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“He’s all right,” he heard Ayden reassure the brothers. “Let him fight it out on the floor.”
Was he on the floor? Taylor looked down at the light brown carpet. Aching covered his bones. As the popping continued, he couldn’t fight it anymore. The level of discomfort was nowhere near the amount he’d just undergone, and it almost felt good in comparison.
“That’s it. Hard part is over with. You made it. Just lay there and breathe through the rest. Soon we’re going to have to put you in bed though. The fever will burn you up for a few hours and you’re going to want to be under the blankets.”
“Fever?” The raspy sound of his voice grated Taylor’s ears.
“Yeah. It’s going to get pretty high, but it’s just the infection taking over your senses and immune system.” Ayden stood. “You’re going to be all right. I know you must be confused by what’s going on, but we’re all here if you need anything. We’re your brothers now, for life. There isn’t a thing any of us wouldn’t do for each other.”
“You’re leaving?” Taylor pushed himself to his elbows and winced.
“I have to go back to the station for a bit, but I’ll be back. Aston. Londyn. Let’s get him in bed and then I need to talk to both of you.”
Taylor didn’t argue as they lifted him and placed him in the queen-size bed. The chills were already starting to take over, and the blankets were the only thing he cared about at the moment. As he watched them walk out, sleep was starting to take over, and he’d never felt more tired in his entire life.
Chapter 8
Aston followed his Alpha and brother outside into the dark. The look on Ayden’s face was unreadable as he stared at Londyn.
“It was an accident. I promise. I would have never intentionally infected him.” Londyn looked down, obviously embarrassed at his actions.
“I know you didn’t mean to do it, but this is the second time it’s happened.” Ayden looked over to Aston. “It was just two years ago when you infected your own brother. I told you I never wanted you to make the same mistake, and you promised me you wouldn’t. But you did.”
Londyn quietly stared at the ground. He had mega respect for their Alpha, and Aston could feel his heart aching for having broken his word. Unfortunately, Aston knew Ayden could feel Londyn’s remorse too.
“We’ll figure out a punishment for you later. Right now, I need Aston to go stay with Julie. I don’t trust someone not being in the same apartment with her. I got forensics back on the pictures and notes and they’re clean as a whistle. No fingerprints. Nothing.”
“But why Aston? I need to mend things—”
Ayden growled. “You have to stay with Taylor and make sure he’s okay. You did this, and you’re going to be responsible for him. Plus, Julie already has a deep connection with you. Right now ,we need her to bond with your brother. He can go for the next two days, and maybe if you’re lucky you can have the following two. Taylor should be better by then.”
Londyn nodded. Aston felt butterflies take over. From the moment he saw Julie walk into Ayden’s office, he knew she was the one. The fact that it was his brother’s future mate wasn’t apparent at the time, but when he learned from Ayden who she was, it bothered him. Deep down, he knew Londyn would be hurt. But that wasn’t necessarily the case at all. There was no hostility on Londyn’s part. His brother wasn’t ignorant of how the bonding worked.
Now that he knew it was meant to happen, it was a green light. He wanted her. Wanted her more than anything. And the reality that he was getting his chance blew his mind. Was he ready for this?
“Aston, I’ll call Officer Steel and let her know you’re on your way. She’ll still be out there for the night, but at the end of her shift it’ll just be you and Julie from now on. You okay with that?”
He nodded. “I’ll take good care of her.”
“You better,” Londyn snapped. Aston felt the anger subside within his brother. Emotions were a bond wolves shared. Since Londyn was the one who infected him, their connection was even stronger than the typical one. “Will you tell her I never meant to hurt her? Tell her—”
Aston held up his hand. “I got you. I’ll be sure to tell Julie everything. I know you love her.”
Londyn nodded and looked over at Ayden. When their Alpha motioned toward the apartment Londyn headed that way. Taylor was probably pretty bad off, and he would definitely need someone at his side.
The door shut and Aston turned to his Alpha. “How long do you think it’ll take before she’ll feel anything for me?”
Ayden shrugged. “I’m not sure. Might take a while since she’s already torn between the other two, but you never know. Now that she’s been exposed to all three of you, it might just take off. Go find out.”
A smile lit Ayden’s face and he turned and headed for his car. Aston raced inside and threw some clothes in his overnight bag. He slipped on a pair of jeans and placed his gun at the small of his back. The shirt he slid over his wide chest fit a little snug, but not tight enough to show he was wearing his 9 mm. He grabbed his keys and looked down at them. This was it.
* * * *
Voices echoed around Julie as she staggered down a dirty alley. She had no idea where she was or what she was doing. All she knew was that she was starving and her body ached all over. Blood dripped openly down her shin, and although Julie knew she should try to clean it up, she continued to push herself to the door at the end of the building.
Stringy, brown hair hung over her shoulder, so dirty that Julie knew it couldn’t have been hers. It was enough to throw her off, but she was momentarily distracted by two men coming toward her. They’d just come from where she was headed, and they looked to be angry.
Spanish words were shouted at her by the taller of the two. Julie had no idea what they were saying, but her body reacted as if it did. A slender, tanned arm lifted before her and a wad of cash was clenched in Julie’s fist. Confused, she watched in fear as the men came to stand before her.
