Hagen, Lynn - Maverick's Mate [Brac Pack 1] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) by Lynn Hagen

away. If only they could shift without destroying their clothes.
    Maverick stormed back into the house, getting straight into the shower to wash away the stench that had clung to his skin. He would not lay next to his mate with traitorous blood clinging to him. Maverick took deep, calming breaths as he washed the evidence away. He had to calm down for Cecil. He refused to go to him still angry.
    His head raised as the doctor quietly entered. Maverick made sure the towel was secure as he asked for privacy.
    “Boy, I helped your mamma deliver you. You ain’t got anything I haven’t circumcised.” The doctor tenderly smiled as he gave Maverick what he asked for.
    Maverick smiled at the old wolf, shaking his head as he pulled a pair of sweats on. Cecil was still sleeping. Maverick breathed a sigh of relief at knowing the culprit was found and justice dispensed. Now all that was left was for his mate to heal.
    Maverick carefully raised Cecil’s hands, turning them over to examine the stitches around his wrists. They looked more like wrist bands, the black thread wound all the way around. Lonny had been a cruel son of a bitch. He had looped the wire like bracelets around each wrist and then a small piece had connected the two. They were so tight on his mate’s wrists that Maverick was surprised his hands weren’t severed off. The fact that he may lose use of them sent a clenching pain through Maverick’s heart. Laying light kisses on each injury, he laid them back down.
    Cecil’s eyes fluttered open. Tears began to fall as he croaked out. “It hurts.”
    Lifting his baby in his arms was out of the question, too many injuries. Instead, his hands caressed the soft hair, pushing the flop out of his eye. Maverick gazed into those amethyst eyes. “I know, baby. Your body is healing at a faster rate than an unmated human, but it’s still gonna take time.”

    * * * *

    Cecil tried to reach up and grab Maverick’s hand, but his fingers wouldn’t close. He stared at his wrists for the first time in horror. He examined both, turning them in opened mouth disbelief then shoved the Frankenstein creations under the blanket, sinking back down into the bed.
    “Don’t, baby. They’ll heal. Give it time.”
    “You can say that! It’s not your body that’s disfigured. Just…just go.” How was he going to use his hands again? He couldn’t even make a fist. Cecil was trying under the blanket. He tried to touch each fingertip to his thumb, but none of them reached. He lashed out in anger. “Just go! I don’t want you to see me like this. Get out!” He squeezed his eyes closed. All he could see was darkness. His eyes flew open, and he realized that he would forever fear the dark now, always be reminded of those tunnels when he tried to sleep.

    * * * *

    Maverick gave Cecil his space. He sat in the cushioned chair in the corner, letting Cecil rant and rave, cry and shout. He knew Cecil needed this, needed to release the demons that were now haunting him. Maverick sank back into the chair, fading into the shadows of the room.

    * * * *

    Cody looked up when he heard Cecil screaming and crying. Tears brimmed behind his eyes. His little buddy would forever carry those scars. Hell, Cody cringed when he closed his eyes, seeing that bloody and battered form lying tied on the ground of those tunnels.
    Tank wiped a runaway tear that rolled down his cheek, turning his back to everyone for privacy. Cody saw a slight shake in the big man’s shoulders. He was crying. It took a heck of a lot to make a Sherman tank cry. Cody cleared the lump from his throat, taking a swig from his beer bottle. Cody, Tank, Jasper, and Remi were sitting in the kitchen, silently listening to the tortured cries of a broken man.

    * * * *

    Remi scrubbed his face as Jasper let the tears fall, sniffing and blowing his nose. Cecil had spent hours with him playing those damn video games. Kicking each other’s butts in the shoot-’em-up games. Jasper had gotten