Three Mates, One Destiny (9 page)

Clay looked like he’d been slapped. Paulie’s authoritative voice broke the awkward silence. “Don’t say such things, Ross. I’ve told you many times we just want to help. Clay, step outside with me, please.”

Clay obeyed silently, and Sebastian followed him out, while Marcus remained to watch over Ross. “I remember you,” Ross said.

“You brought me here.” He scowled, and then the despair that previously graced his features vanished, turning into an angry sneer.

“What? Didn’t I suck your cock well enough? Is that why you brought me here, to be pumped full of shit?”

Marcus didn’t answer. For whatever reason, the memories seemed to have mixed up in Ross’s head, and he now confused Marcus with whoever hurt him. Even though he knew himself to be innocent, the
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weight of Ross’s hatred almost brought him to his knees, and he felt more than relieved when the door opened once again.

In spite of his ugly words earlier, Ross didn’t protest being examined by Paulie or receiving another shot from the serum. Marcus thanked the Spirit Mother for that much. Whether Ross knew it or not, saving him had become a priority for Paulie. Of course, Clay’s appearance represented an added factor that might make things difficult for Paulie.

With everything going on, Marcus couldn’t help a small tinge of selfishness. He wanted to reach out and take his mate into his arms, just like Clay did with Ross. It just seemed like lately, they were worrying so much about others and not enough about themselves. He didn’t know if Paulie deliberately chose to do this, or if his genuine altruism made him focus on other things except their mating. What he did know was that he needed more. For crying out loud, Marcus and Sebastian chose not to fuck either. It was quite strenuous after a century of a rich and fulfilling sex life.

Once Paulie finished with his check, they left the room. The guards had returned, probably ordered back to their post by Sebastian.

Now, Marcus spotted his mate talking in a low voice with Clay. Even from this distance, his ears caught threads of the conversation. “A double bite could heal Ross,” Sebastian said. “Think about it.”

Clay didn’t answer, but an expression of decision graced his strong, elegant features. Marcus wondered what he intended to do.

Could Klaus Fleischer be the third mate of this union? No, impossible. Had it been so, he and Clay would have hooked up ages ago, back when Clay first appeared in front of the Magistrate. In fact, many years Marcus thought Klaus to be Wolfram’s mate. Even if his suspicion proved to be incorrect, the fact remained Klaus and Clay just recently attempted a liaison, something that seemed to have failed.

Whatever the case, Marcus hoped not to have to get involved in it.

He had enough on his hands with his own mating, and as much as
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he’d have liked to help, Ross and Clay would probably not appreciate it.

At last, the conversation ended, and after a final, longing look toward Ross’s room, Clay left the clinic. Sebastian joined Marcus and Paulie. “This is certainly unexpected. I’m not sure what to believe.”

Paulie sighed. “Neither am I. For the moment, I gave Ross a sedative. I’ll have to talk to Dad and the Harts to figure out what to do next.”

Of course. Now that Ross was Clay’s mate, he’d become an unofficial member of the Hart family. Marcus felt an incoming headache.

“Let’s just get the conversation with my dad over with, and then we’ll see what our next step should be,” Paulie finished.

He called another spirit wolf doctor to watch over Ross, and then they headed toward the main area of the clinic. Just as they reached the main level, Marcus noticed a strange agitation in the people around him. Andrew Blunt was nowhere to be seen, and a flurry of activity engulfed all the doctors of the compound.

They stopped one of the medics, but the man didn’t know to tell them what was going on. He just followed orders, which in this case meant preparing a heavy dispatch of field doctors ready to leave as soon as possible. This automatically translated into an attack. The ferals must have struck somewhere nearby, and the Harts had been called upon to help.

Much to Marcus’s dismay, Paulie immediately became implicated in the process, readying himself to depart as well. Marcus knew Paulie was an excellent medic, but being a field doctor also required military training and a tough physique. Paulie was much too young for something like that. In such situations, the ferals could be expected to launch a second attack, and the staff needed to be able to fend for themselves.

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At last, Andrew Blunt showed up. “You’re not going,” he said without preamble. He wore special equipment, and he obviously intended to join the expedition.

“Why?” Paulie answered.

“It’s too dangerous. You can get hurt.”

“So can you,” Paulie shot back. “Why the double standard?”

Andrew frowned at his son. “Don’t pout. It doesn’t suit you. And I won’t begin to list the reasons of the difference. “

When Paulie continued to glare, Andrew sighed and elaborated.

“Look, Paulie, I’ve been in situations like this before. I’ve seen injured on-site and treated sick people in underdeveloped countries in my youth. Not to mention that my mating gives me a resilience you don’t have. I don’t doubt your abilities, but you’ve only worked in a lab so far. You’re not ready.”

“How am I ever going to be ready if you just cling to the idea of forever keeping me locked up in this compound?”

Andrew looked torn. “Please understand, Paulie. I can’t risk your life in this. Tell you what, after this expedition, we can start some heavy military exercise.” Andrew shared a look with Marcus. The man seemed to say,
“Mate him. Keep him safe.”

With obvious reluctance, Paulie agreed. “Okay,” he said. “I’ll just help you get ready then. But I’ll hold you to your promise.”

Andrew nodded and smiled at his son. “Thanks.”

The commotion continued for a while longer, and during this time, Marcus watched in silence as the doctors—including Andrew and Paulie—wrapped up the preparations. At one point, Sebastian left, returning shortly after, all geared up for departure.

“I’ll go with them,” he whispered. “You stay with Paulie.”

Marcus arched a brow. It was just like Sebastian to be protective and practical at the same time. Marcus wanted to kick Sebastian at the realization that the other man used Paulie to keep him from service.

He’d have protested, but the situation didn’t allow him to. He trusted
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his mate to get by. Perhaps, there wouldn’t even be a battle and the ferals would not attack a second time.

He sensed the moment Paulie realized Sebastian would leave without either of them. “You can’t be serious,” Paulie cried. “If it’s so dangerous, how can you go alone?”

“I’m not going alone.” Sebastian smiled gently. “There will be dozens of soldiers there. You need Marcus more.”

“I’m not a child,” Paulie fumed. Marcus could understand his mate, especially taking into account the previous exchange with Andrew. “Besides,” Paulie continued to rant, “isn’t that the entire point of me staying behind? I’m supposedly safe here, aren’t I?”

That
was
, the point, yes, and truth be told, Marcus had scanned the compound inside and out in the past days. Not even a fly could get in without being detected, something for which he felt very thankful.

At the same time, he couldn’t help but be torn. Choosing between two mates was not something he’d ever expected to be forced into.

Marcus recalled the way the ferals had been more organized and took his decision. Paulie would be safe here. Sebastian needed him.

Reason told him Sebastian would be going into a dangerous situation, and therefore needed him much more. He looked between his two mates and sighed. “Fine, but you stay in your room and don’t go anywhere without a guard next to you.”

Paulie offered him a slight smile. “I promise. You stick together and watch each other’s backs.”

It was a useless piece of advice, since Sebastian and Marcus had been fighting together for a century now. They’d only ever suffered a defeat with the dangerous feral Joseph, but Marcus didn’t blame himself or his mate for that one. Joseph had even given their leader a run for his money.

Sebastian looked a bit doubtful, but eventually agreed. A half an hour later, Marcus and Sebastian kissed their mate good-bye and boarded one of the prepared helicopters. As the aircraft took off, they
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watched Paulie get smaller and smaller, until finally he disappeared altogether. In front of them, Andrew Blunt looked troubled.

“It’s all right, babe,” Trent said. “He’ll be fine.”

“I know. I just hate leaving him.”

So did Marcus. He couldn’t wait for this mission to be over. Once they came back, they’d get Paulie to see how they felt for him, no matter what.

* * * *

It was strangely disconcerting to be without his family and mates.

His father and adoptive dads had gone on the expedition to check out the aftermath of the attack, taking Sebastian and Marcus with them.

The Harts stayed behind, as well as Ashton, Dan, and Linden. Still, Paulie felt lonely and quite bereft. He’d have gone in search of Linden, since he got along great with the other man, but he couldn’t intrude in Linden’s time with his mates. He also enjoyed spending time with Amy, but today, the idea didn’t make him too enthusiastic.

Instead, he decided to get some more work done. Many of the doctors had left, so the laboratory section of the clinic remained quite barren. Only the guards and Paulie remained here, with a skeleton staff manning the main hospital, just in case something happened while the others were away.

Deep in thought, Paulie went to the lab and buried himself in research. At one point, he felt heavy exhaustion weigh on him, and he considered going to get some sleep. He wouldn’t even have to leave the lab. The offices held a comfortable couch he could use.

No! What was he thinking? How could he possibly rest when his mates and parents were out there, facing God knew what dangers?

Paulie berated himself for his weakness and went to wash his face. He clung to his need for his loved ones and continued with his work. On occasion, he lost his concentration, a feeling of deep anxiety coursing
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through him. He couldn’t identify the source, so he blamed it on paranoia and forced himself to focus.

He was busy studying one of the viral cultures when he smelled the smoke. Immediately, alarm coursed through him. All of the information they’d gathered on the feral virus—seven years’ worth of research—were stored here. A fire would be disastrous. Paulie was pretty sure his dad must’ve made off-site backups of part of it someplace, but the latest results wouldn’t have been stored anywhere.

Even more importantly, they still had patients here. The two ferals and Ross remained trapped in this section of the hospital.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Paulie rushed out of the lab and into the hallway. The smell of smoke became even more pungent. It seemed to be coming from the upper level, where the patient rooms were located. At the same time, the corridor now appeared to be completely deserted. It couldn’t be. The clinic had top-notch security, including smoke alarms, cameras, and sensors, not to mention all the guards. What in the world was going on?

He hastened toward the stairs, and at the end of the corridor, found the alarm button. He pressed it then found the fire extinguisher.

After cracking the glass and retrieving the item, he went up to the next level. As he progressed, the heat increased and the air became thicker and noxious. In the main corridor at the second level, flames licked over the walls, scorching everything in their path. The way still seemed clear to Ross’s room. He still had time.

A shadowed figure emerged from the corridor, and to Paulie’s surprise, he realized it was Ross. At first, glee filled him at the knowledge his patient seemed unharmed. But then, Paulie caught sight of Ross’s expression—or rather, the lack of it. Ross could have very well been a robot and showed more emotion. Paulie recalled his patient’s instability, and wondered how in the world Ross managed to leave the room in the first place.

He didn’t have much time to contemplate this. Without a single word, Ross charged forward. In a flash, he reached Paulie, and they
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came crashing down. The momentum of Ross’s motion sent them rolling down the stairs, dislodging Ross’s fragile grip on Paulie.

Paulie took advantage of the moment to get up and scan the area for anything he could use to incapacitate his crazed patient. He didn’t want to hurt Ross, but the other man wouldn’t have the same scruples.

Paulie had been in a life-and-death situation before, but back then, during the attack on the Hart compound, he’d always hidden behind someone. He was never alone. In fact, for seven years, Paulie could count the moments he went without an escort on one hand. The only time he ever spent in private was in his room. It figured that at the exact moment when a patient attacked him, no one would be around.

He recalled the fire extinguisher. He’d dropped it when Ross jumped him, but it now lay just a few inches away from him. It would certainly be heavy enough to cause a fair amount of damage.

Paulie lunged toward his final hope, and he managed to grab it just a second before Ross grabbed him. They fought, with Paulie using the extinguisher both as a shield and a weapon. However, Ross seemed completely immune to pain, and it didn’t help that Paulie was loath to strike too hard. Even if Ross had become, for all accounts, feral, Paulie couldn’t be sure to what extent the other man might be able to heal injuries. The doctor in him protested, but he found strength in his desire to survive, and find all the other patients and retrieve the priceless research on the virus.

Still, in spite of his efforts, Ross unsurprisingly won. Paulie lost his grip on the fire extinguisher, and it went rolling away, leaving him defenseless against Ross’s attack. Ross’s hands went around his throat, squeezing the air out of his lungs, choking him in an iron-like vise. Paulie’s vision began to grow dim. He uselessly clawed at Ross’s arms, but his strength waned with each passing second. Just when he thought he’d surely be killed, a part of his mind registered the sound of a gunshot. It seemed distant, but it couldn’t have been so.