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He drank, then leaned his head on Rory’s leg. The warmth and scent of Rory was like nothing else.

“Rest, sweet wolf. I’m going to stay right here for you, okay?”

Okay, Rory. I’ll be better soon. I swear. He wanted to be able to look Rory in the eye as a man.

I hope so. You deserve to feel better. No one wants to be hurting.

No.He’d been shot. Goddess, that was so strange. Someone had wanted to hurt him just for putting his paw on the ground. His family, their tiny pack, had been all about helping others.

This pack felt warm and welcoming as well. Like a true family. A safe space.

He would love to explore it, but he also needed to be able to shift to talk to the alphas. He’d been next in line in his pack to be alpha, and he didn’t want to step on toes.

He knew that someone with power had visited him, maybe more than one, but he’d only been vaguely aware.

Jameson has been checking on you.

That’sthe alpha?

One of them. They run the pack together. They’re brothers.

Two alphas?How odd. He liked the idea, actually. It kept one wolf from getting power hungry.

Yes, two alphas. Jameson and Keegan.

That’s amazing.It was. And for a pack to accept it? Even more amazing.

It is. They took over from a brutal alpha, and the pack is so much healthier now.

Good.His eyelids drooped, his body trying to force him to rest.

Yes. Sleep, sweet wolf. I’m keeping watch. I promise you.

You can sleep with me if you need to.He trusted that he would wake now if something happened. He was that much better.

Okay. If I have to, I’ll just settle here with you. Fair?

Totally fair. I love having you with me.He lay on something padded. Hopefully that would be enough for Rory.

Rory settled next to him, spooning him. His mate was solid, warm against his spine. He let his eyes close all the way, the heat relaxing him.

Chapter

Three

Rory went to shower, because he was offending himself, and he grabbed a handful of turkey sandwiches on his way back to the healers.

Hopefully, Fen would want a bite.

He’d woken up with Fen in a deep, healing sleep, and the big wolf hadn’t stirred when he’d left. So he felt okay about taking a little break.

He’d cleaned himself up, and goddess, didn’t that feel better?

Jameson came walking up to him. “How’s the new one?”

“Good. He’s good. I think the pain is better. He’s sleeping now; that’s why I decided to take a shower.”

Jameson gave him a little bit of a strange look. “You sure took to him quick.”