The weight against his chest was light and smelled of lavender and rain. It smelled like the woman he dreamed of every night and the one who he loved more than any other being on or off the planet.

Onyx. My Onyx.

Knowing she was with him, Errol pushed toward being awake instead of falling back into the lull of sleep where there was no pain in his stomach.

He opened his eyes.

Onyx was resting her face on his shoulder facing him. Her black silken tresses were fanned out over the top of the blanket, so shiny it was like looking at light reflecting off black water.

Her brown eyes were drooping shut and then popping open. They found Errol’s gaze and struggled to focus. “Errol?”

“You smell so good,” Errol said smiling past the pain in his stomach.

“You slept for five days,” she said lifting her head so that she was resting her chin on his chest. A dark red line ran from her lip to her ear. For it to still be so red five days later, Errol knew it had to be deep when it happened. His insides twisted knowing he wasn’t there to protect her.

Onyx picked up his hand and kissed his knuckles. “I heard you kicked Demitrus’ ass after I left with Ian.”

“Ian. Angeline said he’s going to make it. He made it, right?”

Onyx nodded, her eyes lowered to his lips. “He did survive and Killian was able to save all of his limbs and fingers.”

Errol stiffened. “What wasn’t he able to save? Where is Ian?”

“He has some scarring on his face that is still pretty severe, Errol. Killian says that most of it will fade with time, given that our werewolf spirit helps rejuvenate the body.”

“I need to see him,” Errol sat up ignoring the burning across his stomach.

Onyx pushed him back down on the bed. “He’s been in here every other hour to see if you’ve woken up. I’ll go get him. You stay in bed or it won’t just be busted stitches you have to worry about,” Onyx told him.

“Onyx,” Errol said catching her hand. “Thank you for saving his life.”

“I wish I could have saved him from ever having to see Demitrus again,” Onyx said.

Errol pulled her down against him so he could hug her and hold her. “He can’t hurt anyone anymore.”

“Who can’t?” Ian asked opening the door. He was smiling with his mouth but Errol recognized the hopelessness in his brother’s eyes. The skin on the right side of his face was dented in several places where the hot poker had been pressed into his face.

The bright reds, purples, and bright white colors running over his skin looked angry as if still causing him pain. Perhaps, it still was.

“Were you talking about that bastard Demitrus? Gotta boast you were the one to put him down first thing when you wake up huh?” Ian forced a laugh.

“I heard you didn’t give him shit on us even when he did his worst,” Errol said not willing to brush over what Ian went through. “I would have sung like a bird.”

Ian swallowed hard. “Fuck, I’m glad you killed that sonofabitch.”

Onyx moved to the side. Ian stepped forward to embrace Errol.

“Thank you for all the shit you’ve been through because of me,” Errol said, his voice choking up.

“What this?” Ian gestured toward his scarring. “This wasn’t you. It was, Demitrus. You made him pay plenty.” Ian put his arm around Onyx. “This little beauty saved my ass right and left. Damn, I’m proud she’s my sister.”

“He saved my ass right back,” Onyx said. Hugging Ian tightly.

Killian knocked on the door and pushed it open. “You’re awake, that’s great. I need to do some responsive testing with you.”

“I’ll go and get you something to eat,” Onyx said.

“Don’t be gone long,” Errol said. The reality of Demitrus being gone still too unbelievable for his mind to accept.

Angeline said from the open doorway, “I’ll go with her. Don’t worry about a thing, Errol. I’m so glad you’re awake.”

Errol smiled on an exhale. Angeline would keep her safe. They pulled the door shut leaving Errol with Ian and Killian.

Killian poked and prodded, asked questions, checked Errol’s healing progress and then stepped back with a smile. “Well, Errol. I can officially say that you being in love is proving to be the best medicine for you. You’re in great spirits and healing at twice the rate you should be.”

“Yes well, I’m not going to deny it,” Errol said. “Having her in my life is worth having my stomach torn out twice. Crazy, right?”

“Bat shit, crazy,” Ian said shaking his head at Errol.

Killian chuckled with a sly smile that both Errol and Ian caught.

“What’s so funny?” Ian asked.

Killian shook his head. “I’m not saying. You wouldn’t believe it anyway.”

Angeline opened the door for Onyx who carried in a tray of food. It had Errol’s mouth, watering for sustenance but also for Onyx.

It must have been clear because the room cleared out as Onyx set up the tray over his lap. Ian was the last to go and he lingered for a moment watching the two of them together with a smile that was happy and yet sad at the same time.

“Have fun you two,” he snorted and pulled the door closed.

Onyx was grinning a smile that reminded Errol of the one Killian was wearing. “A lot has happened while you’ve been asleep,” she said. “Darian took on three new pack members from what used to be the Herod pack.”

“What? Who?”

“Victor, Kaden, and Syros.”

“What do you think of them?” Errol asked avoiding the spoonful of food she held out to him.

Onyx raised her brows at him. Errol quickly accepted the spoonful of food so she’d keep talking. “You need to eat all of this, Errol,” she said handing him the spoon and sitting next to him on the bed.

“I will.”

“Victor is good. I don’t know about the other two. I didn’t pay the pack as much attention as you would think.”

Errol made a mental note to keep a wary eye on the three new members.

Onyx had that smile again. “What else happened?”

“Keep eating, and I’ll tell you.”

Errol took another bite of food and then another.

“Angeline had a vision.”

“A vision about what?”

Onyx leaned into his one-armed embrace smiling up at him like she was about to burst. “Ian.”

“What kind of vision?”

She pressed her lips against his jaw line. “Very soon, your brother will be meeting his predestined mate.”

Errol squeezed Onyx as relief flooded through him. Ian deserved happiness. He deserved real and true love. “When? Who?”

“Um, that part she said it was better to leave alone,” Onyx wrinkled her nose. “She did say that the woman will be a great challenge not only for Ian but for the pack.”

Errol laughed pulling Onyx in tighter against him. “I think after you, she’s going to be a walk in the park babe.”

Onyx nibbled harder on his ear. “Thanks a lot.”

“Hey if she’s half the woman you are, she’ll be worth it.”

“Eat your food, baby. Your mate wants to welcome you back to the world of those awake, properly.” Onyx stood up and began to slowly disrobe.

Errol shoveled his food down and gulped the broth. “Done.”

Onyx removed the tray and climbed on top straddling him. Errol grabbed her ass pulling her down against his hard cock. “God, I love you. Now, let me show you.”

The end

To find out about Ian’s Pre-Destined mate, his love to be, read the next book in the Rizer pack series entitled, “In Love with the Enemy.”

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