Page 75 of Bitten Shifter

Riker follows my gaze. “He only just fell asleep. Four days straight, he’s been up, watching over you. It took complete exhaustion to knock him out.”

Guilt knots my stomach. “I’m sorry I frightened him,” I whisper. “I’m sorry I frightened you.”

Riker tilts his head back, staring at the ceiling. “You’re the bravest person I’ve ever met,” he says quietly. “You have got more heart than anyone. I’ve seen people break under less.”

I let out a shaky laugh. “I felt like a mouse. Maybe a very scared caterpillar.”

“No.” He straightens, his tone firm. “You’re a wolf shifter with the heart of a lion. I’m glad you are all right.”

“Thank you.” My voice cracks, and I blink away threatening tears.

“Thank you for saving my best friend’s life.” Riker presses a button above the bed, summoning the medical staff. “The nurses will want to check you over, and the doctor will probably want to run some tests.”

I groan. “Tests. Great.”

“You deserve them.” He smirks. “I hope they poke you with all the needles.”

Despite everything, I laugh. “Thanks, Riker.”

A warm hand squeezes mine gently. Merrick is awake. His piercing blue eyes soften as they meet mine.

“You’re awake,” I whisper.

He nods, smiling tiredly. “You are back,” he says, voice gravelly. “Never scare me like that again.”

“I’m sorry,” I reply, shaking my head. “But if you are in danger and I can keep you safe…” I shrug. “I will always take that chance. I will always pick you.”

His jaw tightens, and his eyes flash with emotion. “It’s not like I can stop you. My alpha command does not work on you.” He exhales. “You are a sigma, Lark. Do you realise how rare that is?”

“I don’t even know what that means,” I admit.

“We will talk about it later,” he says, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “For now, you need to focus on getting better.”

“For now, we need to focus on Human First.”

At the mention of the group, his face hardens. “Human First? It was them?”

I nod.

Fury blazes in his eyes. “They will pay for what they have done.”

I reach up and brush his cheek, smoothing the harshness. “Paul tipped them off,” I murmur.

Merrick’s gaze snaps to Riker, who nods and leaves the room without a word.

“What will you do to him?” I ask hesitantly. I spent most of my life with Paul, and despite everything, I don’t want him physically hurt.

“Paul?” Merrick’s voice is low and lethal. “What I want is to take him apart piece by piece—open his abdomen, pull out his intestines, and wrap them round his throat. But there are laws, and I will follow them—for now.” He sighs. “Justice will be served. I will make sure of it. He will never be in a position to harm you again.”

“Good. Let’s whack him with the law like a piñata and see what falls out.”

Merrick gives a soft chuckle, though his gaze stays intense. “You rest. We will deal with revenge later.”

“I will rest because I need my strength to hunt them down.”

“Not from a hospital bed,” he counters. “I will find them, little mate.”

Not if I find them first.

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