Savage Urges (The Phoenix Pack, #5)(95)

Releasing the dying wolf, Ryan turned to his mate. He’d been right. Or, more specifically, Jaime had been right. The bond had been jammed by an external issue. Now it had not only snapped into place, it was—

“Not my boy! Not my boy!”

The screech had everyone spinning to face a gun-waving Deanne. A shot fired, and something slammed into Ryan. It was like there was an explosion in the left side of his stomach. The impact made him grunt and catch his breath. Putting a hand to his stomach, he looked down. Distantly aware that Roni had disarmed and gutted Deanne, Ryan pulled away his hand. And frowned. There was no blood. No wound.

Beside him, his mate fell to her knees. His frown deepened. “Kenna?” She blinked up at him, her expression one of utter shock. Then he saw the red blooming across her T-shirt. Panic raced through him and his wolf. “Shit.” He dropped to his knees and cupped her face. “Kenna, it’s okay.”

She nodded. But she didn’t feel okay. She hurt. God, it was like she was burning from the inside out. Every instinct she had told her this was very, very bad. Shock gave way to panic, and she clung to Ryan’s arms—as if he could anchor her. Her wolf went f*cking ape shit.

“Lay her down, put pressure on the wound,” Dante told him, all business.

Ryan gently eased her onto her back and pressed his hand over the f*cking hole in her stomach. She winced. “Shit, I’m sorry.” He shoved strength down their bond, listening as Dante called their Alpha female. “Taryn’s a healer,” Ryan told Makenna, unsure if she already knew. “She’ll fix you.”

“The bullet went straight through, so that’s good,” said Jaime, but there was worry in her voice. She didn’t need to worry. His mate would be fine.

Ryan looked into eyes swirling with the pain, fear echoing through him. “It’s okay. You’re going to be fine. Say it.”

Makenna swallowed. “I’m going to be fine.” She wasn’t certain she believed that. Her stomach burned and throbbed. She could feel warm blood on her skin and pooling beneath her. She’d already lost some in her duel with Selene. As fingers linked with hers, she looked to see Madisyn and Dawn kneeling close by. “Hey.”

“Don’t you die,” Madisyn hissed, eyes wet and fierce.

“She’s not going to die,” snapped Ryan.

“That’s right,” agreed Dawn, voice breaking. “Makenna’s strong.”

Ryan kissed her gently, brushing a thumb over her cheekbone. Her eyes fluttered closed. He tapped her cheek. “No, Kenna. Look at me.”

Makenna forced her eyes open. “I’m tired,” she whispered. Crazy tired. She was pretty sure the only thing keeping her conscious was the iron strength Ryan was feeding her. She clung to that strength. She didn’t want to die, didn’t want to leave him or miss the life they could have together. But it was just so hard to stay awake, no matter how hard she fought the urge to sleep. Everything seemed to be fading. Darkening. Like she was falling. No . . . sinking.

“It’s okay,” said Ryan, his pulse beating frantically. “The wound’s not that bad.”

Her mouth kicked up into a small smile. “Liar.”

He was a liar. No matter how much pressure he put on the wound, her blood kept seeping through his fingers. She was seeping through his fingers. “Kenna.” The solid, vibrant bond between them flickered slightly. And he knew what that meant. “No,” he bit out. “No, no, no, no.” She couldn’t die. He wouldn’t f*cking allow it. He glared at Dante. “Where the f*ck is Taryn?”

“On her way,” Jaime choked out, eyes shiny. She wasn’t the only one crying. Many were gathered around, most of whom were residents.

Ryan dropped his forehead to Makenna’s. “Did you hear that? She’s coming.” Makenna gave the tiniest nod. And closed her eyes. “No. Eyes open. Look at me. Good girl.” She coughed, and he saw blood in her mouth. His chest tightened. “No.” This was not f*cking happening. It just wasn’t. “Taryn’s coming. Just hold on a little longer.”

Makenna forced a smile. They both knew Taryn could never make it in time. “Don’t die with me.”

Rage flared through him and his wolf. “Don’t you dare f*cking give up! You live!”

She coughed again, tasting more blood. “Zac needs you.”

“And I f*cking need you. If you want me to live, you have to stay alive. You fight, okay. Fight.”

She tried to, she did, but she was so tired and . . . “Cold.” So damn cold. Her wolf lay down with a whine.

Ryan forced more strength down the fading bond. It made no difference. Her heartbeat kept slowing, their connection kept weakening, and the blood just kept pumping out of her. “Kenna, fight.”

“It doesn’t hurt anymore,” she murmured.

“That’s good.” No, it wasn’t good. He knew it; she knew it. His wolf was pacing, anxious, afraid, and wanting to kill.

“And I’m not scared anymore. Isn’t that weird?” She should be terrified. She was dying, and she knew it. But she felt peaceful. “I love you.” She should have told him that before. “Super shit timing, haven’t I?” She heard Dawn and Madisyn sniffling, wanted to tell them to take care of Ryan. But she was sinking again, and everything seemed so far away.