Nature is not a place to visit 20

Chapter 20
*“There will be no yelling at people who are bleeding themselves into unconsciousness.”*
*Kristin Cashore*
Although I asked Ambrose about the “temporary mark” on my neck at least two more times as we made our way back
through the woods, the only answer I received was a satisfactory smirk. Whatever he’d done, he wasn’t the least bit
apologetic about it. I was starting to wonder if a thousand years of lying in that tomb had fried his brain a little bit.
On another day, I would’ve had more to say about him just marking me – temporary or not – without my consent.
Unfortunately, I had bigger concerns. Priority number one was finding Luke. Priority number two was rescuing my pack
before they died at the hands of the Blood Moons.
*They’re still alive, I know it.*
*They have to be.*
Deep down, I knew that I’d feel it if they weren’t. I’d feel it if Rae weren’t alive. I knew that. At least I hoped so.
I clung to that thought as Ambrose led us back through the woods, our hands interlaced together. I wasn’t convinced
that he even knew how to get back to the temple, but he didn’t look lost. I could only hope his sense of direction was
better than mine.
Fortunately, that seemed to be the case when we emerged from the tree line about ten minutes later, the sight of the
crumbling temple within eye view.
“Ollie!”
My head swung around at the sound of my name and I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Luke.
He was propped up against a stump, still looking pale. Still, he looked better than he had the last time I’d seen him,
which meant he was healing.
I didn’t waste a second running to his side. “Luke!” I said, my eyes trailing over him. “How do you feel?” I moved to
inspect the back of his head, but it was hard to see the extent of the damage with all the dried, caked blood in the way.
“Not great, if I’m being honest,” he said, “But I can finally move all my limbs, and I don’t feel numb anymore…which is
actually worse. I feel awful.”
I made to touch the injured spot on the back of his head, but suddenly, I was pulled away sharply. Ambrose moved so
quickly that it left me dizzy, and in less than a second, I’d gone from staring at Luke’s head to Ambrose’s shirtless back.
He blocked me entirely from Luke’s view, and I could hear a low growl rumbling in his chest.
*Oh, no, no, no. This isn’t good!*
I could recognize a disaster before it started, so I didn’t hesitate to jump into action. “Ambrose,” I said, touching his
shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
The growling didn’t stop but at my touch, I could’ve sworn it sounded a little less hostile. “No,” he ground out.
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“No?” I repeated.
“No,” he growled, “I do not want you touching another man.”
*And here’s to thinking that we’d already talked through the Luke problem.*
I’d seen plenty of possessive male wolves in my lifetime, but this was a whole new level. “Remember my friend, Luke?” I
said softly. It felt like I was trying to calm down some territorial guard dog on the verge of attack. In some ways, I
suppose I was. “Luke is injured. He hit the back of his head when the temple caved in, and I was just checking to see how
fast it was healing.”
Blocked from his view, I couldn’t see the expression on Luke’s face but I could only guess he was terrified. The good news
was that Luke was at least smart enough to not try and chime in right now.
Ambrose didn’t budge but there was no blue light coming from his hands or thunder cracking across the sky, which
seemed like a good sign.
“Ambrose,” I continued. “Luke is part of my pack – he’s like my brother. And every second that we waste here is another
second where the rest of my pack, Luke and I’s friends, might not survive.”
That finally seemed to get through to him because he stopped growling immediately. I took that as my cue to return to
Luke, but when I tried to move around him, Ambrose’s arm shot out to block me.
“No,” he said stiffly, “You do not need to touch him. I’ll do it.”
I wanted to ask what it was he planned on doing, but he’d already begun moving toward Luke before I could get the words out.
*I can only hope he means examining Luke’s head injury…although I’m a little skeptical about what kind of medical
experience he has after spending a thousand years in that tomb.*
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Luke’s face was full of terror as Ambrose strode over to him, me tailing behind him like a puppy. Clearly, Luke was just as
skeptical about his intentions as I was, but he didn’t try to fight or protest. Not that it would’ve made much difference –
even without the severe head injury, Luke wouldn’t have lasted a chance against Ambrose on his best day.
Ambrose leaned down, seizing Luke’s neck in a grip that looked a little rough for someone with a head injury. Luke let
out a hiss of pain.
Ambrose glided his other hand over the injured spot, and I watched with wide eyes as a blue glow erupted from his
fingers. It only lasted a second, and then the glow was gone and Ambrose was back on his feet, tugging me into his side.
“Holy shit,” Luke breathed, his hand coming up to cup the area. “It feels…did you heal me?”
Ambrose gave a stiff nod as he pulled me as physically close to his side as possible, his hand looping around my waist. I
let him do so, still trying to come to terms with what I’d just witnessed.
*So, now I’ve got to add healing powers to the growing list of cool stuff that my mate can do.*
As soon as we’d rescued our pack, I was going to have a million questions about Ambrose’s power. Or just Ambrose in
general.
Luke stood up, something like awe in his blue eyes as he stared at Ambrose. “It’s really you,” he whispered, “You’re
really…him. You’re the Moon God.”
“Yes,” Ambrose said, sounding bored.
“Holy shit,” Luke breathed, “I’m in the presence of the Moon God. Like the actual Moon God. Who just healed me. And is
now standing in front of me.”
Luke’s eyes suddenly flickered over to me. “…and who is mated to one of my best friends,” he said. Quickly, he added,
“Best friend as in sister, that is.” He chuckled nervously as he said it, and I wondered if Luke was regretting the day he
ever took my virginity.
*At least I’m sure he’ll never tell Ambrose about it, not after figuring out that he’s the Moon God.*
Luke glanced at me again, but this time, his eyebrows scrunched up in confusion. “Ollie,” he said, “When did you get a
tattoo of a blue full moon on your neck?”
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