Page 75 of Frank's Felon
Agent Sloan bent forward and placed his hands on Delilah’s neck, searching for a pulse. “Her pulse is low, even for a shifter.”
“She’s in critical condition,” Pryce said.
“This is Pryce. Our medic,” Damien said.
“Her wolf’s working hard to heal her, but there was a lot of damage.”
“I thought most shifters heal in a day or two, even from a bullet wound,” Sloan said. “That’s part of what makes this arrangement we’ve set up ideal.”
“Different injuries require different healing times, just as with a human. A bullet wound closes quickly after the bullet is removed. Pain and stiffness remain for a few days, but the shifter can move again, within hours or minutes. Cuts are quick to heal as well. Broken bones take several days. Much of it depends on the number and type of injuries. We’re not invincible, agent.”
“What happened to her?”
“She sacrificed herself for a child. Pushed her wolf beyond safe limits.”
“She’d do it again,” Frank said. “Because she’s not the killer you make her out to be. She killed that warden in self-defense.”
“Your alpha already said as much,” Sloan said. “But I can’t verify that. And there’s precedent. She killed two WSSO members in cold blood.”
“And if I can get you proof she killed that warden in self-defense?” Damien asked. “I mean, let’s face it, Agent, the two WSSO men she killed were terrorists. Responsible for the death of an entire pack. You yourself admitted they’re criminals. Or you never would have agreed to the terms of the treaty we hammered out.”
“A case could be made there, but not with the warden. Not without proof. Do you have proof, Mr. Black?” Sloan asked, then his face hardened. “Look, I know this isn’t easy for you, but I cannot bend on this. Killing the Warden is not something I can ignore. If she dies, you’ll have your treaty.”
“Bastard!” Frank said as he moved forward. Hayden was in his face, pushing him into the hall, against a wall and then dragging him down the stairs. Frank noticed Hayden’s limp, knew how easy it would be to lay one punch to the injury and take Hayden down, but he held himself. Hayden wasn’t the enemy. Damien however. . .
“Trust him,” Hayden whispered as he grabbed Frank by his shirt and dragged him downstairs.
“Agent,” Damien began as they followed behind. “I can promise to keep Delilah here on my land, to ensure she never interacts with the human population again.”
Agent Sloan headed for the door. “I’ll be back in four days, Mr. Black. If she’s alive, I’m taking her with me, or the treaty is dead. If she’s dead, then I want to see the body to verify her death. At that point, you’ll have your treaty.”
“Hayden, escort Agent Sloan to the main gate,” Damien ordered.
As soon as Sloan and Hayden left, Frank turned on Damien. “I won’t let you turn her over to them.”
“Are you breaking your oath to me, Frank?” Damien asked, his jaws tight and body ram-rod straight as he approached. His shoulder muscles were rippling. Damien was expecting a fight, a challenge, and he was prepared for it.
If Frank challenged him, he may survive, but he’d be exiled, and then there’d be no one here to fight for Delilah. Only Tess, and he couldn’t count on her winning against Damien, even as his blood-bonded mate. Sloan had put Damien in a tough position, but the alpha was stubborn, determined to have this treaty.
“I don’t want to challenge you, Damien.”
“But you will, over Delilah.”
“If I must,” Frank admitted. There was no need to lie. He had known Damien a long time, since they were kids. His alpha knew Frank better than most, and they’d worked to protect this pack for years together. But Damien had failed him once before. Frank couldn’t count on him like he used to.
Damien clasped his hands behind his back, no longer holding a defensive position. There’d be no fight, not today. “Go. Be with Delilah. See what you can do for her.” Damien moved to the floor to ceiling windows, turning his back on Frank as he looked out on the trees.
As Frank returned to Delilah’s side, Tess asked, “Well? What happened?”
“Ask Damien.”
“I will.”
“Now.” He needed to be alone with his Delilah, to figure out what he was going to do. He could carry her out of here, but he wouldn’t make it far before Damien tracked him down.
Tess kissed Delilah and headed toward the door.
“I’ll walk you down, Tess,” Pryce said. “I want to go check in with Mila, see if we missed any options here.”
