Midnight Wolf (Shifters Unbound #11)(18)

A polar bear roaring in pain. Zander’s black eyes shut tight, disappearing into his mass of white fur. He held his right paw across his chest, and rose and rose until he was on his hind legs, his great head barely missing the chandeliers. He opened his mouth and bellowed, cradling his right front leg in the exact way Tamsin had her hurt arm.

“What’s wrong with him?” Tamsin yelled over the noise.

A whiff of fresh scent brushed her as Rae moved to her side. “He takes on the pain of those he heals. Not the injury itself, but the psychic part of it.” She cast a worried glance at her mate. “Yours wasn’t that bad, so he won’t have to fight it long.”

It had been bad enough, but also terrifying. Tamsin’s small fox had been up against a huge alligator that had ruthlessly attacked her. The shock and fear of that had been almost as devastating as the pain.

Zander’s face twisted, showing all Tamsin’s horror and panic as well as the anguish of her injury. He threw his head back, narrowly missing the polished ceiling, and roared again.

Rae rushed to him. Tamsin started to follow, worried that the flailing, bellowing bear would hurt the young woman, but Angus held her back.

When Zander ceased weaving around, Rae darted in and wrapped her arms around him as far as she could, sinking into his soft fur.

Angus’s hand rested firmly on Tamsin’s shoulder. “We should leave them to it.”

Ben waited for them at the double doors. Tamsin looked back before she exited to see that Zander had calmed a little, his left paw resting on Rae’s back as she rubbed her cheek on the fur of his chest.

The touch of a mate healed, Tamsin’s mother and father had taught her. Rae murmured to Zander, and he quieted, lowering himself to all fours, though keeping his weight from his right front leg. Rae leaned across his back, stroking his head, kissing it.

The sight of them taking care of each other brought a lump to Tamsin’s throat. How wonderful to have a person to trust and lean on. Her peripatetic life had not let her grow close to anyone, to let down her guard. The few times she had, she’d paid the price. But watching Zander and Rae showed her what she’d missed.

Zander brought his head around to nuzzle Rae, and Angus shoved Tamsin out the door and closed it.

“I guess we’re off to Shifter Bureau now?” Tamsin kept her tone light, but her heart bumped as she waited for his answer.

Angus turned her in the direction of the stairs. “Shower first. We’ll have some breakfast and then we’ll go.”

Tamsin stared at him, trying to hide her confusion. “Well, aren’t you the polite host? Why did you even bring me here, Angus? You could have dragged me straight to Shifter Bureau and let them deal with doctoring me.”

Angus gave her a frown. “You were hurt. Human doctors can’t fix up Shifters very well, and I knew a healer.”

So very logical. Tamsin shook her head, ducked away from him, headed straight to the back door, and tried to open it.

It wouldn’t budge. It was unlocked—the handle moved fine—but as before, the door remained solidly closed.

Tamsin sighed and turned to find Angus pinning her with his fierce glare. She shrugged. “Had to try.” She laughed at his expression and tripped lightly up the stairs, out of pain, strong, and optimistic once more.

Angus walked outside with Zander and Rae. The house let them exit without hindrance, the front door opening readily. Angus worried that the house would arbitrarily let Tamsin leave as well and asked Ben to station himself upstairs in the kitchen to keep an eye on her while she ate.

Tamsin had showered in the large upstairs bathroom, singing at the top of her lungs, then came out toweling her bright red hair and went straight to the kitchen. Ben had cooked breakfast, and Tamsin sat down and began to shovel it in, but Zander and Rae declined the invitation to stay.

Outside, a motorcycle waited under a wide-boled tree. Marlo had flown them in, Zander had said, then they’d rented the bike to bring them to the house. Zander, Collarless, could easily rent vehicles where a Collared Shifter might be turned away—Angus suspected Zander’s large size and slightly crazed forcefulness had humans doing whatever he wanted, in any case.

As Rae moved to the motorcycle, Zander gestured Angus aside, crowding him against the bottom step of the porch.

“You really taking her to Shifter Bureau?” The anger in Zander’s black eyes sparkled in the early light. “I see that she’s a handful, but . . . All right, don’t let me mince words. What the fuck?”

“They have my cub,” Angus said quietly. “I don’t have a choice.”

“Oh.” Zander took a step back, his anger redirecting itself. “Oh, man. I’m sorry. Tell you what. How about you, me, Rae, and Ben go break out your cub and blow town. I’m guessing we can recruit plenty of Shifters to help.”

Angus thought of Haider and the strange, cold gleam in the man’s eyes. “Too risky. He might hurt Ciaran.”

“We’ll go in under the radar. No one will know we’re coming—”

Zander broke off as Angus locked his fingers around the lapel of his coat. “No. The guy who has Ciaran is careful enough to keep him well hidden and mean enough to kill him in front of me. Don’t even think about trying to rescue him on your own. If you get Ciaran hurt, I’ll kill you.”

Zander gazed down at Angus from his height, not even angry that Angus had grabbed him. “I get it. But, my friend . . .” He put his hand on Angus’s and gently but forcefully removed it from his coat. “If you need us to help, you call. I’ll stick around the area—maybe go visit Austin or Kendrick. I’m more than happy to kick some Shifter Bureau ass.”