Wolf's Call (Wolves Next Door #2) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,194

help David carry blankets and keep the fire pit going. Tomorrow night is going to be a long run."

Then I felt lips on my brow. "I love you, Mom," Gabby whispered. "Thank you for being a wolf with me. It makes you the best mom ever, just so long as you come back from the wolf. I'll be extra good tonight. Promise."

"Mm," I managed. "Love you too, Gabby. More than the whole world."

The next time I woke up, it was to pain. My joints felt like they were being pulled apart, and the whimper escaped even as I tried to curl into a ball. The room was dark. My mouth was parched. My head was throbbing like it was being pulled in two.

Cool hands pressed against me, easing me onto my back. From the other side, someone pushed an arm behind me, then helped me to sit up. I forced my eyes open, aware they were crusty, but all I could see were shadows. One on either side of me.

"Drink this." The voice belonged to Trent.

I lifted my hand, and he guided it around a chilled bottle of water, then helped me move it to my lips. The first splash in my mouth felt so good, and I swallowed, chugging almost the entire thing until I had to gasp for breath. Then I drank again, needing Trent's help to tilt the bottle high enough to drain it.

"More?" I begged.

"How about some soup?" The time, it was Pax, the man all but holding me up.

I grunted at the idea. "Too much."

"Just try?" he pleaded. I nodded, so he offered me a ceramic cup. "Heather made it. Just broth and a few noodles, honey. Sip it, and I'll help you."

The first sip made me sputter because it was so salty, but then the flavor hit. Suddenly, I wanted more. Lots more. Pax held the handle of the cup, but my hands wrapped around it and I drank, pausing to swallow or breathe, yet refusing to let him pull it away. The soup tasted like a drug, as if I couldn't get enough, or craved it.

"Is there more?" I asked.

"Seth?" Trent asked, raising his voice just enough to make me wince as the sound pieced my skull.

Two seconds later, my other mate hurried into the room. "Is she ok?" Seth asked.

"She wants more soup. Let's keep it coming until she's asleep again, ok?"

"On it," Seth promised, taking the empty cup from Pax before disappearing again.

I just sighed and leaned into Pax's shoulder. "My head's killing me."

"I know," he said gently. "Elena, when you shift, you're going to be confused, ok? You'll have a fever, and you'll see, hear, and smell things you never imagined. You'll be scared, so we're going to take you to the front yard just before that happens. Then, you'll run."

"Yeah, until I can't run anymore." Because they'd told me that before.

"But we're going to be with you. We're on your side, and we will still be your friends. I need you to remember that. No matter what, just know that your pack wants to take care of you."

"And your mates," Trent said. "You have to trust us. Don't worry about anything else but that. We're going to help you, and it doesn't matter how you're running, or why. Just let it happen, but know that we're only here because we want to protect you."

I reached out for his hand. "I know."

And then Seth was back with two cups of the soup. He passed one to Pax, but he'd clearly heard. "The most important thing, Elena, is to want it. To want to be a werewolf, to be with us again, and to come back for your daughter. Don't be scared of the unknowns. Just want it, and know that we'll always help you."

Pax moved the cup to my lips, but I smiled up at Seth. "I do. I'm ready to be a wolf, even if it means feeling this bad."

Hot. Dark. My stomach was churning. With a groan, I tried to sit up, and hands were right there, but the gagging started. I shouldn't have eaten the soup. I also knew I'd never make it to the bathroom before my stomach gave in.

"I got you," Lane whispered, helping me lean over.

And I vomited into the bucket he offered. The heaves were intense, but I still knew this was Lane. He held my hair back with his fingers even as he supported my weight. When I was finally sure I