Page 94 of Savage Games

"Wyatt…"

It would be hard, trying to convince a pack that has been traumatised already, to accept a rogue into their tight-knit community.

"I won't pressure her," I continue, the words spilling out now that I've started."She has her sister to think about, and the pack she's won.It's a lot to take on without dealing with a mate she barely knows, especially one with my...reputation."

Maybe if I spend some time here, with the Reynolds's pack, people will forget I was once a rogue and be more forgiving.

I'll make sure Brad stays away from her.The second I'm out of here, before Blake even has the chance to send him to some distant, dark cell, I'll get rid of him forever.Then Naomi and her sister will be free.

Jax tries again."Seriously, you need to…"

The clinic door crashes open with enough force to rattle the medical equipment.

Naomi.

My mate stands in the doorway, breathless and disheveled, like she ran the entire way here.Her hair is a wild tangle around her face, her eyes wide and slightly frantic.

She's wearing the same clothes as yesterday, rumpled from sleep, clearly having rushed here the moment she felt me wake.Despite her obvious distress, she's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

"You're awake," she breathes, relief and something else, anger perhaps, warring in her voice.

Before I can respond, she's across the room and throwing herself at me, arms wrapping around my neck with such force that pain shoots through my wounded back.

I don't give a shit.She's here, in my arms.Nothing else matters.

"I felt you wake up," she says against my neck, tingles firing across my skin wherever her lips touch."Through the bond.I came as fast as I could."

I hold her tightly, breathing in her scent and feeling the solid reality of her body against mine.This can't be a rejection.Not with the way she's clinging to me, like she's afraid I might disappear.

"I love you," she whispers, pulling back just enough to look into my eyes."I love you so much, you incredible, stubborn, ridiculous man."

Joy bursts in my chest, bright and overwhelming.But also confusion.Because she's not just happy, she's annoyed."Naomi…"

Her emotions fizz inside her, but I can't focus long enough because my tired brain is too slow to figure out what's going on.

"And I am so angry with you," she continues, her tone shifting abruptly as she pulls away to glare at me."What were you thinking?You were stabbed, Wyatt.With a silver knife coated in fucking wolfsbane.You should have told me."Her eyes glisten with tears as she balls her hands into fists at her side."And you."

She jabs a finger in Jax's direction, and he holds his hands up in surrender, looking sufficiently chastened to appease her.I have a feeling it's not the first time he's heard about that.

"I should have," I admit.

I felt bad about that.She was always going to feel guilty when the true extent of my injuries were revealed.If I'd died, she would never have forgiven herself.

"You should have been in a hospital, not climbing mountains and fighting alphas."Her tone is soft now as she reaches for my hand, concern replacing her anger as the overriding feeling floats to me down the bond.

Taking her hand in mine, I brush my thumb over her silky skin and watch her eyes sparkle as my touch does something to her.

Eyes narrowing, I suddenly notice a thin red line across her palm that I hadn't seen before."You're hurt," I say, all thoughts of my own injuries vanishing as I gently turn her hand over in mine.

She blinks, glancing down at the tiny cut."It's nothing.Just a scratch from the run."

It should be healed by now.It's been eighteen hours.

"It's not nothing," I insist, cradling her hand like it's made of glass.I bring her palm to my lips, placing a soft kiss beside the cut."You should have this cleaned.It could be infected.Jax, give her some of that ointment."

Jax scowls at me."No.That's for emergency use only."

I growl at him, and Naomi pokes at me to stop, staring in disbelief."Are you serious right now?You're literally in a hospital bed with a poisoned stab wound, yet you're worried about my paper cut?"

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