mate to safety and to medical attention. Then I can dream of fucking and claiming him.
“Let’s get you out of here, handsome,” Dermot crooned. “But how to do that?”
Dermot knew the area, having run through it as a wolf for over a hundred years. The area he was in was rocky with rough terrain between the cliff and his cabin. Carrying him as a human would tear up his feet, but he couldn’t get him out as a wolf, either.
Loath to leave his mate—even for the forty minutes it would take to sprint home, call in the help of his pack-mates, then sprint back again—he searched for another option.
Spotting the hiking boots on the human’s feet, Dermot considered them.
Close enough.
Dermot removed his man’s hiking boots, then shoved his own feet into them. They were a size too small, but he could deal with that. Crouching, he slipped his arms under his man and lifted him.
Straightening, Dermot spotted a backpack ten feet away, so he crossed to it and snagged it with the hand running under his mate’s torso.
As swiftly and as carefully as he could, he hurried home.
Over forty-five minutes later—the trip took much longer in human form, but at least they’d made it—Dermot strode into his cabin. His retreat was a one-bedroom with indoor plumbing and a large claw-footed tub. He had all the modern amenities, even though he was hiding out in the woods for the next decade or more.
I hope my mate likes it.
The idea of the human in his arms spending hours exploring the mountains with him brought a smile to his lips.
Gotta woo him first.
Chuckling under his breath, Dermot entered his bedroom. Our bedroom, now. He settled his mate on the mattress before rushing out again.
Dermot grabbed his cell phone and punched three on speed dial. As he listened to the line ring, he tucked the phone between his ear and shoulder and hurried around the cabin. He had a rudimentary idea of what was needed, so he started the kitchen faucet, turning the water to hot.
As Dermot gathered towels from the kitchen and bathroom, the line picked up.
“Greetings, Dermot. How are ye fairin’? Need help with something?”
Upon hearing his alpha’s deep, Irish-accented voice, Dermot felt himself settle. He hadn’t even realized he’d been that nervous. Finding his mate injured after what appeared to be a fall off a cliff had rattled him more than he’d realized.
“I do need help with something, Alpha Declan. Thank you for taking my call.”
“I’m always happy to assist me pack members, Dermot,” Alpha Declan told him, warmth filling his tone. “What’s up?”
After grabbing the scissors from the butcher block, Dermot started carrying everything back to the bedroom. His mate hadn’t moved.
“I found my mate while running in the mountains,” Dermot revealed. “He was a hiker.”
“Grand!” Alpha Declan cried, clearly pleased. “Not the best timing, but we’ll help ye win her…or him. What trailhead, and what does yer mate look like? I assume ye followed him or her down the mountain, so we have somethin’ to go on?”
“It’s a he, and he was injured after falling off a cliff,” Dermot hurriedly explained as he began carefully removing his mate’s soaked jacket. “I need the alpha-mate, please. His left leg is broken. There’s a lot of blood. I—” A fissure of fear worked through Dermot. “He’s unconscious, and I’m getting him out of his soaked clothes, but he’s still not waking up, and I—”
“Take a deep breath, Dermot,” Alpha Declan encouraged, his tone a deep croon. “Where are ye?”
“My cabin.”
As soon as those words were out of his mouth, Dermot did as he’d been told. He took several slow deep breaths. While Dermot did that, he heard his alpha shout Lark’s name.
Lark Trystan was a small, blond human. Most would call him a twink. His personality was vivacious and friendly, and he complemented the alpha’s serious demeanor perfectly. He was also a doctor.
“What are you yelling about?” Lark asked, amusement in his tone.
Dermot’s heightened shifter hearing easily allowed him to hear what those on the other end of the line were saying.
Alpha Declan quickly relayed what Dermot had shared.
“Tell me about his injuries,” Lark demanded, his voice now coming clearly through the line. He must have taken the phone from Declan. “At least, what you can see.”
After sharing what he’d discovered, he listened to Lark tell Declan what to pack.
During that time, Dermot put the phone on speaker and placed it on the nearby pillow. He picked up the scissors and