Sins of Mine - Mary E. Twomey Page 0,55

off Rafe’s fur.

Jen frets aloud while she works. “I can’t tell if he’s lost too much blood, or if it’s a normal amount. It’s too much for a person, but Rafe is enormous, so it might not be too terrible. I have no idea.” She shakes her head. “I’m way out of my depth with this. I told the warden as much when Gray was sentenced. I told him we needed a true shifter doctor, but he wouldn’t hire one because it wasn’t in the budget. So I studied my butt off, but I still don’t know all I should to be able to give Gray the proper care he deserves.”

“You’re doing a good job,” I assure her. “If not for you… Well, let’s just say you’re the best doctor for Gray.”

Jen hangs her head as she finishes cleaning off his leg. “That just makes me sad.”

Once he’s all fixed up and Jen wraps a white bandage around his leg, she makes sure he drinks, giving him fresh water from a clean bowl.

Everly Ann parks her rump by his side, the teacup terrier acting as sentry for the massive wolf.

If I stop petting Rafe for three seconds, he nudges my hand with his maw, flipping it to land on his head.

I’m crashing fast. Too much terror. Too much adrenaline. Crippling depression is about to set in.

The second I let myself think about Sloan, that’s when I won’t be able to lift my head.

“I need to lie down.” I hate admitting it, but I can’t put off the inevitable. “Are Cassia and Charlotte handling the camp alright? Do I need to take care of anything first?”

Jen watches Rafe as he laps at a small bowl of water. “Not a single thing. Rest while you can. I’m sure it’s going to be chaos here soon enough. Drink some juice first. You need the sugar after the tax on your adrenal system.”

Paxton stands. “I got it.” He trots into the kitchen and comes back with a big glass of orange juice, which Jen watches me down, like it’s precious medicine I need to take.

Paxton reaches over to pet Rafe, adding to the affection of our family that’s grown unbearably small today. “I can take care of things down here. When the authorities come to tell us what poor orphaned souls we now are, I’ll deal with it, so you can get some rest.”

I shake my head. “You’re tired, too. You’ve got bags under your eyes.”

Paxton manages a smile. “Stop loving me so well.”

“Up to bed, all three of you,” Jen instructs. “I’m not above giving you a sleeping tonic, like I did to my last patient.”

Paxton runs a hand down his face. “I think you’re right. I’ll take the sleep while I can get it. Even if it’s only half an hour.” Then he pats Rafe’s back. “Come on, brother.”

I need to get Rafe up the stairs because he’s too big for the couch, and he needs to sleep more than we do. “Can you make it up the stairs, pumpkin?”

Rafe whines at the staircase until Jen adds, “You’re not looking too great, Arly. Need me to help you to your bedroom?”

Jen knows how to get Rafe moving; she just mentions that I might be faltering, and he rallies.

My giant wolf nudges me up the steps with his snout, his whimpers tucked behind a closed maw. Though he needs taking care of, he’ll be damned if anyone else looks after me. The stairs creak under his girth, but he manages to make it up just fine, though he’s panting the entire way.

Rafe bumps my butt until I’m sitting on the bed. Then he joins me, making the bedframe work to support us both. His head collapses on the pillow, whining until I lay down beside him. I spoon my wolf, because I need something snuggly to hold so that life doesn’t ice me over.

In a matter of half a minute, Rafe is asleep, his heavy breathing lulling me closer to shutting my eyes.

Paxton takes off his dress shirt and throws it in the hamper. Next go his socks and slacks. He sniffs his undershirt, and then tugs it over his head, revealing taut abs that keep my eyes wide open.

He catches me ogling and smirks, running his hand over his washboard abs and smooth chest. He tugs a blanket from the chest at the foot of the bed and drapes it over us, since we didn’t have the forethought to get under the