He glanced at Lily, caught her smile, and relaxed. Even though they’d talked about it, he hadn’t been entirely certain. “Liana said he’s healed, but he needs to rest. I can carry him down.”
“Good. That’s good. We won’t worry, then.” Stefan glanced at Anton and nodded, and he wondered what Lily’s father had said. It must have been all right, since the four of them stood and stepped away from Alex. Lily stood beside her father.
Xandi kissed Lily’s cheek. “I want to talk to you tomorrow. What’s going on between Alex and Annie?”
Lily flashed a big grin. “Excellent things. I’ll let Alex tell you all about it.”
Laughing, Stefan hugged Lily. “I’d rather hear it from you. He leaves out all the good stuff.”
“Not this time.” She glanced at Alex, who still appeared to be soundly asleep. “We’ll make sure he’s okay. If you need us, we’ll be at the cottage.”
Anton stared toward the forest and nodded. “Lily? I’ve asked Mei and Oliver to escort you back to your place. The wolves weren’t alone. We picked up some human scent back there, too, though they might have shifted to escape. Until we know what the hell is going on, I think you should have a couple of guards along, at least until you reach your place. Just in case the rogues reappear. I doubt they’ll bother you once you’re home.”
“Thanks, Dad. They’ll definitely think twice about bothering us with those two for backup.” The four parents shifted and headed down the hill with the rest of the pack following. Lily sat again and grinned at Alex. “They’re gone. You can quit pretending and wake up now.”
The wolf opened his eyes. He sat up, but swayed and quickly adjusted his feet to keep from falling. Lily grabbed his shoulder to steady him. “Blood loss,” she said. “That was too damned close, Alex. Sebastian, he’s awfully heavy. Are you sure you can carry him?”
“I think so.” He glanced at the big wolf who glared at him as if he’d like to take a big bite.
Lily tapped the wolf on the nose. “Quit arguing, Alex. You’re too weak to make it off the hill on your own, and I don’t want to sit up here all night and wait on you to feel stronger.”
The wolf sighed and slowly collapsed onto the trampled grass. Without another word, Sebastian slipped his arms beneath the huge creature and lifted him close against his chest before standing. Alex was heavy, but he didn’t struggle. Just the opposite, in fact, as he settled close against Sebastian’s chest and hooked his right front leg over his shoulder to hang on.
Slowly, picking his way along a well-worn trail in his bare feet, Sebastian followed Lily down to her cottage. He sensed the two who protected them, but never once saw the pair of wolves.
It wasn’t until they reached Lily’s tiny cottage, tucked in beneath a huge cedar, that he realized they hadn’t been flanked by wolves at all.
A beautiful pair of snow leopards drifted out of the thick undergrowth, stopped to take a look at Alex, sniffed Sebastian’s legs, and then silently headed toward the main house.
“Mei and Oliver,” Lily said. “Beautiful, aren’t they?”
Stunned, Sebastian stared after the two until they disappeared in the shadows.
Sebastian carefully laid the wolf on the big bed while Lily dug through the closet. A moment later she emerged with a pair of loose shorts for Sebastian to wear and a teal blue sarong for herself. Watching Lily as she checked over Alex’s injury, he slipped into the shorts, though he realized he’d not been at all uncomfortable with his nudity.
That was something new. Something he needed to think about.
Lily ran her fingers through the wolf’s bloodstained coat, and Alex opened his eyes. “I know you’re not that badly hurt, at least not anymore, so when you shift, do it outside, okay? I don’t want blood flaking all over the bed.”
Grumbling, the wolf looked over the edge of the bed and then made sad eyes at Sebastian. No words were necessary. Sebastian lifted the big animal to the floor and opened the front door of the cottage. Alex walked slowly outside and down the steps to a large tree, lifted his leg, and peed. Then he walked back to the house, stood on the grass just beyond the front porch, and shifted. Tall and beautifully naked, he stalked back inside the house and glared at Lily.
“There. Are you happy?”
“Deliriously so.” She kissed him and then looped