Page 2 of The First Year Continued
“Good. About time.” He turned to look at Roxy.
She had calmed enough for Evander to release his grip. Tears flowed from her eyes, and she slapped her hands over her mouth. “Odin? Odin, I’m so sorry. I…”
“Let’s get him onto the bed. I need to see if he’s stopped bleeding.”
Evander and Sol grabbed me, hefting me up by the arms only to deposit me on Roxy’s bed. The power my wolf had shocked me but waned bit by bit and sleepiness threatened to take over again.
I lay back on the pillow that smelled like her. Evander leaned over my form and tugged at my shirt. “It’s still not closed. We need to put pressure on it.”
“Here.” Evander ducked into the bathroom and emerged with a small towel, balled it up, and pressed it against my wound. Long gone were the fuzzy sensations and pleasure that knocked out the pain. When he put his weight on my neck, it bit back, sending aching pain down to my chest and over my shoulder. Even my jaw hurt.
“What in the hell happened?” Sol asked, pacing. “Start from the beginning.”
I told him everything I remembered.
As I spoke, Roxy came over and took my hand in hers. She filled in the gaps of my memory. “I’m so sorry, Odin. I never wanted to hurt you. I never wanted to hurt anyone.”
“You didn’t mean to. It was not your fault.”
Evander crouched near Roxy. “We know you wouldn’t hurt us on purpose. You haven’t been doing well with the bite.”
“You noticed? I thought I was hiding it so well.”
Sol cocked his head. “You weren’t. Not from us, at least. Not sure about the others. Speaking of hiding it well, we need to talk about this. What happens next.” He pulled the towel away from my neck. “The bleeding stopped. You’ll be better once you shift, but it’s coagulating for now.”
“How do you feel?” Roxy asked. I found it funny how she ignored Sol’s conversation. No one ignored Sol.
I wished I could take her in my arms and tell her I would be fine. That I was more concerned about her and her pain. Despite liters of my blood inside her, we weren’t there yet. I was sure she was my mate, our mate, but kept my mouth shut.
“I’ll be okay. A little weak. What about you?” I squeezed her hand back.
“I’m okay. Hungry.” Every stare landed on her. “Not like that. I could really use some sugar.”
“I’ll run and get them a snack but not before we talk.” Sol was all business. All kinds of rare things happening today.
“About what?” I asked. “She didn’t mean to do it.”
“I believe that.” Evander took a seat and rested his head in his hands. “We need to talk about never telling anyone about this. Not telling a soul what happened here tonight.”
“What will happen to me?” Roxy whispered, pulling my shirt aside to look at the bite. “I’m so sorry.”
“Nothing because none of us are going to tell anyone. No one.” Sol rose from the bed. “I’m going to go get Odin some clothes. Evander, when I get back, you find something for them to eat.”
“I can stay with him. He’s okay for now, right?” she said.
Evander and Sol shared a look. “We’re not sure that’s a wise idea, Rox. It’s too soon.”
“Oh.”
I wasn’t safe with her.
“I’ll go. Be right back.”
While Sol was gone, I let my eyes close. Roxy slid to the floor and laid her head against my hand, which she still held in hers. Sol came back, and soon Evander left. In no time, he was back as well, snacks and a few sandwiches in hand. “I told them we were studying. They bought it.”
My friends helped me sit up. I ate two of the sandwiches, but Roxy didn’t touch a bite. Once I was full, she finally took a pack of peanut butter crackers and ate them slowly.
“What happens now?” she asked. “If someone finds out, I’ll be staked. Exiled. Forced to go rogue. All of the above.”
