Page 70 of Out of Peril

He carefully checked my wound. “Hey, it's almost fully healed now. I know the kids will be thrilled to see that.”

I got up and gathered my clothes together and dressed. I felt gross and desperately wanted a shower, but first, I needed food.

Letting Walker lead me, I managed to walk up the stairs without him having to carry me. It was sad that it felt like such a huge accomplishment.

I wasn’t certain he was going to let me out of arm's reach, but when Maya and Dante saw me and came running to help, he gave me some space with them. I was happy he understood that I needed them too, but I was also a bit put off by him giving me so much space.

Shelby's mate, Ben, stopped by after he got home and it was empty.

No one had to introduce him to me because I knew immediately who he was by the way Shelby's face lit up and how the kids ran to hug him.

“I thought we agreed not to bother her right away when she woke up,” he scolded Shelby.

“I haven't bothered her. Have I Lindsey?”

“No. It's been fine,” I said, surprised to find I genuinely meant it.

My beast didn't particularly like her, or at least she didn't like how close she was with Walker. Sometimes they even finished each other's sentences, which was super weird.

Maya hadn't left my side in an hour and was currently snuggled up in my lap.

I had never really been much of a touchy-feely kind of person, not even with the twins. But lately that had been changing.

I glanced at Walker and felt myself sigh.

He was changing me. It was all happening too quickly for me to decide if it was a good or a bad thing.

When they left, Shelby walked over and hugged Walker and kissed his cheek. A loud growl bubbled out of me.

Ben grinned and then ran over and hugged me and kissed me on the cheek.

I froze and was about to knock him on his ass for touching me when Walker let out a menacing growl.

Ben pulled away with a satisfied smirk.

“You have no idea how long I've been waiting for him to find you. Payback's a bitch, Walker. Just wait. I'm going to get you back for every growl you elicited from me. For every time you tried to make me second guess my mate thinking you two were involved or something even though I knew it was bullshit. And for all the times you touched my mate. Revenge will be sweet.”

He wrapped an arm around me, and Walker snapped at him.

“Can't you just beat the shit out of me and get it over with already?”

“Oh no, dear sir. This is gonna be so much more satisfying.”

Before I could push him away, he kissed my temple and Walker lunged at him, claws shooting from his fingertips.

“Benjamin, knock it off. He's still mating and has been very close to losing it watching his mate fight for her life. At least wait until they seal their bond before you torture him.”

“I was kind enough to step down and allow you to have her when you were mating.”

My head whipped towards Walker, who looked like he had just somehow gotten the upper hand.

I didn't know what was going on, but I didn't like what he was insinuating.

“Like I said, wait until they seal their bond. Then by all means torture him all you want. Get your payback, whatever.”

“And you'd just be okay with that?” I blurted out.

“With what?” she asked.