4. Kiss of life

Kane's POV

"My mate is wounded," Alexander says within me. 

Suddenly, all the strange feelings vanish from my body. Wounded? 

"Yes, wounded. She can barely speak right now. We need to help her."

I withdraw from Delilah and she looks down in embarrassment. I need to do something to cover up for my awkward behaviour. 

"Since you aren't comfortable with me, Nora will deal with you tomorrow."

Her eyebrows raise slightly in fear. This is not the effect I wanted on her. But it's better than having her think I'm sexually attracted to her. I'm not. And I strongly believe Alexander is confusing empathy for love. 

Love is something I've banished from my heart a long time ago. There is no love in this world, just survival and loyalty. 

I frown at her before turning around and leaving for my room. 

"You should go softly with her if you want her wolf to heal," Alexander says. 

"I would like to address this, Alexander. We have no time for unnecessary feelings okay? Don't let Delilah be a distraction," I speak inwardly to Alexander. 

"You have found your mate, Kane. Mate with her soon. You're guaranteed strength, a trustworthy partner and immense pleasure... don't you want that?"

"No, Alexander, focus. We need to find out the problem with Delilah and whether she killed those sentinels. There's something mysterious about her."

"Then mate with her already. That way you can connect with her wolf. But go gently the first time, just foreplay and a little teasing would do. She's too weak to handle any vigorous..."

"Alexander!" I scold him. 

"I'm only trying to help you. If you want to save Delilah's wolf, you have to connect with her and let her tell you what the issue is. That way, the mind link will be complete, and you can easily read her mind. All her thoughts and secrets will be bare to you." 

"And mine? Won't she be able to read mine?" I retort. 

"It's not guaranteed since her wolf is weak."

I shake my head and pour myself a drink. 

"You cannot avoid this mating, Kane. Once you revive her wolf, the urge between us will be stronger than you can resist."

"Try me," I say to Alexander and drink the full bottle of whiskey. At least this will shut him up for some time. Horny wolf. 

The wine takes full effect in minutes, and I doze off in my armchair. The next morning Doctor Rogers and Nora are tending to Delilah when I enter the room. 

Delilah tenses on seeing me. Our stares linger before I turn my attention to Doctor Rogers. 

"How is her treatment going?" 

"We are giving her the second dose of cure blood. We should get all the silver out this evening. Also, we would be monitoring her to see if she still faints." 

"Good," I tell Doctor Rogers. I trust him to do a fine job. 

I turn my attention back to Delilah. She gives me that uncomfortable glare. Does she think I'm a pervert? Jeez! For crying out loud, I told her I would never want her. I try as much as I can to conceal my anger and turn to face Nora. 

"Nora, search Delilah before she starts treatment. And make sure she changes those clothes." 

"Yes, Sir," Nora replies and I leave. I have a mission to attend to. When I return I expect the silver gone and her wolf healed. From there we can proceed with our investigations. 

On my way to the army house, I meet with my Beta, Ezekiel. Our boots crunch on the rocky grounds as we walk along. After working together for five years, Ezekiel has always proven his loyalty. He is slightly shorter than I am, has brown skin and low-cut hair. 

"Exactly how many rogues have escaped?" 

"Thirteen. I have men tracking them down already. Two have been found."

"Have you alerted the coast guard? Those rogues must not cross into the city. You know what will happen if they mix among humans."

We move to the operations room and straight to the tracking device. It picks up heat signatures from the borderline and the alarm starts to beep.

"One rogue has crossed the line. Get three hunters ready, and we'll move out in five minutes!" I hastily give the command.

"Yes, Sir!" Ezekiel replies and rushes away. He picks out three of our best hunters. We take one of the fast cars and zoom off to the coastline. 

The coast guard already has its men searching the woods. Two of the hunters follow them and one follows me and Ezekiel. The rogue shouldn't have gotten far. We lose its signal on the tracking device but the hunter has already picked up a scent. 

We move cautiously as we approach the road leading into the city. A toll gate blocks it midway and three human officers stand guard.

"Wait," I tell Ezekiel and the hunter, John. An open-back van approaches the toll gate.

"He's in there," John whispers to me and I nod. 

We retreat and stay behind a bush to watch. One of the officers comes around to the back of the van and checks it. 

"Whoa! There's a freaking wolf here!" The officer shouts. 

Immediately, the rogue jumps out of the van. 

"Code red?" Ezekiel asks as the rogue attacks the men. 

I shake my head in reply. "Wait."

We quietly watch as the men shoot at the rogue. One has a machine gun with him. He brings it out and finishes off the rogue in a round of shots. 

The brown wolf is now lying lifeless on the ground partially out of sight. We listen to the men's conversation about the incident. They think it's a normal wolf and want to file a complaint about the attack. They have no idea of werewolves. Good. 

"Let's go," I say to Ezekiel and John. 

We capture nine out of the ten remaining rogues. The coast guard continues searching for the last one, and we head back to base. 

On reaching the alpha quarters, I freshen up and head straight to Delilah's room. Doctor Rogers and Nora are still here. More medical equipment has been put in place. Beeping sounds echo through the room from the monitor. Delilah lies still on the bed. At first glance, I can tell that she's weak. 

"Why doesn't she look better?" I ask them. 

"We got all the silver out of her system and she developed bradycardia. We have tried giving her medications and are watching her for any improvements." Doctor Rogers tells me. 

Delilah has changed her dress and is now wearing a blue flowery gown. 

"Nora, was she hiding anything in her previous clothes?" 

Nora shakes her head. "No sir."

I leave them shortly after. At midnight, I check on Delilah again through the CCTV. She needs to heal fast so I can get this investigation on the way. My curiosity can't let me sleep. I'm personally invested in this case. 

"A mate bond will make your work easier. You should be happy she is your mate. She is one hot girl..."

"Not now, Alexander." I shun my wolf. 

"If you don't do this, you'd have to involve the oracle. And there's no way she won't tell the Ultima." 

A sigh escapes my lips. Alexander is right. I need to figure a way out of this before it's too late. Delilah looks too frail already. 

"If she falls into another 6 months coma, you won't be able to mind link with her," Alexander says. 

I don't understand why he's trying to put me under pressure. Does he want her so bad?

The light in Delilah's room begins to flicker. I'm sure there's nothing wrong with the electricity. Next thing Delilah starts shaking vigorously in the bed. 

Immediately, I rush straight to her room in a flash. Everywhere has gone berserk. The monitor connected to her beats rapidly. The lighting gets dim for one second and becomes bright again the next second. The room suddenly gets heated. Delilah continues to shake vigorously on the bed. Part of the bedsheets starts to burn. 

I touch her body, scared that she's burning up but she's ice cold. Doctor Rogers needs to be here.

"No! Kiss her," Alexander says. "Form that connection, quick!" He adds impatiently. 

"But she's probably convulsing!" I argue. 

"Damn it! Do you want her to enter a coma? This is the only chance you have. Kiss her, now!" 

My breathing comes out heavy as I look down at Delilah still shaking in bed. I put my two hands on the sides of her head and lower my lips to meet hers. 

She's shaking so I deepen the kiss to maintain it. Her lips are cold in my mouth, but I continue the kiss anyway. 

Placing my hand on her cheek, I try to keep her steady. A minute passes and I continue to kiss her with the passion I have for the investigation on her. 

Slowly, her body relaxes and the beeping of the monitor slows down. The heat in the room subsides but her body is still cold. I withdraw from her and she opens her eyes. Alexander was right. 

Our faces are just inches apart and I expect her to freak out. Instead, she pulls me in and claims my lips in a kiss. 

In a matter of seconds, our tongues are dancing to a sweet rhythm. 

"Mate..." A wolf purrs. The voice is soft and feminine. It's definitely not Alexander's. That means it's coming from Delilah's wolf. 

My eyes shoot open in realisation. I break the kiss and look into her eyes. She's still weak, like her wolf. 

"Don't stop, please. I need you for strength," her wolf speaks again. Her voice is so tempting.

If making love to Delilah would build her wolf's strength, then I'm down for it. I close up the gap between us and kiss her deeply.