Page 23 of Threads of Fate

Gideon had no intention of letting the legal system handle doling out judgment. When the time comes, Gideon promises his wolf three things: blood in his mouth, bones beneath his jaws, and a beating heart in his hand.

But apparently, that will have to wait until he feeds his mate.

The steel door to the hospital is still lying on the ground, with an enormous foot-sized dent in it and a high-pitched buzzsounding from the security system that’s annoying the fuck out of his wolf.

“Remind me not to get in your way when you’re mad. Fuck. Also, it’s so hot. You think Riordan will make us pay for that?” Stepping around the door, they start the ten-flight walk up together. Still hand in hand.

Chapter Nine: Jay

Jay

Jay plans to leave his mates in the capable hands of Chef Gideon, who’s working on doling out sandwiches and pre-cut fruit. Gideon had been off since his breakdown, but Leo had reassured him they had it under control.

Jay trusts Leo to tell him if he has anything to worry about. He doesn’t have to be privy to every single thing going on under their roof, but it is comforting to know they have it covered. Whateveritwas. He’s just happy Gideon is okay for now.

Grayson tries to make him eat a little something before he sees Nix, but his stomach is already in a state of rebellion. Before he can sneak off, though, Luca climbs him like a tree and scents him within an inch of his life. It works like a charm because Jay leaves the room smelling like mocha and love.

Nix’s ICU room is immediately beside the hall from the waiting room. He can hear the steady beeps of the machines and the whoosh of the respirator as it pushes life-giving oxygen into Nix’s damaged lungs. In the far corner of the room is his dedicated ICU nurse. She’s busy at her desk in the corner, typing on a tablet and recording some data from her monitors when she meets his gaze with sympathy. He has yet to look at Nix, and she seems to understand how hard it will be.

“Hi, Jay, right? I’m Hannah. I’m one of Nix’s designated care providers. I’ll be here for another hour, and then we’ll make ashift change. Do you want to come in? He’s resting now. I can answer questions you might have, too.” Her kindness makes tears prick his eyes.

“Can I sit with him? I don’t want to hurt him.” The pain in his chest is so strong now that he rubs at it, the fear buzzing in his head louder and louder.

Why can’t he look at his mate?

“Of course. The research says he can hear you. So, talk to him, too. His right side is actually pretty good, so I’ve pulled a chair over if you want to sit there.” She pauses, “It’s okay to be scared, but he’d be happy to know his family is here. I’ll give you a minute. Take your time.”

When she heads back to her desk, Jay’s eyes are finally drawn to Nix. Like he had when they’d brought him in from surgery, the bond snaps into place. Stronger than it had been nine years ago when they’d been kids. Stomach in his boots, he gingerly takes Nix’s wrist in his hand. He rubs the small patch of undamaged skin and tries to find Nix’s sweet scent underneath the blood and antiseptic.

Jay shifts closer, positioning himself to press his nose to Nix’s wrist. There it is—amidst the stormy mix of thunder, cinnamon, basil, mocha, black currant, and spicy rum—a faint, unmistakable hint of vanilla. The scent breaks him. A gasping sob tears through the room, raw and loud, as Hannah quietly slips out into the hall.

“Hey, baby boy. I’ve missed you so much.” Jay’s voice cracks and he lets the tears flow. “I’m not going anywhere now. You’re safe. Don’t try to wake up; the doctor says you need to sleep for a bit. But when you’re ready, I want to introduce you to the others. They love you already. I—” Jay sobs, “I told them all about you, Sunshine. I’m going to fix everything.” Jay puts his head on the mattress, nose pressed to Nix’s wrist, praying for the first time in his life.

No one asks Jay to leave the room, and the nurses move around him. Hannah says she will be in the next day at 7:00 AM, and her nursing partner, Yasmine, is just as nice. They work around him to change the four bags of various fluids, including some enhanced nutrition, morphine, and whatever keeps Nix in a coma. His vitals are stable, and Jay texts Finn to say that they can start coming in one at a time.

Finn comes first, and he is uncharacteristically timid, but Yasmine is having none of it. She hands him the tablet so he can review Nix’s vitals for himself and even gives him her stethoscope so he can perform an examination. He does so, explaining to Jay (and Nix) what he’s doing every step of the way.

Jay is overwhelmed with pride and gratitude that they have Finn. When he’s done and returns the equipment to Yasmine, he climbs into Jay’s lap, much to her teasing enjoyment. Face red, he then tells Nix all about what their family is up to in the waiting room.

“I’ll be back soon, Nix. See you soon.” He lifts Nix’s wrist to his nose and presses a small kiss there while inhaling deeply. “I think Luca is next.”

“Okay. Proud of you, puppy.”

“Jay!” Finn admonishes when Yasmine snorts. “Not a word out of you, please, Yaz.”

Luca is holding a blanket when he comes around the corner. Jay can tell it’s been heavily scented by the pack as he places it gently over Nix’s legs and takes Finn’s place in Jay’s lap.

“I know he can’t smell it, but it makes us feel better. Like if he can’t be in the nest, we’ll bring it to him.” Luca has yet to touch Nix, and Jay is surprised. Luca is as tactile as they come.

“You can touch him on this side, baby.”

“I’m afraid to hurt him any more than he already is and…he can’t tell me ‘no.’ Ya know?”

He’s not wrong.

“He’s had that taken away from him already. I don’t want to make it worse. That seems important.” Luca brings Jay’s hand up and rubs it against his cheek, soothing them both. Jay loves that Luca is so attuned to his instincts, and it makes him smart about people, too.

“Nix was always really happy to hold hands. You wouldn’t mind that, would you, Nix? I think he’d be okay if you touched him here, just to say hello. If you want?”

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