Free Full Moon Lockdown by Jackie Nacht Page A

other’s clothes off at seeing each other. If you two were mates, you still wouldn’t have come up for air yet.”
    “What are you going to do about it?” Knox stared at him, eyes full of concern.
    Colin swallowed, “I’m feeling better today, so I’m going to give it a few more days. If it doesn’t heal, I’ll go to the physician. Can you two just keep this private until after the shift? I want to be there for Sloan afterward.”
    Dalton looked like he was about to object, but Knox spoke first. “We’ve got your back, but you have to promise to get help after the shift if you’re not better, Colin. You won’t help anyone—Sloan or your brother who is just about to get out of the hospital—if you’re sick.”
    Sloan blew out a breath. “Thanks, guys.”
    Sloan reached for him and hugged him, giving him a kiss on his forehead.
    Thirty-six more hours. Colin knew that if his wound didn’t heal, his friends would be dragging his ass to the infirmary. Didn’t matter, he would go willingly. He just had to be here for Sloan. That’s all that mattered to him right now.
     

Chapter Eight
     
     
    The day of the shift and Colin was at his wit's end. His friends had been hovering over him the last thirty hours. He couldn’t even take a piss without one of them going into the bathroom with him. His wound hadn’t gotten any better, but outside the horrible achiness, he hadn’t seemed to be getting any worse.
    Sloan was more aggressive than ever. No one could touch Colin or even come near him. By dinner the night before, his friends and he had to eat outside with Sloan, because he was staring down the next table of Alphas like he was going to rip their throats out. They weren’t even doing anything, but the fact that they were within ten yards of Colin was enough to send Sloan into a rage.
    “You need to get a grip, Sloan,” Knox slammed his drink down.
    “I’m trying,” Sloan growled.
    “Go try some yoga,” Oren suggested.
    “Doesn’t fucking work,” Sloan and Knox said at the same time.
    Why they kept insisting the Alphas take these classes was beyond Colin. Not a single Alpha in the place believed they worked.
    Sloan stood. “I’m going to go lock myself in. Knox, can you—”
    “We got your boy, Sloan. Just do everything you can to relax.” Knox waved Sloan off.
    Sloan embraced Colin. “That okay with you? Letting Knox watch over you? Feel like I’m going to snap.”
    “I can take care of myself, Sloan,” Colin quietly protested.
    “Just do it for me, please. I’ll feel better knowing you’re surrounded by friends, and maybe I can go calm down.” Sloan licked his neck. He wasn’t supposed to be doing that, just like Colin wasn’t supposed to be tilting his neck and giving him better access.
    Colin broke free. “Go take care of yourself. Love you.”
    Sloan nodded, and Colin watched him walk off, even his gate radiating aggressiveness.
    “This is going to be bad tonight, isn’t it?” Colin grew distressed.
    Knox rolled his shoulders. The man had his own change to worry about, and clearly, he was feeling it. “The problem with Sloan is that he just doesn’t flow into his shift. Think of a person jumping into a pool for the first time. How do they do it?”
    “Cannonball?” Colin wasn’t sure where Knox was going with this.
    “Yep, usually feet-first, creating a huge splash. My dad used to try to explain the shift to me this way: All new shifters are virtually jumping in feet first, clumsy as hell. It takes a lot of fucking practice to turn it around, going headfirst and then doing it smoothly. That’s how your shift should be. Like cutting into water smoothly. One body sliding into the next. Sloan fights it…he does a damn belly flop.”
    Ouch.
    “Can I help him?” Colin glanced at his friends.
    “Honestly, I don’t know. He’s more aggressive, but maybe he needs a good kick in the ass. If he sees you trying your hardest to be there for him, even feeling like shit, maybe