you’ll be just fine.”
Jackson forced a breath into his lungs. “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.” His feet resisted the urge to move away from her, but he made himself turn to follow Erik.
“I know,” Emily murmured.
“Now, let’s get these wet clothes off you. You’ll feel much better.” Luna’s kind voice filled the room. “I’ve never been in a helicopter crash before. Tell me all about it.”
Jackson paused in the doorway, the sound of Emily’s soft laughter tugging at something deep inside him. She’d been beyond brave and strong when she’d clung to his back as he ran through the icy forest.
No way in hell was he letting her go. Ever.
With Luna’s help, Emily changed into one of Erik’s extra-large, long-sleeve shirts, sweats, and thick socks since Luna’s clothing was too small and way too short. Her muscles ached as she moved, her limbs still sluggish from the cold and the lingering effects of the silver. She shivered slightly as her body slowly warmed beneath the soft fabric.
“There you go,” Luna said, her smile warm. “Feeling better?”
“I am. Thank you.”
Luna helped her back to the living room and settled her onto the sofa, pulling a soft blanket over her. “Let the fire warm you even more.”
The low murmur of male voices drifted from the kitchen, grounding Emily in the present. She tucked her legs beneath the blanket, holding her hands out toward the fire’s heat. “How have you been?”
Luna chuckled, her eyes bright with humor. “A lot better than you have.”
“No kidding.” Emily glanced at the backpack resting near the hearth. Her pulse skipped. Jackson had brought it with them? “How long can blood stay out of refrigeration before it spoils?”
Luna’s smile faded. “Depends on what you need it for. Twenty-four hours if you just need DNA. Much less for other tests. Why?”
Emily held her gaze, waiting.
Curiosity sparked in Luna’s eyes. “You have blood in there?”
Emily nodded. “Yes. Will you refrigerate it for me?”
“Sure.” Luna took the pack, her movements slow and deliberate. “I’ll run it down to my lab.”
“Thank you.” Relief filtered through Emily.
Luna disappeared down the stairs and soon returned, her eyes glimmering. “Want to tell me why you’re carrying blood and…what was that other thing? A bloody doily?”
Emily chuckled. “Yeah. I do want to tell you, and if you don’t mind, I’d like you to correspond with my doctors.”
Luna’s smile faded into something softer. She placed a hand over Emily’s knee. “Oh, Em…are you sick?”
“Yes.” Emily told Luna the entire story, winding down with her current situation.
Luna’s eyes kept widening the entire time. “Impressive. The fact that you got shifters to give up blood is shocking, though. I have to admit, I appreciate the punch to the nose and the doily trick. However, to be honest, we probably won’t get a good sample from that. But the important blood is yours and your fathers, even Nadia’s, so we’re fine.”
Emily had heard that Luna was pushing to modernize her pack’s medical practices. Thankfully, Erik supported her, because Luna seemed like a force of nature. Emily’s nose twitched, catching a scent in the air. Something a bit earthy yet sweet. Baby powder? “Luna,” Emily said softly. “Congratulations.”