Chapter Twenty-Eight

ASH

Keyara was asleep again when they reached the barn, her face etched with pain.

She had assured him that she wasn’t angry with him for what he had done, and that she didn’t need anything from him, reminding him of her poor upbringing.

Her words had done little to ease his guilt, but he had smiled at her and kissed her, telling her to rest, not wanting to concern her further.

He knew the life of a rogue wolf was nothing she could even imagine, despite her assurances she didn’t mind.

He saw a curtain flicker in a window of the cottage before Emily suddenly rushed out, a hand covering her mouth in shock at the sight of Ash naked and covered in blood, dragging Keyara behind him.

“Alpha! My goodness! Are you hurt? What happened? When we returned you were gone. We thought you went back home!” She was rushing through her words in her panic.

He held up his hand, cutting her off. “We’re all right, Emily. At least, as well as can be expected. I’m fine. Keyara was hurt but she will live.”

He ran a hand through his blond hair, regretting keeping the truth from her. He respected Emily and hated lying to her. But he couldn’t reveal the whole of it yet, it was too risky.

Emily looked down at Keyara’s battered body, frowning at the obvious bite mark that stained her neck, but not pressing matters.

“Let me start a fire, Alpha,” she said. “I’ll warm some water, help clean you two up.”

“Thank you, Emily, I appreciate your help,” he said, lifting Keyara into his arms and entering the sleeping quarters. Emily followed, rushing to the fireplace.

“Luca is coming back with a few of the men,” he told her. He had arranged it with Luca during his walk back. “Why don’t you prepare dinner, and I’ll take care of Keyara.”

Emily nodded, the fire roaring as a result of her quick work. “Of course, Alpha,” she replied. “Just let me fetch the water to heat.”

Ash nodded before carrying Key into the closest bedroom.

He placed her gently on the bed, smoothing her hair and kissing her gently on the forehead. He could feel her pain, as well as see it on her face, and his heart ached for her.

He removed her bloody dress carefully and pulled off her boots before covering her with a blanket. Her body was rigid and tense, and he rubbed her shoulders and arms, willing her to relax.

Emily knocked softly on the door. “The water is heating, Alpha, and I’ve placed some clean towels on the table.”

“Thank you, Emily,” he replied through the door, not leaving Keyara’s side. He heard Emily retreat and exit the building.

He stared at Key’s beautiful face, tense as it was, and he was wracked with guilt from the pain she was currently suffering, hating himself for what had happened to her.

Luca’s voice suddenly interrupted his misery.

~“Alpha, we will arrive before nightfall. What are your orders?”~

Ash pinched the bridge of his nose, reluctantly turning away from his mate.

~“How many are with you?”~

~“Six, Alpha,”~ Luca replied.

~“Send the others on to clean up the mess. There are several dead men on the road. They won’t be hard to find. You meet me here,”~ Ash instructed him~. “I would like you to examine Keyara.”~

~“Understood, Alpha.”~

He turned back to Key when the link was broken, adjusting the blanket over her nervously.

What would his warriors think when they discovered what he had done? Would they turn on him? Ash knew Luca had kept what had happened to himself for now, but it was a secret that could not be kept for long.

He sighed, going to fetch the hot water. It was boiling gently in a large pot over the hearth. He dipped a bucket into the water carefully, lifting it by the handle.

He grabbed the stack of towels Emily had left, along with a clean shirt and pair of pants for Ash, before returning to his mate’s side.

He pulled the blanket off her, dipping a towel into the steaming water, testing the temperature briefly before gently wiping the blood from her skin.

The stab wound was healed over, leaving a scar behind that looked as if it was months old instead of only a day.

He glanced down at his torso, having almost forgotten about his own wound. A similar scar adorned his skin.

He continued to clean her carefully and attentively, dipping the towel into the water over and over, thankful for every inch of her that lay before him. She was alive.

When he had cleaned all the blood and dirt from her body, he dressed her in the sleeping shift Emily had left for her days before. He retrieved another clean blanket and draped it over her, tucking it around her to keep her warm.

He kissed her softly before he dipped another towel into the water, murky from his efforts to clean Key. He wiped it over himself absentmindedly, cleaning away the blood while watching his mate sleep.

When he was sufficiently clean, he pulled on the fresh clothes then slipped into bed beside her, holding her gently. He fell into a restless sleep, full of worry.

***

A sharp rap on the door awoke him.

“Alpha, I’m here,” he heard Luca call out.

He rose quickly, opening the door for his beta. Luca entered, glancing at Keyara on the bed as if asking permission. Ash nodded, and Luca approached her, sitting lightly on the edge of the bed. He pulled back the blanket slowly.

Ash ground his teeth, fighting back the jealousy. He knew Luca was only examining her as requested, but the ordeal had left him feeling extra possessive, and he didn’t know how to turn it off.

Luca studied the mark left on her neck by Ash in wolf form, pressing his fingers gently against it, studying the reaction to his touch. He placed two fingers on Keyara’s neck, feeling her pulse.

Finally he stood, turning toward Ash.

“She seems to be doing well,” he said hopefully.

“Her pulse is strong, and there doesn’t appear to be any indication of rejection in the mark. It’s a good sign she’s made it this far, and her body has healed. That’s the hardest step.”

“She has barely woken up,” Ash told him nervously. “And she’s in a great deal of pain still. I can feel it.”

Luca nodded, placing a hand on Ash’s shoulder, attempting to calm him.

“Her body is adjusting to the change, Ash. It takes time. But she’s growing stronger. Surely you can sense that?”

Ash nodded tersely. Luca was right—he could sense it if he set his worry aside for a moment.

“She just has to get through the shift,” Luca continued. “That’s the last step. The full moon is in a week. I will help prepare her as best I can.”

Ash breathed out a deep sigh of relief. He was glad Luca was here; his calm assurance was easing Ash’s misery.

“How do you know so much about this, Luca?” Ash suddenly asked. In his worry and concern, he had hardly had time to consider how his beta was such an expert on this forbidden process, but the thought suddenly consumed him.

“That is a story for another time, perhaps, Alpha,” said Luca carefully, studying Ash seriously. “But for now, I think our luna is waking up.”