Healing Their Mate (The Love of a Shifter) (14 page)

“
Her hands are on fire,” Reece muttered.

“She will need some food then she needs to come back later and take out the other cancer.  It can wait until she has rested more, then Mary will be clean.”  Jansen instructed Reece and Jonas to carry River to the living room and feed her.  Jonas picked River up and walked out of the bedroom with her. 

The radio crackled, letting Reece know Levi was trying to contact him. 
“My Prime.”  Reece picked up the radio and answered.  “Did you see bright lights come out of the back window?” 

Reece smiled. 
“Yes, it was River.  I will tell you later what she did.  It was a miracle.” 

Reece looked back at Jansen who was standing beside the bed Mary was laying on. 

“Don’t worry, I will clean her up and watch over her,” said Jansen. 

Reece nodded then walked out of the room.  The big man cared a lot about people.  He may not smile or show emotions, but his actions
spoke loudly for him.  He didn't have to talk to let them know he cares.  Reece looked back as Jansen took the washcloth and wiped Mary’s forehead with the cool cloth. 

Jonas softly sat River on the couch then kissed her head before he walked over to the refrigerator and opened it. 
“She has leftover spaghetti in here.  I don’t even know if you like spaghetti,” Jonas said as he looked over at River.

“
I love her spaghetti.” 

Jonas grabbed the bowl out and took a plate out and dropped a lot of spaghetti out then placed it in the microwave to warm it. 

Reece came into the room and sat down beside River, picking her up and placing her into his arms.  Holding her close to his chest, he rubbed circles on her back as she relaxed in his arms. 

Jonas grabbed the hot plate out and grabbed some silverware then ran with it over to River. 
“Hear, baby, lift your head up and I will feed it to you.”  Jonas could see just how out of it she really was.  She had spent a lot of her energy on that first mass.

River pulled her head up as Jonas blew on the fork full of spaghetti then placed it in her mouth.  River chewed the spaghetti then waited for another bite.  She could feel her energy level coming back as she ate.  Jonas tried to feed her another bite when he finally looked up in her eyes. 
“Thank you for doing this for me.”  She looked back at Reece then smiled.  “I can’t repay you both enough for this.  I will never forget this.  I lov—”  River didn’t finish before she heard Mary calling her name out.  River jumped up and ran to the bedroom.  She swayed as she reached the bed.  She got up to quick.  Reece caught her before she hit the floor. 

“
I got you, baby,” Reece said as he laid her on the bed beside Mary.

Jansen had a wet washcloth in his hand rubbing the blood off Mary
’s hands.  He had already washed it off her face.  Mary smiled as she allowed Jansen to take care of her. 

River crawled up to Mary, holding her other hand as Jansen lightly rubbed the blood of
f her hand. 

“
Mary, this is Jansen Vega.”  River smiled as Mary looked over at Jansen, smiling up at him. 

“
Yes, he has been very kind to me,” Mary said with a smile.

River smiled wider as Jansen
’s face blushed from the compliment Mary gave him.  “I was so worried about you, Mary.  You’re coming home with me.”  River wiped the tears that were falling from her eyes.  “I took the biggest mass out of your stomach.  I need to heal the rest of you tomorrow.  Can you believe it, Mary, that I can do that?”

“
Of course, dear.  I knew you were special the first time I met you.  You can do anything.”  River smiled as she rubbed Mary’s hand over her cheek then kissed her hand.  Jansen gently placed Mary’s hand on the bed beside her then got up taking the washcloth into the bathroom.  Mary watched as Jansen walked to the bathroom carrying the washcloths he had used to wipe the blood from her head and hands.  “He was very gentle with me, River.  I will need to do something very special for him when I’m better.  He needs it.” 

River watched as Mary talked about Jansen as a mother would for her own child. 
“I think he would like that, Mary,” River replied to Mary who was still watching Jansen wash out the washcloths. 

“
I feel much better, River, but don’t you use too much energy.  I don’t want you wasting it on me,” Mary insisted. 

River shook her head as she smiled down at the woman.  River scooted up toward Mary
’s head.  “I think your head is much better now that the cut has closed,” River observed. 

Mary reached up to her head and felt where the cut was knitted back together. 
“Thank you for healing me.  Are these your men, dear?” 

River blushed before she lowered her head and whispered,
“Yes, ma’am.” 

Mary patted River
’s knee.  “Good I will need to speak to them later.  But they seem to care for you a great deal.  It can wait until later.”

“
We do, ma’am.”  Mary smiled as Reece and Jonas answered her.

“
I think you have one more cut right above your ear.  Can I close it too?” River asked as she examined Mary’s head.

Go ahead, dear.
” 

River blew out her breath then placed her hands on Mary
’s head.  As she placed it behind her head, Mary gasped from the pain.  River jerked her hands back.  “I’m sorry, Mary.” 

Jansen ran back into the room looking down at Mary with concern in his eyes. 

Mary whispered, “Don’t stop.  It’s just sore.  Go ahead, honey.” 

River hesitantly placed her hands gently on Mary
’s head again then closed her eyes.  She could feel her hands heat up as the white magic flowed out of her hands.  When she opened her eyes, River could see the small bleed in Mary’s head.  As the magic flowed to the area, Mary closed her eyes as she allowed the magic to heal her.  The white magic closed the area where blood was coming out and then traveled to the back of her head where it began the process of knitting her head back together.  River could see how the gash slowly closed as the magic healed Mary.  When the hole closed on Mary’s head, the white magic traveled back into River’s hands.  River got up and threw the magic out the window.  The blood fell onto the ground seeping into the grass and dirt. 

Jonas grabbed hold of River before she could fall to the ground.  He picked her up as she snuggled close to his chest.  Before he could get her outside, River was asleep. 

Mary watched as Jonas took the girl she thought of as her daughter out of the room.  “She seems happier than I have ever seen her.  The expression she wore is gone.  I guess I have you and the other man to thank for that.”  Mary looked up at Reece.

“
We love her and we plan to make her life happier than it has ever been,” Reece answered.  Mary nodded her head in thanks.

“
Mary, what do you want me to pack for you?” Reece asked.

“
I packed most of it already.  I think that is why I got so dizzy last night and fell, but the suitcases are sitting in my closet.  The rest is just stuff and I can get it later.”  Reece nodded then opened the closet door taking the five suitcases out. 

“
Thank you, young man, for loving my River,” said Mary. 

Reece turned around and smiled at Mary. 
“She is easy to love.”  Mary smiled as Reece walked outside with her suitcases. 

“
I’m going to pick you up and carry you to the van.”  When Jansen leaned down to pick her up, Mary placed her hand over Jansen’s heart. 

“
Thank you.”  Mary watched as Jansen smiled at her then gently picked her up.  Jansen carried her outside, placing her on the bed that had been made for her in the van.

River was asleep as Jonas held her in his arms.  Mary could tell that Jonas loved her and treated her
as if she was the most precious gift he ever had.

River blinked several times before she realized Reece was staring at her.  She looked around and found that she was lying in her bed at the Lodge.  She felt the warm arm tighten around her waist as she looked down seeing another arm hugging her.  She could feel Jonas behind her as he stretched.  She glanced down to see if she had clothes on and blew out a breath, realizing her clothes were still on. 

Reece laughed as he watched River check her body to make sure she had clothes on.  “We wouldn’t take advantage of you, baby, when you were passed out.  However, I did rub on you all night long.” 

River couldn
’t help but laugh at Reece’s teasing.  He arched his eyebrows up and down making her laugh louder.  She had never seen Reece like this.  He was relaxed and kidding her.  He was always so serious, but now he was funny.  She loved this Reece too.  The playful one.

River hit Reece on his arm. 
“You probably did.”  

“
I did, my love, and you were so warm.  You make these little sounds when you sleep that make me want to do wicked things to you.”  Reece looked down at his crouch so he could let River see what he was talking about. 

“
Reece.”  River pushed the laughing man away from her. 

Jonas pulled River back, laying her flat on her back then leaned over and lightly kissed her on the mouth.  Her hands grabbed hold of his hair, pulling him closer to her.  This was no ordinary kiss.  This kiss said
‘I want to fuck you hard’.

Out of instinct, Jonas pulled River under him as he licked the inside of her mouth until she couldn
’t breathe.  His hands were strong as they gripped her face.  Sliding his fingers into her hair, angling her head so he could taste every inch of her.  His tongue licked down her jaw to her neck.  Nipping at her skin then licking and kissing it until the pain evaporated.  “You drive me crazy,” Jonas whispered into her neck as River groaned.  

“
Then take me,” River moaned out.  She couldn’t think properly but she knew she wanted Jonas and Reece.  Before Jonas could rip her shirt open someone knocked on the door.  Jonas stopped and looked over at Reece who was enjoying watching River come unraveled.

Jonas rolled off River, allowing her to lean up. 
“Yes, who is it?”

“
It’s me, Ash.  Mary is asking for you.” 

River was up and off the bed before Jonas or Reece could grab her. 
“I will be there in a few minutes.  Is she okay?” River asked, concerned as she leaned against the door.

“
Yes, but I think she wants to see you.  Take a shower and get ready.  I will sit with her until you get there,” Ash replied through the door.

Leaning her head against the door, River muttered,
“I won’t be long.”  Pushing off the door, River looked back at her mates who were still lying in bed staring at her like she was the last loaf of bread on the shelf during a blizzard. 

“
I need to get ready and go see Mary.”  She waited for them to get mad and start pitching a fit about leaving them but no response came.  From the door she was leaning on, she looked back and forth from Reece to Jonas who were smiling.  “Why are you both smiling at me like that?”

“
Just admiring the view, baby,” said Reece grinning. 

River wondered when they would start trying to tell her what to do, but they just stared at her and smiled. 
“Okay.  I will only be a minute.”  River walked toward the bathroom when Jonas reached out and grabbed her, pulling her onto the bed with them.  Jonas and Reece looked down at her. 

“
Later.  We will pick up where we left off.”  They waited until River nodded.  Then Reece softly kissed her on the lips then Jonas kissed her.  The kiss only lasted a few seconds but their kisses promised more was yet to come.  Jonas picked her up and carried her into the bathroom.  “See you in a few, baby,” then he closed the door. 

River stood still until she heard the door close to her room.  They were so sweet to her.  They didn
’t push her to mate with them.  They just loved her.  Helping her get to Mary was something that brought more trust to her than anything they could have ever done.  The fire she felt for these two men was becoming unbearable.  River’s body shook as she thought about making love to her mates.  Taking off her clothes, she knew that whatever happened would blow her mind. 

*****

Ash opened the door before River could knock on it.  “Hey.  After you heal her more, we will go downstairs and eat so she can rest more.  That’s what Jansen said you needed to do.  Unless you tell me different.” 

River walked into a room filled with flowers.  Beautiful flowers were sitting in vases all around the room. 
“Wow.  These are beautiful.”  River walked over to the beautiful wild flowers sitting on the table. 

“
Can you believe all of this, River?  They have been coming in all morning from the clan and packs.” 

Quickly, River jerked around as she looked from Mary back to Ash.  She feared that someone would try to hurt her if Mary knew too much. 

“Oh, dear, I have known about shifters and vampires for a long time.  I had a childhood friend who was a werewolf.  We lost touch when her parents moved from the Island when we were ten years old.  She taught me so much before she left.  It was fascinating to hear all the stories,” Mary told them.

River finally took a good look at Mary.  She looked so much better then she did yesterday.  She had some color in her face now.  Her voice wasn
’t strained in pain.  She looked relaxed now as she lay in the bed.  “You knew…you knew that vampires and shifters existed.  You never said anything to me.”  Mary held out her hand to River.  She came and sat down beside Mary on the bed.

“
I knew you were trying to protect me and I didn’t want to pry if you didn’t want to tell me so I just let you think that I didn’t know.  I wanted to tell you that I understood, but I didn’t want you to worry any more then you already were.”  Mary placed her hand on River’s cheek.  “You’re not mad at me are you?” 

River smiled as she took Mary
’s hand.  Shaking her head no, River choked out, “I could never be mad at you.  You are my family.  I just wanted to protect you from them.  I would never forgive myself if they would have hurt you to get to me.” 

“
Oh, dear.”  Mary grabbed River’s hands and kissed them then rubbed circles over them trying to calm her. 

River nodded then placed her hands on Mary
’s stomach.  “Are you ready for me to finish healing you?  We have so much to catch up on and do.”

“
Yes, dear, I’m ready.  But don’t exert too much energy.  I won’t have you sick to fix me.”  Mary glared at her.  She knew that look.  Mary would never let River hurt herself to help her. 

“
Okay.  Ash can you open the window for me please.” 

Ash frowned, wondering what River was going to do with the window open. 
“Sure.”  Ash walked over to the window and opened it then the cold air rushed in.

“
Tell me, Ash, what is on this part of the building?  Is it concrete or grass and dirt?” River asked.

Ash stuttered but looked out the window to
check.  “It’s the back of the lodge where grass and dirt is, but right now it is snow.”

“
Great.  Thanks,” River replied.

Ash moved closer as River placed her hands over Mary
’s stomach.  Ash’s eyes widened as River’s hands glowed.  She moved closer trying to see what River was doing. 

River concentrated harder as the white magic glowed brighter surrounding the black mass.  Twisting her hand, River pulled the white magic up, taking the black mass out of Mary.  She got up and went to the window.  Ash was right beside her when she threw the black mass outside the window.  Ash gasped as the white magic scattered to the ground dripping down into the snow.  Ash looked back at River then back down at where the magic seeped into the ground. 

“You just took that out of her,” Ash stuttered out.  River smiled and nodded then went and sat down beside Mary again. 

“
How do you feel so far, Mary?” River asked as she rubbed her arm.

“
I feel wonderful, River.  It’s like a weight has been lifted from my body.” 

“
Well I’ve got one more mass then you should be cancer free.”  River placed her hand over the area she saw the last mass.  Closing her eyes, River concentrated as the magic flowed more freely out of her hands surrounding the black mass.  Without skipping a beat, River slowly pulled the mass out like she was pulling a rope up.  Grabbing the glowing magic, River walked to the window then threw it out into the snow. 

Again Ash was standing at the window watching in awe as the magic seeped into the ground. 
“Amazing, River.  You are simply amazing.” 

River stopped and stared at Ash. 
“Nobody has ever said anything like that to me.  I guess it helps when you can do stuff like this.  Your compliment means a lot to me.” 

Ash grabbed River and hugged her. 
“You look like you need a hug.  Amazing people need hugs too.” 

River smiled into Ash
’s shoulder as the woman hugged the breath out of her. 

“
Hey, you need to rest.”  Ash released River then walked over to where Mary had gotten off the bed.

“
I have spent too much time in a bed.  I want to get up and explore this Lodge.  I want to eat some good food and have a little fun.”  Ash and River laughed as Mary gave them her list of things she wanted to do.  “It’s my bucket list except I’m not dying anytime soon.  So I’m not wasting one more minute sleeping or lying in bed.” 

“
Well then let’s go eat some breakfast then.  The lodge has great breakfast,” Ash advised as she opened the door for Mary and River to walk out.  Mary grabbed her pocketbook and skipped out of the room.  Ash and River watched as the older woman actually skipped to the elevator.  They watched as she stopped long enough to look at herself in the mirror, fluff her hair, then give herself a wink.  Laughing as they watched the older woman, Ash and River walked toward the elevator.  “She is great, River.” 

“
Yep, she is.  She has been my everything since I met her.  She was my mother, sister, and friend all wrapped up into one tight bundle.  If I had lost her.”

“
But you didn’t, you saved her.  Be proud at what you can do, girl.  You are so special.  Live it and own it,” advised Ash. 

Ash and River walked out of the room watching Mary take her life back.  

“Woe, that really took it out of me.  I need to eat something,” River said as she grabbed the pole on the side of the elevator. 

“
Are you okay, do you need to lay down?” Ash asked concerned.  She grabbed hold of River’s arm in case she fell to the ground. 

“
No.  Just need to eat and eat a lot so I can regain my energy.  It takes a lot of energy to heal,” River explained.

“
Let’s go eat,” Ash said as she stood next to River watching her to make sure she didn’t fall down.