Page 129 of Soul of the Chaos

To save us all.

Because if Sasha’s light went out now there would be no taming the wild inside any of us.

Though the rest of his body remained immobile, Mongrel’s inner turmoil yanked me the rest of the way into wakefulness. Adrenaline surged through my system and bitterness flooded my mouth as my body prepared for a new kind of fight.

One played out in emotions and willpower.

The mighty battlefield where a heartbeat met the soul.

Mongrel winced as he felt my pain return but I sent him a watery smile of understanding. I was needed and his wolf had been right to summon me. As the Soul Reapers’ omega, walking into an emotional maelstrom was my calling. Just as wild, brute strength was his.

Taking in a shuddering breath, I forced my head to turn and take in my greatest fear.

Sasha lay on the table beside me, her face chalk white but placid. Relaxed, as if asleep. The desperate proceedings surrounding her urged me not to be fooled by this deception.

The Soul Reapers’ pack stood on the precipice of greatness or destruction, there could be no in between.

My mate was hooked up to monitors and a blood transfusion while Doc worked furiously to close the wound and stem her profuse blood loss. Checkers—unflappable as ever—handed him whatever implement he barked for. Although they worked in tandem seamlessly, their familiarity wasn’t much comfort when it was our mate’s life which hung in the balance.

At the far side of the room, Winter was commanding her own triage station. Her fingers were sure and true as they secured the last stitches in place and tied them off. She immediately began dressing Carbon’s clean wound with Talia and Viola’s help.

Doc, who wasn’t too far behind Winter’s team, began dressing Sasha’s wound while Addy and Benji stood between the two stations like sentinels, their faces carved in granite.

Once finished, Winter diligently scrubbed her hands and removed her scrubs before slipping silently up onto the bed and stretching out alongside Carbon. Her head rested on her mate’s chest as she watched the final stages of Sasha’s surgery.

Carbon cracked open one eye. “If I’d known all it would take to have these heavenly titties all crushed up against me was to almost die, I would’ve arranged it much sooner.”

“Carbon,” Winter whispered.

“Yes, mate?” he grinned.

“Shut it and heal.”

“Yes, mate.” Carbon raised his voice slightly to cajole our alpha. “Told you they’ve got us by the balls, Prez.” Then he sucked in an unsteady breath and gulped. “I meant figuratively, woman. Not literally.”

Winter, whose hand was under the covers and gripping him tight, replied sweetly. “I didn’t.”

“Right,” Carbon licked his lips and obediently shut his eyes. “One healing sleep coming right up. Just keep those titties pressed close to chase the bad juju away.”

I smiled at Winter’s smirk as she released his crown jewels and Carbon huffed in relief. The smile remained until my attention drifted back to Sasha.

At the foot of her bed, Grimm was a shell of the fierce leader I knew and loved. The Prez of the Soul Reapers was stooped almost in half as he clutched her feet in silent terror. His fear spiked my own. I reached across the divide and fumbled until I’d secured Sasha’s hand, sending love down the mating bond.

Sasha barely pulsed in return.

Doc finished dressing the wound and stood back from his patient. While his neck was respectfully bared to Grimm, his posture didn’t scream of victory and his face remained pinched in concern. He spoke in a low murmur. “I’ve done all I can, alpha. I’m sorry.”

I cursed out loud as I felt a flicker of distress from Sasha’s side of the bond. She weakly gripped my hand in fear. With a grunt of pain, I rolled off the edge of the bed and clawed my way over to press up against her side as her life force stuttered.

Clutching my mate’s hand, I pressed it to my wet cheek and whispered fervently into her ear. “Don’t you dare, Sasha. You aren’t allowed. You hear me? I forbid it. I’m your omega and I absolutely forbid you to leave us. Got it?”

The Prez grabbed Doc by the throat and threw him up against the wall. “What do you mean you’ve done all you can?!” Grimm roared as Sasha’s vitals plummeted. “You're the doctor. Fix her!”

Doc held up his hands in surrender but his eyes blazed with challenge as he gestured to his patient. “She’s dying, Grimm. Lost too much blood. Her body’s going into shock. There’s only one thing that can save her now and you know damn well what it is.”

“Grimm,” Sasha moaned. “Need your bite. Need my wolf.”

The tortured words escaping our mate’s lips as she begged our alpha ripped at my insides while I fought to keep my human skin.

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