Chapter 4
I pushed back into the healer's ward, my gut twisting like a knife in fresh kill, but Boris had already scooped up Molly and vanished-leaving just one unread buzz on my phone.
[Jade, your pup's hanging by a thread. Got an old packmate who's a retired healer-taking her to him for a shot. Hold tight.]
By the time I screeched up to that rundown healer's clinic, the back-alley patch job was done and dusted.
Miracle of miracles, Molly pulled through.
But the delay had sunk its fangs deep-she was out cold, slipped into a coma like a stone in black water.
The old healer wiped his hands on a rag that'd seen better days. "Kept her breathing, yeah, but she's in rough shape. Without top-shelf care, I can't call when-or if-she'll wake. Jade, if you can swing it, get her to a real pack clinic. I gave it everything I had."
I thanked him from the marrow, then wrapped my fingers around Molly's limp paw, her skin cool as moonlight.
"Boris, stick close these next days-guard her like your own hide. Julian and that she-wolf won't sniff this trail."
He dipped his head, eyes heavy. "Got it, Jade. But Molly's state..."
"I'll hustle her out of Galathia Town, one way or another."
Tears splattered hot on her pale cheek, carving tracks I couldn't dam. "She's all the blood I've got left. I can't... I won't lose her too."
I scrubbed my face dry after a beat, steeling up to head back to the Payne house and scrape together a plan.
But my ride had barely nosed toward home when knuckles rapped sharp on the window-enforcers, stone-faced and badged. "Jade Stone? Julian Payne's filed on you-illegal heat, intent to maim. Step out nice and easy."
That bastard had locked in: payback for Nancy, a lesson carved deep in my bones.
The evidence stacked like a full house-I had no play, no bluff. Seven days in the hole, ironclad.
They cuffed my wrists tight, slamming me toward their prowler, and there was Julian's sleek ride idling at the enforcer pens like a predator on watch.
Nancy eased out, leaning frail on his arm post-surgery, cradling a box from that impossible-to-score bakery in Galathia Town-the one with the flaky pastries that melted like sin.
My chest lit up like a silver bullet graze.
Flash of memory: back when I was heavy with our pup, Julian dodging rival shadows just to snag those same sweets for my cravings. Got us ambushed bad.
Even after, when he dropped to his knees in tears, prying the blade from my grip mid-meltdown-swearing it wasn't on me-the scattered crumbs and blood-slick floor haunted my nights forever.
Quit sweets cold after that.
Guess I was the only one still chained to that nightmare.
Nancy's voice cut through, soft as a trap. "Jade..."
She pressed a bottle of melatonin into my palm. "Julian mentioned your heart skips beats-detention's no picnic for shut-eye. Hunted down the best from three spots just for you."
Then she leaned in close, breath like poisoned honey by my ear, shoving the pastry box under my nose. "Jade, these treats? Delectable. And your mate? Handles like a dream. Saved his life, bled for him eight years straight-what's that worth? Just a raving she-wolf in his eyes, not even a purr from me. Cool your jets in there, pup. Come out swinging smarter."
Rage boiled up, shaking me like a fever. I smashed the bottle across her cheek-glass shattering, pills scattering like buckshot. "Back the hell off!"
Her tears sprang instant, ducking behind Julian like a spooked fawn. "Julian... I just wanted her nights easier. Brought meds with my stitches still fresh-what'd I do wrong?"
I lunged, fire in my veins, but Julian blocked solid as a wall. "Jade, she's coming from a good place. Don't make me call you ungrateful."
I opened my mouth to rip him, but an enforcer shoved in, gruff and done. "Save the soap opera. Inside, now!"
Nancy burrowed into Julian's chest, eyes rolling sly. "Julian, she's feral-holds grudges like a vice. When she walks, she'll come for my throat. Seven days ain't the fix. Let me grease some paws, snuff that revenge fire for good? Please?"
My pulse hammered countdown: one thud, two, three... hitting fourteen before Julian murmured low, "Whatever keeps you smiling, baby."
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