“Son, he needs to get closer to help her. She needs help. You want her pain to stop, right, Mase? Let him help her.” I moan when he says pain like the word triggers the response in my body. I’m still face down on the floor. Masen’s rough hand clasps over mine.

“Alpha, can you tell her to shift? I think a lot of her injuries would heal, and you’d feel better about me being closer to her.”

“She’s pregnant,” Masen says hoarsely. A pain fueled whimper sounds from my throat. “It’s okay, baby. You’re going to be okay,” he coos at me. “Careful, if you cause her anymore pain, you die!” he grates through his clenched teeth.

“Mase, he’s here to help. Let go of him!” Caleb says, and I hear a rustling.

What starts as a whispered confession ends in a pain-filled roar when he says, “This is my fault. How could I let this happen?”

I cry when I hear the agony in his words. “You’re upsetting her, Mase. She needs you.” This time, it’s Sniffer who speaks.

I can feel a gentle prodding on to my head, and a voice comes closer asking me if I can open my eyes. My left eye is swollen shut, but I manage to narrowly open the right, getting my first look at an older male. He has gray hair and dark, kind eyes that look at me with sympathy. “I hurt,” I offer lamely as he touches my neck and back.

“I know, sweet girl. We’re gonna make it better soon.” He tries to smile. “Can you move your fingers and toes, Luna? That’s good, real good. What hurts the most?” I hear a low groan from Masen as I take stock of my aching body.

“My belly is cramping, and that scares me. I don’t want to lose our baby,” I sob, my body jerking from the force.

“Okay, okay, shh. Is that what hurts the most, your belly?”

“I don’t know. My knee is broken, and she hit my head and back the most. I’m just really scared.” I hear a loud thump, then I see Masen’s determined face right next to mine.

“No matter what happens, Little One, you’ll be okay,” he promises. I sag in relief just from seeing his lovely face. The hand with the plastic band reaches up and strokes his jaw. His eyes close like it’s too much but open quickly, staring back at me.

“How far along is she? When was her cycle? She may still be able to shift with minimal threat to the fetus.”

I shake my head. “I can’t. She said this would stop me from shifting.” The band around my wrist is pulled tight, the ends hang limply from arm.

“What the fuck!” Sniffer spews.

“Cass, go get some snips. There’s metal running through the plastic,” Masen says as he holds my hand with tender care. His lips feather over my pulse, his eyes never leave mine. “She never went through her heat cycle, but she can’t be more than a week along. I noticed the change in her scent Thursday night. The last time she shifted was Monday,” he says solemnly.