Harvest Moon (30 page)

“As I used to remind him, he’s not god. He doesn’t get to decide.” Before Gareth could respond, I went on. “If I don’t make it back, please tell him that the day you grabbed me from the hospital to help him with his father, I thought he was amazing. I didn’t want it to show because I’d had my fill of being treated like shit by doctors. But…I just want him to know…that I’m so thankful fate brought us together.” I blinked back a wave of tears and shook my head. “Love has always made me vulnerable, but his love…makes me strong.”

Gareth nodded and poked at the fire again before meeting my eyes. “I remember that day with Wyatt on the floor, Jason fighting to get his heart beating again, and you got in there and took charge. You didn’t cut Jason any slack. You were this tiny lady with a huge-ass spirit. You need that now. Dig deep and use it.”

“You’re right.” I stood up. “What I told you before? Never mind.” I grinned. “I’m going to tell him myself.”

Gareth got to his feet, towering over me, and took my hand. “You are going to fit right in with our Pack.” He squeezed my hand. “You’re not going to stay in these shadows. There’s a great life ahead of you.” He smiled, nudging my shoulder. “Now tilt your head back, and let your wolf howl.”

Chapter Thirty-One

J
ASON

“M
y brow, Chloe.”

She dabbed the towel on my forehead, drying the sweat before it could get in my eyes and keeping my hands sterile while I worked. Thankfully, Chloe had been a fast learner so far, and the blood didn’t seem to faze her, either. I never would’ve guessed Gareth’s godmother would be so calm under pressure.

The bullet had hit Kilani’s pelvis, but after I plucked it out, I didn’t find any bone fragments. We got lucky. She lost a lot of blood, but as long as we could keep her from getting any infections, she’d heal up just fine.

I cleaned up the wound, stitching her tendons, muscle, and finally closing her skin. Without having surgical staples, and my constant pauses to check her pulse, it took forever to hand stich everything. Not having her vitals displayed throughout the procedure was making me insane. I needed to be sure she was all right.

And then I heard something. I froze, frowning.

Chloe cleared her throat. “Need me to get something?”

I tilted my head. “You don’t hear that?”

“Hear what?”

Then it came again, followed by laughter that warmed me from head to toe. It was Kilani. She was howling. My pulse raced, but nothing could wipe the smile from my face.

“Are you okay? Are we finished?”

“Better than okay.” I winked at my surgical assistant. “Just about done.” I tied off the final outer stitches. “Scissors.”

She took the needle and handed me the scissors. I clipped the ends of the knot and gave them back. “So how do I wake her?”

Chloe set the tools down and raised a brow. “Any way you’d like.”

“What about Gareth?”

“He’ll walk back to himself after she leaves the dream world.”

I stroked Kilani’s hair back from her face. Her color was already improving. Good sign. I bent closer, my lips brushing hers. At first nothing happened. I started to pull back when her dark eyelashes fluttered and her beautiful eyes met mine.

“You did it.”

I laughed and whispered, “
We
did it.”

Nani came up beside me while Chloe slipped out the door. She kissed Kilani’s forehead. “Welcome back, mynah bird.”

“I saw our
honu
.”

“Good.” Nani patted her hand. “I asked our ancestors to help you find the dream walker.”

I sent everyone out while Kilani dozed in and out of consciousness. Her pulse and respiration were strong and steady. I cleaned up the exam room, bagging all the towels, surgical tools, and any other evidence that I’d performed a minor surgery.

Satisfied that her blood would never be discovered, I tied off the bag and sat down beside her bed. I took her hand, watching her chest rise and fall, and my vision blurred with tears. She was going to be fine.

Kilani opened her eyes and smiled. “Did I fall asleep?”

I started to smile. “You were shot a couple of hours ago. I think you’ve earned a nap.”

She lifted her head. “Get a mirror. I want to see your handiwork.”

“Don’t get excited. I did the best I could with what I had to work with in here, but you’re going to have a scar.” I grabbed the mirror out of the drawer and tilted it so she could see the stiches.

She inspected the joined skin, running her finger around the edges. Finally she relaxed and smiled up at me. “I’m impressed.” Kilani cocked her finger at me. “Come here.”

I bent down, and she kissed me, her tongue brushing my lips. I opened to her, tasting her, drinking her in. My mate was alive, strong, and mine. When she rested her head back, her gaze roamed over my face.

“I love you.”

I wanted to pull her into my arms and never let her go, but I also didn’t want to hurt her, and her stitches would be tender.

“I love you, too.” I caressed her cheek. “You probably saved my life today, but it was too risky.”

“I think the right answer is ‘thank you.’” She raised a brow. “And you can’t be upset with me for doing the exact same thing you were ready to do for me. I’m never going to be a shrinking violet hiding behind my man.” Her eyes sparkled. “I’m too much wolf for that.”

I rolled my eyes, kissing and loving her more than I ever realized I could. “I wouldn’t want you any other way.”

“Did you hear me howl?”

“I did.” I chuckled. “How is that even possible?”

She shrugged. “I don’t think Gareth even knows, but wherever we were, he built a fire and kept me talking. I got scared once and gave him a message to tell you if I didn’t make it back, but he told me to stay with him and stay strong.” She grinned. “And we howled.”

“You didn’t feel any pain while I was digging around in your hip?”

“Nope. I was someplace else.”

“That’s amazing.” I straightened and inspected her wound one more time. “I’m going to write a prescription for antibiotics. Do you need a pain killer too?”

Kilani shifted and slowly sat up. She winced but shook her head. “Nah. I think I’ll be fine with some Advil.”

“Okay.” I rolled the table to the side and turned to find her standing. Her hands were still holding onto the exam table on either side, but she was upright. “How’s your hip feel?”

“Sore, but I’m not as light-headed as I thought I’d be.”

“We do heal a little faster than humans.” I moved in front of her, cupping her cheek. “Thank you for saving me. I’m not talking about the shooter.” I searched her questioning eyes. “I was lost when you came into my life. You reminded me who I really am. You brought me home.”

Her eyes welled with tears. “And you gave me one.”

I held her in my arms, resting my head on hers, when someone knocked on the door. I sighed, loosening my hold on her. “Guess we can’t hide out in here any longer.”

She nodded and put her hand back on the exam table for balance while I went to the door.

Adam filled the doorway. “We need to talk.”

“Give me a second first.” I walked around him, straight to Gareth. Without bothering with the Pack greeting, I hugged the hell out of him.

He was stiff at first, but his hands finally gripped me in return. When I stepped back, he looked a little shell-shocked.

“Thanks for keeping Kilani safe while she was unconscious.”

“Glad I could help.” His gaze shifted to the door and back to me. “Is she going to be all right?”

“She’ll have a scar, but she should be fine.” I cleared my throat, struggling to keep my voice even. “She told me she got scared that she…wouldn’t make it back. But you got her to stay.” I shook my head. “I heard her howl.”

Gareth pulled me into a tight embrace, surprising the shit out of me. Against my ear, he whispered, “She loves you. She wasn’t going anywhere.”

We separated, nodding, and I went back to the exam room.

Adam and Sasha were inside with Kilani.

“Close the door.”

I frowned but did as Adam asked. “What’s up?”

“Sorry to pull you right back into this, but Aren and Sasha went up to the top of the parking structure to grab Damian and…”

“He was gone?”

Adam nodded, glancing at Kilani. “I think you’re safe for now.” He met my eyes again. “But we should probably keep her grandmother with us until we’re sure Nero has the message that Kilani is Pack now.”

“How exactly are you going to do that?” I crossed my arms. “Damian is obviously not dead. What other message are they going to hear?”

“I’m meeting with Sebastian tonight.”

“Aw hell, Adam.” I dropped my hands in frustration. “He’s probably the one who led us into that death trap today. He told us Damian would be waiting in Honolulu so we’d have our guard down in Reno. You can’t trust that guy.”

Sasha came a little closer. “I’d be the first to agree with you, Jason, but I only fired one shot. Damian was hit by two.”

I frowned. “What?”

“Adam wanted him alive, so I took out Damian’s leg.” She paused. “Someone else hit him in the hand right before I squeezed the trigger.”

“You think Sebastian shot his own brother? That’s a little more than just being sure his mission wasn’t a success.”

“When I lived inside Nero, rumors floated around about Damian being jealous of Sebastian. Their father made no secret that Sebastian was his heir and his right hand. I’d say Damian took the assignment to impress their father. Since Sebastian failed to bring Lana in, he’s no longer Severino’s golden child.”

I tilted my head, cracking some of the tension out of my neck. “So maybe he didn’t know that Damian changed his plan.”

“That’s my best guess.” She shrugged. “And by the time he found out, he decided it was worth the risk to keep Damian from making a second shot and killing his target.”

“You should meet him at my place. Keep Lana and the twins at the ranch. Have the meeting at my house.”

Kilani took my hand, her fingers lacing with mine. “He’s right, Adam.”

My Alpha stared at Kilani. We all waited, and finally he nodded. “Okay. If your hunch is right that my kids are related to Severino, then we should keep them far away from Sebastian. I’ll have the others stay at the ranch to protect Lana and the twins.”

Adam stepped back, giving me a little breathing room, but his intensity didn’t falter. “Sasha, tell Sebastian we’re meeting tonight, seven p.m., at Jason’s place.”

K
ilani insisted on resting on the couch instead of the bed. She wanted to see Sebastian. I suspected she might be hoping for a vision to make it clear whether he double-crossed us or not, but I didn’t ask. Even if Sasha was right, and Sebastian shot his brother, he did it to save himself, not us. I had no illusions that he had any loyalty toward us.

I could have lost my mate today. And I wanted retribution. It was tough to think about anything else. It’d be easier if I could beat the crap out of someone, but I’d promised Kilani and myself that my nights in that boxing ring were over.

Staring out the window, I clenched my fists tight. Why weren’t they here yet?

“Watching the driveway isn’t going to make Adam get here any faster.”

“Yeah, I know.” I crossed to her and sat in the chair. “Need any more Advil? How are you feeling?”

“I’m sore but not bad enough for a painkiller.”

“You took the antibiotic?”

“Yes, Doctor.” She smiled, and some of the agitation left my shoulders. She glanced at the door. “I think they’re coming up the street.”

Adam’s Jeep. Aren and Sasha should’ve been right behind them, but it was impossible to hear Aren’s Lotus engine over Cheney’s roar. Back in high school when Adam restored his Jeep and named it, I never dreamed he’d keep it all these years.

I opened the front door. Adam, Aren, and Sasha came in and pulled up a couple more chairs. Adam sat next to Kilani. “How are you doing?”

“Much better than I was a few hours ago.”

I patted Adam’s shoulder. “Want something to drink?”

“Nah, I’m good.”

Suddenly the room went silent. I never heard a car, but I smelled a jaguar. Adam stood, and I maneuvered myself in front of him to answer the door. Pack instincts to protect the Alpha were impossible to ignore.

I took a breath and turned the knob. Sebastian lowered his hand, no longer needing to knock.

“May I come in?”

I fought the urge to punch first and ask questions later, and stepped back to allow him in. Adam and Aren approached and I fell in on Adam’s other side.

Sebastian raised a brow. “Perhaps someone can tell me the purpose of our meeting?”

Adam glanced at Kilani and back to the jaguar. “Kilani is Pack now. We need you to take the message back to Nero. Unless your father wants to deal with the entire Wolf Pack, he needs to call off the order to eliminate her.”

“I am glad to see she survived.”

“Why is that exactly?” Everyone turned my way. “Sasha hit Damian’s leg, but someone fired a bullet into his hand. She thinks it was you. Why was it so important that Damian failed on his mission?”

Sebastian crossed his arms with a smug smirk. “It’s none of your concern.”

“Oh, but I think it is. I think Damian is Lana’s fraternal twin. That would make you her half brother. Am I getting close?” His nostrils flared but he kept his expression blank. “And if you’re Lana’s brother, that makes your father, the head of goddamned Nero, related to my Alpha’s twins.”

Adam crossed his arms over his chest. “That makes it very much my concern.”

Sebastian glared at me. “You idiot. You have no idea what you’ve done.” He crossed the room into my personal space. “I never knew I had a sister. Until I dug into those breeding experiment records, I didn’t know my father participated in his own breeding research. I thought Damian was a bastard son from a side relationship.”

He ground his teeth. “I still haven’t discovered why he’s hiding that information, so I am allowing him to believe that his secret is still safe. If he discovers that we know, there will be nothing to stop him from collecting his grandchildren and experimenting on them like he did my brother.”