Page 8 of Hart's Redemption

At his words, the girl burst into tears.

He squatted down to her level, still holding the boy. “Are you hurt?” She shook her head emphatically. “Then that’s all that matters.” He used his free hand to wipe a tear from her face. “What do you say wecarefullyclean up the mess together? Do you think that would help make things right?”

The girl nodded and wiped her tears away while the boy buried his face in Josh’s neck and offered his own muffled agreement.

“Come on, then.” He straightened and held out a hand. The small girl took it, and all three of them walked into the other room.

I sagged against the counter, overcome with what I’d witnessed. Josh wasn’t protecting a memory from the wolf. He was protecting adream. My gaze wandered over the brightly lit space. Signs of a happy life filled every inch. Pictures of the two of us. Pictures of the four of us. Keepsakes and tokens. Kid crafts in places of prominence. A children’s book sitting on the counter.

I swallowed past an unexpected lump in my throat. Then my gaze darted back to the door I’d come through, the one Josh was defending with all he had. With one last glance at the Josh cooing and comforting the twins, I walked back out, intentionally leaving the door open.

The battle-worn Josh’s eyes widened in alarm when I emerged. “What are you doing? You can’t leave that open.”

A glance across the arena revealed the dark wolf closer than ever and pacing restlessly, much as I’d seen the real Josh do the other day in the modified recovery ward. I placed both hands on his shoulders and forced the human Josh to look at me.

Everything about him screamed exhaustion, from the gray circles haunting his eyes to the way his shoulders slumped and the wary way he looked at me. “Elijah, please. Go back.”

I shook my head. “You have to let him in, Josh.”

“But… he’ll hurt you.” The sadness in his eyes made my heart ache.

I cupped his face. “He won’t. He’s you, Josh, and you would never hurt me.”

He stared at me, and slowly resignation replaced the sadness. He squeezed my wrists lightly and dropped his hands.

I stepped away as he moved aside. The wolf glanced at him, then walked through the open door.

We both peered inside after him. The disorienting sight of Josh, dream-me, and the twins sitting together greeted me. The black wolf’s appearance went completely unnoticed. He walked right up to the couch and curled up in front of Josh’s feet as dream-Josh braided the little girl’s hair.

Out of nowhere, a larger gray wolf with a rust stain down its back appeared. At first, I thought it might be an embodiment of Josh’s childhood toy, but the wolf walked over and nuzzled the black one before lying down beside him. It wasn’t until he looked up and our gazes met that I realized it was my own inner wolf.

A violent gasp tore through my chest. I lurched forward and met the minimal resistance of wires snapping.

“Easy. You’re okay, Dr. Bennett.” The familiar sound of Dr. Lyons’ voice did anything but set me at ease.

I immediately turned to the mindwalker. “What have you done? Put me back.” Kotori shook his head. In the blink of an eye, I fisted my hands into his shirt. “Put. Me. Back.”

“Easy, wolf brother.” An eerie calm washed over me, and my hold loosened. “You knew there could only be one visit. And one visit was all it took.” Despite his awful reminder, a smile touched his eyes. “You did it.”

My chest convulsed in a sob. “Really? He’s going to be okay?”

Kotori gripped my shoulders and gave them a reassuring squeeze. “Your mate has already begun the journey back to his body.”

I scrambled off the cot and raced to the window.

“Dr. Bennett, I really must insist—”

I tuned out Dr. Lyons. Beyond the spelled glass, the black wolf was the calmest I’d seen him yet. His gaze swung lazily aroundthe room as if truly seeing it for the first time. He stumbled to the side, then shook his head and nearly fell down.

“You have to let me in there.”

“We’ve been through this. The risk is too great.”

The entrance door to his room was only ten feet away by the time Dr. Lyons caught up with me. “I don’t care. I’m going in there.”

“He could kill you.”

I paused and looked at the disoriented wolf on the other side. Joshua Hart had been alone his entire life, and I’d be damned if he was going to be alone for this. I spun to confront Dr. Lyons. “I’ll sign whatever waiver you want, but I’m going in there.” Before she could protest again, I swiped the key card hanging from her coat and approached the door.