Chapter Four
Jake slowly opened his eyes and realized he was back in Seth’s cabin. His thoughts instantly went to the young man in the woods and he tried to sit up. Pain radiated from his chest straight down to his toes. He fell back on the bed, gasping for breath.
“Dear god!” he cried out.
“Oh good you’re awake,” a man with gray hair and glasses said as he stared down at him. “You gave your friends quite the scare, young man.”
“Huh?” Jake scrunched up his face as he tried to remember what had happened.
“You were shot, you idiot.” Holden came into view. “When someone points a gun at you, you fucking stop moving and do as they say.”
The old man waved a finger at him. “Your friend is right about that. A person with a gun who is willing to kill another person has nothing to lose so you need to be more cautious.”
“I didn’t think he would actually shoot me.” Jake rubbed his hand over his chest. His fingers brushed along the bandage taped to his skin. “We’re…”
“Mate or not he had a gun!” Holden threw his hands in the air and paced the bedroom floor. “Had you been killed your brothers would have ripped my throat out and I wouldn’t blame them if they did.”
Jake didn’t feel comfortable talking about wolf issues in front of a stranger. He fidgeted on the bed and tried to use his eyes to convey to Holden to keep his mouth shut.
“It’s okay, son.” The man patted him on the shoulder. “I’m the doctor for my pack. Seth called me and explained what happened. Trust me, I won’t tell your secret if you don’t tell mine.” He winked at Jake.
“Oh.” Jake didn’t know what to say. Seth had said he wasn’t a people person yet he knew the local pack. “Well thank you, Mr…”
“The name’s Merle.”
“Thank you, Merle. I really appreciate the help.” He looked down at the bandage on his chest. “How bad was it?”
“Not too bad. I had to dig the buckshot from the shotgun shell out of your chest. You’ll heal but you will definitely have some scars.”
“Thanks again, Merle.” Scars he could live with.
“Don’t mention it. Glad I was able to help.” Merle started to pack up his belongings. “Being as you’re a wolf shifter you’ll heal just fine but if any complications arise have Seth give me a call.”
Jake thanked him again and Holden escorted Merle out of the room. Now that the room had gone silent his mind wondered back to his mate. Jake couldn’t believe his mate had shot him. He remembered his mom telling him that sometimes love hurts but he didn’t think she meant it in this way. Even now with as pissed off as he was he couldn’t wait to see his mate again.
“Don’t even think about it.” Holden came back into the room and sat down beside him. “I know you want to get back to your mate but you need to heal first. I think he’ll understand being as he’s the one that shot you.”
“It’s my fault.” Jake shook his head. His mate warned him to not come any closer but Jake ignored him. He saw the fear in the man’s eyes and should have been more sympathetic to his mate’s situation and not his own selfish needs.
“Oh it is, is it?” Holden crossed his arms over his chest and glared at him. “I think it’s mighty impressive how you shot yourself with a rifle. That’s a real great talent. I’m sure Criss Angel would love to learn the secret to your trick.”
Jake rolled his eyes. “I didn’t mean it like that and you know it. I’m just saying I shouldn’t have tried to approach him like I did. He was frightened and shot to protect himself.”
“I agree you shouldn’t have gotten near him but in your defense you aren’t the threatening type.” Holden waved a hand at him. “This guy shot you without even thinking about it. Something for sure has him spooked of other people.”
“Makes me wonder what has caused him to be this way.” Jake’s chest started to ache but it wasn’t from the gunshot wound.
The sound of the front door opening then closing again had him and Holden looking toward the bedroom door.
“Glad to see that you’re okay,” Seth said in greeting.
“Thanks.”
“Where have you been?” Holden shifted on the bed to face Seth.
“I went back to check on our new friends.” Jake’s ears perked up. “They didn’t leave which is a good sign.”
Jake agreed with Seth. And more than anything he wanted to get out of this bed and go to his mate. The other man needed him if he realized it or not. He threw off the covers and tried to scoot past Holden.
“Dude, you can’t go there now. It’ll just make things worse.” Holden put his arm out to stop him from getting off the bed.
“Jake,” Seth said his name. Tearing his attention from Holden he looked up at the other man. “Holden’s right. It’s past eleven. If you go there now it’ll just make things worse. Let’s give them time to adjust and we’ll go back there at first light.”
“But what if they run?” That was the one thing that scared Jake more than anything.
“They won’t.” Seth huffed out a breath. “If they were going to run they would have done so by now.”
“He’s right, Jake.” Holden placed his hand over Jake’s. “I’m not sure if your mate understands what you are to him and I didn’t say anything. It’s not my place but I think he’s worried about you. When we tried to leave with you he stepped in
