wolf spirit was totally different.
“What happened to its human counterpart? Our wolves can’t live without us, and vice versa.”
“I killed her human host.”
I frowned, my lips pressed together in a tight line.
“Listen, Connor, I’m not lying. I’ve no idea how it happened. Magic, maybe? Fire’s always been part of me, you know that. I just...I have no idea how she works, or what she really is.” She inhaled, wincing as her chest expanded. Her gaze shot to the door, the skin on the bridge of her nose creasing, even as her arm came up protectively to hold her ribs. Stone was on the other side, and he was not a pure shifter. Had Ember figured out his heritage? There were other supernatural forces and creatures in this world, which was why the SBI existed, but Ember had seen very few of them at the academy. And only fae had even more powerful hearing than shifters. What had she been through since I’d last seen her, that she recognised a fae and immediately mistrusted him?
Perhaps changing the subject from the death of her past wolf was best. Neither of us knew what her Fire was, we never had. And demanding she reveal her secrets about the last four years would only drive us apart again—or would it? Oh, fuck it...I needed to know.
“Where have you been, Em? Who did you hide with that Doherty never got wind that you were alive?”
She limped up to the wall and leaned back against it before tipping her head backwards, a bead of sweat running down her temple. “It doesn’t matter,” she said on an exhale. Her face dropped, her eyes closing, but they shot open when she coughed, her brows pulled tight.
“You’re wrong. If it concerns you, it matters.” I stepped closer, trying to ignore the way heat from her body bathed mine. I wiped away the bead of sweat from her temple with my forefinger. “Let me help you. You’re in pain.”
Her eyes narrowed, and her jaw clenched as she seemed to battle her need to heal against her need to be independent. Her heartbeat was erratic and fast. I wanted it to be from being so near me, but I guessed it was more from her pain.
“Okay, but don’t think this means I’m joining your pack.”
“We’ll see, Firecracker.” I smiled and placed my hands gently on her ribs. Using my fingers, I carefully explored her chest wall to figure out where the worst breaks were. The more bruised skin and crunchy, loose bones I found, the harder it was to control my fury. I wanted to hunt down the fuckers that had survived that fight and rip them limb from limb. I tried hard to bury my instincts, but my wolf raised its head and peered out at the girl we’d always tried to protect. He was unsettled at being so close to Ember again, and he didn’t understand what had happened to her wolf. Neither did I, but we both wanted her to be safe. I sighed with relief when he gifted me a gentle wave of power. Holding her green gaze, I placed my palms over the breaks.
She inhaled sharply, but whether that was from my touch or from pain, I didn’t know.
“Sorry,” I murmured.
“You didn’t hurt me,” she whispered.
My heart missed a beat. My touch, then.
Closing my eyes, I pushed a little of my wolf’s power into her body, searching out the breaks and bruising, and gently coaxing her body to heal. I’d used my power to dominate and destroy for so long, it was hard to focus on such a delicate task, especially with her petite body under my hands. My fingers wrapped right around her stomach and ribs, she was so slim. I swallowed against my dry mouth; touching her was messing with my self-control.
She didn’t seem to realise it, but I wasn’t able to heal just anyone with my ‘alpha vibes’ as she called it—I was only able to heal her, only my soul mate. Gods, I’d loved her for so long. I’d never even wanted anyone else. No one else could ever come close to my Firecracker; I’d walk into the fires of Hell for her if she needed me to. And she was here. Alive.
After I discovered each break and healed it, I stayed where I was, not willing to relinquish my hold on her warm skin.
Her breathing remained elevated, her heart beating under my right palm, even as the soft swell of her