He pulled the blankets back and helped her into bed before he went to the door and let the wolf just outside know Michelle was ready to talk.

Josh moved back to the bed and grabbed a chair.

“No.”

He looked up at her. “No, what, beautiful?”

“I need you to sit here with me. Please. I need…”

He understood and settled next to her on the bed. “You need to be touched. And I get it. I need to touch you so that works out just fine. Shifters, the whole lot of us, we find a great deal of comfort in touching and being touched. You’re on the mend and newly changed so you’ll need it more.”

She snuggled into his side, sucking in a breath. He sucked in his own gasp when she licked his neck.

“You taste so good. Even better now.” Her lips brushed over his skin as she spoke and sent shivers through him. “Wow, I can feel your arousal. I mean, here.” She squeezed his cock. “But through the bond too. It’s…wow. So wow.”

He smiled. “When you’re ready for it, I’m going to f**k the hell out of you. Just sayin’.”

Her arousal twined around his through the bond, and he had to put a pillow over his lap before everyone came in.

Akio entered the room first and moved right to them. He approached the side Josh was on, knowing how possessive and on edge he would be after his mate nearly died. Even with an anchor.

“Hey, little witch.” Akio kissed her forehead. “You’re looking a far sight better than you were an hour ago. Don’t f**king try to die again or I will kick your ass.” And then he settled in the chair Josh was going to sit in.

Grace came in next with a tray she handed to Josh. “Eat. There’s a mug of soup there for you, Michelle. If you feel up to it, just sip it here and there.”

Cade followed and smiled at Michelle. “There she is, my newest wolf. Welcome, Michelle. And congratulations on the bond with Josh.”

“Thank you.” Michelle cleared her throat. Josh knew how tired she was getting but she’d soldier through. “And I understand you’re the one who turned me to save my life, so thank you for that too.”

“Some years ago, a short while after Grace and I were mated, she was shot and seriously injured. Of course my very stubborn mate refused to change into her wolf before she knew my sister, who had been critically wounded, was all right. I know, first hand, what it feels like, that sick, helpless nausea as you watch the person you love more than life itself on the verge of death. So it was my honor to make sure Josh didn’t have to face the rest of his life without you at his side. And now you’re one of mine too.”

He sat at the foot of the bed in a chair Dave brought in.

“I’m going to ask Kendra and Renee to come in now, all right? Then you can tell us all what you saw at once and after that, get some rest.” Grace posed it like a question, but Michelle heard the steel in her tone. This was a woman used to being obeyed.

And really, sleeping in Josh’s arms was going to be her reward so she’d make it through.

Immediately, when the two witches came into the room, the wolf inside her seemed to press against her insides. Josh took her hand and squeezed it. “Drink some of that soup.”

She did, and the concentration it took to pick up the mug, sip it slowly and put it back helped her focus on something other than the fact that two beautiful women had just entered the space with her mate.

“I don’t even know how you get through every day feeling like this,” she muttered.

“You’ll get used to it. Things are very strong between you and Josh now. Your bond is new and you nearly died. Your wolf is establishing herself, and she and your human will have to find an equilibrium. It’ll come in time and then things will be easier. I promise.” Grace patted her foot.

Both witches smiled at her. “I’m Renee. Jack Meyers is one of my mates. He told me about you. Spoke very highly of you as it happens. He’s hard to impress so you must be pretty awesome.” Renee kept her eyes on Michelle, not quite ignoring Josh, but it was enough to ease her wolf back.

“I’m Kendra. I’m Max de La Vega’s wife and the other Alpha of the de La Vega Jamboree here in Boston. I’m also a witch who took on an animal. So after you’re recovered, we should talk about that. How it works for me and stuff. Also, I don’t know any other witch who is also a shifter so we have so much to talk about.”

“Tell us what you saw.” Cade sat back in his chair.

Chapter Sixteen

She woke up with a start and remembered. Everything. Being shot. Nearly dying. Josh’s voice as she drifted farther and farther away. She was so sure she’d die even as she held on by her fingernails. And then teeth. The fire of the virus as her wolf raced through her veins.

And then telling a room full of shifters about the magic at the murder scene. The way she’d scented wolves in the energy. About the unbearable wrongness of the presence she’d felt in that circle.

She’d repeated it over the phone to Lark Jaansen as well. The witch had told her to rest and not worry, that they were on the trail of the mages and Allie’s death would be avenged. She also urged Michelle to consider working for Owen as a hunter in Portland, perhaps as a liaison with the wolves there.

It was worth considering. And it was good to have some options when she wasn’t sure what she’d end up doing since she would no longer be a cop in Roseburg.

Josh stirred, opening his eyes and looking straight into her heart. She drew in a breath but it was full of his scent, and she went hot and hard and wet with such force it had her swallowing and reaching for some control.