~Adriana POV~My eyes constantly wander back to a laughing Liam who chats across from me with Maggie and Gwen, who are telling him all about the first time they met. It’s as if losing sight of him for a mere moment might be the last time I see him. I can’t place the fear that settles deeper every passing minute or how when he touches me or looks at me it dulls, but only for a minute. It’s near suffocating at this point.I jump when a foot presses against mine and Liam chuckles again, my eyes snapping to his as he gives me a knowing smirk. He stands and excuses himself from the table and hobbles over to where Maggie sits next to me and pulls her chair out.“What are you—” she protests, but then she sees the look in his eyes and her muscles relax. Maggie stands, patting Liam on the arm, and swaps spots with him. Liam then lowers into the chair and reaches down, pulling my chair flush to his so our thighs kiss. Then he places his huge muscular arm around the top of the chair, my exposed
I fiddle with my hands while Uma, the pack healer, looks over Liam. She feels his head and looks in his mouth before moving to check out one of his hundred cuts. She is efficient in her movements, murmuring to herself and shaking her head before moving to the next place to check. When she stands upright again, I freeze, waiting for her to explain what the hell is going on with Liam. Uma sighs heavily, placing her hands on her hips and shaking her head. She looks contemplative like she isn’t really sure what to do next. She has already shushed me twice, but I’m at my wit’s end, just looking at my pale mate with his shallow breathing.“Was he poisoned?” I ask in a whisper.“Hard to say.” She mutters before pressing her fingers on the only wound he had that seemed to be mostly healed. “This is going to hurt,”Liam’s eyes flutter open and my heart breaks with what I see. He is so drained. Seeing him like this is a reminder of what he must have seen with me daily when I was in physical th
~Liam POV~I watch Adriana get dressed, my eyes glued to her barely-there bump, loving every second I get to see it bare. I can’t seem to keep my hands off of it. Last night, after making love to her and then promptly falling asleep in bed, I woke with a protective hand on her and our unborn child. Even in my sleep, my heart knows it’s our job to protect them. And I challenge any fool who thinks they can bring harm to my growing family. I would die for them happily if I knew they would be safe.“You’re staring,” she says as she tugs a shift over her tummy. I frown up at her and she gives me a glorious, shy smile. “It’s pretty noticeable now, huh?”“Only because I know it’s there. You look stunning as always, Adri baby.”She mosey’s over to my side, which is actually her side. I just can’t stand to look at the spot on the floor. It feels eerie and wrong to be on that side of the bed, to be that close to where my life altered so drastically. My childhood died there with my mother. And l
I laugh at him, thinking he is clearly joking. Why the hell would I ever willingly kill myself? I may be weakened in my injured state, but I still have my wits about me. And I made a fucking promise to protect Adriana and our baby and to stay the hell alive.“I’m glad you find it amusing. It will make it that much sweeter when the realization hits that I am indeed not joking.” “Not a chance in hell that shit is happening,” I say, my anger growing as it hits me that this sicko is serious. But my anger won’t help me here. It won’t keep me rational while I try to plan. The only thing I can think to do is rely on the people I have been trying to push away for too long. I try to tune into Adriana but find myself completely blocked. Confused, I try again, my eyes shooting up to Marc as he laughs even harder. “She can’t hear you, Liam.” he shakes his head like the whole scenario is too humorous for him to withstand. Red floods my eyes as fury and fear try to force my wolf out, but I need t
~Adriana POV~“Do you think Liam will be awake for me to say goodbye to?” Maggie asks as she moves to the office door. “If he isn’t, then wake him up. He will be sad if he misses out,” I say, giving her a smile. Liam likes to think he is so big and tough, but he really will be upset if Maggie doesn’t stop by. In fact, I would bet money that he even got up to shower, so she didn’t have to smell his sweaty self.“It isn’t like she is leaving for a distant country. Our pack is half a day away and we are neighbors. Plus, we will be out—” Jacob peters off when he sees the scowl coming from both Maggie and me and he lifts his hands up in defense. “Saying goodbye is always a good thing,”I smirk at him, and he grins back. We all know better than to question Maggie and Liam’s friendship. They are like me and Axel. A familial bond forged out of something akin to blood. Blood shared or bloodshed side by side. There is no difference when it comes to our families. Blood is blood, and we care dee
“Stop!” the woman screams again and I turn to see Uma running toward me, pushing Billy and Jacob both aside. Gwen rushes in behind her, her eyes wide and her cheeks flushed red from exertion. “He… He..” I can’t even form a coherent sentence as my eyes meet Gwen’s, then swing to Maggie, who is clutching to Axel. Axel has his eyes trained on me to worry the forefront of his emotions. “I know, dear. Just let me look at him.” Uma says falling to her knees and ripping his shirt open. Uma presses her head to his blood-stained chest, then inspects the entry point and grabs hold of his wrist. “You need to move,” she instructs without so much as a glance my way. Billy steps up and helps me up, while Uma gently eases Liam’s head to the ground. Ume glances up at me briefly and sighs heavily. “Is he dead?” she asks. I know she is talking about Marc. it doesn’t take a genius to guess what the hell has happened here. “Yes,” I murmur, watching her closely.“You need to get your injuries tended
When we pull up to the emergency entrance, Maggie and I practically dive-bomb out of the car. Partly because we want to get to Liam, but mostly because Declan is the scariest fucking driver I have ever ridden with in my life. Maggie clutches my hand for support as we both take our wobbly legs inside. “I am never ever riding with Declan again,” she mutters, looking a little green in the face. I am certain my pallor matches hers. A nurse rushes over to us with concern on her face.“Where are your injuries? Are you two okay?” She rushes out and reaches to touch my arms. I give Maggie a once over and I nearly laugh at how bad she looks. Her tears are red-rimmed from crying and Liam’s blood is smeared all over her and her outfit from when she held onto him while I killed Marc. “We are fine” She offers a reassuring smile, but the nurse turns to me next.“I can’t help you ladies if you don’t tell me what is wrong with you.” She says, looking concerned.“My mate is here.” I usher out and sh
The door pushes open and I jump up, running my clammy hands down my pant legs. The sight of the nurse has my heart in my throat and my mouth dry. What if she is coming to tell me he is gone? Or worse, that there is nothing they can do and I have to watch him wither away? She smiles at me and ambles across the large room.“You are the patient’s wife?” She asks me.“Yes.” My voice wavers on just one word. “Wonderful. I have an update about your spouse.”“Is he going to survive?” I whisper, the tears leaking down the sides of my face as cold fear grips me. “Mr. Jones is still in surgery. But they are closing him up as we speak.” All I can do is nod and hold my stomach. They are closing him up. Maybe it’s how the words sound or it could be the thought of him being cut open on a table, but the visual makes me nauseous.“But he is going to be okay?” I ask hopefully, and she frowns.“I’m sorry Ms. Jones. That’s not for me to say. I just wanted to keep you updated on his progress. Your husb