Terror like he’d never felt took hold of him and they were surrounded, surrounded by Pack as they lent love and touch and she’d changed. He’d found himself cradling her wolf, the small, honey-gold wolf that held his mate’s heart and soul.

He’d put his face to her fur and wept.

Chapter Twelve

Grace woke up, naked and wrapped up in hard, male werewolf. Another hard, male werewolf opened his eyes and looked at her. Blue as the summer sky.

Behind her, Cade startled awake and sat up. Jack looked to him. “Our girl is awake.”

She turned to Cade and watched as the worry etched his forehead. “Honey? Are you all right? How are you feeling?” He ran his hands all over her body and despite her state of health, she responded quite resoundingly.

“Well, um, you’re going to embarrass me if you don’t stop that,” she said, reaching up to take his hand and bring it to her lips.

“You do smell much better aroused than at death’s door, Grace. And don’t be embarrassed on my account.” Jack spoke in the background. “I’m going to go and let everyone know you’re awake. I’ll do my best to stop a stampede.”

She heard the door close and looked back to Cade. “I’m all right.”

“You nearly died, Grace. You disobeyed your Enforcer and put yourself right in harm’s way and today you are going to the haven. Period.”

She sat up and put pillows at her back. “I will do no such thing. And I don’t take orders not to save my wolves so f**k right off.”

His eyes widened. “Did you just say f**k?”

“I’m not a precious little princess, Cade Warden. I can say the big bad words when they’re called for and being told to sit by when one of my wolves is bleeding to death on the asphalt just ten feet away from me is one of those occasions. Oh and I’m not going to the haven so forget that right now.”

“You would have died if you hadn’t changed into a wolf right when you did.” His widened eyes then narrowed with frustration.

“So used to being obeyed, aren’t you?” She kissed the hand she still held. “Well tough. I’m the doctor here. I had about three more minutes before I would have lost consciousness and most likely died either from my lungs, which were pretty messed up, or blood loss. But I didn’t die. Now, how is Megan and have you heard anything from Chicago?”

He got off the bed and brought back a shirt, which he put on over her head. “People are going to be in here any second and I don’t want them to see your beautiful br**sts. They’re all mine.” He tucked the blankets around her and as he got back onto the bed next to her, Megan opened the door and rushed inside, tears in her eyes.

“Thank God you’re all right. You saved my life, Grace. You risked your own to save me. I can’t even…” She lost her words on tears.

“You’re my wolf. My family. I love you and I’d die for you. You have to know that. Not that I planned to get shot in the chest, let’s be clear, I wasn’t showing off or anything. How are you?” Grace took her pulse and looked into her eyes until Cade cleared his throat.

“Sit your pretty little butt back down. She’s fine. It’s been a day. She went for a run earlier this morning and was able to transform back a few hours ago. You transformed back into human form last night but stayed asleep. I spoke with the Pack doctor and she said to leave you that way so we did.” Cade pulled her against his body and she let herself melt into him.

“Chicago?”

“Pushy. They found your brother’s house, their Pack house. He was gone. They did apprehend several wolves though and Ben is questioning them. They also found the viral stores, Grace. They’re destroyed now and the data is being couriered here by hand. I figured it would be helpful.”

She tried to sit again and Cade merely tightened his arms to keep her in place. “What? You can’t tell me you have all this info on the way and then not let me get to the lab to make ready for it.”

“Oh but I can. That’s what’s so cool about being Alpha and all. The best thing is that you’re still too weak to fight me on it just yet. I’ll get you to the lab when the time is right. But for now, keep that pretty little ass right here in bed.”

“Enough of that, you two. Let’s get you fed. You need to get your strength back up.” Tracy pushed into the room holding a tray and put it over her legs. “Thank you, Grace.” Tracy kissed her cheek. “You saved my sister’s life. You were a true Alpha out there.”

“You honor me. Anyway, no harm. I’m all right. Megan let me examine her and I feel much better. What’s the status of all the Great Lakes wolves?” She bit into the warm meatloaf and instantly began to feel better.

Cade sighed. “Two of Ben and Tegan’s Enforcers were injured, one severely. But no deaths. No sign of your parents either. Now eat, damn it. You don’t have a single ounce extra on you to fritter away. Everyone else needs to get out so you can rest.”

“I’d like to speak to Jack and Lex please,” she said around a mouthful of potatoes au gratin. “Who made this? It’s really good.”

“Thank you, pretty. It’s an old bachelor recipe.” Gabe smiled at her, kissed the top of her head and nodded to Cade. “Shall I take up with the meetings?”

“You’ve delayed them all this time? Cade, go on. I’m fine.”