Spooks & Specters: A San DeLain Short Story Collection

Chapter Two

THE SCENT hit Axel first, a heady mix of familiar smells that he had long missed. As a shifter, his heightened sense of smell could be more of a disadvantage than an advantage, but in this moment, he couldn’t have been more grateful to scent anything.

For so long, his sense of smell had been dulled and muted by the suppressants his captors had used to control his wolf. It was suffocating, like being trapped in a small room with no windows or fresh air.

But now, as he took in a deep breath, relief washed over him.

As Terry and Kage approached his hospital room, their voices low as they talked, Axel’s eyes stung with emotion. He was overwhelmed with gratitude and joy that his senses were finally returning to him. The tears threatened to fall but he held them back—he was just so relieved his senses were coming back.

There was a brief knock on his door, and clearing his throat, he prepared to greet Kage and Terry.

“Come on in,”

Axel said.

The door opened, and Kage walked in first, with Terry right behind him. Once more Axel waited for some sort of response at seeing his ex, but there was nothing. No arousal, no excitement… no anger. He was glad to see Kage, but that’s all it was—just friendly acceptance.

Terry, on the other hand, made Axel’s heart beat quicker. From the sounds of it, so did Terry’s, but Axel was unsure why.

“Good morning, Kage. Good morning, Dr. Terry.”

“Good morning, Axel,”

Kage said.

“Morning, Axel. How did you sleep?”

Terry asked.

“Better, actually. I only remember waking up twice,”

Axel said. It pained him to admit how his nightmares had plagued him, but he didn’t try to hide that from the doctor or Kage. Axel needed their help, and he knew it.

“I’m glad to hear that. I’ll make note of it in your chart,”

Terry said.

“So, we still doing this?”

“Are you sure this is a good idea?”

Kage asked.

“All of my ideas are usually good.”

Axel pulled his shirt over his head. Winking, he tossed it on the bed. Maybe if he joked about the matter, neither one of them would pick up how nervous Axel actually was.

What if he called his wolf and nothing happened?

Startled, Kage barked out a laugh. “Usually good? In what reality are you living in? Because it damn sure isn’t this one. Your ideas are usually shit.”

Axel’s hands rested on the waistband of his sweatpants. “Says you. Okay, the pants are coming off. Are you in or out?”

Kage ran a hand through his hair, then turned to Terry. “What do you think?”

“It’s only been a little over a week since his rescue,”

Terry answered, biting his lip.

Axel noticed Terry’s nervous gesture and a spurt of warmth started in his stomach. He wanted to be the one nibbling on Terry’s bottom lip. Too bad the doctor would probably rather give him an enema than allow that.

“But Axel knows his body better than any of us,”

Terry said slowly. “If he says he’s ready to shift, then let him try.”

“Thank you!”

Axel exclaimed as he waved toward Terry. “See, Kage? The doc says there’s nothing to worry about.”

Terry pursed his lips. “Now hold on. That’s not exactly what I said.”

“No takebacks.”

Grinning, Axel shoved his sweats down and kicked them off.

Axel couldn’t help but notice Kage’s discreet glance off to the side. As a werewolf, Axel had to strip down when he shifted—unlike daemons, who could shift without damaging their clothing. Lucky bastards didn’t have to deal with that.

Terry, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by the display. His gaze remained clinical and detached, which was to be expected from a doctor. But part of Axel wished there was some hint of desire in Terry’s eyes. He couldn’t blame him for being professional, though.

Glancing down at his own body, Axel couldn’t help but feel self-conscious. No doubt about it. There wasn’t much about this form that would catch someone’s attention. He longed for the strength and power that came with his shifting abilities, but he couldn’t help but wish for a more impressive physique too. He was such a mess.

“Okay.”

Axel took a deep breath, then went down on one knee. “Here goes nothing.”

For a few seconds, nothing happened.

Oh gods. Oh gods, this was exactly what he feared. Had it been too long? Had he lost his wolf? But he could feel him, so…?

Then the tingling started, and Axel was so relieved he wanted to cry. In fact, a lone tear tracked down his face as the tingles spread like wildfire through his body. He glanced up right before the change swept over him. Kage stared at him, concerned.

But the worry, then relief, then finally happiness in Terry’s gaze gave Axel the strength to take the shift all the way.

“You did it!”

Terry exclaimed.

A shift was never painful. A shifter’s transformation was just a blur as he shifted, and usually it was incredibly fast. There had been nothing incredible or fast about this, that was for sure, but at least he had managed to call forth his wolf.

Axel plopped down on his butt with a huff, his limbs trembling. That had taken more concentration and energy than he’d been expecting.

“Axel? Can you understand me?”

Terry asked.

Terry’s voice echoed through the small room, breaking Axel out of his daze.

Slowly, he nodded his head, his senses sharpening as he focused on Terry’s words. He’d always prided himself on being able to maintain control in his shifter form, but sometimes his animalistic side could still take over, making it harder to resist primal instincts.

But not this time. As he gazed at himself in the mirror on the back of the closet door in his room, sadness washed over him. He looked like a shell of his former self.

His once sleek and vibrant brownish gray coat was now dull and lifeless, a testament to the years of captivity and starvation he’d endured. His lean frame was now nothing but skin and bones, a stark contrast to the powerful and muscular physique he had once possessed.

None of this was surprising, considering what he’d been through for nearly a hundred years.

A hundred fucking years.

“May I check you over?”

Terry asked.

Axel woofed softly, letting Terry know that he understood his request and accepted it.

“Sounds like a yes to me,”

Kage said.

Terry took his stethoscope from around his neck and slowly approached Axel.

Axel sat calmly in the middle of the hospital room. He might be weak and malnourished, but he was still a werewolf—he had sharp claws and formidable fangs, which meant he was dangerous.

Not that he would hurt Terry, of course.

But Terry’s cautious approach was completely understandable. Axel noticed that while Terry examined him, Kage had taken his cell phone out and was texting somebody.

From the soft smile on his face, Terry assumed Kage was texting his mate. He’d certainly never seen such a look on Kage’s face. Once more he waited for some negative emotion to hit him—anger, jealousy, resentment. Something.

But there was nothing.

If anything, he was happy Kage had found someone who was worthy of all the love Kage had to give. Because Kage deserved that. If there was any question that chapter in his life was over, seeing the soft smile on Kage’s face confirmed it.

“Heart sounds good, your reactions seem fine, but you’ve definitely lost some muscle mass, which isn’t surprising, all things considered,”

Terry said as he straightened.

Axel woofed softly again. No, it wasn’t surprising. Actually, what was surprising was that he’d lived through it.

Terry walked to the door and opened it. “I don’t have any patients on this floor outside of you, so if you want to walk up and down the hallway for a little bit and get some exercise, that’s fine.”

That sounded like the best idea he’d heard in a long, long time. He padded outside, Terry and Kage following him. Axel stretched, his joints popping, then he trotted down the hall.

“Everything really is okay?”

Kage asked Terry quietly.

Even though Axel heard Kage, he ignored him as a flood of new scents demanded his attention.

“As far as I can tell,”

Terry said. “As I said, he’s lost muscle mass, and his wolf is much weaker than it should be. But plenty of food, exercise, and lack of stress, along with time, will help him more than anything.”

Axel sniffed every corner. Once or twice, he got into a cobweb and sneezed.

“Good. Not sure I can guarantee the lack of stress, though,”

Kage added.

“Wolves are all about the drama,”

Terry agreed.

No argument there.

“The Crimson Fangs pack thought Axel was their alpha. It was actually Nox masquerading as him, so now they have no leader. I’m sure they’ll find a way to blame Axel for that. We haven’t heard the last from them,”

Kage said.

“Werewolf politics.”

Terry shuddered. “Thank the gods we daemons don’t have that kind of crap.”

Axel almost laughed. Well, he would’ve, if a wolf could laugh.

Axel’s wolf plopped down on the floor, then he proceeded to roll from side to side, his hind legs thrashing about in the air with wild abandon. The sound of his happy grunts and the gentle thump of his furry body against the ground echoed around him.

Terry snickered at Axel’s antics.

“Well, our clan doesn’t,”

Kage said, laughing too. “Can’t speak for other clans.”

Axel sat up, yawned, then ambled back toward them. He bumped his massive head against Terry’s leg, who scratched between Axel’s ears.

That feels fabulous!

Kage raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything.

“You seem tired,”

Terry said. “Let’s not overdo it on your first time. Now that you can shift, you’re welcome to whenever you want. Why don’t you change back, and I’ll fix us something for lunch?”

Axel wandered into his room. He shifted and tried not to bitch at how much his body hurt from that. It was ridiculous. He threw on his clothes quickly.

“I’m dressed. You guys can come back in,”

Axel said.

Kage followed Terry back into the room.

Feeling a little lightheaded, Axel sat on his bed. As he ran his hand through his hair, he noticed it trembled. Quickly he dropped it to his lap.

“May I check you over again?”

Terry asked.

“Sure.”

“All seems to be fine,”

Terry said after he finished up. “I know weres usually need to eat after a shift, so why don’t I go get your lunch?”

“That would be great. Thanks. I’m actually kind of hungry.”

“Good. That’s a good sign. I’ll be right back.”

Terry took to the shadows.

Axel did need the calories, but he also figured Terry was giving him and Kage a moment to speak privately.

Kage stared at Axel. “Are you okay?”

he finally asked.

“That took more out of me than I was expecting.”

Axel shook his head. “It’s ridiculous how weak I am.”

He held his hand up, which was still trembling.

“It’s going to take time. You didn’t get in this condition overnight and you’re not going to get out of it overnight.”

Kage moved to the small sitting area in Axel’s room, where a glass of water sat on a table. Picking it up, Kage brought it to Axel.

“Thanks.”

Axel took several big gulps. There was an overbed table next to him, and he put the glass on it. “I know it’s going to take time. I just hate being weak.”

“I don’t know of anybody who likes it, but I understand what you’re saying,”

Kage said, standing next to the bed. “As soon as you’re able, Austin and I will help you move into your new apartment.”

Axel exhaled tiredly. “Are you sure you want to do that?”

“It’s already been decided. We’ve talked about this, Axel.”

Kage rested his hand on Axel’s shoulder and squeezed gently. “Are you having second thoughts?”

Axel looked up. “I know you offered, but I don’t want to take advantage.”

Removing his hand, Kage sat down next to Axel on the hospital bed. “Believe me, you’re not.”

“I just want to make sure. I do appreciate it, though.”

It hurt his pride, but at this point, beggars couldn’t be choosers. He needed help, and he knew it.

“It’s not a problem. We both want you to get better.”

“Although the gods only know why.”

Before Kage could respond, Terry popped back into the room with his and Axel’s lunch.

“That smells delicious,”

Kage said, standing. “I’m going to go so you two can eat. I’ll talk to you later, Axel.”

“I’ll be here,”

Axel joked. Because really, where else would he be?

“See you later, Doc Terry.”

“Have a good day, Elder.”

Kage stepped into the shadows.

Axel took a deep breath, enjoying the scent of the steak burger Terry had brought him. Yes, shifters needed calories after a shift, but they particularly needed meat.

“Would you laugh at me if I said my mouth was watering?”

Axel asked, because it was, ridiculously so.

“Of course not, because I agree—it smells fabulous,”

Terry said, walking over with their lunch. “Let’s eat, shall we?”