Page 5 of Bonds of Fate

How dare he. “No.” This time, he means it.

Gideon flicks the fan on, the sudden hum piercing Nix’s ears, but at least the noise drowns out the strangers’ voices. Maybe they’ve gone. Maybe he scared them away? The fan also clears some of his angry scent, dulling the intensity in the small room.

Gideon leans his back against the door, his steady presence a wall Nix doesn’t want to push past. Slowly, Nix sinks onto the toilet lid, tense and bristling. “Breathe with me,” Gideon says, his voice low and even.

Gideon takes Nix’s hand and places it on his diaphragm. “Match my breathing, kitten. In. Out.” Nix focuses on the feeling of Gideon’s firm abdomen and the cadence of his breath.

He sees the shadow of footsteps retreating beyond the door and guesses it must be Jamie. The rush of fear and possessive anger ebbs slowly, leaving behind a creeping unease. It’s terrifying to realize he’s lost control of himself twice in as many days.

“This fucking sucks. What was that? Who is out there, and why did I want to murder them in the living room and ruin Gray’s decor with their entrails?”

“Ha. Maybe your wolf is still feeling a bit touchy. It’s the doctor who treated you in the ICU; he’s a family friend, and because he didn’t see you before we left, he wants to check in with you today.” He grabs Nix’s hand. “We should have warned you yesterday, but the day flew by, and we forgot. Do you think you want to say hello? So he knows you’re okay?”

That’s a good question. Does he want to go out there now that he knows they’re a friend, not foe? The better question is: can he?

“He’s nice?” Nix asks, his voice tentative, trying not to let his worry about hurting someone overwhelm him. Has he really wrangled his wolf under control?

“Riordan works with Finn, and Jay has known him for a long time. He’s part of the reason you’re still here. We’re so grateful for that. That can’t be bad, eh?”

If Nix needs a checkup and Riordan is already here, then it only makes sense to do it, especially if he is a friend of the pack.

“Is he alone? I heard voices. More than one.”

“He actually brought Ewan. He’s an orthopedic surgeon who…uh…did some of your surgery when you were brought in. They’re a pack like we are.” Nix detects Gideon is unhappy aboutthe extra guest, and his rainstorm scent is less rain and more thunder.

There’s a quick knock, and Gideon raises his eyebrows in a silent question:can you do this?

Nix can be brave and gives a curt nod. “Will you stay with me?

“Sure will, kitten.”

Turns out, it’s Finn on the other side of the door. Together, the three of them make the short walk to the living room, each holding one of Nix’s hands. He’s determined to stand tall, refusing to look like they’re dragging him along like a recalcitrant toddler.

Both newcomers are standing by the couch. The shorter of the two, with smooth, dark skin and close-cropped curls, is checking something under Jamie’s shirt. His calm smile and warm amber eyes should have been reassuring, but Nix’s wolf doesn’t care.

A low growl slips out, a warning to the other wolf to stay away from his alpha. His mate, a taller, red-haired man with fair skin and soft brown eyes, places a steadying hand on Riordan’s shoulder, their movements unhurried and in sync. Thankfully, most of Nix’s pack has been shuffled outside or back upstairs, and Nix is happy not to have too many moving parts to worry about or witnesses to his freak-out.

“Hello, Nix, I’m Dr. Riordan Kennedy, and this is my mate, Dr. Ewan Campbell. I’m glad to meet you. Please call us Riordan and Ewan if you like.” They both smile encouragingly at him in that distant way doctors have. Neither newcomer mentions his earlier outburst, which is kind but weird.

Nix nods, unable to make his face smile without baring his teeth. “Thank you for saving me. Jamie, are you all right?”

Jamie pulls his shirt down again, and not for the first time since he woke up, he wonders what he missed out on. Nixcouldn’t remember if he’d been hurt in the SUV or even in the hot tub.

“I’m fine, Nix. Riordan was just checking a muscle thing for me. Do you think he could have a look at you now?”

Neither doctor smells like anything, and Nix can’t help but wonder how they manage that. It made his wolf suspicious. Dr. Campbell steps aside to where Gideon is standing to give his mate more room to work, while Dr. Riordan gestures for Nix to come closer.

“Would you prefer to do it here, or is there somewhere else you’d feel more comfortable? Do you want Finn, Jay, or Gideon to accompany you?”

It is a straightforward decision when he thinks he might have to leave Dr. Campbell alone with one of his mates or that the strange doctors might go deeper into his den and, worse–see his pack members when he wouldn’t be able to protect them. “Here is fine. Everyone can stay.”

Where I can see them.

Pulling out the tools of his trade, Riordan checks his blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature. “Things look good, Nix. Your temperature is a bit high for what I would expect from a newly transitioned beta. You don’t feel ill?”

What the fuck is a beta? Luca had called Jamie an alpha earlier, back when they were in the nest. Nix won’t ask, though—not if it risks making it seem like his pack has kept him in the dark. He refuses to show any weakness to an outsider.

“No, I feel good. Weird sometimes, but good. There’s so much I’m still learning; how can I know what’s normal?” Riordan’s eyebrows go up, but he nods.

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