Page 83 of Three of a Kind

He smiles softly and approaches. “I see you met Haze. I’m shocked. He’s generally indifferent to new people.”

“We bonded. He must smell you in my scent.” My head tilts. “Where’s Noble?”

“Right here, Mama,” Noble’s cracked voice fills the air, and my knees get weak.

I’m unprepared for how bad he looks as Maverick helps him around the corner. His lower lip is busted, and there’s dark shadowing under both his eyes. The left side of his face is swollen, and he has dried blood staining his neck.

He looks terrible, and I know it can’t feel great, but he’s alive.

I trip over one of the dogs as I stagger forward.

Noble is in a hoodie and jeans, but Maverick and Gunner are in full tactical gear, like the police, or the military, wear.

Noble tugs his arm off Maverick’s shoulder as I stop in front of him.

My heart races as he grabs my hips, pushing me up against the wall. He wobbles a bit, but Maverick grabs Noble’s side, helping to keep him upright.

“Are you okay?” My gaze falls to the floor. That was a stupid question. “Will you be?”

“I’m good.” Noble’s fingers land on my jaw as he tilts my face up to his. He bends, brushing his lips over mine. I try to be gentle and considerate of his injuries, but he shoves his tongue into my mouth, devouring me. The taste of his blood is present as a reminder that he’s not in great shape. He pulls back all too soon, and the look on his face makes me nervous. “You bonded.”

“Yeah,” I agree. “If I had known?—”

He growls as his hand wraps around my throat. His fingers give a solid squeeze as he shoves my back against the wall.

I stare up at him as he studies my face, but even when he applies firmer pressure, it’s more comforting than scary. My cheek nuzzles against his forearm as I blink up at him, trying to find the words to apologize for upsetting him.

“Congratulations,” he rasps, rubbing his thumb over my jaw before pushing his lips to mine.

My fingers dig into the material of his hoodie as I let him guide the kiss. He moves to sucking on my lower lip, and in an instant, his teeth dig into my skin.

I gasp.

Gunner growls. “What the fuck?”

“I probably should have seen that coming,” Maverick mutters.

Something clicks in my mind, and it’s clear I could reject the bond if I wanted to.

A denied claim is agony for the alpha.

I’d never do that to Noble.

My soul or consciousness accepts the link, and Noble’s electric scent floods my mind.

His tongue swipes over the bite to clean and seal it.

I gently pull back to breathe, and he chuckles.

“Being beat to hell was definitely worth it, just for that.” He grins, but he’s covering for how terrible he feels.

It’s clear by how his physical pain radiates in our newly formed link.

“The doctor is here, and you need to see her now,” I whisper as he moves his hand to cradle my cheek. “We have all the time in the world to settle into our bond, but right now, we need to make sure you’re okay.”

Noble bends, pecking a final kiss on my lips.

Gunner’s frustration pulses in the bond, and I’ll comfort him too. Right after we verify that Noble will be okay.

---