Wolf's Fall (Alpha Pack #6)(15)
“No,” she said coolly. “I’m not. Frankly, there isn’t much to tell at the moment, and even if there were, my relationship with Nick is none of your business.”
Of course, he pounced on her slip. “So there is a relationship.” He sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. “Damn, you never do anything by half.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” She glared at him.
“He’s a wolf, sis. They’re totally different from us, and I don’t mean that in an elitist way before you accuse me of that.” He waved a hand to indicate the entire hospital, perhaps the whole compound. “They’re warriors. They live dangerous lives, twenty-four/seven. Is this what you want for the rest of eternity? Constant terror for a man who might never come home?”
“Stefano was a quiet, cultured man who lived a peaceful existence,” she said quietly. “But that didn’t exactly save him from the hunters, did it?”
Her brother sucked in a breath as though she’d punched him. “I’m sorry. I’m just worried about you.”
“I know.” Her anger subsided and her heart swelled with love for him. Still, she had to be firm or he’d pry until he wormed the truth from her before she was ready to talk. “Worry all you want, but trust me, will you? Let me work things out for myself and then I’ll tell you what you want to know.”
“Just don’t shut me out, please. That’s all I ask.”
“I wouldn’t, unless you forced me to.”
He opened his arms and she walked into them, thankful their disagreement hadn’t turned into a bigger fight. She hated being at odds with someone she loved so much, especially Tarron.
Selene returned with Zan, and Calla related that all had gone as well as it could with her father in the OR. The woman slumped with relief against her mate’s side and he put an arm around her, kissing her cheek.
“I don’t know what I would do without him,” Selene said softly. “He and I have had a rough time getting reacquainted, but I can’t imagine him not being here.”
“He told me a bit about it.” When Selene’s eyes widened, Calla thought maybe she should’ve kept her mouth shut. “He didn’t go into all the details, just that he has a lot of regrets about the past. I know he’s in a great deal of pain.”
“He told you that?”
“Not in so many words, but his feelings were quite clear.” Somehow, she couldn’t bring herself to reveal to Nick’s daughter and her mate that she’d discovered the commander thinking of shoving a dagger into his own heart to escape his agony—not just over his past, but also because of his recent ordeal.
That would remain between him and Calla unless Nick chose to share it.
Just then, Noah stuck his head in the door and addressed Selene. “We’ve got your dad in a room if you want to sit with him for a while.”
“Yes! Thank you.”
Zan hustled her from the room and Calla sat back with a sigh. It could be ages before she got in to see Nick, and it made her nerves coil in anxiety. Selene had every right to see him first, she reminded herself. Besides, if Calla acted more worried than a concerned friend, people would start asking questions she wasn’t ready to answer, as her brother had already done.
After what seemed like hours, Selene returned and poked her head in the door, giving them a tired smile. “Dad’s resting. They said he’d probably sleep until the morning, but you’re welcome to see him if you’d like. You did save his life, after all.”
“Thank you.” Calla stood. “I’d love to check on him before we have to go home.”
“He’ll appreciate it when he wakes up. Just go down the hallway on the right, fourth room.”
Taking Selene’s hand, Zan led her away. Calla stood, and looked at her brother, but he opted to wait for her. She was glad he was giving her time alone with Nick. Maybe some of what she’d said to her overprotective sibling had gotten through.
At the doorway to Nick’s room, she paused and took a breath before pushing inside. The sight that greeted her was definitely not what she had expected.
Instead of Nick, the man, lying on the bed, a huge white wolf was sprawled on the sheets, head on the pillow. She came to a halt, hand over her pounding heart, and stared. His fur was thick, as pure as the driven snow, not one other speck of color to be seen except for the black gumdrop nose on the end of his snout. She’d seen lion shifters with smaller paws. His head was big and so were his jaws, which looked strong enough to crush someone’s bones as though snapping a toothpick.
Moving forward as quietly as possible, she took a seat beside the bed. Without a doubt, this wolf—Nick—could easily take down any opponent. And yet he looked so gentle, lying with his fluffy tail curled around his legs, snoring slightly.
Tentatively, she reached out and stroked the top of his head. Then his ears. He gave a soft rumble of unmistakable pleasure and nosed into her hand in his sleep, seeking her touch. Wanting comfort. She gladly gave it, rubbing all over his face and ears, the scruff of his neck. He was simply majestic, and being able to touch him as a wolf was a privilege she figured few had been allowed.
“Aren’t you beautiful?” she whispered. “I’ll bet shifting helps you heal, huh? Just sleep, Nick. I’ll stay for a bit, and then I’ll come back tomorrow.”