Oh good. Things weren’t dire enough. Now the whole universe is unravelling.
Fantastic.
Instead of cosmic chaos pouring through, Uncle Vale confidently strides through the rip in space and makes a beeline for us.
A red-haired woman in her forties follows him. She’s wearing a floral sundress that reminds me of my mom. Her green eyes scan the parking lot before meeting mine. The woman gasps asshe breathes my name, and tears spring to her eyes as she looks me over.
I wince, guessing this is another person I’m supposed to remember but don’t.
Dragging her gaze back to mine, she takes in my confusion. “That’s right, you don’t remember us. I’m sorry, sweetie.”
“Um, it’s okay?” I ask more than state. I don’t really know what she’s apologizing for.
“Why did you bring a mage?” Malachi growls at his father as he stiffly moves between his brothers and me and the woman walking toward us.
Oh shit.She’s a mage?
That’s so cool.
Hopefully she’s not here to kill us. That would be less cool.
“Malachi Wyldhart,” Uncle Vale snaps, irritated with his eldest son, “that’s Briar’s aunt. Show her some respect. I brought her to get your brother help as fast as possible. Stop growling at her and get out of the way.”
To my shock, Malachi listens to his dad without complaint. He’s still glaring at the woman who’s apparently my aunt, but he’s not blocking her from Xander.
When she gets a look at Xander, her face contorts in sympathy. “That poor boy,” she mutters before whispering something under her breath. A purple glow surrounds Xander’s limp form. Once he’s fully coated in the purple light, his body lifts off the ground and he floats toward the wormhole chilling out in the parking lot.
Turning back to the woman, I see her face scrunched in concentration. Her hands are outstretched and shaking a little as she slowly guides Xander across the parking lot.
Glancing around, I wonder how no one from the bank noticed the shooting and now this. That’s a problem for another time. Hopping up, I make a move to follow Xander.
Uncle Vale puts his hand on my shoulder to stop me. “Let her get him through the portal first, Bee.” Uncle Vale squeezes my shoulder comfortingly as I watch Xander slowly go through the portal.
When the redhead woman follows him, I shrug off Uncle Vale’s hand and jog to the portal. Hoping I won’t get lost in another dimension, I step through. It’s sticky and dense. The air clings to me like tree sap. After a moment of slogging through the strange atmosphere, I pop out on the other side. Malachi, Bastian, and Uncle Vale follow me closely behind.
Turning toward Xander, I see him lying on a hospital bed. A nurse, the redheaded woman, and an old man in a white coat are tending to him.
The nurse has long brown hair, a pretty face, and short stature. With wrinkles lining his weathered face and sparse white hair, the man in the doctor coat looks to be quite a bit older than even Uncle Vale.
As the nurse starts to wheel Xander down the white tiled hallway, we all move to follow him, but the doctor puts an arm out to stop me. “Sorry, miss, only family is allowed back with him.”
“He’s my fucking mate,” I growl at the doctor. At my anger, something bubbles in my chest and slithers through my veins. It infuses my next words. “Get out of my way.”
My voice doesn’t sound like it normally does, coming out deep and growly instead, and my words vibrate with a resonance that slams into the doctor. His eyes widen, and he immediately steps aside.
I once again move to follow Xander, but a hand grabs my shoulder. Turning around with a snarl, I prepare to lay into whoever is keeping me from my mate, but it’s just Uncle Vale.
He’s not looking at me. Instead, he addresses the doctor. “Go on ahead, Stone. We’ll be there shortly.” The doctor gives UncleVale a curt nod and scurries off after Xander. “Bumble Bee, I need you to calm down.”
“How can I calm down?” I scream, heartbreak making me lose control of my emotions. “Xander’s dying, and it’s all my fault.” Tears well up in my eyes at saying it out loud, but I battle them back. I don’t deserve to cry over him when it’s my fault he’s fighting for his life.
“Oh, Bee,” Uncle Vale murmurs as he wraps me up in one of his signature bear hugs. “Xander’s not dying, and it’s not your fault.”
“He’s not?” I ask, a hiccupping sob making its way out on the last word. Clamping my lips shut, I refuse to let any other sound out. My shoulders shake with silent tears as I bury my face in Uncle Vale’s chest.
“No, he’s not. Xander’s injured, but he’s going to be fine. Wolves heal much faster than normal humans. Give it a week and Xander will be good as new.” Uncle Vale smooths his hand over my hair as he talks. The motion is comforting and familiar.
Taking a moment to get myself together, I focus on shoving down all my feelings. Now’s not the time. Once I know Xander will be fine, then I can drown in them. When I’m sure I’m done crying, I pull out of Uncle Vale’s arms. I don’t deserve his comfort, not after Xander got shot because of me.