Scarred by Amber Lynn Natusch Read Free Book Online Page A

werewolves went into when they were injured, but I said it anyway. The intensity of the evening required a little humor to break it up, however inappropriate it may have been.
    Surprisingly, it took only a few minutes for him to return to consciousness. There was still something about my presence that sped his healing. I didn't know if it was something specific between him and me, or if it worked on all werewolves. All I did know was that it had to have been connected to my empathic abilities and I assumed that it was allowing me to force my will onto others. Theory or not, it worked, and I didn't care much about the why behind it. My will was to have Cooper safe and healthy ASAP.
    “Hey, you,” he whispered, voice hoarse. “Did Scarlet get him?”
    “No, Coop...he got away,” I replied, burying my head in his chest. “ You almost did too.”
    “That?” he asked sarcastically. “That was just a flesh wound.”
    “Right...and Hell is just warm.”
    “Something like that.”
    I pushed up onto my elbow to look down on him. His words were in jest, but his face was serious. He knew how badly he had been injured.
    “You scared me,” I said, brushing a stray hair off his face. “I think you scared Scarlet too. She wouldn't let anyone near you. Not even Sean.”
    “That's because she's a good judge of character,” he said, knowing Sean would hear him wherever he was in the house. “Are we going home or what?” he asked, pushing up gingerly from the bed. He was willing to show his vulnerability to me, but I knew that as soon as we were around the others, he'd hide whatever pain he was in. He was such a guy.
    “Maybe you should stay here, Coop...rest a bit more,” I suggested, fumbling my way off the bed to stand beside him.
    “The boys can handle things here. I took a piece out of him. He won't be coming back tonight in less than top form.”
    “I still have to go to Sean's,” I told him, walking him slowly towards the door. “I won't be around the house for a while. I really don't want to leave you alone.”
    “I'm a big boy, Rubes,” he argued. “I can handle myself.”
    “Your handling almost got you killed tonight,” I countered, turning to face him.
    “He got lucky,” he growled.
    “Lucky or not, he got you, Coop,” I yelled, my fear driving my frustration. “Do you have any idea what it's like watching someone you love nearly die right in front of you?”
    “Yes,” he said, glaring at me. “I have a really good idea. I've seen it. Twice .”
    He was right. He had.
    “Then I guess we're even now,” I said, storming out of the room. Emotions made me angry when I had too many of them at once. They also made me likely to react inappropriately.
    Cooper, never willing to back down from me, followed me out and grabbed my hand before gently tucking me under his arm.
    “I'm sorry I scared you,” he whispered, kissing the top of my head. “I thought I had him. I had to try. He can't...I couldn't take it if...”
    “I'm worried about Peyta too, Coop. We'll get him. But no more going it alone. Scarlet could―”
    “I don't need her help,” he rumbled, his voice low and menacing. He immediately winced from the pain. It was a feeling I knew all too well.
    “I know you don't need her, Cooper, but she has a hard-on for killing him and if she doesn't get a shot at him soon she's going to go mental. More mental than she already is. And that's not going to be good for anyone.”
    “Fine. I'll wait for her next time, but not at the risk of letting him get away. If it comes to that, I'd rather die trying than not try at all,” he said, pushing me away just enough to see my face. “Tell Scarlet to do the same. She should have left me to go after him.”
    “You'll have to take that up with her next time she shows up. I'm not playing the middle man today.”
    “Oh, I will, believe me,” he said, looking painfully serious. Those two seemed to have an all-or-nothing relationship. “At any rate, let's