Page 161 of Rough and Rugged

“He was struck by lightning while flying. Most likely fell from the sky, face first into the mountain.” I gently laid him back down, readjusting the blanket covering his lithe body. “Add some more morphine, he’s going to need it.” I said and Rodes nodded.

“There’s nothing else you can do for him?” Rodes asked as he added the extra morphine to his IV.

“No, now he just needs to rest and let his body heal.” I sighed, while turning to walk out. “I’ll be back in a bit to check on him.”

Chapter Three

Julian

Gaspingawake,Igroanedfrom the severe pain running through my entire body. “Fuck.” I whispered, my voice hoarse. How long had I been out? I looked around the small room I was in. I was alone and hooked up to several machines. Why hadn’t I healed?

After about a half hour of lying there, a human man came in, “Oh good, you’re awake, and the swelling has gone down on your face! We were worrying.” I looked at him. Most men, even human, were bigger than me, and this one was no exception. He was buff and at least twice my age, a total silver fox. The man watched me for a second before he spoke. “Oh, where are my manners? I’m sure you’d like some water?” I nodded, and he hastened out of the room and was back within moments with a typical plastic hospital mug filled with water.

I drank it down in one breath and the man grabbed it from me, before he was gone again. “Here,” he said, as he came back in with it refilled. “I’m Sheriff Rodes but everyone calls me Ro or Rodes. How’s the throat? Can you talk? What’s your name?”

After drinking half the water, I nodded. “I’m Julian.” I answered, my voice cracking embarrassingly, “Hi Julian, nice to meet you, now that you’re awake I’ve got a couple of questions to ask.” He started, but was interrupted by my door opening.

My heart leaped into my throat as Gunnar walked through the door, looking just as sexy as he did ten years ago. Though his shaggy brown hair was the standard typical military buzz cut and he had a decent sized beard now. Impossible, I must have been hallucinating from the fall. At least I thought I was, until Gun’s eyes met mine. “Jules? Oh, my fucking God! You fell from the fucking sky! What the fuck were you thinking?!” I flinched away from him as he yelled, and he came closer with his arms waving. His demeanor softened as he saw my scared face. “Ugh, fuck. Jules, I’m sorry.”

“You know each other?” Rodes asked, looking between us. Then I realized what Gun had said about falling from the sky and I looked in fear at them. “Oh,” Rodes waved between us, “I know all about shifters and dragons but I’ll let you two talk.” He nodded at Gun and walked out the door, closing it behind him.

Gunnar grabbed the chair from the corner of the room and grabbed my left hand, which was the better of the two, but still bruised, before he sat next to me. “Dammit Jules, what happened? I mean, I know you fell from the sky but tell me why the fuck you’re covered in years old fractures. What happened after I left?” he asked softly, stroking my hand with his thumb.

“I presented as an omega and dad lost it, started heavily drinking and beating me for not being an alpha like him. Did you not talk to your mom? She left two years later, after he broke her wrist.” I asked hesitantly.

Gunnar growled and swore under his breath, “No. After joining the army, I lost contact with mom and when I finally got home her number didn’t work. So I assumed she didn’t want me anymore.”

I squeezed Gunnar’s hand as hard as I could, “Gun, listen to me. Your mom protected me for as long as she could, but I begged her to leave after dad hurt her. We got close, she missed you every day. She told me so.”

“Thank you, Jules.” Gunnar brought my hand up to kiss my knuckles, making me blush and my cock twitch. “What happened after mom left?” he asked, seemingly unaffected by kissing me.

“Umm, well, I was stuck until my eighteenth birthday. When I first shifted and finished high school, I went to college and got an accounting degree.” I said softly, “I didn’t talk to dad after that. He passed away a year ago after driving his car into a tree, drunk, of course.”

“Have you been alone this whole time?” He hedged.

“No, I met an alpha in college and was with him up until. Wait, how long have I been passed out?” I asked.

“A day. Is that why you were flying in that storm? You just broke up with him?” Gunnar asked. I picked at the blanket covering me with my free hand and avoided Gunnar’s eyes, “Jules, tell me.” Gunnar demanded.

“My alpha kicked me out for not being able to get pregnant. Every time my heat would come and I wouldn’t get pregnant, he would beat me too. He was so nice before we moved in together, but once we did he expected me to start carrying right away.” I looked away and swallowed my tears.

Gunnar let go of my hand and turned my head back to look at him with a finger under my chin. “Tell me what he did, Jules.”

“Gunnar, you don’t want to know.” I pleaded.

“You need to tell me, or I’ll assume the worst.” Gunnar pleaded back, and I nodded, giving in.

“We were living together for six months when my first heat hit. He wanted to try, I said no. He said he didn’t care… and I think you can figure out what he did.” I said as I bit back the tears.

“He raped and forcibly knotted you?” Gunnar asked through gritted teeth, and I nodded. “What is his name?”

“Gunnar please, he’s moved on already. Well, I don’t know if you can call cheating on me with my best girl friend our entire relationship and knocking her up moving on, but…” I trailed off as Gunnar fumed.

“So, he kicked you out because you couldn’t get pregnant, and he knocked up another omega?” I nodded. “Why can’t I smell you, Jules?” Gunnar asked.

“You can’t? I really don’t know Gun, and I don’t know why I’m not healing.” I said, through tears.

“Usually when you can’t heal, and I can’t smell you, it’s because you’re on birth control.” Gunnar said, and I shook my head.

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