Page 24 of Bear the Burden

“Killian informed Wesley wolf shifters existed,” Ryker said to Quinton. “There’s a gift shop downstairs. You wanna go in on some flowers, or possibly a wreath?”

Their dad chuckled. “I almost said the word human in front of Kalen’s mate. After living for hundreds of years, we’re bound to screw up now and again.”

The skin under Wesley’s eye twitched.

“Guess I’ll be footing the bill for two bouquets of flowers,” Ryker grumbled.

Quinton gave Wesley a playful, apologetic smile. “Oops.”

* * * *

“I’m just going to the bathroom.”

Hyett immediately stood, glaring at his family, and waited for his mate to get out of bed.

Wesley tossed the sheet aside, but he couldn’t sit up. His face pinched with pain as his hand clamped over where the guy named Seth had struck him.

Either Morton or Seth was a demon, or possibly both. Hyett was reeling from everything his mate told him. He didn’t even know Jackson, but god, he wanted to put hands on the guy for sending Wesley to a goddamn drug house once a week.

His mate was still struggling to get out of bed. Hyett understood wanting to be independent, but Wesley was in pain.

He wasn’t going to just stand there and watch. Out of the corner of his eye, Hyett saw his brothers tense, like they were ready to jump up and help if needed.

“Give me your hands, honey.” He knew his mate was hurting because Wesley didn’t object to Hyett assisting him.

“Feet on the floor,” he said as soon as he had his mate turned. “Let me know when you’re ready to stand.”

Wesley wobbled, and Quinton rose halfway from his chair. Killian and Ryker eased around to the foot of the bed, anticipation tightening their muscles.

Hyett glanced at them one at a time, silently telling them to back the fuck off. They acted as if he couldn’t handle taking one tiny human to the bathroom.

“Ready.” Wesley nodded.

“Hang on!” Killian grabbed some socks off the bed and handed them to Hyett. “Grippy socks, so he doesn’t slip.”

This was why Wesley didn’t have to worry about protection. Four men as tall as redwood trees and built like charging bulls surrounded the small human.

No one was getting to him.

Gently, Hyett set Wesley on the side of the bed then kneeled in front of him to slide the socks on.

Now their journey could continue. Wesley could manage the short walk. He was pretty steady on his feet, but no one was stopping Hyett from following him to make sure the guy didn’t need any help.

It wasn’t until his mate walked ahead of him through the bathroom door that he noticed Wesley was wearing the classic bare-ass, open-back gown.

Hyett snapped his head around to find his family staring everywhere but at the human.

They’d better keep their eyes off my mate.

It wasn’t too late to turn any one of them into a rug.

Hyett reached out to close the back of the gown and realized both of Wesley’s legs were bare.

The human must’ve really been thrown to learn that shifters lived so long and the fact wolves existed, because Hyett knew damn well his mate would have never allowed anyone to see the burned leg if he hadn’t been zoned out.

When they entered, Hyett closed the door behind them. Wesley turned, his dark brows crinkling. “What’re you doing in here?”

“Call me Nurse Hyett.” He folded his arms, towering by the door like he was a bodyguard instead of a nurse.

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