Page 17 of A Luna’s Dynasty (Celestial #1)
A sher didn’t hesitate, shifting back to his human self. He moved over Mira’s body to assess the wounds while Caden immediately trotted off toward the treeline and quickly returned, holding a bag in his hands.
“Thank you Caden. Now turn around. Don’t you dare look at my mate.” Asher then looked back at Lita. “Shift so I can see those wounds. I have clothes here to cover you.”
Nudity was a very natural part of being a shifter. However, this was Lita’s mate, and seeing him naked was completely different.
Well I’m happy to see there won’t be any regrets in the bedroom, Mira purred.
Mira! Quit staring at it!
Mira snickered. He’s going to wonder why we aren’t healing, Mira added as Lita prepared to shift back.
I know. Lita sighed as she pushed her consciousness forward. You did great fighting today, Mira.
A moment later, Lita was standing in front of Asher.
She was completely nude, except for her magically enchanted silver necklace, which did nothing to cover her body.
She tried not to think about being naked in front of Asher, but a mild pink stain flushed across her cheeks.
She looked at her body so she could assess her wounds.
“Lita.” Asher’s voice was a concerned whisper. She felt his fingers graze over her skin where blood was trickling out.
“It looks worse than it is. I need to clean the wound and doctor it up.” She turned to look into his eyes.
“I shouldn’t have left you. I should have—”
“Asher, I’m fine.”
“Why aren’t you healing?”
“I will, but it just takes time.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
Lita looked at the bag he was holding. “You plan on giving me something to wear? Or is this a free show?”
“As if I could look at you like that while you’re injured.” He grabbed a large pad out of the bag before ripping one of the shirts. He immediately placed it over one of the larger wounds and tied it around her waist.
Lita was surprised at how efficient he was at caring for the wound.
He glanced up to see her surprised eyes and chuckled.
“Don’t be so surprised. I might have super healing, but I know how to take care of injuries.
Maybe not as well as you, but it will make do until we can get you back to the house.
” He then pulled a shirt down over her head.
It was so long that it covered her down to her knees.
He stared into her green eyes, watching her as if she was going to disappear.
“She all covered?” Caden asked.
“I’m covered.” Lita watched as he came out from behind a tree wearing a pair of gray joggers. “Put some pants on, Asher.” He threw another pair of joggers at Asher, who caught them effortlessly.
“How are you guys? Are you both okay?” Lita asked, keeping her attention on Caden as Asher stepped into his pants.
“I’m pretty healed up already. Though, if you hadn’t helped me, I don’t think I would be alive right now. Thank you, even though you put yourself at risk.”
“We’ve never been part of a real fight, but I knew Mira was more than capable.” She turned to look back at the corpses. “So, are they part demon?”
“No,” Asher said, moving back to Lita’s side. “They’ve been tainted with demon blood, but they aren’t part demon. We should be thankful for that. A pack of hybrid demon wolves would be a tough battle.”
“They smelled like they were demons.” Caden watched as Asher shook his head.
“You’re smelling the demon corruption, but trust me …
they aren’t demon wolves. I fought against them before, remember?
You stayed at the pack to help protect the children, and I went out with my parents and Brody.
” Asher closed his eyes and took a steady breath.
“We weren’t prepared for that. I barely made it out alive.
If Brody hadn’t taken the blow in my place, then I wouldn’t be here right now.
” He shook his head and looked back at Lita.
“We need to get you taken care of. You can tell me about your delayed healing … when you’re comfortable. ”
Lita nodded her head in appreciation. She looked back at the dead wolves.
“Will they stay in that shape? I’ve never …
killed anyone before.” The realization that they had killed other wolves just hit her.
And while it was to protect their own lives, it was still a weird feeling.
One that went against what she trained for. She was meant to heal and protect.
“They’ll shift back to their human selves as the magic wears off.” Asher moved in front of her. “Don’t look at them. You did what you had to do.”
“What about you? Were you okay?” Lita looked up at his stormy eyes, wishing she could get lost in them.
“We were fine. There was only one wolf down there. Strange. It was as if they wanted to lure all the warriors to the other end of the pack. I guess that was what they were doing … luring us away so they could come in and attack from this end.”
“But why? Just to kill who they could?” Lita furrowed her brows in confusion. It didn’t make sense.
“I don’t know. But we’ll be doubling our patrols and going to high alert. Rogue attacks happen, but something like this is more rare. It probably won’t happen again.”
“This never happened in our pack.” Lita listened as Asher chuckled.
“That’s because in order to get to your pack, they would have to cross my territory. You also have strong packs around you. The Red Grove Pack is privileged to be well protected. Enough talking. Let’s get you home. I want to get a better look at those wounds.”
“I’m a healer. I can take care of it—”
“You’re my mate. I’ll take care of it.”
“Like you said, your skills aren’t as good as a healer’s.” She listened as he chuckled. In a fluid motion, he bent down and scooped her in his arms, cradling her to his chest. “Asher!” she squeaked, his arm brushing over her bare butt.
“I don’t want you walking. It could tear the wounds more.”
“You can’t carry me! The pack will think I’m weak.” Lita tapped on his shoulder to put her down. He moved the shirt so that it covered her bottom as he began walking down the path.
“Naw, they’ll think their possessive alpha doesn’t want anyone else to see his mate that’s only wearing a shirt.
” Caden cleared his throat, keeping his eyes straight ahead.
“You know, for never having fought before, your wolf was very skilled. And you’re right, she is massive.
Bigger than my wolf but not quite as large as Asher’s.
We’ve got ourselves one hell of a luna.”
“I’ve got myself one hell of a luna.” Asher corrected him, rubbing his nose in her hair.
His heart was still pounding with worry.
He could have lost her today. In a blink of an eye, his world would have disappeared.
It had happened to him before. He’d lost his parents and best friend all in a fraction of a second.
One moment they were winning the fight, and the next they were overtaken by demon wolves.
They’d won, but they had lost so much. He had to take over as the alpha at sixteen and had lived with the guilt of not being strong enough.
It was that guilt that led him to take Felicia as his fiancée.
Brody was her older brother—the only family she had.
He felt responsible, like he had to take care of her.
In hindsight, it was a mistake. He knew it then but didn’t know what to do.
Finding Lita saved him from making a mistake.
She saved him and his pack from having a terrible luna.
But how would he explain this to Lita? How would he tell her that he didn’t love Felicia and was only taking her as his luna out of obligation, simply because he’d promised Brody he would take care of her?
He was afraid she would question the genuineness of his feelings for her and claim it was only because of the mate bond. But it was so much more than that.
He was connected to Lita. His heart beat with hers, and he hadn’t even marked her yet. Already, he was terrified knowing how differently today could have turned out. If something had happened to Lita, he would never have recovered. How do you live without your heart? You don’t.
He knew he would need to work on himself, to keep from smothering her. He wanted to lock her up where she would be safe. It was something he would have to battle within himself, but the fear of losing her was growing. He had to become stronger so he could protect her.
“Asher, let me go,” Lita whined, making his silver eyes flash down at her.
“Never.” He grinned. “I’m never letting you go.”