Brink Of Passion (Alpine Woods Shifters) (21 page)

“Would you tell me what happened?”

She felt him stiffen, and her heart sank. If he felt the same as she did, he would tell her. If he loved her, even a little, he would trust her. That he still turned away, still sought an escape, told her clearer than words that he didn’t return her love. A pain, sharp and steely, struck her heart. She absorbed the sting, focusing on it until it was a dull ache. Now wasn’t the time. Later, she could be hurt. Maybe even throw a small tantrum. Protecting Max had to take priority.

“Max?” she prompted, hating herself for pushing him as much as she hated him for forcing her to do so.

“I was mugged.”

She pulled away and searched his face for lies. He was holding something back. She knew it in her bones. But pushing more would get her nowhere if he was determined to keep her in the dark.

“Are you okay?” Because he didn’t look it. The bruises were bad, but those would heal. What concerned her was the despair on his face. Even the smile he gave her seemed duller than usual.

“Nothing serious, my thunder storm.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

“Okay.” Nothing about the situation was
okay
, but if he needed to distance himself, she’d support him in any way she could. She just hoped it was the mugging, and not her, he tried to distance himself from. “Hungry?”

“Starving.”

Sadness tinged her smile, but she grabbed his hand and pulled him to the table, pulling him into the chair where his place was still set.

“I’ll warm it up. Wine?”

“Please.”

She leaned down and kissed his cheek. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. But she could see and feel the pain he tried to hide. Once he felt better, she’d go after him full throttle. Right now, she’d give him the comfort he needed.

“Let’s book your flight tonight.”

Laurie paused with her hand poised over the microwave buttons. “Flight?” Where were they going?

“Didn’t you want to visit your family once Samantha had the baby? You can fly out tomorrow.”

The microwave hummed to life as Laurie thought of her reply. Yes, she had wanted to visit the baby, but the timing seemed off. Why did it feel like he was trying to get rid of her?

“It can wait. She’s still in the hospital.”

“Don’t be silly. You have to go when she’s still in the hospital. You don’t want to miss the baby’s first days.”

“Are you trying to get rid of me?” she asked bluntly. Subtlety had never been her strong suit.

“Of course not.” Max looked startled. “Come here.”

Laurie crossed to his extended hand and was pulled into his lap.

“I know how hard this transition has been on you. How close you and your family are. You want to be with them. I can make that happen for you. There is no reason for you not to go and spent a few weeks with them.”

“A few weeks?” So long? She’d thought she could go for a long weekend, a week at most. And why did it sound like she was going alone? She’d expected Max would go with her. Just the thought of being away from him for that much time hurt her heart.

“Or longer, if you’d like.”

Longer? Once again, the realization that he didn’t love her struck a fatal blow to her heart. It seemed he had no problem sending her away for weeks on end.
Or longer
. She’d thought they’d been building something solid here. Even though he didn’t rely on her, she’d thought he had come to care for her. Had she been totally off base? Was he, in fact, looking forward to their time apart?

She searched the bond for some clue. A sliver of emotion crept through to her. Sadness. Aching. But also relief. Relief?

Another strike to her chest, this time hitting her pride as well. Maybe things hadn’t been going as smoothly as she’d thought. Apparently he looked forward to her time away. She absorbed the ache, as she had the others, not letting herself focus on it for long. Some time apart might do them both good.

“Sure. Let’s book it tonight.”

But the excitement for the trip had soured. Instead, her chest felt heavy. Why did it feel like she was being sent away?

*****

Staring at his computer screen, Max grimaced at the cramping in his stomach. Running the leap was never easy, but it seemed more volatile than normal. He swore they were giving him ulcers.

Then again, his anxiety might be linked to Laurie leaving. Upstairs, he could hear her moving around as she packed for her evening flight. Three weeks without her. He already felt the pain of her absence, but at least she would be safe. Three weeks would hopefully be enough time for them to find his enemies. And if she were in Colorado, away from it all, she couldn’t be hurt. No one would get her there, especially surrounded by her brothers. They would protect her in his stead.

The burn in his stomach crept upward. Great, heartburn. As if his heart wasn’t in enough pain already. Reaching for his coffee, he took a big swig to try and push the acid down. Fighting acid with acid, why not?

Another cramp struck his stomach, forcing him to double over. Crap. This couldn’t be stress, or heartburn. Something was seriously wrong. The fire spread through his body, cramping muscles along the way. His arms and legs felt heavy. Weighed down. The room began to spin, blurring around the edges.

He reached for his phone and knocked it over the edge of his desk. Shit, shit, shit. His body dragged him down when he tried to stand, sandbags weighing his limbs. He stumbled over the legs of his chair, falling flat and knocking the chair over with him. Would Laurie have heard from upstairs? Would she come? He dragged himself toward the phone, the door, somewhere.

“Laurie,” he croaked out. Not the shout he’d hoped for. He tried again, but the pounding in his temples grew worse. He laid his head on the cool wood floor and closed his eyes. Just for a minute. Just to get his bearings. It would pass and then he would be able to call for help.

Any minute now, it would pass.

Something cold and wet touched his cheek. He cracked open an eye and saw Kitty standing over him. She whined, rubbing her nose over his ear and neck.

“Help,” he whispered, knowing it was useless. She wasn’t Lassie. Wouldn’t know how to get help. Stupid dog.

The bark reverberated through his head like a gunshot. He groaned, curling into a ball. The least she could do was let him rest in peace. He just needed to sleep this off. He’d be fine in a minute. Maybe two.

Her feet ticked on the floor as she ran from the room, still barking her head off. After a moment, running footfalls sounded outside his office door.

“Max? Max!”

Honeysuckle and citrus surrounded him. A cool hand touched his cheek. He smiled despite the pain. Struggling, he reached out and touched her knee where she kneeled beside him.

Her hand stroked his head. Her lips, soft as a butterfly, brushed his forehead.

“I need your help…”

Max closed his eyes and let her voice float over him. Her words drifted in and out of focus.

“I don’t know…sick or something.”

A smile curved his lips. God, he loved her. She didn’t hesitate. Didn’t whimper or whine. He wasn’t sure who was on the other end, but she’d immediately called for help. Knowing Laurie, whoever it was would know what to do.

“…bad.”

He felt her lift his head, then rest it on something soft and warm. Her scent filled his nose, drowning out the smell of burning he hadn’t realized had been present.

“It’s okay, Max. Help is on the way. Hang in there.”

He wanted to reassure her. To tell her of course it would be okay. He had everything in the world to live for because he had her. But before he could open his mouth, he felt the world drift away.

Chapter 13

Laurie paced outside Max’s hospital room. She glared at the wood door separating her from him. The door his brother and male cousins had disappeared behind, gently pushing her into the hallway. As if the pretty little lady shouldn’t hear what was wrong with
her
mate.

Damn it! She’d known something was up and she’d stupidly chosen to wait, hoping he would come to her with his problems. Max had been so tense and anxious lately. And instead of pushing like she normally would, like she obviously should have, she’d kept silent. And now, he was in a damn hospital and no one would tell her anything.

“Poison?”

The word stuck out like a cannon blast in the empty hallway. She glanced back at the door. Food poisoning maybe? But then why were they acting like there was a giant secret she couldn’t be told.

A quick glance around assured her she was alone in the hallway. Stepping forward, Laurie pressed her ear against the wood panel. The conversation inside was muted, but clear enough to make out most of the words.

“Another attack?”

Attack? On Max? And what did they mean by
another
?

“Looks like it.”

“We won’t know anything until we get the bloodwork back.” Not food poisoning. From what she heard, it sounded like someone had deliberately poisoned him. Someone had attacked him. More than once.

Rage bubbled inside her. She knew something had been bothering him, but this? How dare he keep this from her. As if she didn’t have every right to know her mate was targeted. How dare he pretend nothing was wrong.

Someone else spoke, but she couldn’t make out the words. She pressed harder against the door, but still only caught pieces of the conversation.

“Treatment?”

“Hospitalized…days…doctors think…fine if…”

Fed up listening at the door while they discussed her lover’s treatment, Laurie reached for the handle and swept into the room. All conversation came to a halt as four sets of eyes bore into her. With a calm she wasn’t feeling, Laurie closed the door behind her and crossed her arms.

“Anyone care to explain to me why no one saw fit to tell me my mate had been attacked? Apparently multiple times?”

She swept her gaze around the room, stopping for a moment on each face, pushing all her fury into her eyes. Ryan glanced away guiltily. Colin appeared amused. Tyler was stoic as ever. She narrowed her eyes at him. Did anything ruffle his feathers? Max sighed, but Laurie continued to glare at Tyler.

“Come here, Laurie.” Max held out a hand to her, and as always, she was helpless to resist. He pulled her onto the bed.

At first, Laurie resisted, reluctant to lower herself in front of these men. They might be Max’s family, but they weren’t hers. With her mate wounded and in danger, her wolf wanted to guard him and was disinclined to trust anyone.

“It’s okay,” he murmured, rubbing his cheek over hers. The feel of his warmth, the faint smell of his skin under the scent of sickness and antiseptic soothed her as nothing else could have. She turned into him, cuddling into his embrace.

“You can’t keep me in the dark.” She’d go insane worrying about him.

“It’s too dangerous.”

Laurie turned and snarled at Tyler. What right did he have to dictate to her?

“I’m in this whether you choose to include me or not.”

“She’s right.” Max rubbed her arm, his words soothing her as much as the touch. “I can feel her frustration. I’d be beyond pissed if she kept something like this from me.” He looked down at her in amused affection. “How much did you hear?”

“Not enough.”

“Where do we start?” Ryan asked.

“The beginning is usually a good place.” She wanted to hear it all. If she was going to help him she needed to know what she was up against.

“You’ll miss your flight.” Tyler again.

She shot a glare in his direction. As if she’d go now. Samantha and the baby could wait. They weren’t going anywhere. Max took precedence.

“Guess she’s not going,” Colin said with a chuckle.

“I’m still waiting,” she grumbled.

“When I was attacked…” Ryan began, and Laurie listened in growing distress as the story unfolded.

*****

“But why?” Laurie asked, absently swirling her fingers over Max’s hand and arm. She should take her cue from his family and let him rest, but neither woman nor wolf wanted to leave his side.

“I’m more concerned with the who than the why.”

She was silent, taking comfort from his touch. Warm. Alive. She’d come close to losing him. She hadn’t even realized how close.

Not once, but three times. She swallowed against the fear rising in her throat. Shivers wracked her body at the thought. If he died, she’d more than mourn. More than grieve. Just thinking about it made her soul cry out in anguish.

Her love for him lived and breathed within her. How had it taken her so long to see it? The bond between them pulsed in her mind. Solid. Real. If she lost him, she’d lose a piece of herself. Severing that bond would shred her soul.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he whispered, pulling her closer. Once again sensing the direction of her thoughts.

“You better not be.” Because she had a sinking fear she wouldn’t survive the fallout. “Max, have you implemented any controversial new policies lately? Made anyone angry?”

“Honey, stop worrying about this right now.”

“I can’t! Just stop and think. Why would someone go after you?”

“You’re okay with honey?”

Laurie struggled to connect his question with the topic.

“Honey? As in eating it?”

“As in the nickname.”

“Not really.” She shook her head to clear her thoughts. He could call her horse manure for all she cared, as long as he focused. “Would you please concentrate on the issue?”

“Figures.” He sighed. “Fine. I haven’t changed anything lately. Except you. But if it was someone wanting to become my queen, she’d be trying to off you, not me.”

“I’m serious.” Laurie pinched him.

“Ouch! So am I,” he said, ending with a small laugh.

“Queen?”

“It’s actually quite apropos. The Family is almost like royalty, with the dominant male members eligible to become Premier.”

“Explain it to me again.” She remembered Max explaining the intricacies of the leap’s hierarchy during the car trip to New York, but too much had been happening for her to retain the details.

“The Family holds the power in the leap. The Premier is chosen from the male offspring going back two generations, further if no dominant male is found.”