Page 4 of Virtually Guarded

I shimmied into the sweatpants still seated on the ground. As soon as I finished putting them on, the Anax, who’d put on a T-shirt and sweatpants almost identical to mine, turned to face me again. “All set?”

“Yes.” Nervously, I licked my lips. My leg hurt like hell. I wanted to walk into the house, because having Xavier carry me…I didn’t know if I could take him touching me, even though every atom in my body craved his touch. Right now, though, I didn’t know if I could walk.

What the fuck was wrong with me?

I tried to push myself to my feet, but my right leg buckled, and it felt like a power drill going through my knee. I yelped and sank back to the ground. “I think my leg…I don’t know.”

“Is it all right if I carry you?” Xavier’s voice wasn’t as deep as I’d expected given his size. It soothed me. He glanced at the Anax, who nodded, then took a single step toward me. “You’ll be more comfortable inside.”

My mouth went so dry I couldn’t have spoken if I’d wanted to. Being held by those arms, against that chest…By that man. I wanted it. Wanted him.

I was losing my goddamn mind.

“I’ll be right beside you,” the Anax said.

I took a deep breath. If I agreed, my life was going to change. Forever. I didn’t know how or why, but I didn’t question the thought.

Change was good sometimes. I hoped to hell this was one of those times.

Slowly, I nodded. “Yes. All right.”

Xavier looked like he could break me with one hand, but he picked me up as tenderly as if I was some fragile treasure. Right now, I was kind of fragile. I was definitely no treasure.

A current ran between us the second he touched me. Something strong, winding around us, joining us, in a weird way. It was similar to what I’d felt when the Anax made his promise to me, but different, because this was something more. This was telling me that I was Xavier’s. Xavier and I were two total strangers, but we belonged to each other.

I was his, the same way he was mine, and it scared me even more to realize the bond went both ways.

The house wasn’t far. We went to the front, where the Anax opened the door and motioned toward a large room to the right. Xavier carried me in there, with the Anax close behind.

“He can rest on the sofa, Xavier,” the Anax said. “Ren, we’re going to leave you in here for just a couple of minutes. Xavier will get you something from the kitchen, and I’m going to call my doctor to come out just in case he needs to take a look at those wounds.”

“What if…” As Xavier lowered me to the sofa closest to the window, with my feet on the cushions, I peeked through the glass. Was that someone moving behind a tree? No. Thank fuck, no, it was just the wind moving leaves. But that didn’t mean no one was there. “Someone might come.”

He tensed, his expression suddenly grave. “Was someone following you? Chasing you?”

“I don’t know.” Groaning at a jolt of pain, I settled myself. My chest was tight, the panic returning because of his reaction. I should have told him about the pack members right away. “They were angry. I don’t know if they came after me.”

“Xavier, while you’re in the kitchen, call Seth,” the Anax ordered. “Ask him to send either Davion or come himself in case we need backup.”

“Yes, Anax.” Xavier didn’t move until the Anax gave him a sharp nod. Then he walked out of the room, not looking back.

He wanted to look back. I felt it. And I didn’t want him out of my sight, even though having him out of the room was a relief from the weird connection between us.

“Ren, just rest for a couple minutes, okay?” The Anax stayed where he was, studying me until I had to look away. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to step into my office to call my doctor. Actually, I can stay in here if you’d rather.”

I shook my head. Whatever he told the doctor about me, I didn’t want to know. Honestly, I wanted to be alone for a couple of minutes. Needed to be. Too much was going on, and I needed quiet so my brain could catch up with it all. With the Anax taking care of me.

With Xavier. Mine. Whatever that meant.

“I’m okay in here for a minute,” I said.

The Anax nodded. “All right. My office is just across the hall. Calling Wilbur, my doctor, won’t take long and then I’ll be back. You don’t have to see him if you don’t want to, but it’ll take him a little while to get here, so I want to get him on the way.”

I wasn’t a fan of the idea of seeing a doctor. I hadn’t exactly had great experiences with medical professionals. They’d mostly either misgendered me or told me I was crazy for thinking I was a guy. But my pain wasn’t going anywhere, and since the Anax seemed okay with the trans thing, maybe his doctor would be too. “Okay.” Pressing my lips together, I waved at my torso. “Is he…What’s he going to think?”

For a second, he looked confused. Then he seemed to get it. “May I tell him you’re a trans man?”

“Yeah, I guess that’s okay. I mean, doctors should know.” I grimaced. “Except for the transphobic asshole doctors.”