Treasured by a Tiger (Mate Me Book 6)

42

Caroline ran for her life. She heard Peters chase after her on foot. Why didn't he shift? She kept a hold of the gun but didn't dare try to cock it while she ran. Jonas had never trained her for combat, only enough to shoot and run.

"Get back here!" Peters yelled, and Caroline shrieked.

"Get back! I will shoot you again." Her voice shook, and she prayed someone would come to her rescue.

"Don't be stupid. We will kill you. Drop the gun." Peters shifted into his wolf form and growled. She screamed, and he jumped on her, digging his claws into her stomach. Then another growl met her ears before he pushed the wolf off her. She lay on the ground and lifted her head to see Preston's tiger. Thank god. She watched the fight from her place on the ground. She had no energy to move. Placing her hands on her stomach, she felt the warmth of blood and knew she was bleeding out. She pressed down on the wounds as best she could as she waited.

"Preston!" Sheriff Ling shouted, and she let out a breath of relief. There were others.

"You cannot kill him," said a man she did not recognize. He stepped around her, a gun trained on Peters. The man shifted back and was cuffed. She saw black spots filling her vision and knew that she was losing blood too fast. Her last thought was of Liam and how he had Preston to care for him now before passing out.

She came too for a minute in the ambulance to hear people saying she'd lost a lot of blood and would need a transfusion.

"Do everything you need to save her," Preston's voice met her ears. She tried to look for him but the pain took her back under and black engulfed her again.

The next time she came to, she heard the beeps of machines all around her and she saw white.

"You need to go back to sleep. We are going to save you." A man with scrubs on told her, placing a mask over her nose. Her world went black for the third time. When she awoke next, her body hurt.

"Ugh," she groaned, opening her eyes to the bright lights.

"Oh, thank god!" Preston's voice met her ears. She looked around for her mate. He took her hand, coming into her eyesight. Why couldn't she turn her head? "Don't move baby. I'll get the doctor." Preston kissed her forehead and walked into the hallway. She heard his muffled call before he came back to her. He brushed her hair out of her eyes and blinked at her with tears in his eyes. What happened?

"Hello, Ms. Jefferson. I am Dr. Murphy. We are going to remove this tube. Just relax." The doctor and two nurses stood around her as they pulled a tube from her throat. She coughed as soon as she felt the tube leave her lips. Preston held a cup of water to her lips. She gulped. Everything hurt.

"What happened?" she asked in a raspy voice.

"Do you remember what happened with Peters?" Preston asked, and she nodded. That is the last she remembered clearly.

"He attacked you. His claws ripped you apart. They had to reconstruct your stomach. Thankfully, he missed vital organs. You've been asleep for a week recovering. They also broke your nose."

"I remember that. They hit me in front of Liam. Liam! Where is my baby?" She looked around for her son.

"He is with your parents. They came up the day after you got hurt."

"Is he okay?" Preston's eyes went sad and his mouth turned down.

"He went silent. I haven't heard a thing from him since the day of your kidnapping."

"I need to go home." She tried to get out of bed, but the doctor and Preston both put a hand on her shoulders.

"Not until we check you. You've only just awoken. We need to do some tests. If everything comes back clear, then you can go home tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" She glared at the doctor, but he didn't react.

"Tomorrow. We need to make sure you are okay now that you are awake. Your body had to do a lot of healing." The doctor gave her a soft smile, making her want to hate him, but he was being kind.

"Thank you. Can I have visitors?"

"Yes." The doctor left, and the nurses fretted about her.

"We need to take a few blood samples. We will be back in ten minutes to begin your tests." A nurse with frizzy red hair said, patting her on the arm. As soon as they left the room, she turned on her mate.

"Tell me everything, now." He sighed and nudged her to scoot over. She did and let him wrap her up in his arms.

"You lost a lot of blood from Peters's attacks. All three are in custody, although Reynolds has a bullet wound in his leg and Meade almost escaped. They are in FBI custody and a trial is being built against them. I found those pictures you left on our bed. The pictures will be a large amount of evidence. Kidnapping you as well is being added to their charges. Peters has a bullet wound to his hand that has probably healed by now since he is a wolf shifter. Did you really shoot him?" Preston's warmth washed over her, bringing her comfort.

"Yes. He had it in the back of his pants while going through the boxes in the storage unit. I took it when I saw a chance and ran."

"That was brave and stupid," Preston replied, hugging her tightly. She winced. "Oh, sorry." He lessened up, and she sighed.

"Yes, but I only wanted to get back to you and Liam. I need my baby, Preston. Bring him to me. Tell me everything that happened to me." He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Well, you know you lost a lot of blood. Your stomach is a patchwork of stitches. You will have scars from it, but you are alive and that is the important part."

"You're the only person who sees my stomach." The scars didn't bother her. She did what had to be kept her family safe. "Did you get hurt?"

"Nothing I didn't heal from by the next day. I am more worried about Liam. He has come by every day to see you and wish you awake."

"I am so sorry."

"None of this is your fault. Those men are to be blamed for it all. I am just happy you are alive. You gave me a scare when you passed out and then when you wouldn't wake up. The doctor said it was your body's way of healing."

"I suppose. I am sorry still. This must have been worrying for everyone."

"No more apologies. You are alive and will heal. I love you, Caroline." Preston bent down and kissed her. She put all her feelings into the kiss.

"Sorry to interrupt, but we need to get your tests going so you can go home to your baby." The same nurse came back in with a tray of needles. Caroline sighed and held out an arm for them to take blood. Preston moved off the bed, making her miss his warmth. As soon as the nurse was done, he climbed back into bed with her.