Page 92 of Hunny and the Bear

It was the blood loss that was Tabitha’s main concern. While she kept blood on hand for the clan, it wasn’t human—giving any to Nessa could have catastrophic side effects.

Contrary to the myths circulating the world, being bitten or scratched by a shifter wouldn’t convert a human—and a shifter blood transfusion wasn’t an option.

Luckily, Murphy had put in a call to a vampire he knew at a human hospital located over an hour away. Vampires could travel great distances in half the time a shifter could, and a few pints of blood had arrived nearly thirty minutes before Hunny and Tank had even made it to the clinic.

Hunny didn’t know what kind of deal the Alpha had made to get human blood delivered so quickly, but she suspected he’d paid a hefty price for it, whether monetary or otherwise.

Right now, that didn’t matter. All Hunny cared about was her friend’s recovery. While what had happened to Nessa was horrific, she couldn’t help but feel grateful that no one else had sustained any severe injuries. Tonight could have been a lot worse. They all could have died. Miraculously, none of them had.

Hunny, sitting sideways on Tank’s lap, rested her cheek against his chest. He kept a firm arm wrapped around her waist, his palm protectively cupping her lower belly as if he were holding on just as adamantly to their kits. She needed this closeness, this connection to him after everything they’d gone through tonight.

She closed her eyes, taking one deep breath after another, drawing Tank’s scent into her lungs. Even though he’d rinsed off before they’d met the others here, he still smelled faintly of blood, reminding her of just how bad his own wounds had been.

He’s okay,Hunny reminded herself, but that did nothing to ease the anxiety she felt, or to erase the memories of the wounds she’d seen. His back had been a bloody tapestry of torn skin and missing fur before he’d shifted, and even though he’d healed during the transformation, she couldn’t get the image out of her head.

She didn’t know if she ever would, to be honest. She’d come so close to losing him.

All it would have taken was a few more attacks, a few more minutes, and Tank might not have survived. Her breath hitched at the thought, and she pushed her ear closer to his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart, as if searching for proof he was still here despite it being so obvious.

What would she have done if she had never heard that sound again? If she’d never had another chance to feel his arms aroundher, his lips on her skin? If she’d woken up tomorrow and his side of the bed had been empty and cold?

Hunny shivered, tears blurring her vision for what felt like the thousandth time that night. Tank pulled her in closer to the heat of his body. “It’s alright, little rabbit,” he crooned. “I’ve got you.”

“I know.” Hunny sniffled, swallowing hard to keep herself in check. Needing a distraction from her morose thoughts, she looked at Tank’s oldest brother.

Murphy hadn’t been able to stand still for more than a handful of minutes, and he was now pacing the length of the lobby, his shoulders slumped and his eyes downcast.

Hunny didn’t know if she’d ever seen the male look so distraught. Not that she blamed him. Nessa was human. She didn’t have the luxury to heal as rapidly as they did. And when her body did eventually heal, she’d have scars, a constant reminder of the trauma she’d endured.

But it was the emotional scars that worried Hunny the most. She could still hear Nessa’s screams as Murphy had tried to comfort her. She’d called him a monster. She thought shifters weremonsters. When she woke up, would she feel the same way toward Hunny?

Would she want anything to do with any of them?

While Hunny understood how terrifying it must have been for her friend, a stab of hurt and sadness hit her as she remembered the look of horror on Nessa’s face. Hopefully, Nessa gave them all, especially Murphy, a chance to explain things. To ease her into their world after such a painful introduction to it.

“I can’t believe Dante escaped,” Murphy snarled under his breath, finally pausing long enough to turn toward Tank. “Getting away from what he did scot-free is unacceptable. He needs to pay for his actions.”

“I agree,” Tank answered harshly. “Fucker should die.”

Hunny lifted her head, staring at her mate in bewilderment. She’d told them all what Jason had said about Dante’s part in this entire fiasco, and considering the situation, she hadn’t expected they’d still want him dead. “What Dante did was wrong, but if you’d both been in the same situation, would you have reacted differently?”

She didn’t know if she would have. Tank mattered to her more than anything else, and if his life were on the line, could she really put it at further risk by going to someone else for help?

Tank clenched his jaw, but it was Murphy who grated out, “I don’t care what his reasons were—Nessa almost died!”

“Lower your voice when you speak to my mate,” Tank snapped, tucking her more firmly against him. “Now isn’t the time to discuss this. Not until you know Nessa is recovering. You’re not thinking clearly.”

“Maybe not.” Marcus looked on solemnly from his chair near the front door. Jasper, seated beside him, was uncharacteristically silent. “But Murphy is right. Dante has to pay for his betrayal against the clan. We’re a family, and he just—” Marcus’s voice broke, and he looked down at the ground dejectedly. Hunny felt a flare of remorse for the male. She couldn’t imagine what he was going through, whatanyof them were going through.

Jasper clapped Marcus on the shoulder before pulling him into a side hug, staring angrily ahead. “We’ll find him,” Jasper promised. “And one way or another, Dante will make this right.”

They all went quiet as light footsteps sounded down the hall, moving quickly toward them. Tabitha stepped into the lobby from behind a set of double doors, sending Murphy a hesitant smile. “She’s going to be alright.”

Murphy sucked in a deep breath, his entire face crumbling with emotion. He looked away to collect himself beforereturning his attention to his mother, his expression now a stoic mask. “Is she awake? Should I go see her?”

“I have her sedated for now, but it should wear off in the next few hours.” Tabitha pursed her lips. “And I think, based on what you told me, it might be for the best to give her a few days to adjust to this new world before you visit.”

“She’s my mate,” Murphy bit out through clenched teeth. “I have every right to be there for her.”

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