Sheba latched onto her words as if she were drowning, nodding vigorously. “Yes, anything. Tell me.”
“You’re Alpha. It might be possible to use your power to help him. I’m just not entirely sure how . . . yet. Let me think about it for a bit.”
“Think about it?” Sheba almost roared. Her intense concern for her mate got the better of her as her emotions boiled out of control and her claws sprang free from her fingers. Only then did she see Tilly frowning and Ray barking back at her.
“Sheba! That’s enough! Tilly’s only trying to help. If you hurt her then who the hell is going to help?”
She tried to rein in her anger. Her fear. Her downright terror for the man lying next to her looking like a corpse. It took long moments before she could think straight, but finally she inhaled a huge deep breath and let it out slowly. “Fine, I’m sorry, but I’m terrified right now and he needs to live, Tilly. Anything else is not an option. So, please, come up with something fast.”
“I’m trying. I promise I am.” Tilly patted Sheba’s arm. “I’ve heard of cases where a forced mating can help. I’ve also heard cases where a Healer harnesses an Alpha’s power to help with healing, but my notes on those are back in my cabin. I know some powerful Witches who could help too. They’re in town and could be at your place in no time at all. I’m just trying to think of the best thing to do for you and for him. Oh, by the way, do we know his name?”
Sheba shrugged. “No name, but maybe I should tell you that he’s not a Wolf. He’s a Lion.”
Tilly whistled, a grin on her face. “A lion, huh? Well that changes things a little. They’re stronger than Wolves. Sorry, folks, I don’t mean to upset any of you but that’s just a fact.”
Ari squealed, clapping her hands. “A freaking Lion, awesome!”
“Ari.” Ray scowled over at her. “He’s still injured and lying back there next to death’s door.”
“Oh, right, sorry.”
Sheba ignored her friend. Ari would be Ari no matter the situation.
“Ray, how long ‘til we’re back at camp?” Tilly asked as she started to dress the many wounds on the patient.
“Be about forty minutes’ tops. If I can get us there quicker then I will.”
“I see.” Tilly turned to Sheba. “I don’t think we have that long. We need to decide what to do. Are you willing to do a forced mating and then use your power to help him heal? Or do you want me to link with you and try to use your power to heal him? Either way we need to decide now because I don’t think he has forty minutes left in him, Sheba. His heart is slowing and his skin is losing color, both of those signs tell me his body is closing down. I don’t think we can wait much longer far less until we return to camp. I know this is a hard decision but it’s your decision to make and only yours. What do you want to do?”
How on earth could she make a decision like this? And with no time to think? She couldn’t do it, she just couldn’t . . . only she had to.
It was her mate that was dying before her. His body covered in wounds inflicted by rogue Wolves on her land. His face pale as snow, skin clammy to the touch and if she didn’t decide and make the right decision . . . then he’d be too far gone and she’d lose him forever. Fuck. Fuck. And, fuck again!
“Ray? What do I do?” She turned to her best friend, her Beta. The one she always turned to when faced with impossible decisions. The person who always helped her when her back was up against the wall and she had nowhere else to turn.
His eyes met hers in the rear-view mirror, sad eyes that were full of sorrow and pain as was his voice. “Little one, this is one time I cannot help you. I wish I could. I truly wish I could. He is your mate and only you can decide what to do. All I’ll say is look inside your heart and listen to it, and your Wolf, and then you’ll know what to do.”
Ari stifled a sob, grabbing a tissue from the glove compartment before completely breaking down. Ray reached over and pulled her to his side, comforting her as was his role as Beta. Ari clung to him, her face against his massive chest as he drove one handed, as Sheba turned to face Tilly.
“I don’t know what to do,” she pleaded with the Healer.
“I second what Ray said. Look inside yourself, Sheba.”
Sheba placed a hand on her mate’s chest, then one on her own, feeling both of their hearts beating, then closed her eyes. Slowing her breathing, she closed out everything else, the noise of the engine, the heartbeats of everyone else in the vehicle, the sound of the tires on the gravel track . . . everything. She focused on the Lion, entirely, completely, and shut out everything else. Sheba saw the majestic beast in her mind, as she had on more than one occasion, but this time her white Wolf was there too, running by its side. The Lion turned, making a chuffing sound before nudging her Wolf then running its raspy tongue along her muzzle. The animals then loped off together, disappearing into a forest, a loud roar followed by her own Wolf’s howl sounding loudly as the scene disintegrated, leaving her breathless and knowing what she had to do.
Opening her eyes, she gave Tilly a nod. “I’m claiming this Lion as mine. He’s my mate and I won’t go another moment without having him
