“There are some scans that I would like to do at your pack''s hospital as soon as possible, and I took some blood samples for Healer Smith to run now, just in case." Gene says matter-of-fact and another rumbling growl vibrates the room. It''s not my mate though. My friend, already running on frayed nerves from what we learned downstairs, is ready to explode. We are all lucky he has the control he does to stay frozen in ce.


    “Gamma!” ra clips out. Amand to draw his attention. "Give me an update.”


    "Ask your Beta...ma''am." He throws out not breaking eye contact with his mate.


    "I asked you, warrior. Now report. I want to know about the prisoners. You clearly went with a more visceral interrogation."


    Jason''s muscle ripple, "He will not beying a finger on anyone else, ever again."


    She turns away from the witches to face him. She''s confident he won''t rush in. "He is still alive though?" She raises an eyebrow at us both.


    "Yes, Alpha ra, he''s still alive for now. He only confirmed that he was working with a witch to destabilize you and take yournds. We all know there''s more, but maybe you''ll have better luck."


    "Any answers here?" I ask, steering the conversation. Juliette lets out a strangled little cry and curls into herself further. She''s small, but I think that is more from malnourishment than stature. She findsfort in being too tiny to notice, meaning she''s been kept in some tight ces.


    I look at the witches. I haven''t been told sh*t other than confirming what we thought happened to her in Drake''s presence. All three shake their heads ''no.''


    Without warning, ra blurts, "Juliette, how old are you?" When the little witch doesn''t respond, ra nods and turns back to us Welt let''s get the two of you cleaned up, Drake''s scent is making me O nauseous. I will not leave until you return, Jason." Themand is clear...and final.


    I give Jason a pat on the shoulder and steer him back out the door. "Come on man, you''re right next door It''ll take ten minutes." can''t even guarantee that long, but its something to work with. Juliette is clearly scared of men. Jason won''t help his situation standing here like an extra in a sher movie.


    I do let him slow down though when I hear ra ask her age again. A higher, melodic voice whispers ''Eighteen."


    Jason''s shoulder muscles flex and rx under my hand. Hearing Juliette speak, the sound of her voice giving him a small wash of calm. At least she is talking to


    someone.


    I choose to shower first, then wait for him in his room. The second he is clean and less murdery looking, he will be right back in her space.


    I have no idea what is running through his head. He''s shut me out for now, still processing I hope. The tension, indecision, feeling unsure and lost are hanging in the air like a thick fog.


    He knows what Drake did. It was confirmed when we overheard Juliette giving a simr story. I know he wanted to go to her; he wanted to scoop her up and protect her from everything. But, he also knows that because of Drake she''s afraid of our kind or at least males of our kind.


    She seems to be at the very least warming up to ra, Brianna, and Marietta. I hope that helps his situation as well. it was all I could do to get him out to go shower.


    UT


    We''re not going to be able to keep him away from her now. Gene took bloodwork and wants to do scans that can only mean one of two things that Drake was too aggressiv on her and


    on her and possibly did. some internal damage that she didn''t want to mention out in the open like that. If there is damage and she can''t have children, Jason will be devastated. But if he left her pregnant, Drake will notst through the night.