Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 19506 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 98(@200wpm)___ 78(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19506 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 98(@200wpm)___ 78(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
*****
Rider
I watched in helpless terror as my mate’s car skidded and rolled off the side of the road. My heart leapt into my throat when there was no movement from within the vehicle. Please, no.
I hurried to the driver’s side door, which was hovering in the air. I gave a glare to the deer as it trotted away from the asphalt, though I knew this was my fault. I must have startled my mate when he saw me in his mirror as I chased him. I was so worried about losing him, that I could have ended up doing just that; permanently.
I gripped the handle and in my haste to get to my mate, I pulled the door completely from its hinges before flinging it to the ground. Panic seized my chest as I looked upon his limp body, but I sighed in relief when I heard his gentle breathing in the quiet night.
I hoisted myself into the vehicle enough to unfasten his safety belt, and gingerly lifted him out. As I held him in my arms, I would give anything to feel him blow smoke in my face, or to hear him tell me to fuck off. But he lay still and silent.
I turned towards the club to take my mate inside and ask for help, but it was unnecessary; the building was full of shifters, who had undoubtedly heard the commotion of the wreck and were filing outside to explore the noise.
My friends rushed to the front of the group, their faces drawn up with expressions of confusion and concern. “He’s mine,” I explained quickly, “And he needs help.” The full details would come later; all that mattered in the moment was making sure my mate was okay.
Their eyes widened before scouring over my poor mate, looking for any obvious wounds which required attention.
I jerked my head when an, “Excuse me, Alpha,” came from the crowd as a man stepped forward. We had met before, but it had been a while, and it took me a moment to recognize him. He was a wolf shifter from the Pine Ridge area.
“Rowan,” I remembered, along with the fact that he was a trained and gifted healer.
He bowed his head and replied, “I would be happy to examine your mate if it is okay with you.” He was treading lightly; an unbonded Alpha could be very territorial and aggressive. But I was so worried about my man that I had no time for that.
“Please,” I replied, before gently laying my mate on the ground, sitting behind him to hold his head in my lap.
Rowan knelt down beside my beautiful man, but before he continued, Rowan looked over his shoulder at a man whom I knew to be his mate, Dax. He was seeking permission from his fated one before touching another.
“Oh for heaven’s sake,” Dax answered with a flap of his thick hand. “Help him!”
Rowan wore a smile as he turned back, but he fell into complete concentration when he began his exam. He gently grazed his hands over my mate’s torso and head before prying open his eyelids. Rowan felt down his arms and listened intently to his chest.
Even though shifters were quick healers without intervention, Ridge, Rowdy, and I were all competent in dressing wounds and basic first aid. When Zane had been attacked by the bear, we knew how to staunch the bleeding and wrap his cuts. It was the wounds that couldn’t be seen by the naked eye which worried me, and I was grateful for Rowan’s expertise.
“How is he?” I asked when I grew impatient.
“I don’t feel any signs of broken bones,” Rowan replied, and I released a breath I didn’t know I was holding. “But I believe he’s bruised his ribs on the right side. I also don’t see any sign of a concussion or head trauma; I believe he fainted from the shock of the accident.”
“So, he’s okay?” Zane piped up from beside us, appearing as worried as I felt.
Rowan nodded. “With some rest, he’ll be good as new.”
The crowd erupted with applause, and Rowan received many pats on his back. Dax nearly knocked him over when he wrapped his arms around his neck and peppered his face with kisses. “You’re as brilliant as you are gorgeous,” Dax insisted, and I doubted that Rowan could look any prouder.
I scooped my mate into my arms and stood up. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” I told Rowan, who bowed his head again.
“It was my pleasure. I can also give you a recipe for herbal tea which will help him heal.”
“Please give it to them,” I replied, nodding to my packmates before giving them my attention. “I’m taking my mate home to care for him and see that he gets the rest he needs. I need you to take care of his car.” I looked at the hunk of metal in the ditch and grimaced at the sight of the missing door. I had total faith in my pack to get it to a mechanic.