Kate Allenton (18 page)

     
Gracie’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, my god.”

     
Ethan moved through the house and into what had been Cathy’s room. He laid her down and
was stroking her cheek when the others walked in. Jamie moved to his side and held her palms over
Cathy.

     
Ethan grabbed her hands and pulled them
away. “She’s
not ready. They’ve got to get some of
the powers out of her before you can fix her.”

He pulled her away from the bed so Rick and
Gracie
could gather around Cathy. They each
placed a hand on one of her arms and closed their
eyes.

Rick’s and Gracie’s shoulders tensed. Minutes
ticked
by before Gracie’s eyes flew open. She
glanced down at where her hands were on Cathy
and
jerked them away.

     
Rick kept his hands where they were a few
seconds
longer before he removed his. He opened
his eyes. “Incredible. It might still kill her. I’ve never experienced anything like that.”

     
“It was overwhelming.”

     
“If she survives, she’ll be stronger than any
of us,”
Rick acknowledged.

     
Ethan growled. “She better survive.”

     
Jamie pushed them all out of the way and knelt
down
beside the bed. She lifted her hands and
held them over Cathy’s body.
She moved them up and down, pausing over
Cathy’s head, heart, arm,
and side.

     
Ethan hadn’t even paid attention to where her shirt was soaked through with blood. He’d been
obsessed with getting her out of harm’s way. He’d been obsessed with keeping her safe, so much so
that he’d failed.

     
Jamie opened her eyes and rose. “Her heart is beating faster than I knew any heart could. Her
body is fighting the powers. I healed her as best I can. I stopped the bleeding in her side and eased
what pain I could. I’m afraid her body is still fighting, trying to heal the toxicity in her blood and
accept Black’s powers. I’m not sure she’s going to survive this. Only time will tell. The best thing we
can do is make her comfortable and wait.”

     
Gracie’s hand flew to her mouth when an audible sob left her lips. Her eyes watered, and a tear
trickled down her face.

     
Jamie laid her hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “She’s strong and thankfully her immune system has
kicked in. Her long telomeres just might save her life.”

     
“What the hell does that even mean?”

    
Jamie nodded. “Telomeres are like the ends of shoelaces that hold everything together. They are
wrapped around her white blood cells that help fight off infections and keep her from getting sick,
like you or I would catch a cold; it’s those bad boys that keep her from not only fighting the

infection but destroying the disease and viruses.
It’s part
of her souped up immune system. And just
might be the reason why she hasn’t died yet.”

    
Hours later, Ethan was the only one left in
the room.
All of the others had left to help the
wounded. Numerous times Edward had come in
to
check on Cathy. The wolf had an unhealthy
attachment to Ethan’s mate. Ethan didn’t know
how it
had happened, but Edward was showing a
father’s protectiveness and being a pain in the ass.
Ethan
had to order Edward out of the room on
more than one occasion.

    
The first night went by without Cathy even
stirring.
Ethan had slept by her and held her close,
and yet, her breathing was labored. He’d whispered
sweet
nothings into her ear; he’d talked to her
and told her he loved her more times than he could count. He’d tried to bribe her into opening her
eyes, and yet, none of it had worked. Another day
went
by without her waking, although during the
day, she’d moaned in her sleep as if in pain. Ethan
called
Jamie back into the room to see if there
was anything she could do to help Cathy with her
pain.

Jamie glanced up at Ethan.
“Her body is heeled. The fire is gone.” She
closed her eyes once
more and moved them over Cathy’s heart and then over Cathy’s head before she opened them
again. “Her heartbeat is faint, and her head is hurting. It doesn’t make any sense.”

    
“Do something, damn it!” Ethan growled, unable to contain his frustration.

    
Jamie stood and frowned. He could read the pity in her eyes. No, this wasn’t happening. Not to
her, not now, not after everything he’d done to keep her safe and away from that asshole. No, she
was going to live.

    
“There’s nothing else I can do, Ethan. She needs more time.” Jamie laid a hand on his shoulder.
“She’s strong. She’ll fight her way back.”

    
Ethan couldn’t take his eyes off Cathy, her pale, peaceful face. It was as though she was stuck,
unable to return to consciousness.

    
He dropped to his knees, clasped her fingers, and pressed a kiss to her hand. He needed to feel
her, to be with her. She was the only person in the world who would ever complete him and make
him feel whole again. He was helpless, his wolf restless and ready to kill Black all over again.

    
Turn her.
His wolf demanded. Ask for forgiveness after we save her.

    
Ethan shook his head.
No. I won’t take that choice from her.

    
His wolf snapped and growled in his head.

    
She has to live. Ethan repeated it over and over in his mind instead of replaying every moment
they’d shared from the time he’d met her.

    
“She has to live.” He said with conviction.

    
A hand landed on his shoulder. “How’s
our girl?”

    
Edward. Ethan held back his wolf from pouncing
on
the alpha. She wasn’t Edward’s anything.
“She’s my girl, and she’s not doing too well.”

    
“Hmmm. Have you thought of maybe changing
her?
You know our wolves have the ability to
heal quicker than most.”

    
Ethan shook his head. “No. She’s healed enough. This is Black’s fault, and if the bastard wasn’t
already dead, I’d kill him again.”

    
Edward clasped his hands behind his back
and
moved to the other side of the bed. “Speaking
of which…have you decided what you’re going
to do
with his legacy? You are his rightful heir.”

    
Ethan’s gaze snapped up. “I can’t think about
it right
now…not until she’s well.” He glanced
back down at Cathy. His eyes caressed her face
while his
fingers tightened around her hand. She was
his life. Well, she damn well better be.

    
Edward brushed a lock
of hair from Cathy’s forehead. “She’s a keeper.”

    
“I know.”

Ethan rested his forehead on their joined hands. He heard the quiet click of the door when
Edward left. Ethan’s heart ached. She needed to pull through this. He needed her like he’d never
needed anyone else before. A tear slipped down his face, first one and then two. Heat rose in his
chest, making it almost unbearable to breathe. The unfamiliar sensation startled him. Panic attack,
heartbreak… Was he dying too? His shoulders sagged.

    
“I love you.” Her voice came out as a whisper in the quiet room.

    
His slowly lifted his head, afraid his mind was playing tricks on him. His gaze held hers, and his
hands cupped her face. “Oh, baby, I love you too.” He pressed a gentle kiss to her chapped lips.
“You scared me.”

    
“No more secrets, Ethan. I don’t think I’ll survive another one.”

    
He rained kisses over her face. “Never again, I promise.”

    
Cathy closed her eyes again and smiled. “Good.”

                                                
Chapter 11

    
Cathy stood with her hand on her growing
belly as
she watched the children playing in the
backyard. Tara’s and Gracie’s twins were beautiful,
each
gifted and just like their daddies in

appearance and temperament. The Phantoms were
going
to have their hands full when they reached
the age they could sign up for service.

    
The next generation of protectors would grow
up
safe and happy.

    
Familiar arms snaked around her waist. Ethan
placed
a kiss on her neck as he rested his head on
her shoulders. “I’m back, baby.”

    
Cathy sighed and grinned. “Did you learn anything new?”

    
Ethan placed another
kiss on her shoulder. “You could say that.”

    
She leaned into his warmth. “Well, don’t keep me in suspense.”

    
He tightened his hold around her. “Our baby has a new uncle.”

    
She turned in his arms, unsure she heard him right. “Come again?”

    
“I found documents that indicate Edward and I are related…cousins to be exact.”

    
Cathy dropped her hands. “How is that possible?”

    
Ethan shrugged and pulled her back into his embrace. “You know Black…he manipulated
everyone and everything he touched. Edward was ecstatic to know the truth. I’m the only family
member he has that is still alive.”

    
“Oh, that’s great, Ethan.” She rubbed her belly. “He’s related to this little bundle too.”

    
Ethan kissed her lips and turned her back around toward the window. “Let’s make a pact not to
talk about Black anymore.”

    
Cathy grinned and leaned into his chest. “That’s the best idea I’ve heard all day.”

    
“So…Mrs. Jacobs, were you taking notes for when ours gets here?”

Cathy chuckled. “I have a feeling our child is going to be more of a handful than the four of
them put together.”

“Hmmm. I’m sure. With your ability to heal and my determination, there isn’t anything our
child won’t be able to do.”

     
Cathy turned in his arms. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

     
He cupped her face and pressed a kiss on her
lips.
“She’s going to be more than an Alpha
female. She’s going to be
the
alpha female. Stronger
than any
male she meets.”

     
Cathy rested her head against his. “I know.
Lydia’s
visions are subject to change, but I’m
worried about our child. She’s going to have a hard
road
ahead of her.”

     
He kissed her forehead. “With both sets of
twins
and the Bennett’s children, she’ll be all right.
They’ll be more than all right together, no matter
what
trials and tribulations are coming. We’ll make
sure of it.”

     
“Lydia’s vision predicts someone more evil
than
Black, someone with even more cunning, as if
that’s possible.” Cathy shivered, even in Ethan’s
warm
embrace. The thought of her daughter, the
thought of all the children, battling to save the world
was
enough to push her close to panic.

     
“Their destiny is set. Just like ours was, all of
those
years ago. You were destined to make me
happy and grow old by my side while we raise the strongest child the world has ever seen. With us
being in charge of Black’s territory bosses and having them under control, and the Phantoms no
longer at risk, let’s just take
it one day at a time, baby. I want to spend the rest
of my life loving you
and appreciating every minute of every hour of every day. You complete me in a way I never knew I
needed.”

     
“Don’t you mean in a way you never wanted to
admit
you needed?”