Page 121 of A Wolf's Heart

I turned to him, and for some reason, I was reminded of the beating Markus had given me. My chin shook a little, but I pressed my lips together, stopping it.

Kage’s lips twitched and I half expected him to smile.

I cleared my throat. “Yes, well, thank you, for getting me out of there. What happened to me?” I waved to the empty blood bags.

Rainor stepped forward, placing his hands on the foot of the bed. “We had to get the liquid silver out of your blood. Dr. Thatcher was able to complete a transfusion, removing some of your blood while replacing it with clean blood.”

“Yep, and according to Thatcher, it was as clean as they come.” Weylin grinned at Kage, who scowled.

“You?” I asked Weylin. “You gave me your blood?”

Weylin stepped up to my side, taking my hand in his. Tingling warmth spread along my skin before traveling further, touching something deep within me. My wolf twirled within me, the warmth wrapping around her, sparkling as if something made of magic. She leaned into it at the same time Weyliin pressed his lips to the top of my hand.

“Baby, I would give my soul if it was required to keep you breathing.” The intensity in his stare didn’t have me doubting a single word he said.

When Rainor cleared his throat, I raised my eyes to him. “We have many things to apologize for, many things to ask for forgiveness. First and foremost is the secrecy. While we cannotdivulge all pack information, I do find it imperative we tell you all we know about you, about us.” Rainor was stiff, his voice calm and clear but also a softer tone. His eyes weren’t as bold as they had been back on Ophidian territory. The beast wasn’t with us.

“I don’t forgive you,” I said flatly.

“I said we would ask, but I never expected you to. Maybe, with time, you might consider it.”

Did he have no idea the gravity of what he asked? How could I ever forgive them? And the bond? It caused me to resent them more because, as I sat here, hating them, my hand was still intertwined with Weylin’s, and it caused me to practically glow inside.

I turned to Kage, who stood there, arms cross, eyes narrowed at me. Rainor cleared his throat, and Kage inhaled deeply. “I should apologize for the crappy things I’ve said.”

I smiled. “You should.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Liar.” Kage’s lips thinned, and I lowered my head slightly to hide my smile from him, still looking up to meet his gaze. “Thank you for the attempt, though.”

At that, his body relaxed, his face softening. “Are you well enough to walk?”

“It’s too soon,” Weylin said, his hand curling tightly around mine.

“What is it?” Silence filled the air while they talked with their link. “No, stop it. You just apologized for the secrecy. If it has something to do with me, I want to know, now.”

Rainor sighed. “I want to note that the act of concealing him was recommended by the doctor. It wasn’t a decision we took lightly.”

“Who?” I sat up, using Weylin’s hand to pull myself up. Other than being stiff and a little groggy, I was feeling better than Ihad before. I swung my feet over the edge of the bed, and Rainor stepped up to remove the IV.

“You would believe it better if you saw it,” Rain said.

I was fully dressed, wearing pajama pants and an oversized cotton shirt. I grabbed a handful of the fabric, sniffing it. The smoky woods scent warmed me just as much as Weylin’s touch had.

Weylin slipped a pair of shoes onto my feet, and once the IV was out, I stood up, giving another stretch, lifting my arms over my head. “I don’t feel my broken ribs anymore,” I said, lifting my shirt up just a bit to see if there were any bruises or burn marks. My skin was untouched. The rumbling growl that came from the three of them sent shivers down my spine.

Kage reached out, taking my hand and wrapping it around his elbow as he led me out of the medical room. “The heart healed you,” he said, taking me down the hall with the other two close behind us.

“Yeah, no, I’m setting a boundary right now. No more using persuasion on me.” Kage said nothing, so I stopped walking. He turned to face me. “I mean it. If you want me to forgive you, to try to work things out, you need to respect me. If I make a choice for myself, respect it. It’s that simple. I’m sorry I’m not some lala female, happily doing everything you tell her to do.”

Weylin’s lips twitched. “Lala female?” He raised an eyebrow.

I shook my head at him before looking back up to Kage. “I need to trust that what I want to do is what I want to do, not someone making me think it’s what I want.”

“Next time I tell you to eat, you will listen,” he argued.

“Kage,” Rainor chastised.

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