Page 132 of Marked

But his voice had a distant quality, like he was calling to me from down a long corridor.

I wokeup in a warm bed with sheets pulled up to my chest. When my eyes fluttered open, I found myself in a darkened room. The only light came from a small lamp on the nightstand. A low beeping and whirring sound came from somewhere beside me.

“Mija?”

Flinching, I turned my head. My mother sat beside the bed. That was when I saw the monitors and other telltale signs that told me I was in a hospital room.

What?

“Mama?” I said, surprised at how rough my voice was. “Where am I?”

Mom glanced around with a little frown of confusion on her face. She tucked a strand of dark black hair behind her ear. The face that looked down at me was so young and beautiful, it could have belonged to my older sister instead of my mother.

“I’m not sure,” she said. “It’s a clinic of some sort. Very strange place. I’ve never seen anything like it. Your friend Nate called me with the address and told me what happened.” She leaned forward and brushed hair from my forehead. “Are you all right, my girl?”

How the hell did I answer that? How was she even here? Nate and Ollie had told me it was against every rule in the shifter world to tell humans.

“Where’s Nate?” I asked, my mind latching onto that desire and need. My inner wolf thrashed unhappily. She wanted him here.Iwanted him here.

“He’s been waiting for you to wake up. He went to go check on his friend, another man who’s here. His name is Ollie, I think.”

Ollie. Oh, shit. I’d almost forgotten about him.

“Ollie’s okay?” I asked, sitting up in bed. “I never saw him come out of the woods. Did Rick kill him?”

The thought alone made me want to vomit. The world tilted and spun, and I slumped against the pillow as nausea and light-headedness threatened to toss me back into an unconscious stupor.

“Lie down,” Mom chided. “The doctor said you were extremely dehydrated. Ollie seems to be fine. Concussion and broken ribs, but he looks remarkably good. I can barely tell he was hurt. Nate says they’re keeping him an extra day to be safe.”

“Oh, thank God.” I put a hand to my head, trying to massage away the headache that was forming right behind my eyes.

“If what Nate tells me is true, then I owe him and those two other boys all thearepasthey can eat,” Mom said.

“I’ll take that deal,” JC said from the doorway.

Snapping my head up, I caught sight of the man as he stepped into my room. He was smiling, and his eyes betrayed nothing but warmth and good humor. JC was not what I’d expected. From the way Nate had explained things to me, a pack alpha was the top guy. The general or king, so to speak. I’d anticipated a grizzled, grumpy old man. This guy looked like he was my age, though he did have an air of power and confidence about him.

Not only that, but there was some kind of aura around him. Not visible, more like a subtle energy my wolf could sense. It poured off him in waves, and I knew instinctively this man was a true leader.

“Oh, hello there,” Mom said. “You’re JC, right? Nate pointed you out earlier.”

“In the flesh,” he said with a bow of his head.

“Well, the offer stands.” Mom glanced up and down at his broad shoulders and muscular legs. “Though, I may have to make several batches if you eat as much as you look like you can.”

JC threw his head back and laughed in a pleasant baritone. I already liked this man, and I didn’t even know him. A good sign, I hoped.

“Ms. Torres, would you mind if I spoke to your daughter for a few minutes?” JC asked when he stopped laughing. “One on one. I have a few questions I need answered.”

Mom glanced at me, a worried look in her eyes. I had no idea exactlywhatthey’d told her. Secrecy was paramount to shifters, according to Nate. I doubted they’d told her the full truth. Some kind of intricate tale had been woven, I was sure. My mother didn’t look distrustful of JC, but she was eyeing me in that way only a mother could, asking me whether I was okay with it. Whatever answer I gave, she’d go with it.

Patting her hand, I said, “It’s fine, Mom. Seriously.”

“If you say so.” She stood and walked to the door. Before she stepped out, she put a hand on JC’s shoulder. “If you upset her, the deal’s off, and you’ll have to answer to me.”

JC grinned, but when he saw the intense look on my mother’s face, the smile slid away. He nodded hesitantly. “Uh, sure, yeah. Got it.”

Mom grunted in approval, then winked at me before heading out. JC watched her go, then closed the door until the door closed.

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