better to Carri as it delivered the antidote into her system. She lay cradled in Jason's arms, surrounded by the pack healer as well as Ben and Jenna.
"She should rest, now." The healer informed the alpha pair, ignoring both patient and rescuer. "The paralytic effects will pass immediately, but the shock to her system is severe."
"She'll stay here." Jason's voice still part wolf, allowing for no argument.
"She'll be better cared for in our home." Jenna shot back at him.
"Hello? Patient here. I think I get a say in this." Carri struggled to sit up before things escalated into an actual fight.
"Obviously, the paralytic effects fade fast." Ben's dry comment brought a tiny smile to Carri's face.
"I only need rest, right?" Carri looked to the healer for confirmation. Once the healer gave her a nod, she looked to Jenna and Ben. "Then I'll rest here." She squirmed around to see Jason's face, still blood-spattered. "If you're staying to watch over me."
His growl rumbled in his chest under her hand. "That was the idea."
"Fine then." She snuggled against his warmth. "It's decided. My decision."
"We'll talk tomorrow morning." Ben steered Jenna out the door, but his words held no concession, they held a promise.
Carri didn't want to think about tomorrow. Tired and happy to be alive, happy Jason was alive and in one piece. He’d pulled clothes on just before the healer arrived, but he hadn't taken the time to wash away the blood, or see to his own cuts and bruises. "We should take care of you, too."
"I need to get you into the bed, get a mug of soup inside you, and then you need to sleep," Jason countered, shifting her in his arms so that he could carry her cradled against his chest.
As much as she liked his arms around her, Carri squirmed. "You've got blood on you. Is any of it yours? Shapeshifter speed healing or whatever, we need to clean you up."
"I'll shower after you're in bed."
She glanced at the shower cubicle just off the bedroom. Time to change tactics. "I'm all sticky. My skin feels itchy after all the stuff in my system." She looked up at him through her eyelashes, trying to look innocent. "I might not be able to stand in the shower by myself, but you could help me."
Jason paused, and when his eyes met hers, a storm brewed. Her heart kicked up and she took it just a little farther, tilting her head up to nip very lightly at his jaw.
Excitement raced through her as he started walking again, carrying her towards the bathroom. When they reached the small tiled room, he settled her on the counter of the vanity, bending to take off her boots.
"We need to talk."
Even though his tone drew anxious shivers out of her, she mustered a small smile. "New for you."
He straightened, his face still very serious. "You need to know why I don't have a pack."
The tightness in her chest eased a fraction. She'd been worried he wanted to say something different. No. This, this was definitely something she wanted to know. Not an easy thing for Jason to tell her, but it might give him a little freedom in the telling.
"Every pack is led by at least one alpha." Jason began, standing in front of her, his hands resting on the counter at either side of her. "Glacier Valley pack is lucky because they have the balance of a mated alpha pair. Not every pack is balanced and not every pack is as strong. My pack numbered barely half the size of Glacier Valley."
He ducked his head. She reached out to touch his face and he leaned into her hand.
"I'm dominant, but I'm not an alpha." The admission seemed to rip something loose in Jason, the words coming faster. "When I first hit puberty, I couldn't control it. My alpha sent me out of the pack on a lone run. It was only supposed to be for a season, to gain experience and rein in my temper. When I came home, the pack had been wiped out in a territory fight with another pack. No one survived."
"Oh, Jason." Her heart bled for him. The pain in his voice sounded so raw, even after all this time.
"I wasn't there." Jason's voice had quieted to a ragged whisper. "If I'd had control, been there, I would've been one more fighter, dominant enough to tip the odds in our favor. And today, you saw me out of control again,