His Apprehensive Mate - Brea Alepou Page 0,59

his mouth and paw caked with blood, looked as if he were smiling—if wolves could smile.

His friends were all breathing heavy, and it didn’t look as if they were going to win. Morgan looked around for anything to help them. He spotted a knocked-over trash can, and a glass beer bottle glistened in the light. He pushed himself over to the trash can and grabbed the bottle. He raised his hand above his head and brought it down hard, shattering it, leaving him with a jagged piece of glass.

Morgan turned just in time to see Rhy pin Lyndon down long enough for Kenny and Cali to attack. They didn’t get to his underbelly or neck before Lyndon got free. Morgan saw his chance. Lyndon was only worried about the three shifters in front of him. He moved before he could talk himself out of it, pain be damned. Lyndon saw him and did what Morgan knew he would—he jumped at Morgan and tackled him to the ground.

Morgan went with the fall. Claws sunk into his skin, but Morgan had barely enough time to let his mind wonder about it. He shoved the broken beer bottle right in between the ribs. Hot blood gushed out and coated his hands. Morgan scrunched farther down, barely avoiding Lyndon’s teeth. He didn’t wait for Lyndon to figure out what was happening. Morgan forced himself to shift. Against all judgment, he pushed himself. The moment he felt his claws lengthen, he started to claw out Lyndon’s underbelly.

Lyndon tried pulling away, and Morgan leaned forward, his teeth closer to wolf than human, and bit down with all his might. Lyndon tried to get away. Morgan was slowly losing consciousness as blood spilled from all his wounds, his body stopping the change and returning to his human form.

Don’t give up. Even as he thought it, he was losing the battle all too fast. He didn’t know if he’d done enough. As his hands fell to the ground, blood dripping all over his body as Lyndon backed away, Morgan watched with bated breath as the three continued to attack Lyndon. He watched with a sense of peace as Kenny ripped Lyndon’s throat out.

Good. Now Ava will be safe. Morgan blinked or he might have fallen asleep—he wasn’t sure—but when he opened his eyes, Kenny in human form kneeled before him. His grey eyes were full of worry.

Morgan tried to smile at him, but his face wasn’t working.

“Morgan, that was stupid and crazy, and god I love you. You can’t leave me, okay?”

Morgan wanted to respond—god, he wanted to tell Kenny so many things—but most of all he just wanted to be held by his mate. One last time would be good enough for him. Kenny hovered over him before cupping his face.

This is okay. But even that thought couldn’t stop the thought of what could have been. Morgan didn’t wish things were different, just that he’d had more time with his mate. But he was thankful for what he got, because in a million years he’d never thought he’d be loved and cherished so much by someone.

His blinks were getting longer. The next time he opened his eyes, he was in Kenny’s arms. He wanted to cry—he could barely feel him. Morgan was so cold.

“Over here. Hurry,” Kenny shouted to someone.

Who could he be talking to?

Dezi and Logan came into view, both covered in blood and sporting bruises and cuts. Morgan wanted to thank them. For coming for him and Ava, for caring for them. For giving them a place to belong to. Kash and Dillan’s faces popped into his head. He’d never see them again. Or Samantha, Rainar, or Ramsey. Damn it, he wanted to live.

“Morgan—”

Morgan could see Dezi’s mouth moving, but he couldn’t hear anything anymore. He sounded so far away.

“Dezi,” Kenny stressed.

His friend’s face scrunched up. “He has to fight,” Dezi said.

Kenny looked down at Morgan, his pale skin more ashen, his lips a tinge of purple.

“Come on, Piglet. Fight to stay with me, to stay with us. We have so much to do and explore.”

Logan moved to touch Morgan, and Kenny had to push his snow leopard down. They needed all the help they could get.

“Kenny, keep talking to him,” Logan said.

So he did. He told Morgan about the things he wanted to do with him. How he wanted to spoil Morgan. About the family he wanted with the man he loved. How they were going to have to sit in the car while