Force of the Dark Wolf (Force of Nature Series) by Kathi S. Barton Page B

the other wolf had sh aken his head to inflict more pain. Alexis knew that she’d cried out; there was no hope for it. She hurt. She hurt as badly as the wolf and knew that it was going to get worse, much worse.
    Closing her eyes , she let her curse roll over her. It rolled from her into him, sealing the open gashes and mending the smaller ones. She had learned to breath e slowly when she did this or else the power would wear her out too quickly and the person would still need her help. She moved along his body . E ach and every wound was sealed before she moved on to another place. The process was slow and draining to her , but she knew that as soon as she finished he’d be fine.
    Exhaustion weighed on her when she opened her eyes. She had no idea how long she’d been helping him , only that she didn’t have the strength to do much more than nod slightly at the glass of orange juice someone held out to her. She tried to speak and before she could form words someone picked her up and then blackness engulfed her.
    ~~~
    Austin looked down at the sleeping woman in his arms. She’d saved Gordon. He didn’t know how yet , but he planned to find out. He glanced at his mate as she pulled the blankets down off the bed in the room that one of the a unts had led them to. He was startled when Phil laid Gordon , in human form now , down on the other side of Alexis on the big bed.
    “She has to mate with him now. If not , then she’ll run.” Phil covered Gordon up as he continued. “Please don’t ask me what she is. First of all , I don’t have a definite answer , and secondly…secondly, I don’t think I believe it myself.”
    “You knew she could heal him. How?” Austin asked him. “What did you feel that none of us did? There had to be something that tipped you off.”
    “Something, yes. Let’s take this downstairs. She’ll be out for several days , her aunt said. The more…damage , the longer it takes for her to come back from it. They can’t believe she did this again. They said she only does it for those she loves.” Phil moved out of the room and they had no choice but to follow.
    CJ stopped him just beyond the door. “She saved his life because he’s her mate , didn’t she? Even now she doesn’t realize that she had no choice but to love him. Oh Austin , what happens to them all now? Do you know what she is?”
    Austin looked back at the couple on the bed. “No. No, I don’t know , but Phil does and if he is this nervous , it can’t be good. No, I don’t know what she is , but I plan to find out. She’s a member of this pack now and we’ll all protect her.” He pulled his mate to him. “She saved his life. He was dying and she saved his life.”
    “I know, love. Whatever she is, she’s very powerful. And yes, we’ll all protect her.”
    The living room was nearly empty when they entered. Austin felt at home here. Not as much as he did at his own home , but he could easily see his brother living here with Alexis. Connor was sitting on the floor next to were Darcy was still hiding and when Austin started toward him a small shake of his brother ’ s head had him going toward the couch instead. He had never seen anyone as terrified in his life as that little girl. He wondered what had happened to this family and how they were going to help them.
    “Alexis is very private so what I’m going to tell you is something I don’t believe she’s ever shared with anyone but family.” Glad sat on the couch as Jessie served sandwiches around. She took one off the tray as she continued. “Alexis and Judith weren’t true sisters. Not by blood at any rate. Judith was Daniel’s child and Alexis was Caroline’s. The two of them, Daniel and Caroline , met when the girls were just about three. They married a few months later, Caroline and Daniel, not the girls. Both girls, head over heels in love with having a family , settled right in.”
    Jessie sat and picked up the tale. “When Daniel was away on