Page 140 of Faith and Fury

Jaxon

If I never see a hospital again, I’ll die a happy alpha.

The doctors have given Faith two weeks. Her damn ankle was so messed up when we found her, it needed reconstructive surgery—not to mention her voltage burns, and yet more fun head trauma.

Fang, one week. He’s a little banged up, mostly from his last fight, but he’ll pull through without issue.

At the very start of visiting hours on Friday morning, I walk into Faith’s room carrying a wrapped gift.

Surprise, surprise, Fang’s already here.

“Morning,” I say.

He sits back in his wheelchair, but doesn’t let go of Faith’s hand. Seeing him in the cool light of morning—black hair draped perfectly over his forehead, toned shoulders rolled back, those piercing, deep-set eyes sizing me up—I get chills.

Faith’s chosen a good-looking mate. I’ll give her that much.

“How’d you guys sleep?” I ask, pretending it doesn’t bother me that he got here before I did, already cozied up with my omega.

Faith answers first, her hands signing, Fine.

Fang nods. “Yeah, fine.”

“I know,” I tell him. “I mean, ‘fine’—that’s pretty basic.”

He almost smirks. “I was answering for myself, actually.”

“Oh.” I put the present down on Faith’s bedside. “Gotcha.”

She looks across, signing slowly so I understand, What’s … that?

I smile. “Got you a present, pretty girl.” She instantly picks it up, ripping open the paper. Her eyes widen when she sees the book cover underneath. The pages are already worn, dog-eared all over the place.

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE FOR DUMMIES.

“Okay.” I rub the back of my neck. “A present for us.”

The corner of Faith’s lip twitches. She looks back up at me, her bright blue eyes sparkling. Thank you, she signs.

I laugh. “Thank me when we finally finish reading it.”

She tilts her head. We?

Right on cue, there’s a knock at the door, as Caleb and Micah make themselves known.

“Hey, angel,” Micah walks in. He smiles nervously at Fang. “Hi, Fang.”

Fang gives both my packmates the same treatment, automatically scanning them up and down for potential threat.

“You’re all here early,” he notes.

“Same time as every morning,” Caleb returns. He stands next to me, his pheromones softening as he tucks a strand of hair behind Faith’s ear. “You’re looking better today,” he says. “Stronger.”

Faith rolls her eyes. She signs something—but I can’t catch all the words.

Fang scoffs. “She said, You say that every day.”

Without looking at Fang, Caleb says, “Great to have you around, Fang. Saves Faith the trouble of writing things down.”

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