Page 39 of Feral Attraction
He withdrew.As she moaned with the loss, he nibbled on her jaw and then her neck.He opened his mouth and dragged his sharp canines along her skin.It would be so easy to bite.
That was his last thought before someone hit him from behind.He crashed to the cold garage floor.A ski-masked male grabbed him off the ground and pummeled his face.Con shook off the attack and laid into the stranger.A punch to his gut.
Too late, Con saw the raised knife that plunged into his chest.As he staggered, Rey screamed, and a loud party of humans crowded into the parking garage.The attacker ran, his boots pounding the pavement.
When Con stumbled and fell, Rey dropped beside him, taking his head in her lap.She pressed a hand to his chest, yelling for help.The stunned humans eventually raced in their direction.One Earther sped off, returning with help.
The entire time, Rey stayed with him, crying and trying to stay the flow of his blood.He kept reassuring her.“I’m okay.Okay.”
Con had caught the scent of his attacker.Beneath the men’s cologne was a wolf.Familiar.He had to hold onto the smell and the thought forming in his mind.Too late.He blacked out.
Con blinked in and out of consciousness, hearing sirens and feeling himself lifted onto a stretcher.With her hand gripping his, Rey ran alongside him.Blood soaked her jacket.If the attacker injured her, he would find him and tear out the skin, tendons, muscles, and bones in his neck.If she were killed, he’d find the guy, his wolf would kill him slowly and painfully, and Con would never shift from fur to skin again.
Next, he awoke to a different scent—antiseptic.And Rey.She was still holding his hand, her head on the bed.He moved.
Holy fuck.Pain.
His brain began to fit together memories like puzzle pieces—one at a time until he had the whole picture.He shot upright in bed.“Where am I?”
Rey swiped tears off her cheek.She pressed his shoulders to the mattress.“Lie down.Dammit.You’re going to tear out the stitches.”
He glanced at the bandage on his chest.“Where?”
“The hospital.You were stabbed.Some masked guy attacked you.You were loaded into an ambulance, and I followed you here in the car.”
She started to cry again.“I was useless.None of my instincts kicked in.I allowed him to stab you.”
“Are you okay?”He couldn’t take his eyes off her bloody jacket.
She stared at it.“It’s not mine.It’s yours.”
Con reached for her, wrapping his arms around her.To hell with the pain.He drew her close.“Hey.I’m tough.I can handle a little cut.And freezing doesn’t mean anything.It’s a natural reaction.”
She pried herself away.Her voice went up an octave.“A little cut?It barely missed your damn macho heart.If you have one.”
He smiled.
“Why are you fucking grinning?”
“Because you care.”
“You’re my partner.And you’re old.Really old.”
“I am but that’s not why.And?”
“And nothing.That’s it.”
He dropped the subject.For now.“Did you see the asshole who got me?”
“He wore a mask.Was almost as big as you.Dark pants.Dark shirt.Black boots.No distinguishing marks.He ran off.Nobody pursued him.I was busy keeping your blood inside your chest.You coulda died.”
“Didn’t.Let’s get outta here.”
“Are you crazy?”
“Likely, but to heal fast, I have to shift.I’d rather not do it here.”Con ripped the tape off his arm, pulling out tubes.
Not pleased, Rey watched.Finally, she kicked into gear and helped him out of bed.
