Rafe’s eyes locked with hers, nodding once he confirmed what she suspected. “She’s mine and she’s hurt. Plus, there’s a problem with rogues. She said that her entire Pack was killed, Mom. Everyone. I think she’s the only survivor.”
“Oh no,” Ellie gasped, a hand flying to her heart, eyes wide and her face losing all color. “Where did this happen? We have to do something.”
“I’m not sure,” Rafe admitted. “She passed out before she could tell us anything else.”
“Fuck!” Ali’s curse had him spinning around.
“Ali, I need you to get as many sentries out as you can. We have to protect the Pack until I can gather more information.”
Sure,” she said, nodding quickly before disappearing.
“Jacy is on his way back with a prisoner,” he said with loathing. “One of the rogues who’d cornered her. He’s the only survivor. Jacy and I killed the others.”
“That’s something at least.” Ellie went to work, inspecting the girl lying lifeless on the bed. “I hope you can get him to answer your questions.”
“He’ll have no choice,” he said firmly. “I’ll make sure he talks, no matter what it takes.”
Ellie stood back from the bed, tugging the thick quilt over his mate. “Her ankle is broken and she’s dehydrated and exhausted. Once she’s up to it, if she transforms then her ankle will heal.”
“I thought as much,” Rafe agreed, having used his enhanced senses to feel out his mate’s injuries on the walk home.
“I’ll go and get a bowl and some warm water to give her a wash.” Ellie waggled a finger at him. “You go shower and dress, then we’ll talk some more about your mate.”
Rafe growled, not wanting to leave his mate alone for even a second. He nodded to the attached bathroom. “I’ll shower here, can you bring me some clothes, please?”
“Son, she’ll be fine,” his mother tried to coax him to leave.
“I said I’ll shower here,” Rafe replied firmly, his tone full of his Alpha power.
Ellie lowered her head as his power washed over her. “I’ll be back soon.”
Rafe felt a twinge of regret at using his power but then he shrugged, his attention back on the body lying in the bed. “What’s your name?”
She didn’t respond so he forced himself to go and clean up.
It was the quickest shower he’d ever had, washing himself quickly to get rid of the muck and blood. When he walked back into the bedroom, a towel wrapped around his waist, his mom was back.
She nodded to a chair. “There’s some clothes for you.”
Rafe snatched them up, dressing quickly and taking a moment to apologize. “I’m sorry about earlier, Mom. I’m not quite myself right now.”
Ellie turned, her knowing eyes gazing up at her son’s. “I know that, honey, it’s all right.”
“How is she?” Rafe asked, coming to sit on the side of the bed, his hand reaching out to move strands of hair off his mate’s face.
“She’s resting,” his mom told him as she started to wash his mate’s face and hands. “She’s gone through a lot, Rafe. She’ll need our support to get through this.”
“I know,” Rafe whispered. “I just hope we can help her.”
“You will,” Ellie told him with a confidence he didn’t feel. “Having her mate at her side will do far more for her than anything else.”
“She’s gorgeous, Mom,” Rafe’s voice hitched, full of emotion as he looked over at his mother. “The most beautiful thing I’ve ever laid eyes on and I don’t even know her name.”
“Tasha,” a weak voice had them turning quickly to the bed. “My name is Tasha Montgomery.”
“Well, hello, Tasha, my name is Ellie,” his mom said quickly.
“You rescued me.” Tasha’s shaky voice tore at Rafe’s heart.
“Yes,” he said, smiling. “I’m Rafe Blackstone, Alpha of the Darkmoon Pack. You’re here in my home and I promise to keep you safe, Tasha.”
“You, you, shoot . . .” She stopped as recognition flamed in her eyes.
“I’m your mate, Tasha,” Rafe confirmed.
“Oh.” Tasha’s eyes lowered, her face flushing red.
Rafe wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms, brush his lips over hers, but he stayed in place. “It’s a lot to take in. I know. I was shocked too but there’s no mistake, Tasha.”
“I know.” She looked up through her long, dark lashes, her pale grey eyes searching for his. “I’m just a little . . . well . . . I’m not sure, stunned I think.”
“We’ll take things slowly,” Rafe said the words he knew he’d find difficult to follow through on. Not when his body craved hers beneath him as she cried out in pleasure.
“Rafe.” Tasha tried to sit up, her yelp of pain halting her. “Dang, my ankle, I fell and it hurts like hell.”
“It’s broken, dear,” Ellie said, patting Tasha’s arm. “Once you feel strong enough, you should transform and let it heal.”
“I have to talk to you first,” she said as her eyes found Rafe’s again. “There’s so much and I’m not sure where to start.”
“I’d much rather you healed yourself before we do anything else,” Rafe replied, his insides churning at the pain he could clearly feel she was in.
“No,” she said firmly. “I have to tell you what happened to my Pack. It’s gone, everyone is dead, and I have a feeling that we won’t be the only ones.”
Ellie brought a glass of fresh OJ over. “Here, drink this first.”
Tasha snatched it, gulping the juice down quickly. “Thanks.”
“I’ll go and get some food while you two talk.”
Rafe shuffled closer, taking one of Tasha’s hands in his. The need to have a connection growing inside him with each passing second. “All right, tell me what happened.”
Tasha gave him a sad smile, her fingers entwining with his. “An illness swept through the camp and nobody knew what it was, or how to get rid of it. Right at the beginning people tried to transform to heal themselves, but it didn’t work, and then they had trouble changing back. It was horrendous watching it.”
Tasha shivered at
