THIRTEEN
The next weekcrept by at a snail’s pace.
The pack took turns feeding us, and keeping an eye on us. School started back up for Elliot a few days into the week, so he wasn’t there until the evenings. Tea and Ebony were both in the fast-grad nursing program, so they were swamped, but still hung out in the evenings too.
People came and went constantly, and my wolf retained control of our body the entire time, snuggled up against Rocco and licking his face and arms while he slept and she rested.
On the eighth day, Rocco finally stirred.
He shifted around a bit in bed before his eyes finally cracked open, and then he stared at her for a moment, dazed. It looked like he was trying to remember what all had happened.
If I’d been in human form, I would’ve said or done something awkward. But my wolf just stared at him.
Then she leaned forward, and licked his nose.
His expression softened, his lips tilting upward slightly as he scratched her behind the ears. She melted against him, forcing him to take most of her weight so he couldn’t move or stop petting her.
Rocco’s eyes closed again as he continued scratching her.
He dozed for a bit, his hands pausing and resuming multiple times as he petted the wolf and warred with his exhaustion. Despite how long he’d been asleep, he still looked tired.
A few more hours passed before Zed brought a plate of food in, and Rocco opened his eyes to say hi.
Zed checked how he was feeling—tired—and grabbed him some pants at Rocco’s request. Rocco dragged the sweats up his legs beneath the blanket before actually sliding out of bed.
My wolf followed him as he took the plate, thanking Zed before he stepped into the bathroom.
A glance at my wolf told me he was wondering whether or not she’d let him piss alone.
He started to close the door, and she gave a fierce growl.
With a grimace, he gestured her into the bathroom, and shut the door behind her.
She turned around while he peed—awkward, on so many levels—and waited while he washed his hands. He admitted that he wanted to take a shower, and she shrugged at him—apparently not caring whether or not he showered.
He stepped into the bathroom before stripping out of his pants and tossing them to the floor outside the tub. It would’ve kept him modest, if not for the clear shower curtain that hid absolutely nothing.
A weird feeling engulfed my chest, and then pain raced through my spine—wherever the hell it was.
I bit back a scream as the pain grew worse.
Rocco glanced over at me, and when he realized what was happening, he was out of the shower in a heartbeat, kneeling beside me with a hand on my back.
Cracks and breaks filled the air as my body changed, and awful shrieks and cries escaped me.
“Don’t fight it,” Rocco murmured to me. “Let her go.”
The bathroom door opened just as the pain vanished, leaving me on my hands and knees on the bathroom floor, absolutely naked
Zed’s gaze skimmed over me, checking to make sure I was alright as Rocco snarled, “Get out.”
Zed didn’t move to leave, instead meeting my gaze with his own.
Rocco stood swiftly as I nodded to Zed that I was alright, and the blond man surged toward the sigma, snarling as he slammed into him.
The men crashed to the ground together, and my lips parted in horror as Rocco’s arm pulled back, ready to punch his friend in the face.
Another guy reached the top of the stairs—Ford. He grabbed Rocco, shoving him to his feet and then again back into the bathroom.