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to life filled him with happiness, but it soon leaked away as Jay started to shake in his arms. Kyle curled closer around him, trying to give Jay some of his warmth.
    Nikko slowly lifted his arms and awkwardly patted Mam on the back. The poor shifter didn’t seem to know how to hug her back, like he’d never been shown the kindness of a comforting embrace.
    Wide eyes that were exactly like his own gazed at him over their mother’s shoulder.
    The instant recognition in them that was deeper than human comprehension lit in Nikko’s eyes. His brother’s jaguar knew who they were. The jaguar recognised it was amongst kin, pack.
    “Hello, brother.” Kyle managed to smile, but he knew it came across strained when Nikko frowned and looked down at Jay. There wasn’t a chance to say anything more as hordes of medical staff flooded the space, checking Nikko’s vitals and exclaiming it was impossible.
    “Enough. Leave us.” Papa used his alpha voice and the humans scattered along with most of the pack.
    Nikko’s eyes flashed wide again as he looked at Papa. Kyle imagined Nikko hadn’t ever seen anyone as big, or an alpha that strong, if any alpha at all.
    “Hello, son. It’s good to finally meet you. The woman crushing you is your mother, Mam or Eleanor if you prefer. I’m Papa or Arthwr. I’m the alpha here, we got you away from the hunters.” Papa spoke softly and slowly, obviously trying not to spook him.
    Kyle didn’t miss the way Nikko’s fingers curled into claws at the word hunter, but Mam was there, smoothing over the black hair that was becoming more sleek and healthy as they watched. Nikko’s whole body now appeared healthier, in fact. Nikko’s ribs still stuck out, but gone was the yellowish gaunt look.
    Glancing down at Jay, he realised what was happening. With every second that passed, Nikko seemed healthier, while Jay got weaker. The visible correlation almost killed him.
    “You’re so amazing, so selfless,” Kyle said brokenly, kissing Jay’s ashen cheek, rocking and trying not to break down.
    Jay had saved everyone, but not himself. Jay was special, Kyle knew it down to his bones. His mate was vibrant and braver than anyone he’d ever met.
    It was so wrong, seeing Jay old and used up by evil magic.
    A sob caught in his throat and his jaguar yowled inside him, desperate to do something, anything. “I’m so sorry, Jay. I don’t know what to do.” His hand hovered over Jay’s wrinkled and bruised face as he tried to find somewhere that wasn’t hurt, not wanting to cause him any more pain.
    His jaguar roared inside him. “I’m not giving up, I’ll find a way to help you.” Kyle nuzzled Jay’s head, his heart breaking when he still didn’t feel Jay respond. “I promise.”
    “He can’t go out like this. Not now.” Papa gently let go of Nikko’s shoulder where he’d been holding Nikko up under the weight of Mam and crouched next to Kyle, making a purring sound to comfort him.
    Mam’s voice shocked them all as she said in a cold tone he’d never heard before. “Oh, we’re not giving up. We’re going to hunt that bitch down and make her reverse whatever she’s done to Jayden.” Mam had pulled back from clutching at Nikko, but still held the shifter’s hand. Nikko looked terrified, but nevertheless shuffled closer to Mam, seeking comfort and protection from her instinctively.
    “How?” The hopelessness of the situation weighed him down as he nuzzled Jay’s head, tensing between every slow beat of his mate’s heart in case it would be the last.
    Mam looked him dead in the eye and Kyle saw murder there. “There was a reason the witch trials started all those years ago,” she said ominously. Her jaguar was so close to the surface Kyle could see the bloodlust of her animal. “Check him, Logan.”
    “Yes, that’s it!” Logan leaped to his feet and Kyle ducked in time to avoid being hit in the face as Logan grabbed the vase of flowers off of the table beside the bed. The wolf