Page 70 of Shadow

I stepped forward, and the men instinctively moved aside, making space.

I took King’s free hand, my fingers curling around his. His grip was firm but not painful, and slowly, he released Axel’s wrist.

“I don’t think he wants an injection,” I said softly, meeting Axel’s skeptical gaze.

The doctor exhaled heavily but didn’t argue, instead setting the syringe aside. “Fine. But this won’t be comfortable.”

I glanced down at King, his eyes still locked on mine. “I think we’ll manage.”

Axel shot me a frustrated look, his lips pressing into a thin line. “I really don’t want to lose my head or risk him attacking you when I cut into that shoulder.”

“He’s fine,” I said confidently, giving King’s enormous hand a reassuring squeeze. “I’ll keep his mind off what you’re doing.”

Throughout the procedure, I kept talking to King like Axel and the rest of his men weren’t in the room. “You know, I really enjoyed the cove,” I said casually. “Though getting shot just so I’d feel sorry for you was a bit much.”

Axel glanced at me with an indescribable look, half incredulous, half exasperated, but I didn’t stop.

“And that sandwich? It could’ve been more filling. I’m starving. Next time we go on a picnic, I’m handling the food.”

A low sound, almost like a stifled laugh, escaped from one of the men in the room.

Beck caught it instantly, pointing at the unlucky Shadow Warrior with a sharp grunt and a finger aimed at the door. The man scrambled out without argument.

I flashed Beck a quick smile, but he didn’t react, his expression remained hard as stone.

I kept chattering, my words filling the tense air as Axel worked. He cut a small incision at the bullet’s entry point, then pressed around the wound until the lead slid free. It was surprisingly smooth, and forceps were unnecessary.

Once the wound was cleaned, Axel wrapped it tightly with gauze. Before he finished, a commotion erupted at the door.

Two Shadow Warriors stumbled in, supporting a third between them.

“Hellhound attack,” one of them said.

Axel nodded, his face hardening as they carried the injured Warrior into a smaller room. He finished King’s bandage and followed them, leaving me alone with King and Beck.

The mention of hellhounds lingered in my mind, gnawing at me. I had managed to push their threat out of my thoughts for a short time, but the reality kept creeping back in. I also couldn’tstop thinking about the men who had tried to kill us. They didn’t just want King dead. They wanted me dead too.

Beck stepped forward, sliding a chair toward me with a faint grimace. “Here,” he said stiffly.

Before I could take it, King’s growl rumbled through the room.

“I’m just making her comfortable,” Beck said quickly, raising his hands in mock surrender. “No touching.”

King growled again, his eyes narrowing, but his focus shifted. “Get her food,” he commanded, his tone leaving no room for debate.

Beck nodded and moved toward the door but didn’t leave. The two men who had carried the injured Shadow Warrior entered and stood at attention.

With King’s clarity returning, I realized he had been listening to me while the doctor worked on him.

“I made all of that up,” I admitted with a small grin as his hard gaze locked onto mine. “You think you’re so tough in this form, but really, you’re just a big baby.”

King growled low in his chest, the sound reverberating through the room as he pulled on my hand, drawing me closer.

The men tensed, their attention snapping to us as King reeled me in slowly, his massive snout brushing against my throat as he inhaled deeply. My pulse quickened, but not from fear. Somehow, I knew he wouldn’t hurt me.

Before I could process what was happening, my cheek was pressed against his chest. His claws slid gently around my back, resting there with surprising restraint. His chest, covered in soft fur, was warm and impossibly muscular, different from the man’s strength, and even more powerful.

Being pressed against him in the room’s light, I fully realized how massive he was in this form. His other hand, resting on the bed, was easily double the size of his human one,the claws long and wickedly sharp. And yet, even with their lethal appearance, they didn’t scare me either.

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