No. Sorry, he managed. Ill just
You can put me down.
Anxiously, he looked down into Macs beautiful face. Large blue eyes fringed with dark lashes stared up at him, blinking away tears. His gut tightened, knowing hed been the cause, in more ways than one.
It wasnt what it looked like, exactly.
Put me down. Please, she entreated softly.
Reluctantly, he did as she asked, but that didnt stop him from checking her from head to toe. Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?
No. She glanced around at the guys whod assembled there, cheeks pale as milk. Swallowing hard, she said, Im fine. Now tell me what the hell was going on in there.
Nick gave me a test. I passed. The end.
She scowled at Nick. What sort of test involves firing a gun at one of your men?
Nick addressed the group, keeping the explanation to the point. Kalen was willing to be executed rather than risk bringing harm to his team. That means theres still hope that he can be saved from Maliks control, so well see this through to the end. Anybody disagree?
No one did. One by one each man plus their lone female swore his loyalty to the team. And that loyalty included Kalen. As he looked to each of them, he couldnt breathe. Never had anyone stood up for him. Stood by him. Not even his own parents, the people who should have sheltered him and loved him the most. The idea that these people whod come into his life so recently would have his back, even in the wake of him letting them down, overwhelmed him.
He could hardly speak. I swear Ill do my best not to fail all of you again.
Or hed die trying. Suddenly the chaos inside him seemed to settle and his purpose became clearhed fight Malik with everything in him. And when the time came, hed make the right choice.
Whatever that proved to be.
Excuse me, Mackenzie said tightly. But I think Im going to be sick.
Spinning around, she dashed to a womans restroom down the hall from Nicks office and disappeared inside. He wouldve gone after her, but Nick blocked his way.
You should probably let her be right now.
It wasnt a suggestion. Quelling his pissed-off panther again, he nodded curtly and strode in the opposite direction, putting as much distance between himself and everyone else as fast as possible.
Just as hed done all his life.
In here. Bent over the sink, Mac finished rinsing her mouth, then turned off the water. Glancing at Melina, she grabbed some paper towels from the dispenser, dried her face, and tossed them in the trash. See? Im fine.
I dont think so. Melinas sharp scrutiny roamed over Macs face, and she apparently didnt like what she saw. To the infirmary with you. Im going to give you a checkup.
I dont need
I didnt ask . Im telling you. Doctors make the worst patients, she grumbled. Lets go.
There was no arguing with her friend when she had a bug up her ass, so Mac relented. Though Melina was slight of frame and sort of resembled an elf with her short cap of dark hair, she was fully capable of making the toughest Pack member cringe in fear. She was a tough, militant bitch.
And that was when she was in a good mood.
Her friend hadnt always been that way, but that was before her mate, Terry, the Alpha Packs former commander, had been killed in an ambush several months ago. Accepting Nick as the new leader in her mates place had been hard on the woman, and she and Nick didnt always see eye to eye. But theyd found some peace between them, based on mutual respect.
Melina led Mac into an exam room and gestured to the table covered with the hated crinkly white paper. Sit.
Dutifully, Mac did, and proceeded to subject herself to a complete physical. Melina checked her eyes, ears, nose, and throat. Checked her reflexes. All seemed clear, but the woman still wasnt satisfied.
I dont like it one bit
that you fainted, she said with a frown.
For Gods sake, I thought Nick had killed Kalen! Give me a break.
How long have you been queasy? Dont think I havent noticed.
She had? Mac blinked at her friend, hedging. I dont know. A few days, maybe.
How often have you been throwing up?
Mac stared at her, silent. Shit, shit.
O-kay, Melina drawled, brows raised. Heres whats going to happen. Noah is coming in to take blood for a complete standard workup. Then youre going into the restroom to pee in a cup. Then youll come back in here, sit down, and wait for me. Got it?
She sighed. Yes.
Good girl.
Melina patted her knee and left. Soon after, Noah came in, swabbed the crook of her elbow, and took three vials of blood. When he was finished, he pressed a cotton ball over the injection site and topped it with a Band-Aid.
Giving her a smile, he pointed in the direction of the restroom. Go do your thing.
She absolutely hated peeing in a cup. It was a dicey proposition at best, aiming just right. But she managed and in short order was sitting back in the exam room.
Where the clock on the wall ticked by with unbearable sluggishness.
Ten long minutes passed. Mac was starting to fidget when Melina walked in carrying a sheaf of paper. Her friend closed the door and slowly turned to her. The serious expression on Melinas face sent a bolt of terror all the way to her toes.