Mending the Beast (Awakening Pride #10) - Lacey Thorn Page 0,7
had never emerged. The changes are rapid. His blood is constantly changing. Our fear is how far the recession will go.”
“What are you saying?” Laura’s voice trembled as she voiced the question Daniel screamed in his head. “Are you saying hunters have found a way to destroy the animal side of our genetics? That Daniel could lose his lion and become human?”
“I don’t know,” Gideon admitted, but even Daniel heard the fear in the other man’s voice. “We’re going to watch him closely. Blood will be drawn three times a day as long as it continues to change.”
“Why isn’t he waking up?” Laura asked.
“His body is healing much as a human’s would right now.” Surprisingly, Tony was the one who answered. “Without the animal side kicking in to expediate healing… Well, the human body can be fragile, and Daniel took multiple gunshots. We’re damn lucky we didn’t lose him in transit. Hell, we’re lucky he didn’t die in the woods where we found him. Look, even with Aleksy and his primal genetics, when he takes multiple hits like that, he can be out for hours while his body heals. Daniel, with this regression, we could be talking weeks. Maybe longer.”
“Give him my blood,” Gabriel ordered.
“I’ll give him some of mine, too,” Laura offered.
“No,” her mate, Finn, countered immediately. “Not while you’re pregnant. If needed, I’ll give Daniel some of mine.”
“You’re not seriously considering giving him a transfusion right now, are you?” Tony challenged, sounding baffled.
“No,” Gideon said. “It’s too soon to make any decisions like that. We don’t know what’s causing the change, and until we know more, we can’t make any rash choices that have the potential to make things worse. The important thing right now is that Daniel is starting to heal. Yes, it’s slow. Yes, he’s slipped into a coma. But he’s here, and for now, that has to be enough.”
“In the meantime, come in and see him,” the professor continued. “My faith tells me Daniel can hear us. He’s in there, and we need to make sure he knows how much we need him. So visit, talk, keep it happy. No stress. Let him know how much we love him. He’ll come back to us.”
“Your faith in God tells you this?” Tony questioned, sarcasm ripe in his tone.
“My faith in this pride,” the professor countered softly. “We’re family here. All of us. We won’t be losing Daniel on my watch. I’m heading to the lab. Gideon, bring a new vial of blood with you when you join me. I’ll see the rest of you later.”
Silence fell as the professor made his exit. They were worried about Professor Mueller. He worked long hours, putting in more time in the labs than should be physically possible. The whole pride watched him closely, making sure he ate and got out of the labs. They couldn’t force him to sleep, and Daniel knew Tah and Abby were worried about him. Abby had mentioned more than once that she was going to put in a call to the professor’s daughter, who was also Abby’s best friend. Jess also happened to be mated to the four alpha wolves. Daniel figure she must be a hell of a woman to be mated to four alphas.
Hell, he couldn’t even get his one mate to give him a chance, to give them a chance. Christ, he’d give anything to hold her in his arms and feel her breathe. To have the beat of her heart against his. He wanted to chase away all her demons. Better yet, slay them so they could never haunt her sleep again. He wanted…everything. With her. Only her. He wanted to love her. However, she’d allow him to.
“Let’s head out for now. We’ll take shifts, so Daniel always has someone with him,” Tah stated.
“I’m not leaving,” Gabriel replied.
Silence again, and Daniel easily pictured Tah staring at him as if peering inside Gabriel. Tah had a way of knowing what someone was thinking or feeling without them ever completely voicing it. Daniel felt the emptiness as those who’d been gathered in his room left. He wasn’t sure who remained until they spoke. That was when it hit him. He could no longer scent the others. None of them.
“We’re not going to lose Daniel, Gabriel,” Tah vowed softly.
“I left him here. Every time I went off to save another shifter, I left him here, dealing with our asshole father on his own.”
“Gabriel,” Laura interrupted, but Gabriel cut her off.