The Gazelle Who Caught a Lion by Scarlet Hyacinth Read Free Book Online Page A

infirmary bed and took a step away.
    Angel reached for him and gave him a look. “Don’t go. Call Dad.”
    “I’m not going anywhere,” Clark said. Just by looking at his
    brother, he knew the real problem. It wasn’t even that Angel felt
    afraid. Rather, the threat of death had brought back things they both would have preferred to forget.
    Many years back, when the existence of shape-shifters had been
    discovered, Clark and his family had been attacked. Clark could still remember the sight of his brother’s young face splattered with their dad, Carson’s blood. Their father, Brody, had been almost insane with grief, even while he’d tried to calm them down, to tell them
    everything would be all right. Clark didn’t know what would have
    become of them had their dad died that day, and he didn’t even want
    to think about it. However, Angel had been very affected then and
    hadn’t spoken for many days. Sometimes, when certain things
    happened, the shock returned.
    Clark retrieved his cell phone and immediately dialed home.
    Moments later, his dad picked up. “Hi, Clark. Is something wrong?”
    His concern showed even through the small vid screen of the cell
    phone. It always baffled Clark how his parents could tell something was bothering him or Angel, even if they weren’t even blood. “A
    cheetah attacked Angel during PE class.”

    The Gazelle Who Caught a Lion
    43
    His dad released a choked “baa,” something that only happened
    when he was either very upset or very happy. “Oh, God,” he said as he clutched his chest. “Is he all right?”
    “He’s not hurt. He wants to talk to you.”
    “Pass him the phone, Clark. Oh, God.”
    Clark handed the phone to his brother, in spite of the doctor’s
    indications. Angel clung to the cell phone as if it were a lifeline. “Hi, Dad.”
    At the other side of the connection, their dad started rambling,
    “Oh, my baby. Are you okay? What happened? Are you receiving
    good medical treatment? We’re coming there right now.”
    Angel released a small laugh. “I’m fine.” He seemed to gain a bit
    more color in his cheeks at their dad’s voice. “Clark saved me. He
    fought the cheetah for me.”
    As if the words had just made Angel understand something, his
    eyes widened and he stared at Clark. “Clark, get your ass here. Doctor, would you please check him? He’s the one who got into a fight, not
    me.”
    Clark shook his head. What injuries the cheetah had managed to
    inflict on him already started to disappear, and he didn’t care about himself anyway. “Angel first.”
    The doctor rolled his eyes, took the cell phone from Angel, and
    handed it back to Clark. “Right. Angel first.”
    While the doctor checked on Angel, Clark returned to the
    conversation with his dad. “The doctor’s looking at Angel now, and
    I’m fine.”
    “We’re on our way,” his dad said. Indeed he already seemed on the
    move. “Just…wait for us, okay?”
    Clark smiled fondly. “We’re not going anywhere. Breathe, Dad.
    Breathe. We’re fine.”
    After that, his father also demanded to talk to him. Even if he
    didn’t manifest his emotions as openly, the werewolf looked
    concerned as well.

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    Scarlet Hyacinth
    “We’ll see each other soon,” Clark soothed his father. “And keep
    Dad calm until you get here. He’s hyperventilating.”
    “Will do,” his father answered. “Take care of yourselves, all
    right?”
    Both of them were reluctant to stop the conversation, but Clark
    finally ended the call when the doctor finished checking Angel.
    “Physically, there’s nothing wrong with him,” the medic said. “He just needs some bed rest and a break from socializing.”
    “We’ll discuss this with your parents,” Sara piped up.
    “Can I go to my room now?” Angel inquired in a small voice.
    The doctor studied Angel, and after a few moments, he nodded. “If
    you’re feeling up to it, yes.”
    Clark took his sweet Angel in his arms once again and, after