Chapter 57 Reaper 34

Chapter 57 Reaper 34
Reaper woke with a start, the pain shooting through his stomach. He doubled over on his bunk.

What was this pain?

There was no way to describe it. It felt like his insides were being ripped apart.

“Brother, what is it?” Roman was there, kneeling by the narrow cot.

“I don’t know.” Reaper was young, but he was strong. Yet he couldn’t help the tears that welled up in his eyes. “I think I’m dying…” He groaned into his clenched fist as another wave of pain swept over him, this time accompanied by a wave of nausea.

“Do you need to shift?” Roman’s face was worried, a complete opposite of the ribbing he usually gave their newest recruit.

Reaper shook his head.

Shifting, it was almost comical. He was in the middle of the desert, and there was absolutely nowhere he could shift safely.

“Something’s wrong.” He mouthed again. He knew it. The pain was so much worse, but he knew this feeling. He had felt it before.

When Ollie's car had been run off the road.

When Ollie died.

“I think Rose is dying.” He moaned. And panic washed over him anew. He had already lost Ollie. He couldn’t lose Rose as well. Not before he had a chance to find her and make things right. And he couldn’t do any of that until he got out of the god damn dessert, and was back on home soil.

She couldn’t die as well.

He couldn’t lose both of them.

“Roman, you need to get me home, now!” The panic in his voice was palpable. He was losing control.

How could he be here, and she was somewhere thousands of miles away. In so much pain.

“Req…” Roman’s voice carried, but he needn’t  be bothered, the big dragon was there in an instant. Blonde hair mussed with sleep. “You need to put him under Sarge, before he shifts.”

Reaper's eyes went wide. “Do not put me to sleep, do not. Not when my mate needs me!” But Requiem was already leaning down, strange bird eyes glued to his sea green ones. “Sleep Reaper, sleep.”

“She’s my fucking mate, and some one is hurting her!” Killing her he added silently but already his eyes were drooping.

He had failed her once, left her alone, and here he was doing it again.

“Reaper…” Bethany’s voice pulled him out of the dream, or was it a memory. Blearily he reached for her, his neck cracking. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep.

“Reaper, your phone has been ringing.” She pointed to the small black rectangle that was currently vibrating on the hospital table.

“Why didn’t you answer it?”

But he knew the reason as soon as he saw who was calling.

Groaning, he threw her a smile. Reaching for her hand he brought it to his lips.

“Hello, Mum.”

“Marcus, I’ve been calling and calling. Where have you been?” His mother didn’t seem to know how to take a breath. “I phoned Requiem, and he said you are at the hospital. What has happened? Are you okay”?

“Mum, take a breath.” He rolled his eyes. He was almost thirty years old, yet his mother still worried like he was a child. “I’m fine.”

“Then why…” She trailed off, and he heard her sharp intake of breath. “It's true then. You found her.”

“Mum.”

“Did you find Rose?”

“Yes mum,” He squeezed Bethany’s fingers a little too hard, pulling her back onto his lap as she stood to move away. Her face was unreadable.

“Stay with me.” He kissed her full on the mouth, knowing his mother would be able to hear it.

“And she has a child? Ollie’s child.”

“My child as well mum, but yes biologically Olivia is Ollie’s.”

There was nothing but silence for the space of several heart beats and then he heard his mum sob. “Is Rose okay? Why didn’t she come to us? Why did she run? Can I speak to her?” His mother was crying almost hysterically. “Son, can I speak to her? We didn’t know. I promise you.”

He had wondered, and hated himself for it. Would his parents have really hidden it from him the same as Ollie’s had? Hell, Ollie's mum had comforted him, as he cried over his lost Second and mate. She had held him! The treachery stung.

“Mum this really isn’t the best time, Bethany… I mean Rose… is a little overwhelmed.”

“It's okay, but please tell her we have missed her. Are you happy son?”

Reaper glanced down at his ready-made family. “Yes, mum, I am happy. I am complete for the first time in so long.” His voice broke. “When I think she will say yes, I am going to ask her to marry me.”

Bethany’s eyes went wide.