The Wolf King (The Wolf Kings #1) (MLM)

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR.

                Jack had had sleepless nights back at The Pearl District Journal—more so there than at his own apartment—when there was more photos to look through, writing to revise, editor's notes to implement. It was an exhausting but tireless several hours where Jack's eyes might've burned and his fingers might've twitched over his fourth cup of coffee, but the need to get things done overpowered anything else and he before he knew it, the sun was rising and yesterday had bled into today.

This was like that. They'd put Mira in her room, a bandage wrapped around her head and a scar on her stomach sewn up. Everett had turned frigid when he'd seen the obvious teeth marks, but his hands remained steady as he'd helped the physicians in the castle put her back together.

The physicians themselves were not that much older than Jack, but Isaac had brought them in and they'd made a beeline for the bed, knowing exactly where to cut, what to sew, what to administer—and done it all with such effectiveness and precision that it seemed like they'd gone in and out within ten minutes.

"Keeping a level head's very important in situations like this, Everett," one of the female physicians said as she closed her bag. "You're lucky King Jack was there."

Everett could only nod, clutching Mira's hand with one of her own. When the physicians left, Jack sat down and Everett used his other hand to cling to him, too.

"Thank you," he whispered, eyes on Mira.

"Don't thank me," Jack murmured. "She's my friend, too."

For the rest of that night, Jack stayed awake because Everett stayed awake. He checked Mira's temperature periodically, made sure she wasn't bleeding through her bandages, brought Everett some food when his stomach started to growl, and pushed him to eat when he was too distraught to do it himself.

"She's fine," Jack had to remind him.

"I know she is," Everett murmured.

When Isaac came back around morning, Jack noticed the dark circles around his eyes and encouraged him to sit. He stared at Mira, partly dazed.

"Isaac?"

But Isaac merely shook his head. His eyes were red, like he'd ben crying, but Jack didn't dare mention it, despite the plethora of questions now on the tip of his tongue.

Had they found Graham? Had they found the stone? Had Graham been killed on sight, or had he escaped? Either would explain Isaac's misery now. Jack silently put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed.

The door opened behind them around eight the next morning, and Tiberius stepped in. He was covered in mud, scratches, and the scent of pine stronger than ever. Jack was on his feet in an instant and running to him. Tiberius caught him in his arms and lifted him up, burying his face in the crook of Jack's neck as if he'd been imagining Jack was the one hurt all night. He groaned, like he was in pain, but buried the sound against Jack's neck.

When he set him down, Tiberius pulled back to rub his eyes.

"You just got back from searching?" Jack asked quietly so that the others couldn't hear.

"We've looked everywhere for him," Tiberius said, shaking his head. "He's gone. The only explanation is that he's—"

"Out of werewolf territory," Jack finished, frowning. "Shit."

Tiberius glanced at Everett and Isaac, and nudged his chin at the open door into the hallway. Jack followed him out and closed the door behind them.