Dark Instincts (The Phoenix Pack 4)

“We’ve got a pulse,” announced Derren. “It’s weak, but it’s there.”

Marcus felt it through the bond, felt her coming back. His relief was so profound, it took everything he had not to bawl like a fucking baby. He kept on shoving energy through the bond, just as he kept up CPR. Moments later, her body suddenly bowed and a strange sound seemed to rumble up her throat. Realizing what was happening, he tipped her onto her side; water gushed out of her mouth.

“Thank fucking God.” Cradling her against him, Marcus buried his face in her hair as she coughed repeatedly, like she was still choking—as if unable to adjust to the air. “It’s okay, sweetheart.” He did his best to calm her as he continued giving her strength through the bond, even though it was beginning to tire him. His wolf didn’t stop in his pacing, still an emotional wreck, unable to fully shake off the fear.

Roni wanted to speak, wanted to tell Marcus that she was so glad he was okay, wanted to ask about the others in the pack, wanted to check his entire body for wounds, but she couldn’t seem to catch her breath. It had felt like only a moment after falling asleep that a painful pressure was pounding on her chest.

“Here.” Kathy, tears streaming down her face, handed Marcus a blanket.

Surprised to see her mother crying—showing emotion—Roni might have commented if she’d had the strength. Instead, she snuggled into Marcus, pleasing her anxious wolf.

Instantly, Marcus wrapped the blanket around Roni. She wasn’t freezing, but she wasn’t warm enough for his peace of mind. Noticing that his Alpha pair wasn’t around, he turned to Trick. “How many were hurt?” If anyone from his pack had died, Marcus would have felt it through the pack link. And considering the Mercury wolves didn’t appear to be interested in anyone other than Roni, he figured they were all alive.

“Dante, Tao, Dominic, Bracken, Kent, and Caleb were in bad shape,” replied Trick. “Taryn halfway healed each of them in order to preserve her energy, so they’re resting now. But she’s about ready to drop, even with Trey lending her his strength.”

Feeling Roni shiver in his arms, Marcus cradled her even closer to him. “I need to get these wet clothes off you.”

Nick nodded. “Come on. You can both use one of the guest rooms.”

Marcus slowly got to his feet with Roni still in his arms. His knees buckled slightly, and Eli was instantly there.

“Let me take her.” When Marcus hesitated, Eli added, “I know the last thing you want is to be away from her right now, even for a second, but you’re no good to her if you pass out.”

And he was close to passing out. Lethargy was creeping up on him. He felt a sudden spurt of energy through the bond and realized it was Roni. He gave her a stern look. Her answering expression was pure stubbornness. Reluctantly, he handed her to Eli. Trick and Ryan came up on either side of him. He tried shrugging them off, determined to walk on his own steam.

“Swallow your pride, asshole,” growled Trick, irritated and amused.

For no other reason than that he didn’t want to lag behind, he allowed Trick and Ryan to support his weight as Nick and Shaya led the way to one of the upstairs bedrooms. Within seconds, both Marcus and Roni were naked and wrapped in a blanket while locked together as they leaned against the headboard. Seeing all her injuries, he might have lost his mind if it hadn’t already been in total turmoil. Roni was scowling at the sight of his own wounds, cursing the jackals and hyenas under her breath.

Taryn burst into the room, shrugging past Nick, Shaya, Kathy, Eli, and Derren. “Let me at her.”

“Taryn, you’re weak right now,” said Trey, trailing behind her. She really was. Hell, she was almost as pale and groggy as Roni. “You need to recover. She’s alive.”

Ignoring him, the Alpha female came to Roni’s side. “That doesn’t mean she’s okay, Flintstone. She could develop pneumonia, an infection, or heart failure. I’m not taking any chances.”

When Taryn went to touch her, Roni jerked back, shaking her head. No way was she going to be the cause of Taryn hitting the floor.

“Don’t give me any shit, Roni Axton.” Taryn pointed hard at her. “You saved my son’s life, and I’m going to make damn sure you live too.”

Yeah, well, Roni didn’t give to receive. She pushed Taryn’s hand away, her face mutinous.

“Just let her do it,” grumbled Trey. “She’s going to drop any minute, whether she heals you or not.”

Accepting that, Roni didn’t struggle as Taryn did that weird healing thing—even though it freaked her out and fascinated her at the same time. As expected, Taryn’s legs gave out once she was done. Trey was there to catch her. Picking her up, he griped at her stubbornness as he began to leave the room. So she slapped him over the head.

Nick came over then, swallowing hard as he looked at Roni. “You risked your own life to keep Shaya safe. I don’t know whether to thank you or strangle you for risking yourself that way.”

Personally, Marcus was leaning toward the latter. He could understand Nick being torn, but the fact that she had risked her life wasn’t at all acceptable to Marcus, no matter who she had been trying to protect.

Nick took her hand in his. “Thank you. But make that the last time you ever do something like that.” Then he kissed her forehead. “We’ll leave you both to rest.” He ushered everyone out of the room.

Once the door closed behind them, Marcus nuzzled her. “Feel better?” He skimmed his hands over her, needing to touch her, to assure himself that she was alive.

Nodding, she cupped her throat. “It’s not hurting anymore. And the wooziness has gone.”

“Good.” Then he spanked her ass hard.

Jerking, she gasped. “Hey!”

“Don’t you ever, ever, do that again,” he growled. “Risking your life is not acceptable to me.”

A little startled by the fear emanating from him, she blinked. “I was protecting Shaya.”

He cupped her chin firmly, unable to keep his touch gentle while his emotions were so chaotic. “You almost died, Roni. I felt it happening, felt you slipping away. Do you have any idea how terrified I was?”

“I couldn’t let them have her.”

“And if I’d risked my life to save Taryn?”

She would have been furious and tempted to torture him, despite that she would have understood. “Point taken.”