Page 61 of Broken By Her Mate
“Let go of me, you bastard!” she shouted.
Jonas’s menacing laugh. “Not a chance. You’re coming with me whether you like it or not.”
A snarl ripped from Tolliver’s throat, catching Jonas’s attention. He spun around, using Laila to shield himself. “Ah, there he is,” Jonas sneered. “I was wondering how long it would take you to show up, Sterling.”
Laila, not one to like being the damsel in distress, elbowed Jonas in the gut as hard as she could. He grunted out a curse and lifted his hand. A claw spurted from his index finger, but before he brought it down, her fangs extended, and she sunk them into his arm. She shook her head wildly, taking out a chunk of his flesh. Jonas let out a roar of agony and released her. She immediately dove out of the way, giving Tolliver the space he needed to attack. He’d never been prouder of her.
He was too weak to shift but launched himself at Jonas with speed and force, tackling the man to the ground. Theywrestled, but Jonas had the upper hand at full shifter strength. Tolliver felt something sharp slice into his side, and he hissed. He realized Jonas had jabbed him with a silver blade.
Jumping to his feet, Jonas laughed. “You’re weak, Sterling. That wolfsbane is still doing a number on you, isn’t it?”
Dazed and fighting through searing pain, Tolliver watched as Jonas’ face contorted and his body lengthened. Seconds later, a wolf with glowing eyes stood in his place, and it seemed it had Tolliver on the menu. The animal lunged, and for a second, Tolliver was convinced he was done for. However, Laila appeared, holding a metal pipe. She swung, sending Jonas hurtling backward. Blinking away the tiny dots obscuring his vision, Tolliver gazed at her with admiration. Her wolf had taken over because her eyes glowed amber, and she had delivered one hell of an impressive swing.
Jonas growled and got to his feet to charge again, but Laila thwarted the attack with another swing. Tolliver was weaker than ever from blood loss, and the poison was still coursing through him. He had to summon every ounce of strength he had left to reach for the blade Jonas had dropped.
Jonas dodged Laila’s next swing and used a paw to swat her out of the way. Her body went flying and then hit the ground with a thud. Her groan of pain was the fuel Tolliver needed. He’d kill Jonas for that if it were the last thing he did. Tolliver’s wolf growled, his fury blinding as he staggered to his feet. He held his position and waited for Jonas to come to him. The man was all rage and bravado, but Tolliver was always calculating. Keeping the blade hidden, he allowed Jonas to pounce on him. They hit the ground, and just as Jonas stuck his claws into Tolliver’s flesh, Tolliver buried the blade in his heart.
Jonas made a gargling sound as he peered down at Tolliver in shock. His eyes flickered, changing from gold to dark brown before life vanished completely from the orbs. Pure silver straight through the heart was lethal to a shifter. He bet Jonas carried the silver blade around as a tool to inflict pain on other shifters. It was poetic that the same weapon ended him. Tolliver took a satisfying breath as he pushed Jonas’ transforming body off him. Finally, Jonas was dead, and Laila was safe. He saw her running toward him before the world went pitch black.
Chapter 22 - Laila
The hours turned into days with Laila glued to Tolliver’s beside. Last night, despite the doctor’s orders, she’d slid into his bed and curled up beside him like a sad puppy, waiting for him to wake up. He wasn’t conscious, but she hoped he could feel her presence. She wanted him to know she was always right there with him.
Now, she sat in the chair beside the bed with his hand in hers, staring at him. It was frightening how pale he looked, and it drove home how close she had come to losing him. The doctor explained it was a close call between blood loss and the wolfsbane in his system, fighting his body’s natural tendency to heal itself. But Tolliver was a strong shifter, so he would pull through. She just wished he’d wake up. It had been four days, and worry was starting to nag her again.
Laila let out a weary sigh and laid her forehead on Tolliver’s hands. She was exhausted, and her eyes burned from lack of sleep. She had only caught quick naps while she watched over Tolliver. She heard the door to the hospital room open, but she was too tired to look up.
“Laila,” Elena’s soft greeting carried around the room. “Goodness, you’re here already.”
“I never left,” Laila replied.
Elena sighed. “You can’t do this to yourself. You need to rest. Think about the baby.”
Laila finally lifted her head to look at Elena, who was in scrubs. Despite opening her apothecary shop, she was a nurse at heart and still did volunteer shifts at the hospital.
“I am thinking about the baby. He or she will need their father. I just wish he’d wake up.”
Elena advanced into the room and pushed the drapes aside to let the sunlight in. “Tolliver is one of the toughest people I know. Dr. Dorset said he’ll be fine.”
“That was four days ago. Don’t you think he should be awake by now?”
Elena gave Tolliver a concerned look, but she shook her head. “I refuse to be pessimistic. He’ll be awake, scowling, and dishing out commands like usual any day now.”
Laila had to smile at that. She actually missed his severe scowls and arrogance. What she would give to hear him growl out “woman” in his bossy tone. She always pretended to be annoyed by it, but secretly, she thought it was hot. “I hope so,” so she whispered.
“How about you run home, take a shower, eat something, and get some sleep?” Elena suggested as her eyes ran over Laila’s disheveled appearance.
“I’m not leaving. What if Tolliver wakes up?”
“He’ll be right here waiting for you. Honestly, Laila, I love you, but you might scare my brother when he wakes up.”
Laila scoffed, but she wasn’t all that offended. Elena wasn’t wrong. She scared herself in the bathroom mirror this morning with her tangled bird-nest hair, pasty skin, and bloodshot eyes. “Whatever. I’m not leaving.”
Elena shook her head and muttered, “You look a mess, honey.” But she didn’t push any further.
“Never,” came a wispy, groggy voice. “She’s the most beautiful creature to walk this earth,”
Laila and Elena gasped, their eyes flickering to Tolliver. His eyes were open. They were glassy and heavy-lidded, but a lopsided smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.