Chapter Seven

**Myra**

Myra emerged from a dark, dreamless void. She was confused by the lack of... anything.

However, her senses began to awaken, and she took stock of her surroundings before attempting to open her glued-shut eyes.

The first thing she felt was a persistent dull ache radiating throughout her body.

The second thing she heard was the rhythmic sound of something beeping.

The third thing she smelt was sea salt, fresh linens and baby powder?

She struggled to open her eyes, but the harsh sunlight forced her to close them again.

Her pained moans must have alerted someone because she felt the gentle brush of a fingertip against her cheek.

“Hey fluffy butt.” Megan voiced, but it didn’t have the usual teasing undertones.

“I am never drinking with you again.” Myra mumbled incoherently, ”*What the hell happened to my voice? Why is talking so hard?*" She thought.

She heard a sniffle followed by the crushing weight of someone lying on her. “Jesus! Bitch did you gain weight overnight?”

“You scared us, dummy,” Megan murmured into Myra’s boobs earning a deep, animalistic yet annoyed growl. “Oh fuck off... we have been over this.”

“Been over what?” Myra whispered as she finally opened her eyes and gazed into the pair of pale grey eyes belonging to a tall, muscular, handsome stranger.

However, he didn’t feel like a stranger, more like home. Even her vixen, who was equally as weak as her, uncharacteristically purred at him.

“You will catch flies, babe.” Megan laughed, breaking the strange connection as she physically closed Myra’s opened, shocked mouth.

“Sloan Jamison... how are you feeling?” He introduced himself. The sound of his voice caused her body temperature to skyrocket. Suddenly, a rapid, almost panicked beeping filled the room. It drew Myra’s attention to the fact that she was attached to a heart rate monitor.

Megan sat up with a worried look on her face. “Whoa there, hot stuff... you need to calm down.”

“Didn’t I say don’t overexert the girl?” A woman who rushed into the room snapped at them.

“Talk to hot stuff over there,” Megan muttered, pointing to Sloan. The woman shook her head while adjusting the IV leading to Myra’s arm.

“What the hell?” Myra exclaimed as her brain finally registered that she was lying in a hospital bed. “What happened to me? Why am I in the hospital?” In her panic, she saw her casted hand. “What happened to my hand?”

“Angel, you need to calm down...” Sloan said as he gently grabbed her face; instantly, her pulse slowed down. “That’s it, breathe in and breathe out... better?”

“Why am I in the hospital?” She asked again. ”*God, you smell amazing.*" She thought lustfully.

Her vixen yipped in agreement. The rich scent of fresh linens, sea salt and his natural, earthy musk scent flooded her system.

“Technically, it’s not a hospital, but a clinic fully operated by Shifters... our natural abilities to heal quickly makes it difficult to explain to ordinary human physicians... That’s Doctor Jade, she’s the head physician here.” Sloan explained, and Myra quickly glanced at the woman who waved shyly at her.

“But why?”

“Because you are the sole survivor of a rogue attack.”

"*Rogue attack?*" Myra thought, staring into his eyes. Her mind briefly snapped back to the alleyway, causing her heart rate to spike again.

“That’s enough... she needs to rest, Alpha... you can question her later or tomorrow.” Doctor Jade ordered.

“I know what will do the trick.” Megan voiced as she jumped off the bed and exited the room.

“Please, don’t sedate her again... she’s tiny enough as it is... and all the different medications are messing with her scent.”

“Are you telling me how to do my job, Alpha?”

“Never, but she needs to heal naturally...”

“Shit! My job! I can’t go to work on Monday looking like this.”

“It’s okay... we, or should I say your father, called in for you. He said that you were in a minor accident and needed a couple of weeks off to recover.” Sloan explained.

He then nodded to a large bouquet arrangement sitting near the window. It had pink roses, oranges and white lilies, as well as some still green buds placed in a cleared vase.

“Those flowers were from the staff at your school.” He handed her a card. “And this is from your class...”

Myra opened up the card and smiled brightly at its contents. There were two band-aids with goggle eyes and a drawing of stick hands and feet. Both images were holding balloons that were of different colours and made up by her students’ fingerprints. It read ‘Get well soon! Room 7 friends’.

She handed the card back to Sloan just as the door opened, revealing her twin sister in a wheelchair.

“MYRIELLE, WHAT THE FUCK?!”

“Hey, language Aunty Myra.” Myrielle smiled, glancing down. Myra’s eyes shifted to the pink swaddled bundle in her sister’s arms.

“How long have I been here?”

“Four days,” Sloan answered.

“Meet your niece, Brielle Maura Baxter.” Myrielle introduced when Benji stopped the wheelchair next to the bed

“You named her after mom? I love it. I love her already, may I?” Myra asked. Doctor Jade adjusted the bed so that Myra could sit up. Benji gently took the baby from his wife and walked over to Myra to place the tiny bundle in her arms.

“Hi pretty girl...” Myra smiled at the infant, who wiggled a bit in Myra’s arms before settling and falling back to sleep.

***

**Sloan**

The past four days were a living nightmare on top of a complete shit show from hell.

By the time they got Myra to the clinic, she had crashed from the massive blood loss. The doctors had their hands full, trying to keep her alive. Aside from bite marks, slashes from claws, bruises and broken/fractured bones, there was a poison in her system that needed to flush out. It was the first new lead of rogues they have had in a while. Unfortunately, the rogues who attacked his angel escaped and went on to kill three humans in different areas of Seattle that night.

The shock of almost losing her twin sister sent Myrielle into early labour and, Megan was near hysterical by the time she got to the clinic. She was plagued with guilt and shame for a situation that was out of her control. The doctor almost considered sedating her, but Declan helped calm her down.

On top of everything, Sloan realized that his dancing angel was his Omega. Not the best way to meet your mate and in-laws.

“Son?” His father called out as Sloan exited her room. He crossed the hallway to the visitors’ lounge and found his parents sitting with Mr Gallagher. His mother stood up and engulfed him in a tight hug.

“My poor baby boy.” Sian, his mother, cooed.

“She’s alive... and I am eternally grateful. Just giving her some time with the newest addition to your family.”

“You mean our family... I can’t thank you enough for saving my little girl.” Mr Gallagher said, shaking Sloan’s hand once again before regaining his seat.

Sloan turned his attention to his father and questioned him. “Was this what you meant by ‘it’s beginning’?”

“Not the most ideal circumstances... but yes.” Theo nodded.

“Umm... well, now that I know she’s more than protected and surrounded by family... I will go and check on Tristan; I am sure there are several pack duties that need my attention.”

Theo quickly commented, “Your brother has everything under control, and anything serious, I took care of it for you.”

“But dad...”

“Sloan, you can’t afford to avoid this conversation.” Theo cut him off.

“As a wolf, son, your courtship with your mate is brief... you need to claim her by the next full moon or else another female can challenge her for the position as your Omega,” Sian explained.

Sloan dragged his hand over his face. “Are you fucking kidding me? Oww...” He cried out as Sian slapped him across his head while giving him a stern look.

“Language boy... and no, I am not kidding you.” She barked at him, making him feel like a young pup and not the 29-year-old Alpha that he is.

“Mom, the next full moon is in five days...” He grumbled, rubbing his head, “Just for clarification, challenge how?”

“One-on-One combat,” Theo answered.

“She hasn’t even healed properly from this attack... engaging in a one-on-one fight with another Shifter will certainly kill her.”

“That’s why you have to court and claim her. Quickly.”

“Dad, even if I were to court her... her body is still weak, and she’s tiny, claiming her will take a lot out of her.”

Mr Gallagher cleared his throat reminding the three of his presence.

“As painful as this conversation is for a father to partake in, don’t let the tiny exterior fool you. It was unfortunate she was outnumbered and intoxicated when she was attacked... because Myra’s no weakling; neither of my girls are.”

“Mr Gallagher... I wasn’t implying...”

“Son, we’re family now. It’s Laurence.” He smiled, “But always remember the phrase ‘as cunning as a fox’... because it also applies to the females of our species too.”