Page 34 of Rejected Nanny Mate
“Of course,” Vernon said, jumping into the driver's seat.
I helped Joe back inside the truck and then scooted him over so that I could sit next to him, holding his hand. He squeezed it once and gave me a smile.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“Don't thank me,” I murmured, leaning in and letting him press his face against my neck. It was so painfully intimatethat I should have pulled away and put some space between us, but having him touch me was bringing me back from the edge. Slowly, ever so slowly, the tension inside me eased, and my chest opened up once more, letting my lungs fully expand. “Thank you. You saved my life.”
Joe closed his eyes and relaxed, his lips moving lightly against my throat. “Always.”
Chapter 13 - Joe
It was a battle to hold onto consciousness during the drive home, but Gwen kept close to me, and I took solace in the warmth of her body and the knowledge that she was safe.
I'd taken the full brunt of the surge's magic, but it was worth it to know she was okay.
My men had seen the worst of the damage, and I knew it made them wonder what exactly had gone down. It would probably cause some rumors and speculation, but I could live with that. I'd told all of them, point blank, that they were to leave Gwen the hell alone. She wasn't a danger. She was my savior.
Just how she saved me, that warm, blissful magic, was still a mystery, but one we had time to solve later.
As Vernon pulled us into the driveway, he got out as if to help me into the house, but I held up a hand to stop him. “Gwen, go inside. I'll be right in. I need to talk to my wolf.”
She looked unsure. “But are you...?”
“I'm fine,” I assured her. “Go. Please.”
She nodded and hurried off, and Vernon stood there, shifting awkwardly.
“Get out of here,” I growled. “Go home and spread the word. Gwen's not going anywhere, and she's not a threat. Anybody who has a problem can deal with me. Got it?”
“Yes, sir.”
I raised myself to my full height, hiding the wince of pain from the gnarly rib and chest wounds. “And if I ever hear you trying to stir shit again, especially when I'm not even awake togive my opinion, then you'll be kicked to the bottom of the pack or worse. You understand me?”
Vernon gulped and nodded. “Yes, Alpha.”
“Now go.”
He all but ran back to his truck, and I took a moment to breathe. It was the first time in hours that I'd managed to calm down and really assess my situation.
My ribs and chest hurt like a bitch. Every movement caused pain, and I was pretty sure the magic had actually shattered some bone. Healing would be a long process, and a painful one, but if I had Gwen and her newfound powers to help, then I'd have a fighting chance.
I wasn't sure where the magic had come from, but the surge had hit me, and somehow, her power had manifested, and she'd been able to pull it together enough to heal me. It was the only thing that made sense, though why it hadn't come sooner was beyond me.
Not that it mattered. I didn't have a lot of opinions on witches, but Gwen was the best thing that had happened to my kid, and that was all I cared about.
With Rose on my mind, I sent Scott a message, letting him know that I would be late picking her up. For the moment, everything was settled.
Except for the Omega in the house, who was waiting on me.
I found her at the dining room table, where she'd gathered glasses of ice water, the first aid kit, and an odd collection of snacks that she seemed to have grabbed in a hurry. She was halfway through a granola bar, looking like she'd been hit by a truck, when she saw me enter the room.
“Joe,” she breathed, relieved, as if she hadn't just seen me. “You need to sit down. Eat something. Drink. Gosh, look at you!” Her hands went to her mouth, and tears were welling in her eyes. “You're so injured, and it's my fault.”
I took the seat next to her and reached for a glass, downing it quickly and setting it back down. My stomach rumbled, and I dug into the food, devouring my own granola bar and a handful of nuts. “None of this is your fault, Gwen. Stop blaming yourself.”
She didn't seem convinced, but the tears in her eyes had dried up. “At least drink more. You've lost so much blood, and the adrenaline is wearing off. You must be feeling it.”
“I am,” I admitted. “But we need to talk.”
