Page 14 of The Devil on my Chest

The shift back to human form wasn’t immediate. Rocky’s wolf was lying on the hospital bed, Mal right by his side. Mal’s stomach was a mass of nerves.

Rocky had spent hours murmuring nonsense to Mal through their bond the night before – ideas he had about what they’d do when they got back to Arrowtown. Rocky wanted them to get their own house, somewhere between the sheriff’s office in town and their friends’ house.It would be a place for us, Mal. That home we used to dream about when we were sleeping under bridges.

But that was then, and now in the light of day, Mal was scared. He watched the wolf closely, looking for signs of a change, and when Rocky’s wolf form started to shimmer, Mal forced a smile. If the slightest hint of rejection was on Rocky’s face when his human side formed, Mal would…would…well, he’d deal withthat if it happened. For now…Mal’s smile widened as Rocky’s human features appeared.

“Look at you. You need a shave.” Mal thought his cheeks would crack with the strain.

“And a damn shower.” Rocky rolled off the edge of the bed, catching Mal in his arms. Mal was suddenly up close and personal with Rocky’s nakedness. That was new. “Hold me,” he whispered in Mal’s ear. “It’s all right. You can do that now. I’ve got you.”

Mal was sure he looked like a crazy person – his cheeks still aching with the width of his smile, and tears pouring down those same cheeks. He wrapped his arms around Rocky’s waist, leaning his forehead on his mate’s chest, sobbing and laughing all in one go.

“I’m all right. The devil from my chest is gone. I swear, Mal, it’s gone. You did it.”

“We did it – us and our friends and Doctor Nelson.” Mal wiped away the tears and blinked, trying to pull himself together. “You’re also naked and there’re people…”

“You’re always watching out for me, you always have.” Rocky’s hand was gentle against Mal’s face. “I’ll put clothes on, because I know that’s important to you, but babe, I have to tell you. You smellsogood. It’s like I’ve been living with a nose block for decades, and now I can breathe freely.”

“Still the same Rocky, you’re talking shit.” Mal’s cheeks were hot enough to sting. “There’s never been anything wrong with your nose. You’re one of the best trackers our friends have ever known, and you know that.”

“But I couldn’t smell you. Not clearly.” Rocky inhaled deeply. “Now I can, and my world finally makes sense.”

Mal tapped his chest lightly.

“I know. I know. I’ll put clothes on. But damn, I can’t wait until we have some privacy.”

/~/~/~/~/

Stroking Mal’s face one last time, Rocky let go of his mate and whirled around. He grabbed the pair of sweatpants Doctor Nelson was waving in his direction, purposefully ignoring the goons the doctor had brought in with him. Stepping into the pants, he pulled them up, tightening the drawstring. “Now what?” Rocky asked the doctor. “Are you going to bring me in a large cake and try and tempt me with it? I’m definitely hungry.”

“Nice to meet you, Rocky, especially now you’re coherent.” Doctor Nelson smiled with a professional flash of his teeth. “Actually, cake is a good idea. I know Mal got a lovely smelling package from his friends in Arrowtown – I doubt there will be any cake in there. But I had one specially ordered for you. I’ll get Amy to bring both treats in and we’ll see what happens, shall we?”

I already know what will happen.It wasn’t that Rocky had taken an instant dislike to the doctor. The elephant shifter would probably be a fun guy to have a drink or two with. Rocky just wanted some privacy to be with his Mal, and Doctor Nelson was messing with his plans.

The nurse came in, that smile still in place. “A cake for you, Doctor, and Mal, here’s your package from home. It smells amazing.”

“It does, thank you, Amy.” Mal got up, taking a large foil wrapped box from her. “It smells like the house we share with our friends.”

“If I can have your attention, Rocky,” Doctor Nelson said. “How do you feel when you see this cake.”

“It’s a cake. Fergus at the Arrowtown bakery could probably make a fancier one.” Rocky dismissed the doctor with a wave of his hand. “What have you got there?” He peered over Mal’s shoulder, who was sitting back in the chair by the bed. Mal was reading the note attached to the box.

“Our friends were worried I wouldn’t have enough time to source some of our favorite foods, so Ra contacted the specialized courier company he uses for his sculptures to ship me some home comforts. Wasn’t that sweet of him?”

“It depends. What’s in the box?” One of the smells was soooo familiar and Rocky just had to see.

“It was sent to me. It’s my name on the parcel.” Mal laughed, twisting his body around with the box on his lap, away from Rocky. “Hmm. There’re Mrs. Hooper’s ready-made meals. Oh, Doctor Nelson, honestly, I’d guess there’s not one single restaurant in the whole of New York who can cook like Mrs. Hooper. She makes the best stews and roast meals.” He lifted out meal packages Rocky was familiar with and set them on the edge of the bed.

“There’s more. There’s more.” Rocky tried to reach over Mal’s shoulder. “There’s something else in the package.”

“Yes, there is. Look.” Slapping Rocky’s hand away, Mal reached in and pulled out some drawings obviously made by children. “Aww, isn’t this sweet? All the kiddies care about you - they made pictures for you, or for me to hang by your bed. Can you imagine them all around the kitchen table with their paper and crayons?” Mal sighed. “I do miss those guys.”

Rocky barely glanced at the pictures. They were sweet, adorable, pictures of his big wolf drawn from a child’s perspective andcomplete with scribbled grass.Get well soon Uncle Rocky,was written over the top of the pictures, along the bottom, and one aspiring artist child had written the words along the side of the page.

“They’re cute. You know how much I love the little darlings. But those pieces of paper don’t smell that good. What else is in the package?”

“You already know.” Mal pulled out a foil wrapped plate and sniffed as he pushed the packaging off his lap. “Ah, now that’s the true smell of home.”

“What’s in there?” Doctor Nelson asked. “It smells incredible, whatever it is.”

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