Chapter

Eighteen

K NOX

I stared at George, feeling utterly useless. He was sitting on the cold ground, hunched over and hugging his knees.

“Come quickly,” I added, and ended the call.

I crouched beside George to study the wound on the left side of his head. Blood soaked his hair, and when I’d tried to examine it earlier, he’d screamed and tried to run away. Only the fact he’d tripped had kept him here for long enough for me to reassure him that I meant him no harm.

“George?” I tried to catch his gaze, but he was looking blankly into space. A shiver wracked his body. “Can I put my arms around you? You’re freezing and we need to warm you up.”

George wasn’t a shifter. He had no internal heat regulation system, and all he was wearing was a short-sleeved shirt and slacks. He’d be hypothermic before long if he didn’t let me help him.

When he failed to respond, I reached for him, but the instant my fingertips brushed his skin, he flinched.

“Shh.” A sense of powerlessness threatened to overwhelm me. What could I do if he wouldn’t accept my help? “It’s all right. Please let me share my body heat.”

He glanced at me, and the quick way his gaze flicked up and down my body reminded me that I was naked. Not a big deal for a shifter, but nudity tended to make humans uncomfortable.

“If I had clothes, I’d put them on.” I sighed. “I’m not going to hurt you, or touch you inappropriately. The only omega I’m interested in is Danny. I have no desire to take advantage of you.”

His eyebrows drew together, and he visibly forced himself to concentrate on my face. “Why do you think they targeted me?” he asked, his voice hollow. “Is it because I’m an omega? Or human?”

“I… don’t know.” I’d assume his being omega was key. The human part might have been a bonus since it would make him less able to resist them.

A sob caught in his throat. “They said they were going to use me as a fuck toy until I was broken and then throw me away.”

My gut churned, and I had to swallow bile. The bitter taste lingered on my tongue and acid burned down the inside of my throat. What the fuck was wrong with those wolves?

“That isn’t going to happen.” I laid my hand on his arm more gently than I’d ever touched anyone in my life, and slowly rubbed, hoping the motion would soothe him. “You’re safe now. If they want you, they’ll have to go through me, and I won't go down easily.”

He sniffled, and covered his mouth with one hand. “You promise?”

“Yeah.” If it gave him peace, I’d fight for him. I was far more comfortable with that than with trying to ease his tears. “George… why did they let you go?”

It had been bothering me since I’d come across him, but he’d been in such a state that I hadn’t felt able to ask.

He made a derisive sound. “I fought. I don’t think they expected me to. They were much stronger than me, and I didn’t really stand a chance, but I think they worried that I’d delay them and they’d get caught. They said…” He worried his lower lip. “They said they’d be back to get me.”

My grip tightened on his arm momentarily, but I loosened it before I scared him. “They will not take you.”

I wouldn’t allow it. No omega deserved to be so terrified that his scent soured the air for hundreds of yards around. Honestly, despicable as it was, I was amazed that the rogue wolves were even able to harm omegas at all. The stench of distressed omega was designed to send an alpha’s protective instincts into overdrive.

An engine roared in the distance and I pricked my ears. “That’s the Clan Alpha’s car.” I’d heard it several times before. “Do you hear that, George? Aaron is coming for you.”

He blinked, tears spilling from the corners of his eyes. “But I’m not one of you.”

I gritted my teeth. “Of course you are. You might not be a shifter, but I’d bet everything I have that Aaron Blackwood considers you part of his clan.”

The car came into view and pulled over a short distance from us. The rear doors opened and Milo leaped from one side and Danny from the other. The two omegas rushed to George. I backed off so they could embrace him from each side.

George’s tears fell harder, and he started to sob in earnest. Milo and Danny shushed him, and he seemed to draw comfort from their presence, clutching them tighter .

That sense of uselessness reasserted itself. I hadn’t been able to help him. Not like they were.

Aaron got out of the driver’s seat and circled around to stand in front of George. He rested one hand on the back of George’s neck and exerted just enough pressure to let him know that he was there. Aaron’s presence wouldn’t calm George as it would a shifter, but he still had a reassuring air about him.

The passenger door opened and a polished older guy with the most impressive silver mustache I’d ever seen and wearing a suit, emerged. He moved briskly to George’s side, carrying a briefcase—or perhaps a case of medical supplies. He noticed me staring and nodded politely before ushering Aaron aside and taking his place.

“How are you doing, George? It looks like you’ve got a nasty cut there.” His voice was deep and even.

“Dr. Black.” George fidgeted. He didn’t seem sure what to focus on. “I don’t think it needs stitches.”

The older man—Dr. Black—tutted. “I’ll be the judge of that. Let me get a better look.”

While the doctor examined George’s head, Milo kept one arm around the human, but Danny let him go and came over to join me. To my surprise, he hugged me.

“Thank you for finding George and being there when he needed you,” he murmured, too softly for George to hear although no doubt the others all did.

I scoffed. “I hardly did anything. He was out in the open. Anyone could have found him. He got himself set free on his own, and all I did was make him nervous.”

Danny frowned up at me, his arms still around my waist. “You were here in case he needed a protector. That counts for a lot.”

I pressed my lips together and remained silent. I wasn’t sure I agreed, but Danny and I were finally making progress in our relationship so I wasn’t about to tell him so.

An icy breeze stirred the air, and I shivered. I wished I could hold Danny close and rest my cheek against his head, but he was currently touching me of his own volition and if I pushed him too far, he might pull back again.

“We’ll need to take you back to the clinic for a proper assessment,” the doctor was saying. “Is there anyone you’d like to call to have with you for that?”

George glanced at Milo, who nodded.

“I’ll come,” Milo said.

Dr. Black straightened. “Excellent. Let’s get out of this cold.”

He and Milo guided George into the front seat. I did a quick count and realized there weren’t enough seats for all of us.

“I’ll have to run back,” I murmured to Danny. “I won’t fit in the car.”

He stiffened, and his jaw firmed. “I’ll come with you.”

“You don’t have—”

“I’m coming.” His tone dared me to argue.

I inclined my head. “Okay, then.”

Danny turned to Aaron. “Dad, I’m going to run back with Knox. I’ll see you later.”

Aaron’s dark gaze flicked from his son to me and back again. “Take care.”

“We will.” He didn’t have to threaten me. If I ever let anything happen to Danny, I’d gladly punish myself.

Dr. Black and Milo got into the back seat of the car. Aaron opened the driver’s door, looked back at us once more, and climbed in.

Danny pulled away from me, but twined our hands together. “Knox… ”

I gripped his chin between my thumb and forefinger and tilted it up. “Mm?”

He hesitated, his teeth scraping over his lower lip. “Will you come back to my place tonight? I don’t want to be alone.”