try. Take what you safely can. My blood is special. I should build it back quickly and it should build quickly in him. After you’re done though, you will not be allowed to take my blood or Reed’s again. You’re better off not knowing why.”
Ariel turned her sincerest gaze to Matt.
“If you trust me at all, see that the transfusion equipment is destroyed after we do this. Incinerate them completely if you can. I’m telling you this in case anything happens to me.”
“What could possibly happen to you?” Matt demanded.
Ariel shrugged. “I don’t have any idea about the long term effects of what was done to Reed, me, or the other women. My wolf turning was not natural. There’s no time to go into the whole story, but what I’ve become is the result of a science experiment. Now do as I say and protect your pack, Matt. I don’t want to die knowing I’ve harmed you or anyone connected to you.”
Ariel watched the native woman walk around Reed’s bed and stop in front of her. “I see the Great Alpha’s life in your determined eyes, which look so much like his. I will do as you ask. There is no need to charge Matt with watching me. My brother knows my word is good.”
“Brother?” Ariel said in surprise.
“We have different mothers, but similar hearts,” the healer said.
Ariel sighed. “Okay. Let’s do this then.” She turned to Matt. “It’s too cold to sit without clothes. Can you split this sleeve for me? I’d do it myself, but it’s too awkward a reach, and I don’t want to get naked.”
Matt waited until Ariel had climbed up onto the gurney Eva had wheeled close to Reed’s bed. “Eva, shouldn’t Ariel shift to her wolf to make her stronger?”
Eva studied the floor for long moments. Finally, she shook her head. “No. Something valuable will be lost if she shifts. We will try the transfusion with her in human form.”
Matt stepped to the side and ripped the sleeve of the coveralls up to her shoulder. He flinched when Ariel saw the size of needle Eva brought to insert into her arm. She looked away while it was being done.
“Damn. That was worse than the injections I got just before I was turned,” Ariel said. “I’m going to hate needles for the rest of my life now.”
Matt grabbed her free hand. “Me too. Try thinking of something you like. That always helps me. Maybe you could think of a nice hot fire and how much fun it would be for us to put it out.”
Ariel’s snicker made him feel marginally less helpless in the face of her pain.
Eva opened Ariel’s fingers and put a hand pump into them. “Squeeze this to get it going. The pump will take over after the blood begins to flow.”
Matt saw Ariel’s jaw harden in determination as she did what Eva told her to do. He tightened his grip. “You are one of the most unselfish, determined people I’ve ever met.”
Ariel snorted, her fingers squeezing the pump. “Now I know why all those women are chasing you. You’re just an incredibly nice guy in werewolf’s clothing.”
Matt gripped her hand tighter. “That was a terrible joke. And I am not always nice. You just bring out the nice in me.”
“Well, we are friends-with-benefits now,” Ariel joked, hearing the pump finally kick in and take over. “Listen Matt. Seriously. If anything happens to me, take care of Brandi and Heidi. Okay?”
Matt nodded. “I will, but nothing is going to happen to you, Ariel. I’m the alpha of this pack. I forbid it.”
“Crazy Crane—the guy who did this to me—was an evil SOB. Anything is possible. And last time I checked, you weren’t God, though you did make me see heaven today,” Ariel said, feeling herself getting sleepy.
From far away, she heard Matt calling her name, but sleep beckoned too strongly.
Chapter 6
Ariel woke in the dark. She was warm, dressed in soft flannel, and being held by a pair of strong arms. She sniffed,
Ariel turned her sincerest gaze to Matt.
“If you trust me at all, see that the transfusion equipment is destroyed after we do this. Incinerate them completely if you can. I’m telling you this in case anything happens to me.”
“What could possibly happen to you?” Matt demanded.
Ariel shrugged. “I don’t have any idea about the long term effects of what was done to Reed, me, or the other women. My wolf turning was not natural. There’s no time to go into the whole story, but what I’ve become is the result of a science experiment. Now do as I say and protect your pack, Matt. I don’t want to die knowing I’ve harmed you or anyone connected to you.”
Ariel watched the native woman walk around Reed’s bed and stop in front of her. “I see the Great Alpha’s life in your determined eyes, which look so much like his. I will do as you ask. There is no need to charge Matt with watching me. My brother knows my word is good.”
“Brother?” Ariel said in surprise.
“We have different mothers, but similar hearts,” the healer said.
Ariel sighed. “Okay. Let’s do this then.” She turned to Matt. “It’s too cold to sit without clothes. Can you split this sleeve for me? I’d do it myself, but it’s too awkward a reach, and I don’t want to get naked.”
Matt waited until Ariel had climbed up onto the gurney Eva had wheeled close to Reed’s bed. “Eva, shouldn’t Ariel shift to her wolf to make her stronger?”
Eva studied the floor for long moments. Finally, she shook her head. “No. Something valuable will be lost if she shifts. We will try the transfusion with her in human form.”
Matt stepped to the side and ripped the sleeve of the coveralls up to her shoulder. He flinched when Ariel saw the size of needle Eva brought to insert into her arm. She looked away while it was being done.
“Damn. That was worse than the injections I got just before I was turned,” Ariel said. “I’m going to hate needles for the rest of my life now.”
Matt grabbed her free hand. “Me too. Try thinking of something you like. That always helps me. Maybe you could think of a nice hot fire and how much fun it would be for us to put it out.”
Ariel’s snicker made him feel marginally less helpless in the face of her pain.
Eva opened Ariel’s fingers and put a hand pump into them. “Squeeze this to get it going. The pump will take over after the blood begins to flow.”
Matt saw Ariel’s jaw harden in determination as she did what Eva told her to do. He tightened his grip. “You are one of the most unselfish, determined people I’ve ever met.”
Ariel snorted, her fingers squeezing the pump. “Now I know why all those women are chasing you. You’re just an incredibly nice guy in werewolf’s clothing.”
Matt gripped her hand tighter. “That was a terrible joke. And I am not always nice. You just bring out the nice in me.”
“Well, we are friends-with-benefits now,” Ariel joked, hearing the pump finally kick in and take over. “Listen Matt. Seriously. If anything happens to me, take care of Brandi and Heidi. Okay?”
Matt nodded. “I will, but nothing is going to happen to you, Ariel. I’m the alpha of this pack. I forbid it.”
“Crazy Crane—the guy who did this to me—was an evil SOB. Anything is possible. And last time I checked, you weren’t God, though you did make me see heaven today,” Ariel said, feeling herself getting sleepy.
From far away, she heard Matt calling her name, but sleep beckoned too strongly.
Chapter 6
Ariel woke in the dark. She was warm, dressed in soft flannel, and being held by a pair of strong arms. She sniffed,
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