Alanna's Calling, page 3
“It’s going to be all right, daughter. It’s all going to be okay.”
Daughter? The voice was soft and soothing, but Alanna couldn’t place who it belonged to. The pain was too much. She couldn’t concentrate.
“Tell me again what happens when she gets like this, Fallon.”
Fallon was there. That was good. Her friend would know what to do. Or what not to do, as the case may be. There wasn’t much that could be done right now. It would be a waiting game on their end. Alanna would just have to suffer through the hell she was in and pray she was still alive in the end.
“There isn’t much we can do,” Fallon whispered, and Alanna hated the anguish she heard in the other woman’s voice. This wasn’t the first time she’d gone through an episode after a healing with Alanna. She knew what to expect, but it was obvious it still upset her. “Alanna told me when she’s like this, her body becomes heavy. Leaden. She can’t move. Can’t eat. I try to push fluids in her, but it’s really difficult because it’s hard for her to swallow.” There was silence, and then, “I’ve never seen her this bad before. She is so still and pale. I can see the pain etched into her face.” Her breath hitched and she sobbed, “She’s hurting so much, isn’t she?”
Alanna flinched when a loud roar filled the room, followed by a crash, and then a snarled, “Son of a bitch!”
“You need to get control of your cat, son, or leave.”
“I will not leave my mate.” The words were said in a deep growl, the voice low and full of rage.
“You’re going to scare her.”
Alanna pushed through the pain as she listened, realization hitting her as they spoke. She knew that voice. That deep, sexy tenor. She’d never had it aimed at her, but heard him talking with others in the past.
Her tiger was here. In the same room as her. And he knew about them.
It didn’t make sense. She would never allow herself to be anywhere near him, let alone in the same room.
She was so confused. She remembered healing little Nevaeh, and then saying she was going home. How did she end up here… wherever here was.
“Fuck. I don’t want to scare her, but I’m having a hard time controlling my cat.”
He sounded so upset. Worried. Maybe even a little scared himself. She didn’t like him feeling like that. He was always so calm and controlled. Sometimes teasing and laughing. But never like this.
“Shift. Go for a run and get your head on straight. I will watch over your mate until you get back.”
No! She didn’t want him to leave! Alanna fought to move. To open her eyes. To speak. Anything to get his attention. She needed him there. She was terrified. Not of him, but of the fact that she was struggling to breathe. That it felt as if someone were sitting on her chest and it was going to crush her.
“Mama…”
“Go. I promise to take care of her.”
No! Dammit, no, he couldn’t go. She needed him.
“Something’s wrong,” Fallon said urgently, and Alanna felt the gentle touch of her friend’s fingertips against her forehead. The skin-to-skin contact hurt, but she was grateful for it anyway. It helped her feel connected to someone else in the room.
A small whimper slipped out as Alanna managed to pry her eyes open. Stark agony slammed through her head and she moaned, tears sliding out and down her cheeks.
“Oh, God! Alanna! You’re awake!”
As hard as she tried, Alanna couldn’t move. Her vision was blurry, and her head ached fiercely. Her eyelids fluttered closed, but she pried them back open, causing another whimper to break free as she was once again swamped with pain.
“Hush, daughter, you are safe. Everything’s going to be all right.”
There was that word again. Daughter. Her parents had passed away almost two years ago. And even when her mother was alive, she’d never spoken to Alanna in that soft, loving tone. They didn’t have the type of relationship she’d seen between other mothers and their children. Her mother was distant, hiding behind a façade that masked sorrow and anger, stuck in an unhappy marriage with a controlling man who was not her true mate. And her father, he was just an ass. However, while he never physically hurt her the way her brother did, he never stopped Doug from doing it either.
Alanna moaned, her breath coming out in small pants. It hurt like crazy, but at least she was breathing. For a while there, she’d really thought she might not have a choice on if she stayed on earth, or if her spirit would rise to the heavens.
“Alanna, what do you need?”
More tears trickled out, and she could feel them as they moved across her skin. How could she tell them what she needed? How could she make them understand?
“I can’t fucking stand this!” her mate snarled. “I’ve got to get out of here before I tear down the whole damn house.”
No! No! No!
Screams erupted from her throat, muffled by the fact that her mouth felt like it was wired shut, and her eyes blinked wildly as she struggled to get words out. She needed him there. With her.
“Wait!” Fallon cried, and Alanna felt her friend’s fingertips skate across her forehead once again. “I could be wrong, but I think she wants you to stay, Trigger.” When her screams began to lessen at Fallon’s words, Fallon whispered, “Is that what it is, Alanna? You don’t want Trigger to leave?”
Alanna blinked rapidly, only stopping when the pain became too much, but she didn’t close her eyes. The darkness was coming for her again. She knew she didn’t have much time. But she refused to succumb to it until she knew her mate was staying.
There was movement above her, and then that handsome face that she’d come to care so much for was there. It was blurry, but she could still make out his features. Ones she’d memorized a long time ago.
“Alanna?”
He was so close, if she wasn’t stuck in the damn position she was in she would’ve been able to reach out and touch him. She wanted to trace her fingers over that scowl on his forehead, smooth away the lines between his captivating eyes. She never thought she would be this close to him. Closing her eyes, she inhaled, a sense of calm filling her when his scent surrounded her.
The pain was still there, just as horrible as it was before, but for some reason having her mate near made it easier to handle. She opened her eyes again to look at him, the small whimpers slowly fading away.
When she suddenly lost sight of him, a cry rose up in her throat and he was instantly back. “I’m right here, sweet mate. I’m not going anywhere.” His eyes never leaving hers, he said, “Mama, can you get me a chair so I can sit by Alanna?”
He was staying. Thanks to Fallon, her mate was going to stay by her side where she really needed him. She already owed the woman for contacting the council and getting them to send Chase and his team to rescue her from the situation with her brother. Also, for leaving North Carolina with her, and agreeing to settle with the White River Wolves in Colorado. Now, it seemed she owed her friend for more.
Alanna listened as a chair was placed next to the bed she lay in, and then Trigger lowered himself down into it. He was right next to her, but she felt her fear rising again. She hated it. While his scent was still all around her, comforting her, she couldn’t see him. She needed to be able to see him. She had no idea what was wrong with her. For months she’d avoided him whenever possible, looking out for him, not wanting to break his heart in the future. Now, none of that seemed to matter. She couldn’t stand having him out of her sight.
When Alanna began to whimper softly again, Trigger reached over and enveloped her hand in one of his large ones. He was so gentle, but her skin felt like it was on fire and it still hurt. Hell, everything hurt, but it didn’t matter. She would choose his touch any day and suffer through the pain.
“She can’t see you, son.”
“What?”
“I think she’s upset because she can’t see you.”
“She can’t move,” Fallon said quietly. “She won’t be able to turn her head in your direction.”
“Shit.” Trigger stood so he was in her line of sight again. “I’m sorry, sweet mate. I wasn’t thinking.”
Alanna’s eyes clung to his as she slowly began to calm again. Just being able to see him made that feeling of safety return. It somehow slowed her racing pulse and helped ease the fear inside.
She felt her brow pull into a slight frown as she noticed the fatigue on her mate’s face. He’d been gone for a few days, probably saving someone’s life like he had hers. He looked exhausted, and she didn’t like it.
“I have an idea,” Fallon murmured, as she moved so Alanna could see her. “What if Trigger sits in the chair, and we tilt your head so you can see him, Alanna. Would that be okay?”
Alanna blinked her eyes rapidly for a moment, and then stopped. Yes, that could work. It would hurt like hell, but she would deal with it. He needed to rest.
“What if it causes her more pain?” Trigger asked, watching her in concern.
Alanna blinked again.
“I think that is a risk she is willing to take.”
Trigger growled and a shiver ran through her when the side of his top lip curled up to show a pearly white fang. Mates were known to be possessive and protective, but she didn’t think she’d ever see her mate act that way with her. She found that it made her feel cared for. Special. Something she’d never felt before. “She needs to stop taking fucking risks. I don’t like seeing her in pain.”
“None of us do,” Fallon said, letting out a soft sigh. “Now sit.” When Trigger growled again, Fallon snapped, “Look, the sooner you sit your ass in that chair, the sooner my friend can pass the hell out so she doesn’t feel the pain for a few hours.”
“What do you mean?” Trigger’s mom asked softly.
“Trust me, I know Alanna. She is fighting it, but she needs to rest. She won’t do that until she knows Trigger is okay first.”
“Because she always puts everyone else first,” Trigger snarled, showing those large fangs again.
“Exactly. And it’s obvious how tired you are. If I can see it, she can. Now, please sit.”
Alanna fought back another whimper when her mate left her sight again, and then clenched her teeth tightly together when Fallon placed her hands on the sides of Alanna’s head and turned her slowly.
“Fuck, I can smell how much pain she’s in. I hate it.”
“I’m so glad I don’t have your sense of smell,” Fallon told them quietly as she ran a hand softly down Alanna’s long hair. “I would have to scent whatever you are every time Alanna did something like this. I don’t know if I could handle that.”
Alanna watched her mate’s eyes darken and he snarled, “That shit is going to stop. She is not going to keep putting herself in danger the way she has been. I won’t allow it.”
Fallon laughed. “Good luck with that.”
“I don’t need luck.”
“Look, Trigger,” Fallon interrupted, “you need to realize something fast. Alanna is kind and compassionate. She would do almost anything for anyone if she had the power to, but she has a backbone of steel. You aren’t going to be able to stop her from healing others any better than I can. She says it is her calling, and it’s something she fully believes in. The only thing you can do is support her.”
Trigger’s jaw hardened, his eyes flashing as his cat made a quick appearance. He looked like he was going argue, but instead he shook his head and leaned forward to place a gentle kiss on Alanna’s forehead. “Get some sleep, my mate.”
When he leaned back in the chair, still holding her hand in his, Alanna allowed her eyes to slowly drift shut and let the darkness take over. She was exhausted and needed to escape the pain for a while. She would worry about everything else later.
4
“I don’t care who you are, you are not coming into my house.”
His mother’s voice woke him and instantly put Trigger on alert. She sounded angry, and Sharina Michelson angry was not a good thing. She was just under six feet tall with flashing amber eyes, fiery golden-red curls that went to her waist, and a temper to match. She wasn’t one to sit back and stay quiet. If she felt a certain way about something, everyone in the entire room would know. And she didn’t back down from what she believed in. Ever.
“I just want to check on Alanna and make sure she’s okay. Angel and I accepted her into the pack. She’s our responsibility.”
“Not anymore, Alpha. My son brought his mate home to me to take care of and protect. That is exactly what I’m going to do. She is ours now, and we do not need your help.”
“She doesn’t need protection from us, Sharina.”
“Obviously, she does.” Trigger’s mom’s voice rose as she spat out, “If she didn’t, she wouldn’t be lying in bed right now unable to move. She wouldn’t be screaming from pain. Crying because it hurts to breathe.”
“I’m not the one who asked her to save the child’s life, tigress.”
“No, but you didn’t stop it either, did you?” Sharina growled, her voice shaking with fury. “Now, get the hell off my front porch and don’t come back without an invitation.”
“Sharina…”
“That sweet bear is my son’s mate. That makes her my daughter, Chase Montgomery. My family. And I will always protect my family no matter the cost. Now, go!”
Trigger rose slowly from the chair when he heard Chase’s low growl of warning. He needed to be ready to step in if his mother needed him, although that was highly unlikely. The sixty-five-year-old Siberian tigress could hold her own.
“I’ll go now, Sharina, but it would be good for both you and your son to remember who is alpha of this pack. Think next time before you challenge me. I may not be so forgiving. Also, remember who took you both in when you had nowhere to go. Who gave you a huge family, one who loves and cares for you, just as I do.”
“Trust me, I haven’t forgotten what happened to my streak, Alpha. I was there. I watched as my husband, parents, and grandparents were murdered. Nor have I forgotten the home you gave us afterwards. But that doesn’t change the fact that all of you put my son’s mate in danger last night. She almost died. There’s a chance she still could. Know now, if that happens, Trigger and I will leave this place because I know he will never be able to forgive you, and neither will I.”
“Sharina…”
There was the sound of the door slamming shut, and then silence.
Trigger raised his arms above his head, stretching his back. Glancing at his watch, he saw that it was almost noon. He’d been sleeping in that uncomfortable as hell straight-back chair, with his head resting on his arms on the bed for a good seven hours, and he was feeling it. Bending over, he leaned down until he almost touched the floor. Then he stretched one arm behind his back, and then the other.
“You’re awake.”
Trigger glanced over to where his mother stood in the doorway, but it wasn’t him she was speaking to. Her eyes were on the woman in the bed beside him. He looked down, stifling a growl when he saw that she didn’t appear to be feeling any better than the night before. Fallon had warned them that it could take weeks for Alanna to get better, but he was hoping to see some improvement this morning.
Her eyes were clouded over with pain, and when she whimpered softly he quickly moved over to sit in the chair again. “Hey there, beautiful. I just woke up, too. Had to stretch some of the kinks out. I’m back now.”
As he was talking, there was a knock on the front door. He inhaled deeply, but couldn’t smell much beyond his mate and the intense agony that was rolling off her. She was miserable, and it drove him fucking crazy that he couldn’t help her.
“That should be Doc Josie,” Sharina said, smiling over at them. “I’ll be right back.”
A low growl began to rumble in Trigger’s chest and he rose, moving to stand in front of his mate. The doctor was at the hospital last night. Granted, she’d been trying to help Alanna when he arrived, but she’d been there when Alanna saved the baby’s life. There was no doubt in his mind that Josie knew what it would do to his mate. How it would hurt her. Maybe not to the extent that it had, but she knew. He didn’t want the doc anywhere near his woman.
His mother entered the room first, cautiously, because she had to have known he was about to lose his shit. Doc Josie followed very slowly behind her, stopping in the doorway, a black doctor’s bag in one hand. Her eyes were full of concern, but also trepidation. Good, he wanted her to be nervous around him.
“Trigger, she’s only here because I called her.”
“Why?” he demanded, glaring over at his mother. “Why the fuck would you do that after what happened?”
“Because Alanna needs her help,” Sharina said in a soft, coaxing tone. “Just for a few minutes. Then she will leave.”
“No.” His tone was cold and hard. He didn’t want the doctor anywhere near his mate.
“Trigger…”
“No.”
“Trigger, please,” Doc Josie interjected, holding out a hand as if in peace. “I know I screwed up last night. I couldn’t save Nevaeh. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t save her.” She winced, her eyes clouding over as she whispered, “I know I should have said something, done something to stop Alanna, but I wasn’t thinking clearly at the time. All I could think about was saving Phoenix and Serenity’s baby.”
“You knew what it would do to her,” he said harshly. “What it would cost her.”
She nodded slowly. “To a certain degree, yes.” Her eyes went to where Alanna lay motionless behind him, and they misted with tears. A shudder ran through her body as her hand dropped to her side. “But I didn’t know it would be like this. I can scent her pain. She’s hurting so much. It’s excruciating.”
“Because she used her gift to save a child who was at death’s door!” Trigger snarled, unable to hold back the anger he felt at the memory of the night before when he first saw her. So still and pale, in agony and unable to move. Not much had changed since then. “Which put her in danger of dying herself. Even if you didn’t fully know, you had to at least suspect that she could have died.”
