Page 60 of Rejecting his Mate

“Another memory?” He sounds concerned by this.

My brain feels fuzzy and wrong. I nod. “It’s like I’m getting snapshots of the past, but I don't remember the things I’m seeing. Why are these memories coming out now? I’d never seen anything before.”

Still holding me in his arms, he stands. I grip his neck, but I know he’s never going to drop me. I breathe in his scent, taking comfort from him as he walks us back into the main room.

Sawyer and Wyatt both glance up as we enter, but neither of them says anything as Cade lowers me onto the other bed. The fact Sawyer holds his tongue surprises me. He doesn’t know the meaning of the word quiet.

“Nothing to say?” I ask.

He shifts his shoulders. “Not this time. Though you look like hell, Halle.”

I smirk. There’s the Sawyer I’ve come to know. “You think you look any better?”

He snorts. “Where’d you find this one? Can we put her back?”

“Both of you be quiet,” Cade says, but there’s no heat in his words. All his focus is on me. “Do you need anything?”

“What I need is for you to quit coddling me,” I complain.

“This isn’t coddling.”

“What would you call it then?” I demand, sitting up and leaning against the headboard. My ribs protest at the movement, which makes me wince, and Cade’s eyes narrow.

“You’re hurt.”

“I’m okay,” I assure him, even though it’s a lie. I’m hurting everywhere. Dalton has a lead foot.

“You say that, but your words don’t match your body language. Every time you move, you wince, every time you breathe in too deep, your chest hurts. Your voice sounds wrong, and I can tell you’re finding it hard to swallow. So yeah, I’m taking care of you, and if you don’t like that or if you think I’m coddling you, then too fucking bad.”

My heart stutters.Did he really just say all that?

Sawyer is pulling his lips between his teeth as if he’s trying not to laugh, while Wyatt seems perplexed by the whole situation.

“Okay,” I say softly. “Coddle away.”

Cade clears his throat and gives his brother andcousin his attention. The smirk is still on Sawyer’s face, but Wyatt seems a little more subdued.

He goes to one of the bags and pulls out a sweater, handing it to me. My shirt is mud-stained, and there are fresh blood stains on it.

Nakedness doesn’t faze me, but for some reason, I turn my back as I try to lift my tee over my head. I barely raise my arms to my shoulders when I realize I’m not going to be able to do it. My ribs hurt too much.

Cade pulls me away from the others, out of their sight, before he grabs the hem of my tee, making my eyes flare as he pulls it over my head. Instinctively, I want to cover my body, even though I’m wearing a camisole underneath and a bra. He redresses me in his sweater like I’m a pup, guiding my arms in. I watch his face the entire time, my heart thudding so loudly I’m sure he must be able to hear it beating.

“How’s Jackson doing?” Cade turns to his brother when he’s finished dressing me. I stand still, unable to move.

Sawyer’s smile fades. He doesn’t say anything, but the grim look on his face is answer enough.

Cold fills my chest and belly, spreading through my body like icy poison. He’s going to die.

Because of me, Jackson’s life is going to end.

My heart squeezes, and moisture beads on the back of my neck. This is my fault, and I have to fix it.

I push off the bed, wobbling a little as I do. I’m exhausted and in pain, but I can’t sit here and watch Jackson die.

I barely make two steps before Cade stops me, grabbing my wrist. “Don’t.”

Glaring up at him, I give him all the defiance I can muster.

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