Page 158 of Just One Bite
Under me, a sea of red swirls, but I don’t care. She has to be okay.
“Hey, stay awake. Please.”
I press my head to hers. Her pulse is weak, but my touch is healing her. It’s working. I say it over and over in hopes of believing it.
“I’m so tired. I’m hot. I want to … I … want to stay.”
“You will. You’re cooling off, it’s going to be fine.”
“I want to stay …” She slumps into me.
“You will.” I close my eyes. My limbs are heavy, and I’m tired. More tired than I’ve ever been, but I have to stay awake. I have to heal her.
Her grip on my forearm loosens. We’re surrounded by red.
“No. No. No. Please don’t leave me, baby.” I sob.
There’s no life without Olivia.
“Please don’t leave me. I just found you.”
I rock her softly, concentrating on the gentle heartbeat in her chest. The world goes numb around me as I hold her. It’s just her and me. Like it’s always been. It’s how it’s supposed to be. The edges of my vision blur.
“Stay with me.”
“Stay with me.”
“Stay with me, please.”
Chapter Fifty-Four
Olivia
The heat is gone, then I’m floating. There’s no pain. No fear. Just bliss. I’m the safest I’ve ever been.
“It will be okay, honey.”My mom’s voice is there, and it’s like she’s running her hands through my hair.“Everything will work out.”
Parker’s voice is close by. Barely audible.
“Don’t fucking touch her,” he snarls.
“They’re going to help her. Come on.” It’s Gavin, I think. “You need help too.”
“I have a pulse … We need to move her.”
“He’s lost a lot of blood.”Parker is bleeding?
I don’t feel anything in this space, only a growing desire to get back to him. There are so many voices I don't recognize wavering in and out.
“Help him up. We need to keep a connection on their skin. Stay close.”
Parker is hurt. He’s waitingfor me.
Soon there’s a faint beeping and the sound of a heartbeat in an echoing room. My heartbeat. I can't tell how long it's been. I want to open my eyes, but my body won't let me.
“Sir, you can’t be in here, you need to rest.”
“I’m her linked mate. I have to heal her," Parker says, his breathing labored.
