When I came back in, Gabby was out of the bathroom and shuffling her way to the closet. Probably on her way to find shoes, which were already in the car. In two steps, I was behind her and scooped her up in my arms.
She squeaked in surprise but smiled up at me.
Rachel stepped out of her room as I made it to the kitchen. I didn’t slow down.
“When you’re feeling better, let’s talk about rental rates,” she called after us with a snicker. “And I’m not talking about the house!”
Not in her dreams. Ever.
Outside, I held Gabby close, trying to keep her warm as I opened the passenger door. Carefully, I set her on the blanket. She twisted in her seat and pulled her phone from the bag in back before she sat facing forward again. Her breathing was shallow and strained. Exhaustion painted her face paler with each passing minute. I was worried.
I closed the door, and as I jogged around the hood, I watched her buckle. She drew her legs under her and huddled under the blanket.
Sliding in behind the wheel, I closed the door quickly to keep the heat in. She continued to shake beside me. I reached over and tucked the blanket around her. She clutched her phone in one hand and the edge of the blanket in the other. Her knuckles were white on both.
I gently soothed my fingers over her skin then focused on backing out of the driveway. Beside me, she struggled to stay awake.
I almost told her to go to sleep but knew talking would have had the opposite effect on her.
“I don’t want to keep going on like this,” she said once we cleared town.
What did she mean by that? I glanced at her, feeling the cold weight of worry in my chest. She caught my look.
“I don’t mean being with you. I like that. But I don’t like seeing you bruised.”
I smiled at her concern, and she scowled.
“There’s nothing amusing about it. I don’t like worrying.”
She lifted the phone and dialed. Her arm trembled as she brought the little device to her ear.
I heard Sam answer.
“I’m on my way,” she said. “Put out a call for tonight only.”
I stopped breathing as she disconnected. The road blurred before me. Put out a call? Elders did that for Introductions. They put out a call to all unMated males. What was she doing? Had she really given up on us?
She tossed the phone on the back seat. It immediately started to vibrate.
“It’s not what you think, Clay. I don’t want to do another Introduction, but something happened last night. Like I said before, I went out with Rachel to a club downtown. Not one of my best decisions, but I think I’ve figured out what’s going on with me.”
I’d been right, then, and she did need the Elders’ help. She had my attention.
“Remember the party with Nicole? When I touched her, I gave her a huge shock. That happened again last night. I think I can transfer my gift, that thing with guys, to other people. I didn’t know how it happened the first time. But I think I’ve figured it out.
“Last night, these two women at the club had been on their own until Rachel and I—and the groupies I’d collected—joined them. When we made to leave, the women had been so disappointed. They knew the guys would walk away when we did. I felt so bad for them that I went to...I don’t know...pat them, I guess. I’d just meant it as an ‘I’m sorry’ gesture, but then it happened again just like before. A huge shock.”
Her words were slurring. She was exhausted. I wanted her to sleep, but I also wanted to know what the hell a shock had to do with setting up formal Introductions at the Compound.
“Both times I was thinking about how I wished I could help find the person they were meant to be with. And, I think that’s the key. I don’t understand why I can see the lights, but I know it must be all tied together because when I try to use my sight, it hurts. Really bad.”
I could feel Gabby’s gaze on me. She was obviously waiting for a reaction. However, I was still waiting for the reason we were heading north to push her in front of the very men I’d been fighting the last few weeks.
“Oh, yeah. Before I shocked those two, a Forlorn came up behind me and started a conversation. My fish finder still worked then.”
I knew she meant the lights she could see in her head.
“There were more werewolves in the crowd, Clay. The one talking to me said he just wanted a chance to say hi. He was very persistent so I told him I would see them at the Compound for an official Introduction. They left right after that but gave me the impression that if I didn’t show up, they’d come looking for me. I got the feeling they’d been pushed too far.”
They’d been pushed too far? I’d known something like this would happen. One of them had scared her. I wanted to hit something. Damn the Elders. They should have never allowed unsupervised Introductions. What were they thinking?
“Has it been the same werewolves trying to see me or is it always different?”
What did it matter if I was fighting the same werewolves or different ones each time?
She sighed, almost as if I’d spoken aloud, and snaked a hand out from under the blanket to touch my leg.
“It hurts to see you like this, Clay. If I have to put up with an Introduction to keep you safe, then that’s what I’ll do.”
And, again, she melted my anger. This time with just a touch.
“I’m sorry, Clay,” she mumbled sleepily. “I wish I could just get over my need for freedom and Claim you. We both know you’re the one. I just don’t want to lose myself.”
She immediately fell asleep.
I ignored the tear trailing down to my beard.
The Compound was teeming with unMated when we pulled to a stop before the porch. Gabby slept in her seat. She hadn’t stirred once during the long drive.
Men watched as I got out and circled to her side of the car. One made a move to stop me.
“She’s not yours any longer.”
I stopped walking and stared at the man. He had no hope to challenge me but there were many others behind him, still and watching.
“She’s sick,” I said, glancing at them all.
Sam, get out here, now.
A moment later, the door swung open; and Sam strode out. Counting on his presence to keep things peaceful, I ignored everyone and turned back to the car to open Gabby’s door. She didn’t move when I unbuckled her or when I lifted her, blanket and all, from the seat. When I straightened, Sam was right there to close the door.
He studied the dark circles under Gabby’s eyes then looked at me. “What’s wrong?”
“Sick.”
His gaze drifted to the men watching us before settling back on her.
“How long has she been like this?”
“Last night. Took her three days to recover last time.” Now that I knew we weren’t here to help her, I didn’t want her to try to go through an Introduction.
“Why did she call this morning?”
I shrugged, unwilling to answer something that should be so obvious given the number of men listening to us.
Sam’s silence spiked my impatience.
“She needs a bed.”
Sam nodded. “Yes. Right. You know the room.”
He remained beside the car, looking at the unMated he’d called to the Compound, as I carried Gabby inside. I could give a damn about the men he’d called.
Those who passed me in the hall glanced at Gabby but let me continue without protest. I reached the room and shifted her weight to open the door. Once inside, I took her straight to the bed, lay her down, then went for a glass of water. She’d be thirsty again when she finally came out of whatever spell she was under.
Returning with the drink, I set it aside and sat beside her, gently smoothing back her hair.
I hated this helplessness. Though she’d explained what she thought had happened, I didn’t know how she wanted me to handle the situation here. Sam would have more questions. What did she want me to tell him, if anything?