Page 81 of Sigma
“Let’s get the rest of this done,” I say and make my way to the cage.
28
CICELY
I thoroughly disliked all that. Watching him react to the news that he’s the way he is because of medical experiments on his father. And I’m no doctor, but I agree – I think the abuse he suffered as a child led to a splintering of personalities. His wolf’s protectiveness over what Jared endured makes it want to kill everything it comes in contact with. Because it’s disconnected from him, it still sees everything as a threat.
Watching him climb into that cage and shift, seeing his wolf go berserk at being caged, how much it wanted to eat the approaching doctors, and then seeing Mitch jab that long needle into his skin through the bars? Watching Jared’s wolf drop, tongue lolling out and making him look dead? None of it was easy.
I got a little upset, and Tyson pulled me back against the door where we stayed and he kept his arm around me, comforting me while they did their measurements and tests, including more blood drawn and another mouth swab.
It took only two hours for him to shift back and wake up, thankfully. I’m glad he let his wolf out for a run the other day or it might have been all day or longer waiting for him to shift back. But still… all that left me shaky, angry, and wanting a long, hot bubble bath, a stiff drink, and alone time with my mate. To reconnect. To comfort him. Because I can feel that this is affecting him.
Mitch and Cat had their heads together over lab equipment while I paced the office and waiting room, waiting for Jared to wake up. Everyone else left, besides Linc, Tyson, and Erica who stuck around to keep me company.
Mitch described Jared’s wolf as a super predator after they had nodes attached to his head, running scans of his brain, talking about his wolf having intelligence, not being just a mindless brute.
When Jared woke, his eyes found me and he assessed my wellbeing. It felt good that this was the first thing he did.
As he dressed, Mitch went over the results of their tests and talked about having another discussion in a day or so.
When we got to the parking lot I asked, “Can we go to the apartment for a while? I want a hot bubble bath and some booze. I have lots of booze in my cabinet.”
“Yeah,” he said, even though I don’t think he was all that happy about it.
“Want me to drive? Still feeling groggy from the sedative?”
“Naw, I’m good,” he said.
I gave him another chance to go back to the camper instead, but he drove us to the apartment.
***
“I’m gonna take a bath and order food from Roxy’s. Ask if someone can run it over,” I say.
“Bath big enough for two?” he asks.
“Absolutely,” I tell him.
“Shower first please, babe, and get Tyson Savage’s scent off your body.”
He doesn’t look pissed off about it. He looks tired right now.
“Tyson was comforting me when I got upset after you shifted,” I explain.
“Because it scares you?” he asks.
“Seeing how angry your wolf is, knowing he’s the way he is because he’s trying to protect you. And watching them poke and prod at your wolf... just made me… sad.” I choke up.
He grabs me and hugs me, holding me for a long minute.
“Your wolf is intelligent, Jared. He’s not just a mindless monster. He’s your protector. He just… he doesn’t know you’re safe now. He doesn’t know everyone around him isn’t out to hurt you.”
He sighs.
I kiss him softly on the lips before I dash the wet off my cheeks and back away.
I kick my shoes off, take off the utility belt, drop my jeans, and throw my t-shirt off. I leave a trail of clothing behind me, but take the belt to the bathroom and set it on the vanity.
