Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 173(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 173(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Pulling back slightly, she stared into his eyes and offered him a smile.
“Rose,” he said.
“I’m here.”
He smiled but it didn’t quite reach his lips. “I’m scared.”
She knew. She saw it in his eyes. “You don’t have to be scared. I’m here.”
“I don’t want to die.”
“You’re not going to die, because I am here.” She nodded her head, trying to keep her tears at bay.
He shook his head.
“No, no, stop, Graham, focus. Look at me. I’m the only person you need to look at. Just me and you. That is all that matters. Me and you.” She struggled to keep smiling, because this wasn’t good at all. “I’m here.”
“Rose?” he asked.
“That’s right, I am here for you, always.”
“I’m going to die.”
He sounded so sure.
“No, you’re not. This is just … it’s nothing, okay. You’re wanting to turn, but that doesn’t have to be the case. You’re here with me. Rocco is going to be here soon.”
“Rose, I can’t stop this. I’m going to die, but I want you to know that Rocco loves you. He loves you so very much,” Graham said.
“Okay, stop, you do not need to do this. Rocco and I will be okay. We’re mates, and the pack already knows, and we’re together, you’re our friend, and you’re going to be here with us.”
He shook his head. “No, this is where I die.”
She was about to dispute him, but then he suddenly tensed and Rose couldn’t believe she screamed. The sound rent the air, sounding as terrified as she felt. Tears filled her eyes and fell down her cheeks.
Graham’s body began to break right before her eyes, and there was no way to stop it. She saw his arm shatter, twisting at odd angles, and this wasn’t right. This was designed for a wolf’s body, not for a human’s. There was no way he would be able to survive this.
Rose didn’t know what to do, and then she held onto Graham, trying to stop him, although his body broke beneath her. Tilting her head back, she screamed for Rocco, hoping he would be able to hear her distress. Praying he would come to her call.
She knew mates could be powerful and that they should, in theory, be able to hear each other’s call, or at least that was how it was for her parents. They’d been close. She and Rocco didn’t have the greatest start, so she didn’t know how powerful their call was going to be.
All she knew was, she needed her mate now more than ever. Graham was her friend, and she didn’t know how she was going to cope if she wasn’t able to save him.
Chapter Thirteen
Rocco was already heading back to the cabin with Alpha, Enzo, and Wolfe, when he heard Rose’s scream. The sound of fear and pain was going to stay with him forever, but he needed to get to her as soon as possible. He took off, not telling the brothers what was going on or what he heard, but they trusted him. They didn’t stop or turn back, but kept following him.
He heard the almighty roar as he got to her cabin.
“Rose!” He yelled her name as he heard her soft cry. He found her in the bedroom, and what he saw was like out of a horror movie.
Tears steamed from Rose’s eyes, and the room was covered with blood. Graham was on the bed beneath her, an almighty howl coming from his lips.
“I don’t know what to do,” she said. “One moment we were talking and the next, he coughed up blood, and I’ve not been able to stop what is happening.” She turned back toward Graham.
Part of his wolf wasn’t happy with her on top of another male, but Rocco knew this was not the time to be possessive. Their friend was changing, transitioning. The truth was, Graham was on the verge of death.
Graham’s scent was heavy in the room, and it was mingled with the stink of death. It made his stomach turn, and in that moment, he had never felt more helpless. His mate was looking at him in the hope of being able to save him, but that wasn’t going to happen. There was nothing to save him now. The transition was getting stronger.
Alpha, Enzo, and Wolfe entered the cabin, and came up behind him.
The mess was everywhere. This was another indication it wouldn’t be long until the end. Rocco looked at Rose.
“No,” Rose said. “No, this is not the end for him. Milton does not get to claim another victim from the grave. This is not happening today. This is not happening in my place.”
“Rose?”
“No, no, you try.” She looked past Rocco’s shoulder to Alpha. “You must try and you must do everything. Not every human is the same. Think about it, not all wolves are equal. Some of us that appear strong don’t make it, and those that look weak do. No two are the same and you cannot treat them the same.” She shook her head, and he knew she was struggling to deal with the harsh reality of what was happening. “No, we promised, Rocco. We promised we would do everything in our power to save him, and that is exactly what we’re going to do.”