Phoenix Reborn (Alpha Pack, #7.5)(5)

“Noah’s going to be fine,” Melina said. “Zan closed the worst of the gashes on his arm, torso, and thigh, and assisted with some muscle repair. Otherwise Noah would’ve been looking at months of physical therapy. As it stands, he just needs a few days of rest before he comes back to work.”

“I’ll make sure he gets it,” Nix assured her. He heard a snicker, and scowled at his friends.

“Good. I’ll let you know when he’s settled in a room. If all goes well, I’ll release him to his quarters tomorrow to finish recovering.”

Nix had trouble finding his voice. “Melina, thank you.”

Her expression softened. “No need to thank me. We all love Noah.” Pausing, she pinned Nix with a pensive look. “Can I speak to you privately for a second?”

“Sure.” Worried, he followed as she led him around the corner and out of earshot of the others. “Is something else wrong with Noah? Something you didn’t want to say in front of anyone else?”

“No, nothing like that. I wanted to ask when you plan on telling Noah that you’re participating in the trial for the drug that suppresses the mating sickness.”

“How do you know I haven’t?”

Her brows shot up. “Are you joking? I know because he hasn’t shown up in my office ready to rip off my head for allowing you to do it. And you know good and damned well had you told me when you met your mate that it was our Noah, I never would’ve approved your participation. I should pull you now, before he gets hurt even worse than he already will.”

Nix felt sick to his stomach. “Please, Melina. I need a couple more weeks to get my head on straight, and this drug is allowing me that time. Then maybe I won’t need to tell him at all.”

“That’s a cop-out.” Angry disapproval flattened her mouth.

“Shit.” Blowing out a breath, he shook his head. “You’re right. I’ll tell him, but not just yet. I need to figure out how to deal with this Bondmate thing, and then I will.”

“Do it, because the truth has a way of coming out. If it does, I can promise you it’ll blow up in both of our faces.”

With that, she turned and left to tend to her patients.

For a moment, Nix stared after her, stunned. She was right—if Noah found out before Nix said anything, he’d be devastated. Nix didn’t want him to get hurt. Nobody did.

We all love Noah.

Love. Did he love Noah? Somehow, in all the months of resisting his sweet mate’s lure, had he actually fallen without wanting to?

He was awfully afraid he knew the answer to that question.

God, I’m so f*cked.





2



Noah came slowly awake, moving a bit in the bed. That was a mistake of epic proportions. Every muscle in his body felt like he’d been used as batting practice for a major league baseball game, and he was the ball.

“Oh my f*cking gawd,” he groaned.

“I guess how are you feeling is a stupid question.”

That voice. Smooth, like whiskey and honey, it sent a pleasant shiver down his spine. Other places, too. He longed to wrap himself in the owner of that voice, sink into him until he could no longer tell they were two separate people. And thinking like that sure wasn’t doing his current predicament any good—now his dick was aching along with the rest of him.

Dammit.

Cracking his eyes open, he turned his head and peered at his wayward mate. To his surprise, Nix was gazing down at him with his brows furrowed, luminous green eyes stark with worry. The sight warmed Noah’s heart, giving him a bit more hope. Maybe the man wasn’t a lost cause after all.

For a moment, he allowed himself the luxury of drinking in the sight of his man. Well, technically his, anyway, because of the wolf Bondmate thing. Nix’s long, dark blond hair was loose around gorgeous face and bare shoulders, and holy shit—

“Why are you half naked?” Noah blurted.

Nix snorted, a corner of his mouth kicking up in amusement. “I was washing one of the SUVs in the hangar when we got the emergency page.”

“Now that’s a sight I wish I hadn’t missed,” he teased, arching a brow. “You, shirtless and barefoot, wearing nothing but those shorts, all wet and soapy.” He emphasized the last words by humming in appreciation, letting his gaze roam his mate’s fine form. What a form it was, too.

Nix’s face colored a bit as he shook his head. Noah just smiled, taking in that broad chest, which was sprinkled with just enough hair to be sexy and give Noah’s fingers something to play with. Nix might be tall and lean, but without his shirt on it was obvious that the man was deceptively strong. His entire body from his chest to his arms, stomach, and thighs, was roped with muscle, and his stomach sported a six-pack that could bounce a quarter to the ceiling.

Yeah, Nix was beautiful, but it had been many an enemy’s last mistake to assume he wasn’t every bit as lethal as his bigger, bulkier Pack brothers.

Noah shifted uncomfortably in the bed as his arousal threatened to reach DEFCON levels.

“Are you all right?” Nix asked, leaning close.

“I’m fine. Just bruised and hurting some.”

“You were lucky.” Nix scowled. “That f*cking tiger nearly killed you! If Zan hadn’t gotten back here in time to heal you—”