Page 78 of The Alpha's Fake Mate

“I can handle all that,” Orion said.

But could I? I took a deep breath and held it.

“How soon can I get the treatment?” Orion asked.

“From your tone I am thinking this is an emergency situation.”

“He could be taken from me as soon as tomorrow afternoon.”

“Ah, well, I can have you in today if you hurry. My office closes at six.”

“I’ll be there!” Orion pulled back from me, pushing himself from the bed to stand naked beside it.

“But,” Wilde added. “I can’t guarantee the shot will work that fast. It will induce a Burn, but it could take up to two or three days before you start to feel it.”

My hopes fell. A possibility of a stroke and he still might not feel the Burn until it was too late for us!

“Give me the highest dose. I’ll be there in half an hour!”

“I won’t close up until you get here.”

Orion started pulling on his pants.

I sat staring at him as the phone went dark. He was so beautiful. And I was so afraid. The odds still weren’t in our favor. I could lose him by this time tomorrow.

Finally, I slid off the bed, still naked, and faced him. “I’ll go with you.”

“No. You stay here. I’ll be back before you know it.”

A weird paranoia clutched me. Was he trying to distance himself already? Seeing that it would all go wrong?

There was no way I was letting him out of my sight.

“I want to go!” I grabbed my trousers off the floor and stepped into them.

“No. I want you to stay here. I know you’re safe here. Alston will see to it. And the others. I trust them.”

My eyes stung. I hadn’t cried. Not ever since the attack. I wasn’t about to start. “I’m safe with you!”

“I don’t know that. I need to get the shot and talk more with Wilde. And see how I feel. I don’t want you compromised in any way.”

“You don’t want me in the way is what you mean,” I mumbled.

“I don’t want you hurt.”

“You told me twice now, and I believe you. You will never hurt me. Please.”

He came to me, putting his hands on my shoulders and looking down at me with such a pained gaze. “Do this one thing my way. Wait for me here. You are never and will never be in my way. I simply want you protected, and if you’re here, I know you will be. It’s one less worry.”

Stupidly, it made sense.

I backed up a step, dropping my shirt to the floor. I nodded. “I’m a worry. I know.”

“No.” He came toward me again, clasping me tighter. “You’re not!” He put his arms all the way around me and hugged me to him.

“Fine,” I grumbled into his chest.

I hated this. But I wasn’t about to go anywhere I wasn’t wanted.