Part 27
Chris jumped, grunting in pain, as the door to the bedroom banged open and Lex stormed into the room. The look of sheer angry panic in the younger man's face had Chris sitting up even as his aching body objected. Within second Lex was at his side. Resting one knee on the edge of the bed Lex hesitantly reached out, tentatively cupping the side of Chris's face with one hand, his eyes frantically searching his mate's face looking for any signs of the agony that he had felt so strongly through their link.
"I'm okay, Lex" soothed Chris, his voice gruffer than normal, his throat still hurting from the scream that had been ripped out of him.
Lex didn't reply. He simply bit his lower lip and stared at his mate. His eyes roaming over every visible inch of Chris's body searching for signs of lingers pain. When he didn't find any he finally looked up and asked shakily, "Are you okay?"
"I've been better," laughed Chris but then seeing the fear flood back into Alex's face he added quickly, "Hey come on I'm fine. I just…"
"What happened?" demanded Lex shifting position so he was sitting on the edge of the bed his hand resting absently Chris's stomach.
Chris sighed and for a moment he thought about not answer but then, knowing the bitch fit Lex would throw if he wasn't honest, he murmured, "Shawn was just trying help. He thought if ...if he could get my wolf to change it would help."
"Help?" spate Lex, "I heard you screaming and I felt your pain. How the fuck is that helping?"
"Hey!" snapped Chris, not happy at hearing Lex speak so disrespectfully about the Alphamate, "He was trying to help." He silenced Lex's objection with a single look, chuckling at the sullen pout marring his mate's face as he continued, "He didn't know, hell I didn't know, my wolf was hiding for reason. The injury…it's too much for my wolf to handle. I don't think I'll be able to shift properly until I'm healed." He screwed his eyes shut suddenly feeling very, very tired.
Lex stared at him, fear concern and worry clouding his expression. He gnawed at the edge of his lip totally lost as to how to help his obviously hurting mate. After a few moments he shifted closer his wolf whimpering at the way Chris was apparently ignoring him. Edging closer he moved his hand up Chris's torso, his fingers teasingly caressing the warm skin beneath them.
"Chris?"
The soft whisper made Chris smile and then without opening his eyes he simply held an arm out – a silent invitation. It was an invitation that Lex was all too happy to accept. Curling up against Chris, Lex rested his head on Chris's shoulder and wrapped his arms around his waist. Resting his face against Lex's streaked hair, Chris slid his arm around Lex's shoulder and tightened the embrace, both of them taking some much needed comfort and strength from the silent embrace.
X x x x x x x x x x x
With a spray of loose earth Alex finally reached the narrow ledge that had broken Justin's fall. Shaking his head the big tiger suddenly shifted back, Alex knowing he needed to check Justin's condition before trying to lift him. Rolling his shoulders out as he tried to settle back into his human form, he looked over at the figure sprawled on the edge. Justin's wolf was covered in mud and leaves. The spiky black fur looked filthy and even without being closer Alex could see flecks of blood in amongst the spikes.
Glancing up he saw the pack watching him, all of them looking worried and scared. But it was Josh's face that captured his attention. The little wolf looked absolutely terrified and Alex couldn't help but wonder if maybe a little of that fear wasn't for him. He smiled faintly liking the idea of Josh being worried him. Without meaning to he winked up at the little wolf and was rewarded with the most adorable blush – a blush that was visible even half way down the hill.
Grinning to himself Alex turned his attention back to the matter at hand. Edging closer, he called, "Justin? Hey, Justin? Come on, it's me, it Alex, its A-Ry…" he sighed. There was nothing, no flicker of recognition. Running a hand over his hair Alex crouched down running his eyes over the fallen wolf.
Moving slightly closer he reached out and touched the black fur hissing when he realised how cold the small wolf. Swearing under his breath he closed the gap between them. It was all too clear Justin was completely unconscious. Running his fingers through the thick fur he struggled to find a pulse but finally after a few moments frantic search he found a pulse. It was faint but it was better than nothing. Satisfied that Justin was at least alive, Alex sat back on his heels and tried to work out how to get the deadweight of the wolf up back up the hill. If he wasn't so worried about Justin's physical state he'd have grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and just dragged him up to the top. But now, having seen the flecks of blood and also the way the little black wolf's left hind leg was twisted underneath his body, he was loathed to do anything that could cause more injury.
Letting out a long low huff of breath he suddenly realised there was nothing for it. He simply had to get Justin on to his shoulders and then get back up the hill as fast as he could. Carefully he slid his arms around the unconscious wolf he huffed when he realised they were wrong about Justin's weight – he weighed a lot more than Dan. Grunting as he manoeuvred the wolf around, Alex finally got Justin settled lying on his back. He pulled the unconscious wolf's paws around his neck ordering softly, "Just hang on, kid. I'm gonna get us up there."
Without waiting he shifted his tiger growling at the added pressure of wolf but thankfully the shift didn't dislodge Justin from his precarious position. Shaking his head the tiger let out a long low rumbling call before launching himself back up the hill and to the waiting pack.
X x x x x x x x x
"Give him some space," ordered John pulling Josh back from the edge. Punk and Dan also retreated giving the tiger space to get back up over the edge of the hill. Randy stayed right on the edge, the beta keeping his eyes glued to the white tiger scrambling its way back up the steep muddy hillside. He hissed as Alex's footing slipped the tiger skidding down a few feet before regrouping and powering up the few remaining meters. As the tiger appeared over the edge Randy was already reaching forward. Catching the small black wolf, he eased the unconscious figure off the tiger's back, cradling the wolf in his arms. Walking a few feet away from the edge, he gently lay Justin down. Running his eyes over the slim figure, he noted with increasing worry the flecks of blood and the twisted hind leg. Glancing back over his shoulder he couldn't help the smirk as he watched Josh and john both rush to Alex's side Josh apparently unaware of what he was doing as he ran his hands over Alex's muddy abs searching for injuries.
"How is he?" asked Punk, crouching on the far side of Justin.
"Not sure," rumbled Randy glancing at his pack mate, "His back leg looks hurt and there are flecks of blood. We need to get him back to the alphas, they'll know what to do."
Punk nodded then looking past Randy he shook his head and sniggered, "Do they realise how obvious they are?"
Randy glanced back and smiled at the sight behind him. John was now checking Alex out as well, the big gamma putting Alex on the back, although it was clear to any watching that the pat was less to do with congratulations and far more to do with tracing the tattoo dominating Alex's shoulder blades.
"None whatsoever," replied Randy sharing Punk's chuckle. Shaking his head Randy bent forward and scooped Justin up. Getting back to his feet he grunted and cricked his neck out, rumbling, "Come on we need to get back to the pack house." He paused then noticing that the trio hadn't moved he snapped, "Now people!"
Josh actually yelped jumped at the call, tensing so much that both John and Alex reached out to sooth him. Rolling his eyes randy fixed his gaze with John and growled," Now John. Move."
John glowered at him but knowing Randy was right, he nudged the other two back towards the others. Within moments the rescue party were racing their way through the woodlands, heading back towards the house and there rest of the waiting pack.
TBC