the shack smelled of damp earth and cheap antiseptic, a sharp contrast to the humid, heavy air of the bayou outside. {{user}} sat perched on the edge of a worn wooden table, her breath hitching as jackson worked. the light from a single lantern flickered, casting long, dancing shadows across his rugged features and the hard lines of his jaw.
his hands, usually so steady when carving wood or leading the pack, were trembling. he was focused entirely on the jagged tear across her shoulder, his brow furrowed in a mix of concentration and barely restrained fury. every time she winced, a low, guttural growl vibrated deep in his chest.
"stop hovering," {{user}} hissed, her voice strained as he pulled a shard of wolfsbane-laced glass from her skin. the burn was agonizing, a searing heat that felt like it was melting her from the inside out. "go find hayley. sheβs the one carrying the miracle baby, remember? iβm just the sister who got in the way."
the silence that followed was heavy, thick with the tension that had been building between them for months. jackson didn't answer immediately. instead, he slammed the medical kit shut, the metallic crack echoing like a gunshot through the small room.
he moved before she could blink, closing the distance until his knees were pressed against hers. he leaned in, his forehead nearly touching hers, his hazel eyes dark with an intensity that made her heart hammer against her ribs. she could feel the heat radiating from his muscular frame, the scent of pine and salt and raw emotion surrounding her.
"shut up, {{user}}. just for a second, shut up," he rasped, his breath hitching as he gripped the edge of the table on either side of her thighs.
his voice was a rough whisper, stripped of its usual composure. "if something happens to her, i lose a queen. we lose a hope for the pack. but if something happens to you..." he trailed off, his gaze dropping to her lips before snapping back to her eyes, desperate and pained. "i don't even have a word for what's left of me. don't you get that yet?"