Page 102 of Shadow City: Silver Wolf

Yes, but I'll be fine.It was superficial, but I needed the bullet removed.Do you have a way to get the bullet out? It's not deep.

No.His jaw twitched.I've got nothing but keys and a gun.

You have my knife.I nodded to his pocket.Use it and get it out before I heal. It'll hurt worse if we do it later, and if I shift to human with the bullet still inside, it could make my injury worse. I need to shift back to human form now that we have their guns so we can help Killian and Sierra.

Fine.He placed his gun beside him and pulled out my knife. He inhaled sharply and cracked his neck.

If I wasn't in so much pain, I'd have laughed. He looked as if he was preparing for battle.

He held the knife right at the edge of the entry wound, and I forced myself to look at the fallen man, who had died while we were preoccupied. Bubbles poured out of his mouth and down his face.

On the count of—

Just do it.I didn't want to know when. Anticipation was not my friend right now.

Griffin stuck the knife in, and pain coursed throughout my shoulder. I'd thought getting shot wouldn’t hurt much, but I'd been so damn wrong. A whimper escaped me, and I was at the pain's mercy.

The edges of my vision grew dark as Griffin dug around for the bullet.

Maybe I should pull out,he said as he paused.

We've already gotten this far.I took deep breaths, trying to prevent myself from passing out, and attempting to keep nausea at bay. If I got sick, I wouldn't be able to help Killian and Sierra.

Griffin continued his efforts, and his guilt and concern flowed into me, making my already raw emotions even more frayed.

I feel it,he said excitedly.I've got it.

Then get it out.I groaned.

He angled the blade—cutting the wound larger—but within seconds, the bullet fell out, and the knife finally exited my body.

I sagged with relief. Even though the pain was still excruciating, it didn't come close to how it’d felt with the knife inside me.Thank you.

Let's make a pact that this is the last time you get shot.Griffin rolled the bloody bullet between his fingers while his other hand ran through my fur, making my skin buzz from our connection.

It'd be nice to sit here and enjoy the peace and quiet, but we needed to find Killian and Sierra. We hadn't heard anything from them.

Can you take the guy's shirt off him?I asked. I had ripped my clothes, not considering that we'd have access to extra guns, and I'd need to be able to use one.I want to shift back so we can grab some of their guns to go help Killian and Sierra…and I’d rather not be completely naked.

Griffin growled,Hell no. You’re wearing mine.He pulled his hunter-green shirt from his body as I shifted back into my human form. His abs contracted, making my body warm at a very inappropriate time. I looked away, needing to keep my head on straight and not drool.

When I was on two legs, he helped me put on the shirt without using my injured arm too much. The garment was huge on me, and the hem hit around my knees, much like a dress.

Being shorter came in handy, at least for the moment.

When I felt comfortable, I bent down to pick up the dead man's gun. "Now let's go help our friends."

CHAPTER TEN

I hatedthe way the gun fit into my hand. Weapons like these went against my animal instincts because they were the opposite of natural. They tore down communities and more, but they were highly effective in battle.

That reason alone was why Dad had trained us with firearms. He had emphasized that learning to fight with them was just as essential as learning to fight without them. He was right…but I hated the fact that we might have to use them again if we were all going to come out of this alive.

I preferred a bow and arrow, but there weren't any on hand, and they were bulkier to carry.

We needed to get to Killian and Sierra, but grabbing a few more guns might be worth taking a few extra minutes. Even though my shoulder throbbed, I pushed through the pain.Let's go grab another gun each.

Not waiting for him to respond, I turned and ran back toward the others we'd killed. Griffin ran close behind me, his anxiety flowing through our bond. He probably never expected to go through something like this, and here I’d waltzed into his world, turning his entire life upside down. I couldn't help but think that maybe he would've been better off if we hadn't met. He'd almostdied once and was already in another battle—not even three days later. If we hadn't stumbled upon each other, he would probably be sitting at Dick's bar with Killian and Luna, drinking a beer.

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