Page 7 of Fae Divided
A few moments of pain and the bond with James snapped closed. The intense discomfort vanishing in the blink of an eye.
Sarah dropped her head in her hands and gulped in the crisp, spring air.
The pack’s connection to its Alpha pulsed with reassurance. The overwhelming feeling of security broadcasted to every clanmate nearby. Samuel’s warmth did nothing to alleviate the cold seeping into her bones.
She lifted her head at the sound of a low growl, gaze landing on the glowing eyes of a wolf. A mixture of rusty brown and black colored fur ran along his spine from neck to tail, but the bulk of his body was covered in soft ivory and marred with streaks of blood.
“James.”
Her mate raised his muzzle high, Sarah’s heart breaking anew at the punctures marking his neck.
“What are you doing here, Sarah?” James asked, his conversion completed between one breath and the next.
Sarah blinked, eyes drawn to the white t-shirt turning red at the collar from the seeping throat wound, and then dropping to the knee-length shorts changing from light blue to navy as the injuries on James’ hip continued to bleed.
She jumped to her feet, hands framing his cheeks. “You’re hurt. We need to get you the island’s clinic.”
His fingers encircled her wrists, pulling them from his face. “I’ll heal on my own soon enough.”
“James…”
“Why aren’t you at the daycare?”
“I felt you…”
“You shouldn’t have.” His jaw clenched. “I’m sorry I couldn’t keep the bond closed.”
“I’m not.” Sarah tugged at her captured hands. He held on fast. “What happened between you and Samuel?”
“What do you think happened?” he asked. The harshness of his usually gentle tone stunned her. “I challenged him for the pack and lost.”
She’d known the truth but hoped for some other explanation. Any explanation.
“Why?” Tears clogged her throat. He’d never envied Samuel’s position. Never.
“Does it matter?” The grasp on her arms tightened as if he would pull her close and offer the comfort they both craved. James released her instead. “He’ll have to outcast me.”
Sarah closed her eyes. Opened them. “No, he won’t. We can work this out. Apologize. He’ll forgive you. I know he will. Samuel loves you. He loves Noah and me. He won’t cast you out of the pack.”
“As Alpha and Clan príoh, he’ll have no choice.”
“He can offer punishment instead.”
“That I’ll refuse to accept.”
Sarah blinked, uncomprehending. “I’m sure it won’t be too harsh. We might be banished to another pack in the region for a while—”
“Sarah, I’m not taking a punishment I didn’t earn. Samuel’s the one in the wrong. His complaisance concerning the humans is intolerable.”
“But…” Blood pounded in her ears, and her head swam. How had it come to this?
“I’m going for a run.”
“What?” she asked, shocked he would think of leaving with things so unsettled. “We have to talk.”
The wind blew a loose strand of her hair in front of her eyes. It had worked free from the long braid during the mad dash to her mate. Like a thousand other times, James tucked it tenderly behind her ear and then trailed the tip of his finger along her cheek. His gaze roamed her face as though memorizing every dip and hollow.
His fingers balled into a fist. “Later. I need to run.”
