Savage Urges (The Phoenix Pack, #5)(97)

Her eyes stung. “I didn’t want to go.”

“You can’t die.” He wouldn’t survive it.

She swallowed. “Come here.”

He pressed one more kiss to her stomach, reminding himself she was alive and with him. He slid up her body, kissed her gently, and rested his forehead on hers. “I would have followed you.” She tried to shake her head. “Yes, I would have. I don’t know how people carry on after they lose someone.” He wouldn’t have had the will to keep going. Not even knowing Zac needed him. It was selfish; Ryan knew that. Still, he simply would have faded away without her. Makenna was part of him. A part he needed.

She cupped his face. “We don’t have to test that theory. I’m fine; I’m not going anywhere.” She kissed him, wanting to take away the fear and anxiety that ate at him. A change of subject could help. “Well, it seems you were right. We’re true mates.”

Ryan grunted. Of course he was right.

“I don’t like your tone.” She nipped his lip. “Our scents have mixed. I like that.”

So did Ryan. Every shifter would know from just her scent that she was taken. He doubted his jealousy or possessiveness would now ease, however. He still wouldn’t like other males around her. Would always be jealous, just as he’d been jealous of . . . “I’m sorry about Colton. I know he was your friend.”

She bit her bottom lip before it had the chance to tremor. “Me too.” He’d been a good friend to her, and he hadn’t deserved what had happened to him. None of them had deserved the trouble Remy had brought into their lives. “I take it we won the battle.”

“Yes.” He wasn’t good at telling stories. “Only the Mercury wolves had arrived by the time the attack began. Reinforcements turned up no more than a minute later, which spooked the enemies. Most of them retreated, others died. Taryn’s father lost some of his wolves. Trick and Dominic almost died.”

Makenna was relieved to hear their pack was alive. As for someone else . . . “Deanne’s dead, right?”

He grunted. “Roni gutted her.” He was a little jealous he hadn’t been able to deliver that killing move himself. Then again, that would have required him to release Makenna. He hadn’t been able to bring himself to do that until they were in the infirmary, where Grace had given her a transfusion. Grace had tried to usher him out, but he’d just stared at her until she gave up with a humph.

Makenna rubbed her nose against his. “You look tired. You fed me a lot of energy.”

According to Ally, who had earlier called to check on Makenna, his mate would have died long before Ally had arrived if he hadn’t lent her his strength. “You said you love me.” Again with the blurting things out.

She smiled. “That’s because I do.”

He closed his eyes, letting that soothe him. “No one’s ever said that to me before.” He slid his hand up to span her throat, wanting to feel her pulse beating beneath his thumb.

Her brows flew up. “Never?” God, his parents were *s. “Come inside me, Ryan. I know you want to.”

He did want to. He wanted to assure himself in the most basic way that she was alive. “You’ve been unconscious for nine hours. You need food and—”

“You. Just you.” She writhed beneath him, tempting him. “Come inside me.”

He shouldn’t. He should have some food brought in and—

“Ryan, please. I need this too.”

Fuck it. He used his fingers to ready her to take him. Then he hiked up her leg and slid inside her, groaning as her * contracted around him. He took her with slow, deep, deliberate thrusts. The whole time, he kissed her—sharing breaths, groans, and gasps. And when he shoved himself deep and exploded, he buried his face in the crook of her neck and growled her name. “I love you, Kenna.”

She smiled. “I know. I feel it.” It was like a glow inside her.

Without leaving her body, he rolled onto his back, taking her with him.

She propped her chin on his chest as he grabbed his cell phone from the cabinet. “Who are you texting?”

“Grace. You need food. You lost a lot of blood.” He put down his phone. “Be warned, the room is going to fill up. There are a lot of people waiting to see you.” He’d been chasing them off, insisting she needed her rest. “Let’s get you showered.”

As they were dressing a short while later, a knock came at the door. “Open up!” called Grace.

Makenna held up her arms so Ryan could slip on her T-shirt. “I can go eat in the kitchen, you know.”

He shook his head. “You’re not at one hundred percent yet.”

She couldn’t deny that. But she’d be damned if she’d voice aloud just how weak she truly felt. “Okay.” She sighed as she sat, lotus style, in the middle of the bed.

“I’ll be back soon.”

She frowned. “Where are you going?”

Hand on the doorknob, he glanced over his shoulder. “To live up to a promise.”

With that mysterious answer, he left. Grace entered with a tray of food. Zac, Dawn, and Madisyn trailed behind her. Eyes teary, Zac gave her a tight hug that belied his typical teenage cool act and chatted with her for a short while. Then, complaining he had something in his eye, he left with Dawn. Madisyn stayed while Makenna ate, lecturing her for getting shot.