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“I’m not threatening, only issuing a warning,” Gio said with a sad sigh.

“This was a favor for Anatoly. She’s under his protection.

The three of us might be of equal strength, but you can’t stand against Anatoly and I standing together.

That’s what you need to remember, that nymph isn’t alone. She has powerful protectors.”

McConnell made a dismissive gesture. “I couldn't care less. Leave or I’ll call my durmin back.”

With that, he took his seat, picked up a tablet, and started reading as if they weren’t there.

Gio let out a sigh. “This won’t end well.”

Carter was barely standing on his feet but felt desperate to comfort his mate. “I’ll make everything okay.”

Gio looked up at him with a gentle smile. “You always do, amore mio . Let’s get you home before you collapse.”

Although he wished it wasn’t true, Carter grunted in agreement. He had some healing to do before he could fix whatever brought Gio to McConnell’s home.

Gio

“I hate knitters,” Carter grumbled. He was pale, covered in sweat, and looked exhausted, but the knife wound was completely healed.

Gio winced. “Don’t say that.”

Faith, the knitter, snorted, but thankfully didn’t take offense. “You hate me? Really?”

Carter looked up at her and tried to smile. “Hate was the wrong word. I don’t like how much it hurts when you do the rapid healing thing.”

Raising an eyebrow, Faith pursed her lips at him. She looked both sympathetic but also exasperated. “If you didn’t get yourself stabbed, I wouldn’t need to be called. Have Gio find a pack to adopt. You need someone to look after since Gio doesn’t need your protection.”

As much as Gio didn’t want Carter insulting the best knitter in San Diego, he was equally unhappy at Carter’s obviously dejected expression.

“Gio doesn’t want to be responsible for an entire pack,” Carter mumbled, looking away.

Merda , it was time to admit it. He was going to need to adopt a pack if only to give Carter people to look after. A vampire didn’t need a protector, but an alpha wolf was hard-wired to look after an entire pack. Without a pack to guard and care for, Carter’s protective instincts had nowhere to go.

“I’ve been rethinking that,” Gio said quickly, even though he had to force the words out.

Carter turned his head to give Gio a startled look. “What?”

Gio gave a little shrug as if he wasn’t completely changing a major part of his outlook. “I was thinking we could buy some property in East County and find a small, vulnerable pack who needed the protection of a vampire.”

Carter’s eyes went wide for a moment, then narrowed with suspicion. “That’s a complete lie. You don’t like East County, and you’d hate to have pack members constantly hanging out at the house. You get annoyed when deliveries arrive when you’re not expecting them!”

“I’m allowed to change my mind about things,” Gio insisted. He was determined to give Carter what he needed.

Faith cleared her throat to get their attention. “I’m done here. Call me if Carter develops a fever or his wolf starts taking over.”

Carter startled, he must’ve forgotten the knitter was in the room. “Oh shit, yeah, sorry Faith. I’m sure I’ll be fine. You do great work.”

Gio wasn’t sure he wanted the knitter to leave. “He looks pale. I have spare rooms, can you spend the night?”

“I could use the extra income, but not tonight,” Faith said with a shake of her head. “My wife is doing a night shift at the hospital, and I don’t want to leave the kids home alone all night.”

“It’s crazy that a knitter married a doctor,” Carter commented. “You guys must have the best arguments.”

Faith shook her head. “We never argue.” After she said that, she gave a rueful smile. “Well, we never argue about that stuff. We’re having a bit of a disagreement about what to do with the backyard, but we never have professional disputes.”

That caught Gio’s interest. “Never?”

Faith shrugged. “We’re in two different fields.

She’s a human and treats other humans. I’m a knitter, and I treat non-humans.

Same field but different disciplines. Anyway, it’s my professional opinion that Carter should be fine.

Get some food in him and plenty of fluids.

No alcohol for the next few days.” She leaned over to pat his shoulder.

“By Thursday, you should be all healed up.”

“Thanks, Faith,” Carter murmured. “Can I shower?”

Faith frowned. “No, but Gio can give you a sponge bath. Don’t get fully wet for a full day.”

Carter attempted to grin. “No shower and no alcohol? Next you’re going to tell me that I can’t have sex.”

“You can have sex, but Gio needs to do all the work,” Faith answered without missing a beat, making Carter chuckle, then groan.

Faith looked at Gio. “Remember to watch for fever or his wolf taking control.”

Gio nodded. This wasn’t the first time he’d heard this speech from Faith. In fact, it was getting a little too common.

“Thank you,” he said.

“I’ll call later tomorrow morning to check in on you,” Faith said to Carter. “Make sure you have your phone nearby or I’ll come over to check on you.”

“I can remain awake and move during the day,” Gio said. “I’ll be able to answer your call.”

“That works,” she said. “Now I have children waiting for me. Good night.” She gave them a last smile and left, answering her ringing phone as she went.

The moment they heard her close the front door, Carter tried to get up.

“What do you think you're doing?” Gio asked, putting a hand on his shoulder to keep him on his back.

Carter didn’t push past Gio’s touch. “I really want to get clean. I’m sure I can handle a shower.”

Gio frowned. “You’re going to do everything Faith told you to do. I’ll get you clean, but you have to stay here.”

“I want a shower,” Carter grumbled.

“And I’d rather not had to call a knitter to heal amore mio from a stab wound,” Gio retorted. “Neither of us is getting what he wants tonight.”

That pulled a chuckle out of Carter. “Fine, I’ll take a bed bath. Can I have steak for dinner?”

Gio pulled out his phone and opened a food delivery app to order from Carter’s favorite restaurant. “I’ll order you ten and all your favorite sides.”

“My mouth is watering already,” Carter moaned, making Gio smile as he put his phone away.

“Let me see about getting you clean and comfortable,” he said. He leaned over Carter and put his lips next to the shifter’s ear. “Be a good wolf and maybe I’ll give you a blow job for dessert.”

Carter sucked in a breath. “I’ll be so good!”