Chapter 53
Rafe
Granny had managed to get most of the wolfsbane out of Jade’s system with an IV and a little magical help. Granny had been a nurse in another life before she met Tracey’s grandfather. She had saved lives with her magical knowledge and her medical skills. When we were little we would sit around in her cottage to listen to all the stories of all the lifetimes she had lived. She especially loved being a nurse in the Second World War. She had hated the destruction, but she had loved how many she had saved and helped. She didn’t mind being on the frontlines if it meant saving people. She had left in the dead of the night when Jade’s vitals had evened out.
Granny had told me to get some rest, but just like Tracey and the mysterious wolf, we wouldn’t be leaving her side any time soon. Tracey yawned on the couch across the room and the wolf shifted away from her. He slept on the floor and his chocolate-colored fur would ruffle every time Tracey moved.
“Who’s the wolf?” I finally asked as the sun took a peek through the windows. Jade still hadn’t woken but her skin didn’t look so green anymore and the scent of infection didn’t linger in the air.
Tracey shrugged as she eyed him suspiciously. He smelled familiar but I couldn’t place it. It probably had something to do with my mate’s scent covering him from head to toe, but I chose to ignore that for now. There would be a lot of questions when and if he decided to transform back into his human form. Though, he looked rather content to keep his identity a secret. “He won’t leave her side and he won’t shift back.”
I ran my tongue over my teeth. “I thought Micah said no one was coming back with them.”
Tracey ground her teeth together. “He did. He was very adamant on that.”
“What happened then?” I leaned back in my chair as I watched the wolf. His brown eyes never left Jade and my eyes didn’t leave him. I didn’t like how much he smelled like my mate and how much she smelled like him. But if she had found a friend in there that had helped her escape all of the pain, then could I really be that mad?
Tracey leaned her elbows on her knees. “We ran into a hiccup with Damian, he didn’t want us to leave without a fight. He wanted to relay a message back to you. He knows we were the ones that freed the children. His witches came at us full force and honestly, I don’t know how we even got out of there.” Her eyes went distant. “It was bad. Knox was shot first then wolves poured into the hallway. One minute we were there and the next we were out in the middle of the yard.”
My brows furrowed. “Did you use magic?”
She shrugged her shoulders up to her blood-splattered ears. “I have no idea. I don’t know what the hell happened. Then we were running for our lives and wolves continued to pour out from the woods. He has an army bigger than I have ever seen before.” She gulped. “If the witches don’t get out of there, then we are done for. Granny and I can’t hold off those numbers. We need help from Pack Law.”
It was the last thing I wanted to do but if Tracey’s account checked out with the rest of the men, then she was right. We wouldn’t be able to do this on our own. But why did this Damian character want to do this at all?
“How did you get to Jade?”
Tracey tucked her chin against her chest. “We literally ran into each other. Micah was nowhere to be seen. There were wolves everywhere and then there was this wolf,” she nodded her head at the stranger. “With freaking Jade on his back running like I had never seen before. It was something from a movie, I swear.”
“Why didn’t you transform?” The details were the only thing keeping me sane.
“Someone had to drive,” She grinned with triumph. “I knew that our cars would be our only hope. The other boys had already thrown themselves into their wolf forms. I really didn’t have much of a choice then I saw Jade slipping from consciousness. She couldn’t hold onto the wolf’s back anymore. I had to carry her the rest of the way while the boys fought off what they could.”
I nodded my appreciation. “Go take a shower, get some food in you then check on the rest of the Guardians.”
She went to object. I held my hand up. “I will not leave my mate’s side, especially when we have a stranger wolf that won’t leave even though he doesn’t seem to pose a threat. I need the men checked on and you’re one of the only ones I trust to do it right. See if they need anything from Granny while you’re at it.”
Tracey nodded before she disappeared. I looked at the wolf curled up in the corner. “I know you aren’t going to speak back to me, and that’s perfectly okay. But here are some ground rules.” He perked up his head. “You will not harm my mate. If you do, I will rip your throat out before asking Jade if it’s okay. I do owe you a life debt for saving my mate’s life but I’m not sure if I want to offer it to you just yet.” He dipped his head in understanding. “Thank you for getting her out or helping her get far enough for my people to help her. Until we know who you are, you aren’t permitted around the people here. You will not leave my home. This place is under constant surveillance too. Don’t try any funny business.”
He nodded his head again before he laid it on his front paws and his eyes went back to watching my mate.
