Page 100 of Baseball and Shifters

“No.” Derrick's voice is firm, but not cruel, as he places a hand on Bas’s chest, halting his movements. “If we move her too fast and she’s bleeding internally we’ll…”

“She needs warmth. She needs us,” I say, adjusting her slightly in my arms.

As if in answer, Rachel lets out a small whimper. Her eyes flutter open for just a moment, finding mine.

“I’ve got you,” I whisper again. “You’re safe now.”

A soft rumble of engines reaches us a moment later. We must be closer to the road than I thought. Through the woods on the other side of the shack where they imprisoned my mate, I see movement. Seconds later, two paramedics come out of the woods and into the clearing carrying supply bags and a back board.

Demi waves them forward. “Keep it quiet, boys. She’s been through enough already.”

The paramedics approach, one quickly starting and IV in her arm while the other scans her with a glowing stone. I’ve never been more thankful for witches or their healing magic than I am in this very moment.

“She’s stable,” the one with the stone confirms, “but we need to get her to the shifter wing at Elderview Medical. There doesn’t seem to be anything preventing you from carrying her to the ambulance but I’m afraid only one of you can ride with us.”

Rachel’s fingers tighten in my shirt.

“I’m going,” I say, and no one argues.

Derrick nods. “We’ll be right behind you. Go.”

The ride is a blur. Low murmured voices, the steady beeping of monitors, the hum of magic. I barely register any of it. All I know is that Rachel is alive, and I’m not letting her go.

By the time we reach Elderview Medical’s shifter wing, she’s drifting in and out of consciousness. The medics move quickly,lifting her onto a gurney and wheeling her inside. I walk beside her the whole way, fingers wrapped around hers like a lifeline.

A head healer takes over, scanning her for injury and any harmful magic. “Sedatives, yes. But it appears they didn’t use any kind of spellwork or enchanted items. She’s bruised, dehydrated, and exhausted. But she’s going to be okay.”

Those words have me taking my first full breath since I first found out Rachel was missing.

They clean her up gently, using healing magic on the deeper bruises and threading a steady flow of restorative magic through her system. I don’t leave her side. I don’t even blink unless I have to.

The guys arrive just as they finally clear her for release. She’s dressed in a too large set of hospital scrubs making her look small and too pale. Her lips are dry, and there’s a fading bruise at her temple that makes my stomach turn. Even her hair, usually glossy and dark, is limp, tangled from stress and sleep. We crowd around her and offer her as much comfort as we can.

She looks up at me with sad eyes and reaches for me with grabby hands that damn near break my heart. “I want to go home now. Please.”

“I’ve got you,” I whisper, scooping her up as carefully as I can.

Her arms go around my neck, her forehead pressing to my shoulder like she’s finally letting go of the last bit of tension still locked in her muscles.

I carry her out of the hospital, giving the doctors and nurses evil eyes when they tell me hospital protocol dictates she leave in a wheelchair. I don’t give a fuck about hospital rules. I’m not letting my mate go.

Demi’s warm, authoritative voice fills the hall, but I don’t hear what he says. My sole focus is on my mate, the rest of the world ceasing to exist as I devote a hundred percent of my attention to her. I don’t know if it's my 'fuck off' aura or whatever Demi said,but no one else tries to stop me as I walk out the front door into the cool early evening air.

The walk to the car is silent, as Demi leads the way, Derrick walking behind me and Bas and Lucas on either side of me, forming a shield protecting our mate from the world. Lucas opens the back door of the large, black SUV and I slip in, holding Rachel in my lap. I scooch us to the middle seat as Bas and Lucas get in on either side of us and Derrick takes the front seat next to his dad.

Lucas is the first to touch Rachel and again, I feel something in the bond. It gets stronger when Bas puts his hand on her. Derrick twists to face us, stretching out his hand to touch Rachel too, needing that physical connection to prove she’s here and safe. The bond flares brighter than in the forest and I know I’m not the only one who feels it. Rachel hums as she nuzzles her face into my chest. The car is silent as we all drink our mate in. Until Demi bursts our bubble.

“She’s going to have to talk to the authorities. I can’t hold them off forever.”

“She’s in no condition-” I snarl lowly.

“I wasn’t sayingnow.I’ve already told them they’ll have to wait until at least tomorrow. They’ve agreed to give her the night to recover, but they expect to see her in the Dean’s office tomorrow.”

“They’ll be seeingall of usin the Dean’s office tomorrow,” Bas says, voice brokering no argument.

“I thought you’d say as much.” Demi smirks in the rearview mirror. “I reminded them as bonded mates, the four of you are legally authorized to be there. There won’t be any problem with you all staying with her. I’ll make sure of that,”

“Good,” we say as one.

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