Page 112 of The Pregnant Wolf Omega Next Door

Emre passed the time by listening to Zenith’s heartbeat. It was still going strong, which went a long way in lifting the rock in his stomach.

Uriel arrived next. Emre sat up straighter, but it was Huxton who lit up at the sight of the mage.

“Uriel,” Huxton said solemnly.

“Yeah?” Uriel cut his gaze toward the butler.

In the same grave tone, Huxton asked, “Can pickup lines be used as healing spells?”

Uriel stared. He opened and closed his mouth, blinking hard. “Are you... serious? Yes, of course you are. Why did I expect any different?”

“Well?” Huxton said.

“Let me get back to you on that.” Uriel looked around. “Do you need my help with something more urgent?”

Emre bit his lip. He wanted to get down from the roof, get closer to Zenith to see how he was doing.

Doc arrived right then, squeezing around Uriel and Huxton to reach Zenith.

Emre realized that there was no space in the cramped alley to fit all of them, especially with all those broad alpha shoulders jostling each other. He swallowed his disappointment and shuffled along the rooftop, moving closer so he could watch Doc tending to Zenith’s stab wound.

“Doc,” Emre whispered. “Is Zenith going to be okay?”

Doc looked up at him. “Yes. I need to work quickly, but he’ll be fine.”

Relief flowed through Emre like the rising tide. He sagged against the low wall and cuddled his pups, watching as Doc spoke quietly to Uriel. Huxton had acquired a pair of pants from somewhere; he flitted around as Doc and Uriel set up a clean zone—in a back alley!—so Doc could work on Zenith.

Emre had seen bloody injuries on himself, thanks to Ronald, but seeing one on Zenith... It was different. Scarier, even though he knew Zenith was in good hands.

It was only when Doc had tied off the last stitch and taped a bandage over Zenith’s wound, that Emre breathed a sigh of relief.

“Thanks, Doc,” Zenith and Emre said at the same time.

They looked at each other across the space between them. For the first time in what felt like hours, Emre could smile again.

Zenith grinned back. “I’m okay,” he said quietly.

“You almost weren’t,” Emre muttered.

Zenith’s gaze was warm and dark, sending a flutter through Emre’s gut.

“We need to get you home so I can take care of you,” Emre said.

Zenith opened his mouth, on the verge of answering, when Bruiser stormed back into the alley.

At his sudden entrance, Doc and Uriel looked up. Uriel met Bruiser’s eyes; tension crackled in the air between them.

“What the hell is he doing here?” Bruiser said.

Uriel scowled. “What areyoudoing here? I’m helping.”

“Well, so am I,” Bruiser retorted. “I’ve just made sure that this entire block was safe. Whereasyouare just standing around, doing nothing.”

The incandescent rage on Uriel’s face was a sight to behold.

“Does everyone just believe the bullshit you spout?” Uriel growled.

Bruiser narrowed his eyes. “I call it like I see it.”