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they were connected. Raz pulled him to a sitting position and smacked
Derek s face. Channing let out a growl and broke free of Ramon s hold.
Before he could leap on Raz, Ramon got to him first and jerked him to the
side.
Let s just get out of here. If we shut him in, they can work it out on
their own. Move now, Raz, before he kills you. He and Raz made for the
door with Channing on their tails. Channing just got a nip at Raz s ankle
before the door slammed in front of him. He growled and scratched his
claws at the door. Only a crash behind stopped him. Derek had fallen from
the bed. He crawled in human form on hands and knees and pulled
Channing from the door with an arm around his throat. Channing choked.
T-Think I m in t-trouble. Call Joh
Derek went unconscious, and the blood drained from Channing s head
until he felt like he d faint. He shifted without thinking about it and took
Derek into his arms. Even with his added strength, his bigger lover was a
struggle to get to the bed. He searched the room for clothes and found them
and dressed Derek. In his wallet, he discovered a business card for a doctor
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Channing Moon Eden Cole
with the first name of John. He had to hope this man knew about them and
could help. Channing dialed the number.
Is this John Talbot? Channing asked when someone answered.
It is. Who is this? The deep voice was polite but cautious. In the midst
of an emergency, he couldn t help wondering if this was another ex-lover of
Derek s.
This is Channing Cutter. Derek Saban is& my mate. He paused,
waiting for the man to give him an indication of whether he knew of wolf
shifters. He didn t want to be the one to give away their secret from
ignorance. Uh, do you know Derek?
He s a friend.
Channing swore. Look, he s in trouble. I thought he was drunk, but I m
beginning to change my mind. I think his ex poisoned him or something. If
you re a doctor and can help him, please tell me what to do. Warmth stole
into his cheeks when he heard his voice crack. Stupid. He didn t care about
Derek that much. All this crazy stuff only started because of him. His mother
was probably going nuts wondering what was going on up here, and he had
no idea how they would get out of the house and what to tell her in
explanation either.
Give me your address. I ll send a car, the doctor said.
Channing sighed in relief. Thank you. And uh& you know he can t go
to a regular hospital, right?
The doctor grunted. He chose you?
Channing tightened his lips and hung up. He knew he wasn t right for
Derek. He damn sure didn t need everyone reminding him. In half hour, he
managed to get Derek out to the car that had arrived in ten. Somehow,
Ramon had gotten everyone out of his path, so he d had no questions to
answer from the humans. As he helped Derek into the car, he chided himself
on thinking that way, that it was now them and the humans, and he was on
the side of the shifters, which he supposed he was. Like it or not.
John Talbot met them at his office door and took Derek from
Channing s arms to carry him to a back room. Channing followed gritting his
teeth and trying to convince his wolf that the tall, muscular man with his
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hands on Derek was only trying to help. He paced, chewing his thumbnail as
John leaned over Derek and shined a light into his eyes. Derek didn t
respond.
What happened? John demanded.
Channing snarled at him, but John only stood there waiting for an
answer.
I don t know, Channing admitted at last. I found him this way. He
had no intention of admitting that Derek had been about to have sex with
another man at the time. Can you help him?
John brushed a hand through dark, curly hair. The muscles of his chest
were clearly defined behind a T-shirt. From the way he was dressed,
Channing guessed he d called him after work hours. I can. This is probably
the same drug that& It s formulated to target werewolves. Doesn t wear off
so easily with our faster metabolisms, and from the look of it, I m guessing
someone gave him a whole lot more than&
Channing stomped over to the doctor and grabbed a handful of his shirt.
Something tells me you ve seen this before with Derek. Tell me! I have a
right to know. Like I told you, I m his mate.
Derek s lips compressed, and his brows dropped. He shook off
Channing s hold. I sense your connection, but that doesn t mean you weren t
the one who drugged him. Maybe you did it to get yourself connected to a
powerful shifter who is successful among humans. Maybe it got out of hand,
and you gave him too much. Now you want me to save him.
Channing narrowed his eyes. I don t give a fuck what you think I did or
didn t do. You save Derek, or I will kill you. Is that plain enough?
They squared off eye to eye, each glaring, and Channing had no doubt
that if he did get into a fight with this man, he stood a good chance of losing.
Still, he would give it all he had if John let Derek die.
Finally, the doctor muttered, I don t need your threat to move me to
save my friend.
Channing watched his every move between pacing and trying to stay
calm. Every time he glanced at Derek, he was so still it was terrifying, so he
had to look away convincing himself his mate wasn t dead. After a while,
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John, frustrated with his constant questions, sent him out of the room.
Channing accepted only because he figured John would keep at him rather
than focusing on Derek. In the waiting area, he dropped into a chair and
rested his head in his hands. At some point, he must have dozed off because
the next thing he knew he was staring up into Derek s eyes.
He jerked up, but Derek laid a hand on his chest and sat down at his side.
Channing turned his head away from the caress in his hair, but Derek tipped
his chin up and kissed him. For a few minutes, Channing allowed the tongue
to slip between his lips and enter his mouth. He kissed his lover because
everything inside of him craved it, but that didn t change the facts.
Channing broke away from Derek and stood up to face him. You re
okay?
Yeah.
Derek pushed his hair away from his forehead, making Channing wish it
was his fingers tangled in the silky locks.
Thanks for helping me, Derek said.
I didn t really have a choice. I couldn t let you die.
Derek hesitated. I don t remember much&
Let me explain it to you then. Channing glanced toward the back
office, but the door was closed, and John was nowhere in sight. While
Ramon tried to rip my arm off calling it seduction I guess, Raz was busy
fucking you.
That s a lie! Derek ground out.
Channing fell silent.
I know we re still connected, Derek said, but the distinct guilt in his
expression made Channing s stomach hurt. I feel you. You re my mate. If I
had cheated, the bond would be broken.
That s interesting, because you made me believe we were stuck together
for all eternity. Channing turned toward the door. I m glad you re alive.
Now I have to go home and explain to my parents why a wolf tore about one
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