Free A Jaguar's Kiss by Katie Reus Page A

the left.
    Right now al he cared about was Gabriela.
    If she didn’t make it…he swal owed hard, shutting down
    that thought before it could take root. She would make it.
    Thankful y one of those vamps had had a cel phone and
    he’d been able to cal his brother for help. Owen had shifted
    to his human form and carried Gabriela nearly a mile. There
    had been so much blood he could stil feel it on his hands
    even after he’d rinsed it off.
    His brother and two pack mates had met them along a
    dirt road near where they’d kil ed the vamps and that jaguar
    and rushed Gabriela to Dr. Shahi’s. The vamps had turned
    to ash once he’d decapitated them, but the jaguar could rot
    for al he cared.
    At the sound of the door opening, he turned and found
    himself inches from Dr. Shahi. Her dark eyes were fil ed
    with warmth and reassurance. She gave him a brief, smal
    smile. The surge of relief made him lightheaded. If the
    doctor could smile at him like that, then Gabriela must be
    okay. “There was extensive internal damage, but Gabriela
    is healing nicely and quickly. As long as she stays in her
    jaguar form for the next day, she wil be fine. Technical y she
    should be fine within twelve hours, but I’ve sedated her and
    would like her to get as much rest as possible.”
    Owen could hear Gabriela’s parents talking and asking
    questions behind him, but he nodded once at the doctor
    and murmured a “thank you” before hurrying into the room.
    The civilized part of his brain told him to let her parents in
    first, but he couldn’t stay away from her.
    Stretched out on the long, rectangular metal table, he
    could see the stitches along her shaved bel y. It was a much
    better sight than when he’d found her. Her dark coat of fur
    was shiny and he could see the slight rise and fal of her
    ribs each time she breathed. Bloody towels and bandages
    had been stuffed into a bin, but her body had been cleaned
    of it. He shook his head, trying to banish the images of
    Gabriela’s sliced-up body but couldn’t. His throat tightened
    as he grabbed a metal swivel stool and pul ed it up to the
    table. Even though she was unconscious and in her jaguar
    form he didn’t like her resting on the uncomfortable table.
    He wanted to place her on cushions.
    Afraid to touch her, he reached out, his hand hovering
    over her forepaw.
    “It’s okay. She needs your touch.” He turned at the sound
    of Dr. Shahi’s voice.
    Gabriela’s parents stood in the doorway behind the
    doctor, Gabriela’s petite mother glaring at him. Knowing
    what an ass he was being by barging in before them, he
    stood and motioned for them to enter. His throat was too
    tight to speak so he just stepped back and watched as her
    parents rushed to her side. Patricia, her mother, wept silent
    tears as she stroked a hand down Gabriela’s forepaw. Her
    father stood next to Patricia and stroked a hand down his
    wife’s back.
    Owen felt as if he was intruding on a private moment, but
    he couldn’t force himself to leave. Gabriela’s brothers and
    Skyler quietly entered the room. His sister strode toward
    him and wrapped an arm around his waist, laying her head
    on his shoulder. “She’s going to be okay,” Skyler said
    softly, a soothing note in her voice.
    “I know,” he rasped out. It didn’t take away from the horror
    at the thought of losing her. His claws and canines ached to
    be unsheathed. He wanted to kil those bastards al over
    again with a violent intensity that rocked him to his core.
    “When can we take her home?” Patricia asked.
    Owen hadn’t even realized he’d growled until everyone in
    the room turned to look at him. He cleared his throat. “It
    would be better if she came home with me.” Yeah, he was
    definitely being a territorial ass but he didn’t care. Gabriela
    belonged with him and he wasn’t letting her out of his sight.
    “She almost died because of you,” Patricia snapped,
    eyes ful of accusation and mistrust.
    “It’s not his