Chapter Seven
Sebastian
I was wrapped in warmth, the air around me permeated with delicious Alpha pheromones as I drifted awake. The first few attempts at opening my eyes failed, the effort proving to be too much for my weakened body, so I nuzzled into the softness under my cheek, drawing in more of the Alpha scent swirling around me, and allowed myself to float in the drowsy space between sleep and wakefulness. My internal clock wasn’t registering, so any amount of time could have passed before I tried again. This time, my eyelids crept open, slowly, creakily, like the rusted gate on the old wrought iron fence I'd had to pass through when I left Peaceful River. My vision was hazy as I fought to focus my eyes in the dim late afternoon light that was creeping in through the drapes at the window.
I took in everything I could see without actually moving; instinctively I knew that my body wasn't up to that yet. Once I could make out the detail of the ugly purple checkered paper on the wall I was facing, I fought the urge to panic. Even in my confused state, I was able to tell that there was nothing in my line of sight that I recognized; I had no idea where I was.
Trying to remember how I had come to be in this place – my last solid memory was of Alrick stopping my fall at the lake – I was startled when the warm cocoon I was wrapped in suddenly shifted under me, a low grumble vibrating under my cheek. Moving slowly, I tipped my head back and my breath caught in my throat, the cloud of Alpha pheromones suddenly making perfect sense. Alrick's face was creased in sleep and my cheek was resting on the thick fleece of his bare chest, my body was draped down his torso, his muscular arms and one corded leg wrapped around me, holding me tight to the warm strength of his body. His hot, hard, naked body. Oh, Hell.
I didn't think I had moved, scared to even breathe, but something triggered the Alpha's instincts and he caught me staring when his violet-rimmed eyes blinked open.
"You're awake," he observed, his deep voice sliding over my naked flesh like a caress.
Despite my dry mouth, I swallowed. Hard.
"Sebastian?" Alrick sounded worried. "Can you talk to me?"
I nodded and sighed when he quirked a brow at me.
Right. He would want to hear for himself.
"Yes, Alpha." I winced as the words left my mouth. The position that we were in was too intimate for me to be calling him that. "I mean, yes, I can talk." My voice was rough, but it was there.
"Good." Alrick didn't seem concerned by my gaff. I relaxed slightly, thinking that he may not have even noticed. "Do you think you can eat?" Large, rough hands were sliding along my body, appearing to check for damage. "I was able to keep you hydrated, but you've already lost some weight."
"I have?"
His hair flopped a little as he nodded his head, it was too damn cute. I shook my head at my line of thought. Alphas are not cute. Whatever was wrong with me seemed to be impacting my thought processes.
"Just a little," he assured me, his hands still roving. "But I think we should try to get some food in you."
"What happened?"
Alrick paused in the act of easing me off him, and his lips drew into a frown.
"You don't remember?"
I shook my head carefully, mindful of the roaring in my ears when I moved too fast.
"What's the last thing you remember?"
"The lake," I said, closing my eyes and fighting for the details. "You scared me."
"I'm sorry about that," Alrick murmured. "I didn't mean to. I wouldn't have hurt you."
I nodded, my eyes still closed. "You caught me."
When he didn't respond, I opened my eyes and found him watching me with confusion.
"When I fell," I clarified. "You caught me before I hit the water."
"Oh," the Alpha acknowledged. "Yeah."
He gently rolled me over onto my back, his fingers ghosting over my chest and coming to a stop on a bandage above and slightly to the left of my heart. I followed his finger and felt my eyes widen. I hadn't even noticed the injury until he touched it.
"We were jumped heading down the trail," he explained, "they knocked us out with darts and brought us here." He paused and inhaled deeply, like the rest of the story was difficult for him to tell. "You were shot when we overpowered them." Those beautiful, troubled eyes met mine again. Alrick gathered me back against his body, holding me tight and stroking my back. "You saved my life."
I barely managed to choke back a gasp at Alrick's words before I calmed myself, realizing he must be joking.
"Very funny," I growled, pressing against his solid chest with both hands. "Let me up. I need to pee."
I climbed off the bed and headed for the open bathroom door, closing it behind me and collapsing onto the toilet seat before dropping my throbbing head into my hands with a groan that I immediately knew was a mistake.
"Sebastian? Are you alright in there?"
"Fine," I managed to get out. "I just..just moved too fast."
"Do you need help?" The doorknob jiggled.
Seriously? I sighed.
"N..no," I considered standing up and said screw it, leaning back and tucking my dick down to relieve myself. Flushing the toilet and washing my hands, I was only mildly surprised to find the Alpha pacing on the other side of the door.
"Alrick, I..I'm fine," I tried to assure him. "I promise."
He studied me carefully. His eyes narrowed, announcing in no uncertain terms that he knew I was lying. Fine. If he was determined to baby me, so be it.
"I..I think I could eat," I said softly, allowing him to wrap his arm around my waist for support. "And I could definitely use some water."
Alrick nodded, his expression tight, and led me to a chair at the small table in the kitchen. He set a cup of water down in front of me and turned away, rifling through cabinets. He pulled a myriad of ingredients from the refrigerator, and soon the small kitchen was adrift in the heavenly smell of venison hash and scrambled eggs. Once Alrick had placed two heaping plates of food on the table and sat down, I tried again.
"Th..this is delicious," I complimented him as the sweet hash all but melted in my mouth. "Thank..thank you. Now, will you p..please tell me what r..really happened?"
Alrick froze, his fork in mid-air on its way to bring a bite to his mouth, and his brow furrowed. He carefully lowered the fork and caught my eyes with his.
"Sebastian, I was telling you the truth," he said slowly, his head cocking slightly as he considered me. "You really were shot when you took down the gunman." He reached over to place one huge Alpha paw over my hand on the table. "You saved me. I owe you my life."
I looked down at his hand on mine, then back up to his eyes. There was no doubting the sincerity in his gaze.
"N..no problem," I assured him, tugging my hand free and dropping it into my lap. "Y..you can repay m..me by getting us h..home."
I scooped up another mouthful of hash even though I wasn't sure my shrunken stomach could take anymore. It gave me something to do with my hands as I pretended not to see the uneasiness on Alrick's face. He watched me for several minutes while I pushed the food around on my plate before seemingly coming to an agreement with himself and turning his attention back to his food.
"I'm going to shower," I decided aloud, pushing my plate back. "I'll be out in a few minutes."
The Alpha opened his mouth like he was going to argue but snapped it closed and looked away.
"Be careful." Alrick didn't look up from his food as I stood. "You haven't been awake very long."
"Y..yes, Al.." I caught myself before I called him Alpha again. "I will."
I stood in front of the full-length bathroom mirror, taking in my smaller-than-usual form and my eyes lit on the bandage. Crap.
"Hey, Alrick?" I called through the closed door, knowing that he was listening for any sound that would suggest I needed help. "Can..can I get this bandage wet?"
"Just peel it off," his deep voice answered immediately, confirming my suspicion. "The wound should be starting to close."
I peeled back the tape holding the terrycloth patch in place, thankful that I didn't have a hairy chest like my Alpha – the Alpha – did. The foul smelling sticky poultice was irritating enough without having to tear out clumps of body hair.
"Ugg," I snorted under my breath, wiping at the mess with a wet washcloth. "What is this?"
"Mostly honey with a few herbs," Alrick's voice came through the door.
I jumped, not expecting Alrick's response.
"Can I take a look at it?"
I sighed and pulled the door open instead of answering. Sure enough, the werewolf was mere inches from the door. I stepped back to allow him in. Alrick took the washcloth, rewetting it with hot water and proceeded to wipe the mess off. I flinched at first and then realized he hadn't hurt me, his touch was sure and gentle as he cleaned the wound.
"It looks good," he said, his voice gruff. "The edges are knitting together. By tomorrow, you probably won't even be able to feel it."
I nodded, fighting the urge to cover my naked body. It wasn't as if it was anything he hadn't already seen….and felt, I reminded myself, remembering the way his hot flesh had been wrapped around me when I woke. He continued to stroke the skin around my wound with one finger, and his eyes took on the familiar predatory fix I was used to seeing when he watched me; the look that Spence had teased me about.
"I..I'm gonna.." I trailed off, nodding toward the shower.
"Oh, yeah." Alrick nodded, his long legs taking him from the room in two steps and leaving me to shower in private.