A Wolf's Pride (36 page)

“
Chloe?” Ryan’s
voice was weak as he called to her.

Forcing her
way through the throng of people that surrounded the large bed, she
gripped his hand tightly within her own. His skin was pale, the
pallid tone so different to his normal tanned complexion. Most of
the blood had been cleared away but the wound was still open and
bleeding and all that he was given was bandages? It made no sense.
“I’m right here Ryan. Why aren’t you in a hospital or the
infirmary? Are any of you guys doctors?” she screamed, eyeing the
people surrounding her with disgust. “Take him to a hospital.
Now!”

“
Chloe love,
it’s okay. I don’t need a doctor.”

“
What are you
talking about? Of course you need a doctor. There’s a hole in your
body and not a small one either. By all standards you should
already be dead.”

“
Well I don’t
live by any standards. I live by wolf ones and by wolf standards
I’m going to be fine. The wound will heal; all the things that I’ve
lost will regenerate. Trust me, when I’m all better you won’t even
think I was hurt. There’s no silver in my body so I haven’t lost
any of my strength. I can still protect you.”

“
You don’t look
like you could protect a fly,” she chuckled.

His ability
to move his limbs returned, Ryan began shifting in the bed,
struggling to sit up. “So you want me to prove it?”

Her hands
pushed gently against his shoulders, pressing him against the
mattress. “No. Please, just lie back and rest. You’re sure that
you’re going to heal?”

“
Yes. I’ve had
wounds like this one before and lived to tell the tale. Besides,
I’ve got to get well so that I can take care of Lucinda. Her scent
is all over the room, how did she ever think she was going to get
away with what she did to you? I’ll kill that bitch with my bare
hands.”

“
Ryan,” she
scolded. “Just focus on getting better. Is there anything I can do
to help you?”

“
Just stay with
me.”

“
I told you
before, I’m not going to leave you. I’ll stay with you for as long
as you need me.”

“
And I told you
that meant forever.” Her face flushed red while her heart fluttered
slightly in her chest. She smiled, her expression peaceful despite
their circumstances.

“
Lord Ryan?”
One of those surrounding them asked.

“
Yes.”

“
Are you sure
it’s wise for her to stay so close to you given your
condition?”

“
What’s that
supposed to mean?”

“
She came in
covered in your blood, there are pictures of hunters everywhere.
It’s clear why she’s rejected you, she’s a threat to your
safety.”

Ignoring the
stabbing pain in his stomach, Ryan forced his body into a sitting
position, his elongated canines bared, his amber eyes flashing with
menace. “Speak about my mate like that again and I’ll slit your
throat, tear out your heart and feed it to you before I rip your
head from your shoulders. My mate is innocent. Innocent and mine,”
he snarled.

“
I wouldn’t
hurt Ryan, not after what he did. He saved my life,” Chloe added,
wanting to prove her innocence.

“
Get out!” he
coughed. Blood spilled from his lips as his healing wounds reopened
and worsened. The blood drenching his bandages became thicker and
darker as he moved angrily about the bed. “If you entertain
thoughts of my mate harming me, you’re not to be trusted. Chloe is
my mate, I trust her with my life.”

“
Ryan, please
calm down. You’re only making your injuries worse. You won’t get
better like this.”

“
They’re
insulting you Chloe. I can’t let that stand.”

“
You heard
him,” she shouted, desperate to get him to calm down and relax.
“Leave!”

“
You’re sure
Lord Ryan?”

“
If you
question my mate’s intentions once more, I don’t care how injured I
am, I’ll make good on my earlier words.”

“
Of course my
lord.” The room quickly emptied as those who had been assisting
Ryan left, leaving Chloe and him alone.

Chloe quickly
raced into action, rushing into the bathroom and filling a bowl
with water. Returning to Ryan’s side, she sat at the edge of the
bed, gently dipping a flannel into the water and running the damp
material across the seam of his bloodied lips. “Why did you do this
to yourself Ryan?” she groaned, moving the material down the strong
column of his neck and wiping the dirt and grime away from the skin
there. “His words couldn’t hurt me. There was no need to make your
injuries worse over them.”

“
I can’t help
myself when I comes to you. I don’t want anyone saying a bad word
about you. You’re my own personal angel.” He winced as she wiped
around the large bandage, touching the tender flesh.

“
I don’t
understand how you can feel that way about me, I’ve done nothing
but reject you since I got here. Those guys had genuine reason to
be concerned, I’ve assaulted you on several occasions.”

“
That’s just
part of who you are and I wouldn’t change a thing about you. You’re
fiery, passionate, not a push over, all the qualities you need to
be my mate. I’m not the easiest person in the world to have as a
mate. I don’t always think things through, I’ll do things to make
you angry, I’ll make mistakes but at the same time no one in the
world could want you more, love you more than me. If you weren’t
who you are, how you are, you would never be able to put up with me
throughout the years. Chloe, I’m sorry about your things. I’d love
to be able to say that I’ll never do anything to make you upset
again, but mates don’t lie to each other so I can’t give you the
pretty words that would reassure you. All I can give you is my
solemn vow that I’ll try.” He lifted his hand, raising it to cup
her cheek, pleasantly surprised when she laid her own hand gently
over his.

She smiled
warmly at him. “You’re an idiot you know?”

“
Yes.”

“
You may be an
idiot but you’re my idiot. Whenever you mess up I’m going to give
you hell so you’d better try damn hard.”

“
Does this mean
I’m forgiven for you know…what I did?”

“
I miss my
things that fact hasn’t changed.” He groaned. “But, I can’t believe
I’m saying this aloud, I think I’d miss you more if you died. I owe
you my life, thank you for saving me Ryan.”

“
It was my
pleasure. Whenever you call me, I’ll do my damndest to get to your
side. That I can assure you will never change.”

“
Much as you
might find enjoyment in saving me, I’m going to try my hardest to
ensure that I don’t get into situations where I need help like this
again. I don’t want you getting hurt on my account.”

“
Chloe?” he
whispered, his voice heated.

“
Yes?”

“
I really want
to kiss you. I’ve wanted to kiss you for days. I miss the feel of
your lips against mine, the way my blood heats when I see the flush
rise to your cheeks when I pull away, your breathy sighs. Can I
kiss you?” It went against almost everything within him to ask
permission to kiss his mate but while his wolf’s voice was
demanding he simply take what he wanted, Erica's words were still
at the forefront of his mind.
Ignore the
wolf’s advice,
he reminded
himself.

Her eyes
finally noted the predatory gleam in his half closed eyes and just
as he described she could feel a flush rising to her cheeks, this
time in anticipation. She too had missed his warm lips, his heated,
passionate kisses that said without words how much he wanted her,
how much he cared for her. Her body temperature spiked, arousal
filling her as her body thrummed in excitement. Ryan’s brown eyes
became flecked with amber as he breathed in the heady scent of her
arousal but he remained still, wanting her to agree to this kiss.
“Yes,” she breathed.

Her head
lowered, her lips gently touching his. Despite his passionate
words, the kiss was gentle rather than overpowering. Their lips
moved slowly over each other’s, Ryan’s lips offering another,
silent, apology while Chloe’s accepted all he gave, offering
forgiveness. The heat that filled Chloe’s body whenever Ryan
touched her moved languidly through her now, ebbing and flowing to
reach and cover every inch of her body from the tips of her toes to
the ends of her hair. She sighed contentedly against him, wishing
that she could get closer but fully aware of the extent of his
injuries. They parted slowly, reluctantly. Chloe’s hand rose to her
lips, gently running her thumb over the tender flesh. The soft kiss
had moved her, solidifying her belief that she was doing the right
thing.

“
I wish I could
do more,” Ryan groaned. “But given my condition this is all I can
manage. When I get better…”

“
You’ve got a
long road ahead of you before you’re fully recovered.”

He chose not
to contradict her, he would be healed in days not the weeks she
likely thought he needed. “But you’ll stay with me for the
journey.”

She smiled
warmly at him. “Of course Ryan, of course.”

Chapter Thirty
One

Ryan woke
with a start, his eyes flying open as pain flooded his system.
Sleep had kept him blissfully unaware but now he was awake, his
mind was fully aware of the damage that his body had taken. The
pain was sharp and steady, stunning his freshly conscious mind. The
events of yesterday came flooding back to him and he took a deep
steadying breath, bracing his body against the pain. As he inhaled,
he tried to move only to find that his movement was once again
restricted. There was something weighing down on his arm and as he
turned to look at the obstruction, a smile crept onto his face
despite the pain. True to her word, Chloe hadn’t left his side, her
body slumped over his arm while her hand held tightly to his own.
Looking at his own personal angel, the pain became bearable, the
sacrifice of his flesh well worth the unexpected outcome. His mate
had forgiven him, accepted his touch while she agreed to stay by
his side. Life was good.

His attempts
to move had dislodged Chloe from her slumber and her eyelids
fluttered open, stunning violet eyes staring intently at him. “Good
morning,” she smiled sleepily; stretching her arms above her head
as she tried to remove the kinks from her body that sleeping in
such a position had resulted in. Ryan watched with eager eyes as
her high, full breasts were pushed further into his line of sight,
a thin line of flesh on her stomach exposed to his
scrutiny.

This is how
mornings should be,
he decided.
Calm and peaceful with Chloe relaxed in my
presence.

“
How are you
feeling today?” she asked before proceeding to answer her own
question. “What a stupid thing to ask, you were speared through the
stomach and have a huge hole in your body.”

“
Actually,” he
corrected gently. “I’m feeling much better. Not one hundred percent
but much, much improved.” An eyebrow rose in disbelief and Ryan
laughed in response. “You can check if you don’t believe
me.”

Her eyes
wandered to the blood soaked bandages around his middle. “I suppose
I should change your bandages. It might be difficult to manage
alone but I think I can do it.”

“
I’ll help,” he
offered, pulling himself into a sitting position. The change in
position sent a lance of pain through him but he gritted his teeth,
unwilling to show Chloe any unnecessary weaknesses.

“
You didn’t
have to move,” she scolded though internally she was thankful for
this new position, as it would make her task much easier. “I’m just
going to get some clean water so I can clean you up a bit once the
bandages are off.” Picking up her already used bowl she walked into
the bathroom, emptying it and washing it before refilling the bowl
with warm water. A new, clean flannel in hand, she walked back into
the bedroom to sit at Ryan’s side once more.

“
Are you sure
you’re up to this?” he asked. “It won’t be pretty. If you’re
squeamish it’s better to just leave it alone. Sebastian or Tobias
would be more than willing to do it for you.”

“
I told you
that I was going to help you get better and I meant it. I can do
this Ryan. I want to do this for you. Besides, after what I saw
yesterday, squeamish sort of went out of the window. I don’t think
it can get much worse.”

“
If you feel
even the slightest bit lightheaded stop. Okay?”

“
Yes, but I’m
telling you I’ll be fine.” Pulling herself further onto the bed,
she reached for the edge of the bandages and began unwrapping the
wound. The red cloth fell discarded to the bed, exposing the extent
of Ryan’s injuries and Chloe gasped in shock. The wound, which had
spanned almost the width of his torso, was now no bigger than her
outstretched palm.

Noting the
look of disbelief on his mate’s face, Ryan’s smile widened. “I told
you that I’d heal.”

“
But you didn’t
say anything about it being this fast. Are you still in
pain?”

“
Yeah. Don’t
let my healed flesh deceive you; regenerating organs isn’t a
pleasant task. It hurts like hell.”