Page 15 of Love in Excess

“No!” she snaps, stepping closer, her rose scent sharp with panic. “The last time, you almost died!”

I try to laugh, because I didn’t almost die. I was nowhere near close to dying but Celeste is always worried about losing me, even if she doesn’t voice that. Just as I’m about to say something, she bends down, searching my discarded pants for my phone. She’s already dialing a number as I reach out to swipe it from her, Celeste stepping out of the way.

“Hi, yes, can you come over? Hunter’s being stupid and needs a doctor.”

“Baby, who did you just call?” I ask, my heart sinking into my stomach. “I’m not dying.” There’s very few friends Celeste has outside of the precinct and even less where she knows their number by heart.

She hangs up and glares at me. “I called my Beta.”

I raise an eyebrow, a smile tugging at my lips despite the pain. “You can’t call him that. Not yet. Soon, though. He’s not ready.”

“He’smine,” she growls at me. “I know he’s mine.”

She’s not wrong but having her call Lincoln like that is a bit much for even me. I start to push myself up but I find Celeste pressing me back down, both hands on my shoulders. “No, you stay there. I don’t want you hurt any more.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She disappears down the hall and reappears with a pillow and a blanket, my beautiful Omega curling up on the rug by my feet. I want to say something, tell her that we can at least wait in the living room but one glare from her, her hand still wound tightly around my phone has me leaning back against the porcelain.

Well, shit.

LINCOLN

My heart’s in my throat as I tear through the park, Jasmine at my side, both confused and excited about wherever I’m dashing off to. I didn’t really expect to hear from Celeste again after she texted me the location of our date tomorrow and then let me know she was going to bed. Hearing her voice from an unknown number, though, has my heart racing.

I’m 99% sure that was Hunter’s voice but ‘dying’? Yeah, no. Not on my watch.

Which is why I didn’t even think. I just started running.

“Jazz, wait here, okay?” I tie up her leash on the bike rack before darting into a corner drugstore and grabbing a few basic things. If this won’t cover it, Hunter will have to go to the hospital so I’mhopinghe isn’t actually dying.

The second I’ve paid for the supplies, I dash down the street toward where Celeste led me earlier today. Jasmine whines beside me, sensing my unease but I can’t very well comfort her when my mind is running through a few impossible scenarios.

Fuck. Please be okay.

The house finally comes into view, my breath mere pants as I jog up to the door and pound on it. Celeste opens it a minute later, her face is twisted with worry, her eyes red like she’s been crying. But when she sees Jasmine, her expression softens, just for a second, and she kneels to ruffle her fur. “I was out with her,” I say, a little breathless, “and it would’ve taken too long to take her back. Where’s Hunter?” I hold up a bag and shake it, a little confused by how slow she’s moving.

“I’m sorry. He’s not dying. He was gonna be stubborn and patch it up himself, but he’s horrible at it,” she growls out as she stands back up, her hands fisted against her sides. “I don’t want to see him in the hospital again. He’s a bad patient.”

I snort, the sound slipping out despite the tension. Figures that the Alpha who catches my attention dodges hospitals. “Alright, I’ll take good care of him, sweetie.” My heart is still racing, though, because I have absolutely no idea what I’m walking into or why Hunter would be in such dire need of a doctor.

Leaving Jasmine by the door, I head for the bathroom, a tight smile on my face. “Jesus.” He’s sitting on the edge of the tub, only dressed in his boxers, his leg a mess of dried blood. That’s not as bad as I feared but it’s not just a quick clean either. “Hunter, I came as soon as I could. I can leave Jasmine outside, but I just—”

“No,” Hunter says, shaking his head. His dreads swing with the movement, his brown eyes meeting mine. There’s an exhaustion in his expression that wasn’t there yesterday as if whatever caused this wound took a lot more out of him thanhe planned. “Jasmine’s fine in here.” He turns to Celeste, who’s hovering in the doorway. “The doc is here, baby girl, okay? You good now?”

She glares at him, her scent sharp with anger, her gaze slowly narrowing at her Alpha but she gives him a quick nod. “Much better. I’m going to go play with Jasmine.”

That leaves me with Hunter as I try to understand what I’m looking at. Despite the blood and the strewn clothes, there’s also a poorly made nest on the rug, which means Celeste probably slept in here. I make note of it but don’t say anything, placing the first aid kit I bought on the floor before crouching in front of Hunter.

It takes me a few minutes to focus, distracted by the power rolling off this Alpha. Not to mention the chiseled chest I can’t tear my eyes away from, ink covering nearly every inch of skin. Most of my male partners have been filled out in some way but they didn’t exude the same confidence or raw energy that Hunter does. It’s a bit terrifying but also comforting. Like I want to lean into it.

Focus, Lincoln.

I drop my gaze to the gash on his leg and sigh. The wound’s ugly, a deep graze that’s torn the skin clean open. I’ve seen worse on the job, but not on someone I… care about. My hands pause as I recognize just what made this wound. “Does she know this came from a bullet?” I ask, keeping my voice low.

Hunter’s jaw tightens. “No, and I wasn’t gonna tell her. She doesn’t do well when I get hurt. Hence the reason she didn’t think twice before calling you.”

“She called from your phone,” I mumble, not really looking for an explanation or confirmation.

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