He was hot under her touch. The little skin left was slick with the blood and sweat from his many wounds. The rest covered in burnt and crisped tissue.

She flinched away, her panic soaring again.

Suddenly she felt the familiar warmth and feel as her mate wrapped her hand in his much larger one. She shot him a look she hoped was grateful. The touch comforting and calming her.

Fighting the rest of her panic and the natural reaction of her body to flee she picked up the man's arm. Ignoring everything else in the room except for the feel of her mate's skin against hers she lifted the wrist to her mouth. She waited for the last second before releasing her wolf. Her dominance and authority erupting around her. The air changing with the feel of her wolf on display. Her teeth elongated before piercing the vulnerable skin of his wrist. The coppery taste of his blood filling her mouth as the venom held in her saliva was transferred into his veins.

Satisfied she placed the limb back on the bed. Getting momentarily distracted from her task by the mounting chaos around her she let her wolf out more. A touch from her mind had the others calming, backing down. Silence filling the space as they eased to the sides watching her intently.

Kaiden's hand tightened around her own, not looking up she dropped the rest of her blocks in her mind letting it open to him, and to Richard. Letting them feel what she refused to show.

Picking up her own wrist she brought it to her mouth. Her teeth still sharp and coated with blood she took a breath before sinking them as deep as she could.

The blood began to ooze from the messy puncture wounds. Focusing her mind to the hand still gripped around her own she pushed the open wound against the dying man's lips forcing his mouth open and around the delicate skin of her wrist. She shuddered from the feel of the touch, of his skin against hers. Kaiden transferred her hand clasping it in his other before placing his hand on the small of her back. Moving closer to her he began to rub soft reassuring circles over her t-shirt. His thumb caressing tenderly against the back of her hand as he murmured soft reassurances to her. The motions, scent and words soothing her. Helping to take her mind off of the touch that was making her cringe and panic.

Even still, she couldn't help but feel echoes of pain. The pain her mind and body had been trained to experience at any contact. The heat, the burning searing feel that would take over her body before piercing into her brain, her eyes. Before exploding every cell and nerve until she was pulled into darkness. It was only the gentle pressure on her hand and her back that kept her still now. That let her breath and fight through what her mind was brutally conditioned to feel.

Letting her blood drip down the injured man's throat she forced her wolf out more, pushed until she knew the others had had to drop to their knees, heads bowed from the force. She felt a distant flash of shame and embarrassment at that. She heard Kio whimper from somewhere behind her but still she pushed. Only her mate and Guardian were able to stay standing with their eyes above the floor.

When she had gone as far as she could she grasped for the man's wolf. It was nearly gone. Weak and beat down. She sensed him steadily slipping away.

Aislinn used her blood, her bond, her right to call to him. Used it to command him to return to her. She called out with every bit of power and every ounce of strength she had. She felt his surrender to her summons. He had to. He had no choice. She was his Queen. His Luna. His mother, sister, daughter. It was bound to his very essence to listen to her call.

Her wolf surround his. She blanketed him in comfort. Poured her strength into him. Her life everything she had as she directed her blood through his body. Her wrist still pressed to his mouth she refused to let her wound heal. Instead forcing more of her blood into his veins. She closed wounds. Stitched together broken bones. Pulled poison, infection and death from his flesh. In some part of her mind she recognized that she had been working for hours but it was only a tiny insignificant part. The majority of her had lost sense of everything except for the task at hand.

Slowly she felt the exhaustion and blood loss begin to creep in on her, pulling at her but she refused to stop.

Refused to give up.

Kaiden never moved. His hands stayed on her. At first just comforting her, then he was steadying her until finally he was all that was holding her up. The only thing keeping her upright as her head lolled forward. Her body limp except for the hand that gripped his and the one pressed firmly against the man's mouth.

Using the last of her energy she begin to knit the skin back together over muscle and bone. She wouldn't be able to repair it all, to heal him completely. She wasn't yet strong enough for that, not while she was unmated and unclaimed. But she did what she could.

While she worked on his body she took all of his pain as well. Offering him a short reprieve from the torture forced upon him. It was excruciating and debilitating. Staying awake under its weight was burning more of her energy but she didn't stop and never once flinched. She pushed on until the only strength she had left was the last reservoirs in the deepest parts of herself. She reached for them, the energy meant to give her aid and strength at her very end. She dipped into it, forcing it from herself. Poured it into him until there was nothing left to give.

With the last of her energy she pushed his mind and wolf to a gentle dream.

Just before he fell away from her completely she got a flash from his wolf. Stronger now from her work he used what little strength he had to throw a series of images at her. Forcing herself to focus, she ignored her own body as long as she could before she finally let her arms collapse. Her body sagging back, her legs completely giving out under her.

Kaiden felt as she began to fall, his arms quickly sweeping out to catch and lift her up. Cradling her against his chest he stared down at her sweat soaked face. She was pale. Her face twisted up in pain. Her eyes fluttering closed as her long silver tipped lashes splayed against her cheeks.

It had been three hours. Three hours of torture.

She had kept the bond open but he knew she had hid the pain from him. Or had tried to. But by the end she hadn't been able to. He had tried to take as much as he could. He would have taken it all for her but she was so stubborn. He felt a flash of anger. She shouldn't have had to feel that. That was why he was here. It was his job to protect her, to make her happy, keep her safe and take her pain. How could he do that when she wouldn't let him?

He cuddled her closer before moving to lay her in a bed beside the now healing man. He knew she would want to be close.

Richard silently came over looking down at her.

None of them, not even him, had dared to come close to her while she had worked.

Her voice was so weak, exhaustion and pain making it hoarse, cracking with dehydration. He moved quickly to get her a cup of water, tipping it against her lips. She swallowed a few sips before trying again. "His mate." Her voice cracked again and she winced. Kaiden pressed the plastic to her mouth again, she took a few more tentative sips, swallowing painfully. Her eyes closed. Her body limp. "His mate, you need to go find him. They threw him out. Bound and gagged. Not far from the tree. Wanted him to feel his pain. Made him watch. Need to get him." The last was no more than a broken whisper.

"Aus, take Blair and Olivia. Go and find his mate bring him back here. Don't hurt him if he's awake, but he might lose control with his mate so weak and injured. Knock him out but only if you need to."

"You sure you want us bringing him back here?" Austin asked looking at Aislinn's weak form laying in the bed.

Kaiden let out a sigh, he understood his second's concern. None of them were feeling very comfortable with having strange wolves amongst them. Having two, especially when Aislinn was so weak, was not desirable.

He looked back down at her arguing with himself before letting out a frustrated breath. Softly running his hand over her cheek smiling as she turned into his touch. "Yes bring him here. We have his mate. Aislinn saved him and is trying to save the other. I have to trust that she knows we can trust them. Go. We're fine. Richard and Clay are still here plus he's unconscious."

With that the three set out into the predawn light.

Clay got up from the chair he had collapsed into at around three. His face looked as haggard and tired as Kaiden imagined his own probably did. Looking up at his friend he let out a bark of laughter.

Clay looked at him in surprise his eyebrows pulling together in question. Kaiden laughed again before looking down pointedly. Clay looked at his arms, before smiling sheepishly. Kio laid sleeping and cuddled against the big man's chest. His small head cuddled into his elbow his fluffy body looking even smaller with Clayton's large muscles bulging under him.

Shrugging Clay looked away, a slight blush creeping up his neck before he rudely nudged Richard aside and out of the way. That earned him a growl from the other wolf which he pointedly ignored. Moving closer to Aislinn's head he looked down at her with the tenderest expression Kaiden had ever seen on his friends face. The ghost of smile on his lips he gently moved so he placed the sleeping wolf pup so he lay on her chest, careful not to wake either. Kio instantly cuddled closer to her his nose poking out until it settled at the base of her throat. They all watched as Aislinn instantly relaxed, a sigh leaving her as her face eased and her breathing deepened and evened out.

They didn't talk as they waited for the others to return. There wasn't anything to say.

Kaiden stood on one side of her bed. Richard on the other. Clayton had moved after a few minutes back to the chair in the corner. Folding himself into it before slumping back and dozing off softly.

The clamor of feet in the hallway had Kaiden's head snapping up. His eyes watching cautiously as Blair and Aus hauled an unconscious wolf into the room. Strung between them over their shoulders.

"Get him into the bed beside his mate." Kaiden said looking at the injured wolf.

Olivia came in behind them. Her clothes a mess of blood sweat and dirt, her hair wild around her face, her eyes narrowed in worry. As soon as she stepped in the room she was scanning it for Aislinn. Finding her resting peacefully in the bed a look of relief crossed her face, her body losing some of its tension. Reassured that Aislinn was fine, she moved to help get the new wolf up into the bed before going to work on his injuries. Cleaning and patching up what she could.

He wasn't nearly as hurt as his mate, mostly just bruises, cuts and scrapes. Possibly a few fractured ribs. It was a sad day when that seemed minor and lucky.

Rustling had them all looking around. Aislinn's face was extremely pale, her eyes sunken and dull as she pushed herself up. Kaiden reached out a hand to push her back down onto the bed. She needed to rest. She narrowed her eyes at him. He let out a sigh. When instead she placed her own smaller hand in his, he gave her a tight smile. Reluctantly he gently pulled her up helping her sit before steadying her as she swung her legs off the bed. Richard let out a deep growl of displeasure when she swayed dangerously on her feet.

Tightening her grip on his hand she ignored their concern. Instead slowly and painfully she made her way across the room to Clay her feet shuffling along the cool tiles.

Feeling eyes on him, Clay reluctantly opened his eyes, squinting up at her. His eyes flying open a look of horror and shock overtaking him as he shook his head quickly at her. Blair choked on his laughter from the other side of the room. When she didn't step back Clay's hands finally managed to move. His movements shaky as if on autopilot as he took Kio from her outstretched hands. Holding him awkwardly he looked at Kaiden as he mouthed 'help'.

Shrugging his shoulders Kaiden sent him a reassuring smile before leaving him with the pup, to figure it out for himself. Turning he stayed hovering near his mate. Not releasing his hold on her, ready to catch her if she collapsed.

Shuffling to the bed of the first man, Aislinn looked down as his eyes fluttered open. Pain twisted his features. With the majority of his injuries healed and cleaned of blood and dirt she could now see that he was probably only a little older then Kaiden and his men. Somewhere in his mid to late twenties. His skin was deep and rich in color. His black hair was cut short and close to his scalp. Large dark brown chocolate eyes, were stunning and framed with high chiseled cheek bones, a strong jaw and straight nose. With a frame that was much less muscular then her mates it was easy to tell that he was not a high ranked wolf. What he lacked in size though was more than made up for in the intellect that was reflected in his eyes.

His voice was rough and strained as he spoke, tears gathering at the corners of his eyes as he blinked rapidly, "Did- did you" his voice broke on the words, "my mate did you find him?"

Aislinn nodded her head her face blank as she watched the relief wash over him, his eyes closing.

"Where?"

Aislinn nodded her chin to the bed beside him, quickly his head turned taking in the unconscious shape of his mate only feet from him. His eyes lingered on his chest as he watched the small shifts signaling his breathing. Letting out a breath the wolf turned so he was once again looking up into the enchanting and otherworldly face hovering above him.

"Thank you." He whispered tears pooling again in his eyes. He wondered if maybe he was dead, if he died and he was now facing the goddess. The remarkable tiny ethereal face of this stranger nodding at him could definitely pass for her. He couldn't stop staring at her, she was enchanting. Captivating. Cool grey eyes and yet dull and void. A blank face, as if she felt nothing, but he was positive that wasn't true. He could almost feel a mix of emotions; exhaustion, pain, curiosity and a tinge of fear. That he would have sworn was coming from her.

"You're the- the Luna? The mate here with the Salvatori heir?" If she was surprised she didn't show it. He did hear a gasp and a few curses from somewhere else in the room though. He took that as a yes, "I was supposed to give you a message or well my mate" His voice broke again his eyes darting to the side "Ethan was supposed to." He took a deep breath before continuing his eyes moving back to hers "Alpha Fraser, he-he has a message for you. For your mate. He-he said to say ... to tell you, you have two days."

Aislinn didn't need to turn around to know that her mate had stepped closer. She could feel his body heat pressing against her back. Nor did she need to look to know that it was Austin who spoke up. "Two days for what?" His voice cold and filled with authority.

"Two days." The man's eyes flickered away from her face, a look of guilt crossing it momentarily before turning back to her once more, "Two days to surrender yourselves ... or they declare war."