Read Healed: True Mates Book 3 (Wolf Shifter) (A Craggstone Paranormal Romance) for Free Online

the right and it would have hit him in the heart. Even a shifter would have a hard time healing from that!
    “I know. I just like you looking after me. That’s why I got shot, you see?”
    “Idiot,” I muttered, looking around me for the first time and noting that the fire had finally been put out. Everyone had gone, the area deserted. Probably fled when they heard the shot being fired. Having existed for so long under Eric’s control, I couldn’t blame them for fleeing, but I would have to speak to them about it. A healthy pack is strong, can rely on each other. They don’t abandon fellow pack members at the first sign of danger.
    We needed to get out of the open, and fast, before they decided to have another go.
    “You need to get up. I can’t carry you, you’re way too heavy.” I shoved at him until he struggled to his feet, swaying almost comically. “What have you been eating? Bricks?”
    “I said I was sorry for squashing you. It won’t happen next time—”
    “Next time?”
    “Yeah, next time you’ll be writhing underneath me, coming with my name on your lips…”
    “You’re delusional!”
    “Maybe. I’m in quite a lot of pain. But never say never.”
    “Never.”
    “Coward.”
    “What did you call me? I’m your Alpha—”
    “And I’m your mate. Evens.”
    “No, you’re not.”
    “You can’t have it both ways. I’ve noticed that about you, always want things your way. Now, in bed, I could maybe be convinced…” He stumbled on the steps, lurching to the side.
    “You need to shift and heal.”
    “Not with this damn bullet inside of me. It needs to come out.” He gritted his teeth and stomped up the steps onto the porch, shoving open the door with his good shoulder.
    “And then you’ll shift?”
    “Yes ma’am,” he drawled, and I felt like I had missed something. Something important.
    I readjusted his arms around my shoulders, asking, “The office or upstairs?”
    Tarq winced, looking at the stairs longingly, then he sighed. “The office.”
    Thank the Mother! Turning, we made it through the living area. Seb made a move to come over, and I waved him away. He was not what Tarq needed right now. Groups of people huddled in corners, their faces twisted with worry and concern, but they didn’t approach, just watched with wide eyes as we made our way into the large office. I slammed the door shut behind me. I couldn’t focus on them right now. Later , I promised myself.
    Shoving the couch over, I made space for Tarq on the floor and he collapsed in a heap.
    “Dig it out,” he commanded through gritted teeth, then looked away.
     
     

CHAPTER FIVE
    Amanda
    I dropped the bullet into a small bowl I had found, wiping the blood off my hands with what remained of Tarq’s t-shirt. He had stayed quiet throughout, only flinching once, and that had been when I’d had to dig down to his bone to retrieve the bullet.
    Now, he was sitting up, already starting to look loads better, his skin returning to a healthy glow, his tan not looking as fake as it had against his previous pallor. Using the other half of his t-shirt, he swiped at the wound, huffing with satisfaction as he flexed his fingers, testing the affected arm.
    “I’ve been hit by a bullet before and I don’t remember it hurting like that!” He prodded the bowl cautiously, metal clinking against metal. “Must be getting old.”
    “You have? Been shot before, I mean?”
    Tarq twisted around, showing me his back. “Here,” he said, pointing at the top of his shoulder blade, then he twisted back around. “Here,” he added, indicating the side of his stomach. He reached for the top button of his jeans. “And her—”
    “Stop! I believe you,” I blurted out, before he got the chance to pop all of the buttons. Though I was in two minds whether to stop him.
    While removing the bullet, all my concentration had been on the wound and getting the little sucker out. Once he was bullet-free, I hadn’t been able to control my