Adrian

Description

Adrian – Mychael Black

Southern Cross 1

Officer Adrian Cross wasn’t expecting to find a mate anytime soon. He had a life, a job, and he had just wanted to help a young man who’d seemed sick and injured. He’d never expected to find his mate plastered to the concrete, but there he was, and it was clear he had suffered through a lot more than simple illness.

Omega Carter Goodwin had never met a kind person who didn’t want to use him, abuse him, or both. After running from his abusive family pack, he stayed hidden, turning tricks to make what little money he could. Life quickly changed course, though, when a passing officer scooped him up off of the streets and showed him what kindness and love could feel like.

But Carter wouldn’t be the only runaway omega discovered, and Officer Cross was about to find that the awaiting nightmare would be worse than he’d imagined.

Available on Kindle Unlimited

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EXCERPT:

“Can’t stand here. Move along.”

I would’ve argued, but simply I didn’t have the energy. Hell, I probably could’ve taken the human down, sick or not, but I also didn’t need the trouble. Ignoring the cop’s glare, I left the corner. There were other areas to find tricks. I hugged my tattered coat tighter around myself and fought back a cough. Every inhalation felt like shards of glass in my windpipe and lungs. Wolves didn’t get sick often, but this shit simply refused to go away.

I finally found another spot out of the cop’s sight and leaned against the building’s brick wall. Fuck, it was cold. The wind chilled me to the bone even through the coat. I quickly lost the battle with my lungs and coughed so much, I tasted blood. Shivering, I closed my eyes for just a moment. Sleep. All I wanted was sleep.

Sharp, excruciating pain shot through me a split second later, blinding and nauseating. Bile rose in my throat, and I rolled over to puke up the half doughnut I’d had earlier. It took a moment to dawn on me that I was on the cold sidewalk instead of standing. The world sort of swam in my peripheral vision. When something brushed my hair, I snarled and slapped at whatever it had been.

“Hey, easy. You’re hurt.”

I managed to look up at the person. My vision was hazy, but the unmistakable scents of chocolate and red wine filled my head, wrapping around my sleep-deprived brain. I tried to speak, but it took more energy than I had left. Another coughing fit took hold, and I spit out blood. Then strong hands were lifting me. I wanted to protest, but my body and voice didn’t obey. Unable to do a damn thing, I shivered and gave in, closing my eyes.

Sometime later, bright light woke me once more. I blinked my eyes open and stared up at a white tiled ceiling. I thought I heard beeping, and it took another moment before I realized where I was. Gasping, I tried to sit up, but the room spun, forcing me back down. A man approached the bed, and all I could smell were the addictive scents from earlier.

“Shh… you’re safe.”

I licked my lips to wet them. When a cup pressed to my mouth, I had little choice but to sip what I discovered was water. The man set the cup down and sat in the chair by the bed. I closed my eyes again to block the brightness.

“Where am I?”

“Jackson Memorial Hospital,” the man said. The light dimmed a bit. “You fell and hit your head on the sidewalk.”

“Who are you?”

“Adrian Cross. What’s your name?”

“Carter Goodwin.” I opened my eyes again and looked over. An enigmatic, light blue gaze met mine. “Why did you bring me here? I can’t afford this.”

“It’s covered. What’s important is that you’re safe and getting treated. In addition to the fall injury, you have a rather nasty bout of pneumonia.”

I had the feeling that was the case. It still didn’t help the fact that I had absolutely no way to pay a fucking hospital bill. I lifted my right arm where the IV tubing was taped down. A blood pressure cuff was on my left bicep. I sighed.

“I can pay you—or whoever—back. Name your price: cash or sex.”

A low, almost possessive growl snapped my attention back to Adrian. What the fuck?

“Absolutely not. Those days are over.”