Page 32 of Wicked Wolf

Each person turned toward him, their gazes burning holes into his skin. Jesse lay on the bed, propped up on pillows. He was awake, thank God, so Quinn smiled but didn’t move forward. He needed to get a few things out of the way first.

Walker and Brandon stood off to the right. Walker had his hands out in front of him, stretching, while Brandon had his arms folded over his chest. They didn’t frown at him, but they did seem to check him out to make sure he wasn’t about to go on attack.

He’d deal with that shame later.

To the left, Hannah had her hands in a similar position to Walker’s. Her long brown curls went every which way and looked like she’d been in the wind.

Reed stood behind Hannah, his hands on her hips. Quinn knew that the touch of a mate could enhance their powers, so he was glad the other man was there. Josh stood beside Reed. He didn’t touch Hannah but looked ready to do so if needed. The triad as a whole, it was said, was the strongest unit most had ever heard of when it came to magic. In fact, each of the Jamenson mating pairs—or triads—seemed to gain a certain amount of power from their bond.

Something he’d never had with Helena.

He quickly shoved that thought to the side and looked at the person on the other side of Josh.

Gina had her hair back in a ponytail, which made her look younger than her years. Her cheekbones stood out, and from the dark circles under her eyes, she looked as though she’d slept as well as he had these past two days.

Your fault, he reminded himself.

From the way she held herself back, he wasn’t sure she had the energy to help Jesse. God knew Quinn didn’t have much left himself. He didn’t want Gina to be hurt because she pushed herself too hard, but he wasn’t about to say that aloud.

He didn’t have the right.

He cleared his throat. “I don’t know what I should be doing.” He looked at Walker then at Hannah, pulling his gaze from Gina’s. “Can you tell me where I should stand? What I should do?”

He hated being helpless, but he’d do anything for Jesse.

“Daddy,” Jesse whispered, and Quinn broke. He quickly knelt on the bed and reached over to grip Jesse’s hand.

“Hey, buddy.”

“I’m sorry,” he said softly.

Tears burned, and Quinn blinked them away. He would not cry in front of his son. “For what? You did nothing wrong. Hannah and her crew are just here to see if there’s anything they can do. I’m going to be here for you, Jesse. No matter what.”

That he vowed.

“Jesse, honey, you’re doing good,” Hannah said, her voice melodic. “Walker and I are going to try to use that same Healing power he used on you before, but together this time.”

Jesse turned his head toward her slowly, as if it hurt to move.

Quinn’s wolf howled.

“It feels warm when he does that. Will it hurt this time?”

“No, honey, it won’t.”

From the way Hannah said that, Quinn knew there was something else going on. He knew from talking with Walker that there should have been pain each time Walker tried to Heal Jesse, but he brought that pain into himself. Hannah, it seemed, would be doing the same. From the looks on Reed’s and Josh’s faces, the two men would be syphoning what they could off as well so Hannah wouldn’t be hurt.

“I am grateful,” Quinn said, looking at the triad, then his Talons, then Gina. “Thank you for coming here and helping.” Thank you for taking the pain he could not.

“We wouldn’t be anywhere else,” Gina said softly, and Quinn forced himself not to move toward her and beg for forgiveness.

“Jesse, honey, I’m going to let your mind sleep for a bit so we can work,” Hannah said after a moment. “You won’t feel a thing, and before you know it, you’ll be awake.”

His son looked frightened for a moment then nodded. “Daddy? You’ll be here when I wake up?”

“Always.”

Hannah and Walker held out their arms over Jesse, and his little boy’s eyes lowered.