Alpha Jaxon POV
The merge was going smoothly, despite a few hiccups. I could feel myself tensing as I headed back to the hospital with my Gamma Cody in tow. "What is it about this girl that I can't get her out of my head" I muttered, my hands in the pockets of my sweatpants and my shoulders hunched over.
Cody frowned "Is it possible that she's your mate?" he asked slowly and I looked at him incredulously.
"If we were mates wouldn't my wolf have said something before now? Shouldn't I have felt the mate bond?" I asked tersely "no I'm merely curious about this girl and whether she is indeed the Alpha's daughter."
"You know that the mate bond can take some time to develop when the other mate doesn't have a wolf," Cody said reasonably as I scowled at him "and your wolf doesn't tell you everything does he?" he pointed out.
"My wolf is a pain in the ass" I muttered, "he's keeping silent on the matter."
"There you go, so it could be a possibility."
"I hope not," I said exhaling as we entered the hospital "for both our sakes. It would be far kinder for the girl if we weren't."
Cody looked pained "You're still spouting that nonsense about not wanting a mate," he said as we rounded a corner "even now? Jaxon, having a mate doesn't make you weak or vulnerable it makes you stronger" he tried to argue with me.
"It gives the enemy something to weaken you with and another target to focus on" I parroted grimly "and all it does is hurt when your mate leaves you for another," I said bitterly.
"Jaxon" Cody tried to reason with me once more, but my eyes narrowed and I shook my head, indicating he should give the subject a rest.
He fell silent, a gloomy expression on his face.
We reached the girl's room. I had a name for her at least, supplied by one of the pack members who had merged and pledged their allegiance. The girl's name was Riley.
She lay there, on the hospital bed, still hooked up to the various machines, but I was pleased to note there appeared to be some color in her cheeks as the doctor took her vitals.
"Is there any change?" I asked gruffly, as we stepped into the room, Cody looking at the girl with curiosity, while I glared at him, feeling protective for some unnamed reason.
"She continues to remain steady. Perhaps more of your blood might revive her but it's uncertain" the doctor said.
Cody looked astounded "You've given this girl your blood?" he asked sharply as I pointedly ignored him.
"Jaxon, since when do you..." he trailed off as I interrupted him.
"It's no big deal. She saved my life, it seemed fair to try and save hers."
I rolled up my sleeve and Cody's eyes almost bulged out of his head, sitting on the armchair and nodding towards the doctor. "Take my blood, if it wakes her it will be worth it."
Cody gave a low whistle "Wow, either you've turned soft or you don't want to face the truth that's right in front of your face" he said as the doctor began to set up the needle.
"Cody you're making it out to be more than it is."
He looked unconvinced, before glancing at the girl. "I've not seen that hair color before. Is it natural?" he asked.
I frowned "I don't know. It's unique and it's pretty" I said without thinking, causing Cody to glance at me with a grin.
The doctor smiled as she began to take my blood. I felt a sharp prick and settled against the chair.
"Jaxon, what are you going to do about Liandra? By all rights she should be considered a traitor alongside her father" Cody asked, leaning against the doorway and crossing his arms as he regarded me steadily.
I frowned. "It doesn't seem right to take her to task over her father's actions. By all accounts she's guilty of being naive and stupid" I allowed with a grimace "but she couldn't prevent Alpha Rowan from going to Alpha Maxwell no matter what. She was his daughter and loyal to him. I do not blame her for wanting to protect her father the only way she knew how. I will not punish her, I think her father being dead is punishment enough" I said drily.
"Hmmph, I think she still has visions of being this pack's luna" Cody murmured, raising a brow.
I gave a scornful laugh "I think you must be joking. The last thing she should have is delusions of grandeur. She's probably just seeking comfort in a pack she's not used to. Give her time to adjust Cody. Give all the new pack members time to adjust."
He scowled. "I don't like her" he muttered, taking me aback.
It was not like Cody not to like a woman. It was not in his nature to be so guarded or unfriendly towards one.
"Well then, keep your distance from her" I drawled, as the doctor took the needle out of my arm and began to organize the transfer to Riley "that shouldn't be hard in a pack this big."
We watched the blood being transfused into Riley. Unlike with humans, the blood was transfused a lot more quickly. "Here's hoping this works," the doctor said cheerfully "two doses of Alpha blood is incredible and should have remarkable healing qualities."
"I find it strange she hasn't woken yet" I said frowning "the poison was that strong?"
"Actually it might not just be the poison but the state of mind of the girl. With all her injuries and the abuse she must have suffered, she might not be fighting to live" the doctor said reluctantly "not that anyone could blame her, the poor girl" she added, looking down at Riley.
"Her existence was that bad huh" Cody said sympathetically, lowering his arms and bowing his head as he studied the prone Riley "What a miserable excuse of a pack for not standing up for her."
"I think they were in on it" I said heavily, standing up and joining him "I don't think it was just the Alpha and his son that abused her."
"Is it any wonder she might not want to live then?" Cody asked me skeptically "how are you going to guarantee her safety if she does survive Jaxon? You can't be expecting to just turf this poor girl right back into their clutches again?"
He sounded disgusted at the mere thought I might do that.
"I'm not that ruthless," I said heatedly as he gave me a sidelong glance "and I'm well aware that she can't just be taken back out there. I planned on having her live in the pack house where a close eye can be kept on her."
He still looked doubtful. "Who's going to keep watch on her?" he demanded "All of us are busy with work. Are you going to entrust her safety to the omegas?"
I hesitated. I had thought exactly that. I let out a low growl of frustration "Don't push me, Cody, I've already passed the invisible line between Alpha and omega volunteering my blood and visiting her. She'll be perfectly safe with our omegas" I insisted lowly.
He met my eyes "This girl is wolfless and you said she has no voice?"
I nodded "I'm well aware. But she survived in her old pack just as well, she can survive this one. The hair fascinates me" I said studying it "sometimes I swear it almost looks like it's shimmering in the light."
"It reminds me a little of the ocean" Cody commented, reaching down to finger it and jumping when a growl came out of me, without warning.
Why had I done that? He wasn't about to harm her. But the growl had come without my knowledge and a feeling of protectiveness had washed over me. Or was it jealousy? Why would I be jealous of Cody touching Riley? It made no sense.
Cody met my eyes, a wary expression on his face. The doctor glanced between us. "Her hair is natural," she said softly "I don't know if that helps, but it hasn't come out of a bottle. As for not being able to speak, we plan on doing some tests to see why that's the case when she wakes. There's damage to her vocal cords but we worry there is emotional trauma as well" she advised us.
Emotional trauma? From all the beatings and abuse? I wanted to ask more, the questions hovering on my lips when I happened to look down and see the slightest twitch of Riley's fingers.
"Doctor" I said, pointing as she glanced down "she just moved."
Riley's fingers twitched again. Without thinking about it, I grabbed her hand, feeling how cold they were. Tingles ran down my hand and I felt the sparks that flew between us. My wolf began to growl and an overwhelming desire to claim her, to make her mine and mine alone swept over me. As her eyelids fluttered open, the words came bursting out of my mouth before I could prevent them, causing a look of triumph to sweep over Cody's face.
"MATE."