Page 62 of Hex and the Kitty (Whispering Pines #9)
SIXTY-TWO
T he reminder centered Warrick, pushing aside bloodlust in favor of concern. They walked back toward the community center in silence, the flashing lights of emergency vehicles illuminating their path through the trees.
The scene outside the building had transformed from panicked evacuation to organized emergency response. Paramedics treated minor injuries while firefighters secured the structure. The magical flames had dissipated with Gus’s capture, leaving behind physical damage but no active danger.
Warrick spotted her immediately—a flash of red curls and green fabric on a stretcher near an ambulance. His heart lurched painfully in his chest as he quickened his pace.
“Molly.”
She turned at his voice, relief washing over her pale features. A white bandage now covered the wound on her temple, and her arm rested in a sling. But her eyes—those beautiful, expressive eyes—shone clearly, free from the confusion of earlier trauma.
“Warrick.” She reached for him with her good hand, which he took immediately. “You’re hurt.”
He glanced down at his forearm where the knife wound still oozed sluggishly. “It’s nothing. Shifter healing.”
“Not when dark magic is involved.” She tugged him closer, examining the wound with expert eyes. “Magical wounds need magical treatment. Let me?—“
“Not until you’re taken care of.” He sat beside her on the stretcher, drinking in the sight of her. Alive. Safe. His entire world condensed into this one remarkable woman.
“I’m fine, truly.” She squeezed his fingers. “Daisy gave me something for the pain. Dislocated shoulder and a minor concussion, but nothing that won’t heal.”
“You could have died.” The words scraped his throat raw. “If that beam had struck differently...”
“But it didn’t.” She guided his hand to her cheek, leaning into his touch. “I’m still here. We both are.”
Warrick stared at her, memorizing the determination in her eyes, the stubborn set of her jaw, the way her damp curls clung to her neck. In his entire life, he’d never felt fear like he had when seeing her crumpled on that floor, blood staining her dress.
“I love you.” The declaration emerged unbidden, but undeniable in its truth. “I thought I understood what that meant, but tonight... seeing you hurt...”
“I love you too.” Her smile wavered, but the certainty in her voice remained steady. “Enough that I’m not even going to ask what happened to Gus. The look in your eyes tells me everything I need to know.”
“He’ll face justice,” Warrick assured her, tracing her cheekbone with his thumb. “Reed has him in custody.”
A paramedic approached, clipboard in hand. “Ms. Hues? We’re ready to transport you to Whispering Pines General for observation.”
Panic flashed across Molly’s face. “I don’t want to go alone.”
“You won’t.” Warrick stood, not releasing her hand. “I’ll be with you every step.”
“Sir, only family can?—“
“She’s my mate,” Warrick stated, his tone brooking no argument. “Where she goes, I go.”
The paramedic hesitated, then nodded. “Of course, Chief Shaw. You can ride along.”
As they loaded the stretcher into the ambulance, Warrick maintained his connection to Molly. The adrenaline from the fight had faded, leaving behind a bone-deep certainty that transcended his three centuries of existence.
This woman—this brilliant, brave, beautiful witch—had changed everything. In mere months, she’d transformed Whispering Pines from a temporary posting to a true home. She’d pierced the armor around his heart, awakening feelings he’d thought long dormant.
She’d made him feel alive again.
“What are you thinking?” Molly asked, her voice a small whisper as the ambulance doors closed, sealing them in together.
“That I’m never letting you go.” He brought her fingers to his lips. “That we’re going to build a life together in Whispering Pines. A real life with a home and a future.”
“And cupcakes,” she groaned in pain. “Don’t forget the cupcakes.”
“Never.” He returned her smile, feeling something settle within him—a peace he hadn’t known in centuries. “Or the witch who bakes them.”
The ambulance pulled away from the community center, leaving behind the chaos of the Fireman’s Ball. He watched Molly pass out completely, his heart breaking at the view of his mate covered in blood. He wouldn’t leave her side again. Not even dark magic could tear him away from her.