Three Mates, One Destiny (8 page)

As Marcus’s fist engulfed Sebastian’s cock, Paulie’s image popped in his head, both arousing and sobering. He realized he wanted to share this moment with Paulie, and having their relationship strained didn’t represent a very good turn-on.

Marcus seemed to share his opinion. “Another time, maybe,” he said as he got up.

“After we solve things with Paulie,” Sebastian added. Perhaps he was being overly confident, but he couldn’t stand the thought of not having both his mates by his side.

His wolf mate nodded. “At any rate, I believe it went quite well, didn’t it?”

“I think so, too. Now, we just have to wait and see.”

* * * *

A short while after his departure from his room, Paulie felt it, a shocking arousal that seemed altogether out of place taking into account the circumstances. He’d actually begun to ruminate over Sebastian and Marcus’s words, and now, he realized his mates must be having sex—without him. It strangely disheartened him. God, he
Three Mates, One Destiny

59

was so confused. He wanted them to be close to each other, right?

Then, how could he be jealous? It made no sense.

In an odd development, the sensations stopped just instants after they began. Paulie was confused and made a mental note to ask his mates later. For now, he needed to get some work done—specifically, to check on his recovering patient.

Out of the three remaining ferals in the clinic, Ross was the most puzzling one. He seemed to have taken the serum better than the others, although his state remained delicate and he needed supervision around the clock.

For this purpose, Paulie and his dad enlisted several of the other medics’ aid. With so much to do, it was difficult for any of them to stand around and essentially play nurse, but it couldn’t be helped, not if they wanted to keep their remaining patients alive. Perhaps when Ross showed improvement, this state of things would change.

Paulie reached Ross’s room, cracked the door open, and slipped inside. The medic who’d been watching over the young man met him halfway. “How is he doing?” Paulie asked. “Has he said anything?”

The spirit wolf shook his head. “Nothing that makes sense. He hasn’t woken up so far.”

As if to contradict the medic’s words, a moan sounded from the bed, interrupting the conversation. Both Paulie and his spirit wolf counterpart rushed to the bed. They checked Ross’s vital signs and made sure the young man wasn’t seizing again. Instead, Ross cracked his eyes open.

“What? Where am I?”

“You’re in a hospital,” Paulie replied.

Ross tried to reach for his forehead, but couldn’t. His limbs had been bound to the bed to prevent him from hurting himself if he seized again. His eyes widened in panic. “What’s going on?” he croaked out. “Who are you people?”

“Doctors,” the spirit wolf medic replied. “How do you feel?”

60

Scarlet Hyacinth

Ross ignored the question, straining against the bindings. “Please, just let me go.”

Paulie shared a look with the spirit wolf. They couldn’t dare to risk it just yet. “Once you’re better, we’ll do that. Your illness made your limbs move, and we’re afraid you’ll accidentally be injured.”

Ross looked skeptical, but finally nodded. “Okay. All right. If you’re going to release me afterward.”

He didn’t seem happy about it, but he was struggling to accept the explanation, something Paulie found a bit odd. If he were in Ross’s place, he’d have cursed and spat at his captors until they let him go.

Musing over this dilemma, he asked Ross, “Do you remember what happened to you?”

The young man blinked in confusion. “I… I’m not sure.” He squinted, as if thinking very hard. “I don’t remember anything,” he finally said. “Oh, God… I just know my name, and that’s it.”

Their patient seemed to be hyperventilating now, so Paulie decided more questions would have to wait. Gently, he wrapped Ross in an embrace. They were most likely around the same age, and yet, so very different. Paulie’s heart hurt for Ross. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “We’ll help you.”

Ross didn’t answer, the tension in his body betraying his disbelief.

“Get some sleep,” Paulie said. “It will help.”

The spirit wolf doctor injected a sedative into Ross’s perfusion.

Soon, their patient fell asleep. “Go on,” the other man told Paulie.

“I’ll call you if something else happens.”

Paulie thanked his colleague and left the room, going over Ross’s words. Could the serum cause amnesia? If so, why? He needed to consult it with his dad.

Predictably, he found Drew in the lab. “Hi, Dad,” he said. “Guess what? Ross woke up.”

Drew immediately looked up from the viral cultures he was studying. “Why didn’t you call me?”

Three Mates, One Destiny

61

Paulie rolled his eyes at his dad. “There was no time. He was exhausted and shaken, so we sedated him. I may specialize in animals, Dad, but you’ve taught me a lot, remember?”

His dad laughed. “You’re right. When am I going to remember you’re not a kid? So did he say anything?”

“Not much. According to him, he doesn’t remember anything.”

Drew looked surprised. “Amnesia? Well, that’s something I didn’t expect. We need to examine this as soon as possible.” He seemed to be considering options. “He’ll be frail, now, but I’ll drop by briefly, regardless, maybe take another DNA sample. Then when he wakes up, we can have another talk.”

As his dad left, Paulie remained alone and took over the lab operations. It was lonely work, and something he enjoyed as a rule.

Even so, Paulie found himself wishing for the presence of two certain men. He remembered Marcus’s words and the cell phone burned in his pocket. Just hearing their voices would be perfect.

After all, what would it hurt? It was only a tiny call. Paulie didn’t have to say anything he didn’t want to, and he could hang up at any moment. It would be rude, and he’d never do it, of course, but that was beside the point.

Without another moment of hesitation, Paulie retrieved his phone and chose Marcus’s number at random from his contact list. He dialed and waited for his mate to reply. Marcus picked up on the second ring. “Hi, Paulie,” he said. “What are you up to?”

“Work,” Paulie replied. “Ross woke up.”

“Great!” Marcus answered, and Paulie could hear the genuine pleasure in his voice. “Poor kid. We couldn’t believe a feral would do such a thing to him. Did he say anything?”

“No,” Paulie said. “It seems he can’t remember. Maybe you guys can come visit once he’s better.” He paused, deciding to change the topic off Ross. “What about you? What are you doing?”

62

Scarlet Hyacinth

“We decided to meet up with Trent and Ash, catch up on hunter business,” Marcus answered. His tone changed, becoming softer, warmer. “I’m glad you decided to call.”

Paulie smiled. “So am I, Marcus. So am I.”

* * * *

That night, Paulie returned to his room feeling a bit better. He’d actually gone to dinner and decided to get a decent night’s sleep, unlike the day before, when he’d caught maybe three hours of slumber—more of a dead faint of exhaustion, actually.

He still hadn’t gone downstairs, and the mere thought of it gave him the shivers. But perhaps, if he waited a few more days, he could handle it.

After washing up and pulling on his pajamas, Paulie slipped under the blanket and closed his eyes. No sooner had he fallen asleep than the nightmare started.

He was back in the cell with Patient Number Three. He stood there watching the feral, smiling. Only this time, his patient cowered in front of his touch. “It’s okay,” Dream-Paulie said. “We’ll help you.”

The same words he’d told Ross—and just like that, Patient Number Three morphed into the young feral. In fact, his form blurred to and fro, from Ross to Number Three.

Dream-Paulie approached the feral. Moving in a flash, he grabbed the other man and tossed his body against the wall. He did it again and again, until his brains leaked out, and dead eyes stared at him accusingly. “You killed me,” Patient Number Three said in Ross’s voice. “It’s your fault.”

Paulie screamed, trying to tear himself away from the hold of the dream. It didn’t work. The feral’s gaze kept him prisoner and hypnotized. The other man’s hands began to move, grabbing Paulie and threatening to crash his head against the wall.

Three Mates, One Destiny

63

But before the feral could achieve his purpose, a powerful force stopped it. He was torn out of his nightmare and back into reality.

“Hush,” Sebastian whispered. “You’re all right.”

Paulie burst into tears. He’d thought he could be strong and push the pain away. He’d thought he could be a doctor and help people.

He’d failed. Oh, God, he’d failed so abysmally.

Sebastian placed him on the bed and just like two nights back, Paulie ended up sandwiched between his mates. “Now you listen to me,” Sebastian said. “We understand how you feel. I had nightmares for weeks after my first kill, and so did Marcus. But that’s why we’re here, to help each other out. Okay?”

Paulie nodded. He could not think of any better idea than borrowing his mates’ strength. “Okay.”

“We’ll just hold you,” Marcus murmured. “How does that sound?”

Paulie didn’t reply. He just closed his eyes, knowing his mates would understand his agreement. When he fell asleep again, no nightmares reemerged.

64

Scarlet Hyacinth

After the second night together, Paulie warmed up to them. His smiles came rarely, something unusual according to what Marcus found out from others. The experience with the dead feral hurt Paulie a lot, but Marcus hoped that, in time, his mate would get over the trauma. They didn’t have sex, nor did they venture beyond what they did the day of the feral’s death, but the few stolen kisses Sebastian and Marcus managed made all the difference in the world.

It also seemed to help that Ross recovered from his injury. Ross represented a mystery for the few people at the base who’d met him.

Sometimes, he seemed shy, almost frail, like a porcelain doll about to crack. Other times, he turned suspicious and cold toward them.

Doctor Blunt was studying the hypothesis that the serum might have affected Ross’s psyche after all. Paulie seemed encouraged when Ross didn’t show the same signs of suicidal mania the ferals did, but his state remained delicate. Marcus himself felt responsible for the young man they’d brought here. Thankfully, the Harts extended an invitation for Marcus and Sebastian to stay at the compound for as long as they needed.

A week after their arrival at the compound, Paulie led him and Sebastian to see Ross. This would be the first time they’d seen the boy since coming here. So far, Andrew and Paulie had been reluctant to allow visitors, but Ross showed improvement now, and they hoped to gradually introduce the young man to other people. Marcus and Sebastian were perfect for the job, since, after all, they’d saved him from the feral.

Three Mates, One Destiny

65

Ross had been moved into a room at the same level with the examination area. Since the suicide of the feral, the guard increased even more, and one couldn’t go twenty paces without running into soldiers armed to the teeth. From what he’d heard, Ross was being watched with particular diligence. For this reason, it surprised Marcus greatly to see the entire corridor that led to Ross’s room empty of guards.

Paulie immediately panicked and ran forward. Sebastian hastened after him. For about half a second, Marcus considered going to get reinforcements, but decided against it. His instincts told him it would be better to deal with this themselves. He followed after his mates and found them standing in the open doorway of the room. Paulie’s face was very red, and he looked everywhere else but at the two men standing half naked in front of them. Marcus just smiled in amusement. Now, the absence of the guards made perfect sense.

Clay Hart, the youngest son of their hosts, glowered at them.

“What? Can’t you tell you’re intruding on a private moment?”

Ross hid behind Clay, apparently in shy mode. At last, Paulie found his voice. “Clay, it’s nice to see you. I thought you were visiting the Magistrate.”

Clay didn’t look at all pleased by the comment. “I came back a little while ago.”

Marcus arched a brow. He’d heard rumors over a supposed liaison between Clay and the Magistrate’s right hand man, Klaus. Judging by Clay’s ill mood, he’d guess that relationship was going nowhere, fast.

Ross’s appearance would cause even more difficulties, but it didn’t concern Marcus, or his mates.

Obviously of the same mind, Paulie entered the room, now in full doctor mode. “Welcome back, then. I’m afraid Ross is still in a delicate condition, so I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

Clay’s expression turned alarmed. “Delicate condition? What? I didn’t hear anything about that.”

66

Scarlet Hyacinth

“Did you even take the time to ask him his name?” Sebastian grumbled.

As amusing as the entire situation seemed, Sebastian had a point.

Ross couldn’t be trusted to make any important decisions. True enough, a mating could heal his emotional instability, but at the same time, it could create further complications. Clay needed to tread lightly here, even more than Marcus and Sebastian.

“You must know he was bitten by a feral,” Paulie answered. The blood drained out of Clay’s face. Apparently, he hadn’t known.

Marcus guessed Clay might have been overwhelmed by the moment and missed the scent of the virus on Ross. Clay was, after all, very young by spirit wolf standards, just barely initiated in their pack life some ten years back. It wouldn’t be surprising for him to miss something like this.

Clay backed off from Ross, having probably grasped the seriousness of the situation. Ross reached out for him. “No!” he said.

“Don’t go. These people are crazy. They’re holding me captive, doing strange things to me. You have to help me. Please, I’ll do anything you want.”