The big man shifted his feet nervously. “I certainly…” A sharp elbow to his ribs made him straighten up rapidly and then bend back down to look at Gabe. “No, Gabe, I won’t let anything happen to him. Okay?Just let me get in there to him. ”
Gabe allowed them to help him from the car and almost collapsed when he tried to stand, his knees buckling under him. Instantly, two arms went around his waist, holding him up, and he looked up to see the beautiful blond on one side and a very cute brown-haired young guy on the other. They took him back to their car, and Nicky, the blond, as Gabe found out, put his arm around him and started babbling about when Marco had been shot a year before and about how scared he had been.
Gabe was aware of how the blond and the brown-haired guy kept exchanging worried glances over his head, but he couldn’t seem to be able to speak, not until he found out how Zack was. It seemed to take a very long time, and finally Nicky sent Rory, the other man, out to check on things. Calmed down a little, Gabe could tell that Rory was a wolf too, though not quite as big as the others. Gabe wondered how Rory had come to be the mate of another wolf, deciding there must be a story there he’d like to hear someday. If only Zack…Gabe bit his lip and tried not to think of what might be happening in the car in front of them. Rory came back in just a few minutes and smiled encouragingly at Gabe.
“They’re still giving him blood. My mate, Casey, is feeding him now. He’s about half- conscious and cooperating more in drinking. It’s a very good sign. ”
Nicky squeezed Gabe’s shoulders. “See?I knew he’d be okay. Marco and Casey are really strong. Right,Rory?”
“I know Casey is, for sure,” he laughed. “A little too strong sometimes. ”
“Just like Marco. I hear your mate, Zack, is really something too. I just know he’ll be all right!”
Gabe leaned into Nicky’s shoulder a little, comforted by his kindness, but exhausted and beginning to shiver. He still was wearing only a pair of skin tight leather pants.
He shuddered, and Nicky patted his shoulders, taking charge again. “Rory, give me a blanket from the trunk, Gabe is cold. ”
“I’m just so scared,” Gabe mumbled as Rory hurried out, “even more than when I went feral. ”
“You were feral?”
Gave gulped and nodded, “But Zack said it would be better if no one ever knew. Don’t repeat it, please. ”
“No problem, butit’s something I’d like to hear more about it when we’re alone. I went feral one time too. Scary shit. ”
“Zack saved me from that. God, I love him so much. I don’t know what I’ll do if…”
Rory opened the door and handed Nicky a blanket. Nicky draped it around Gabe and launched into a story about the weather, for God’s sake, but Gabe
was actually grateful. Not only did it show Nicky would keep his secret, but he didn’t want to think about what was going on in the car ahead of them. He listened to Nicky’s chatter, knowing he was only giving him a chance to recover by distracting him.
After about another ten minutes, Scott came and looked in the back seat where the three young men sat. “He’s awake, Gabe, but just barely. They’re going to get him to shift so he’ll heal faster. The two alphas are shifting with him and taking him into the woods. ”
They got out of the back seat in time to see the two alphas, Marco and Casey, supporting Zack between them as they headed toward the trees. They could see Zack walking, if a bit unsteadily. Scott went with them and came back in a few minutes, carrying their clothes. Nicky walked up to the tree line and yelled for Marco. He had to yell a couple of times, but finally, a huge silver wolf stood in the shadows, looking out at them.
“Gabe needs to see Zack, Marco, if only for a minute. You can imagine how he’s feeling. Go get Zack, please. ”
Gabe stepped up beside Nicky and touched his arm, at a loss for words. He did need to see his mate, but hadn’t known what to do to make it happen. Nicky smiled down at him. “Wolves. Beautiful, but dumb as dirt sometimes. ”
Rory punched him in the arm. “Hey!” he said, playfully.
Nicky smiled at him. “Present company definitely not excluded!”
A large wolf stepped up almost out of the shadows and looked straight at Gabe. It was the first time Gabe had seen Zack’s wolf, and he was almost speechless at his beauty. He was gray and black, and his eyes were the same color as Zack’s dark ones. Gabe ran over to him and put his arms around his neck, luxuriating in the feel of his soft fur. The wolf swayed a little, nuzzled his nose into Gabe’s neck, and nipped ever so gently at his skin. Then he pulled away and was gone, joining the others, their howls sounding far away and echoing through the hills.
“C’mon, Gabe, we need to get you back to your lodge. Marco and Casey will bring Zack home once he’s healed. It shouldn’t take long. ” Nicky led the younger boy to his car. Scott and Jamie helped them all in and took off back toward the lodge. Gabe put his head back on the seat, suddenly unable to keep his eyes open, and no one spoke on the short journey back home.
Zack sat with the other two alphas, Marco and Casey, at a large table in the common room, watching their mates dance. Casey had a proud, appreciative look on his face, as Rory in his tight blue jeans and T-shirt swayed provocatively to the music. Sexy, but refined and respectable, he had eyes only for Casey as he beckoned him out on the dance floor. Casey declined with a wave of his hand, but his eyes rarely left his mate.
His voice was warm and proud as he spoke of his mate. Casey told them, “Rory used to be too self-conscious to dance, especially out there with the other pets, but he’s overcome much of his shyness in the months sincewe’ve been together. ”
Marco, on the other hand, had an expression of dismay, much as Zack suspected he looked, as they watched their beautiful pets strut their stuff on the dance floor. Both Gabe and Nicky had taken off their shirts to show off their nipple rings. Gabe had come up with another pair of the damn things for Nicky to wear. Nicky’s blond hair and Gabe’s midnight black hair whipped around together as they bumped and ground their way through an old school Donna Summer disco number.
Rory came back and sat down after just one dance and leaned his back up against Casey, while Casey stroked his arm and whispered something in his ear to make him blush.
Watching them together, Zack sighed, wishing his pet could be a littlemore like Casey’s, instead of flaunting his sexy little ass all over the dance floor.
Marco saw the expression on Zack’s face and laughed, clapping a hand on his back. “Get used to it, Zack. If he’s anything like Nicky, your life just got very interesting. ” He stood. “If you can’t beat ’em,” he said over his shoulder, “join ’em. ”