The Price They Paid: Imprinted Mates Series

He put the bed tray over my lap, and my mouth watered immediately. There was some sort of hearty soup, fresh bread and butter. He’d poured juice and set the glass on the tray as well.
The first spoonful of soup was amazing, and I wished that I could relive that moment over and over. That’s how delicious it was. The broth was thick and rich with tidbits of meat and potatoes in it. I unwrapped the cloth that kept the bread warm to break off a piece and butter it. The salty sweetness was the best compliment to the soup.
“Who made this sinful meal?” I needed the recipe.
“Ms. Cordell.” Alice beamed as if pleased that I approved. “She also made this juice that you like so much. She picks the berries and fruits from her garden.”
“That’s wonderful. Please let her know how much I appreciate this.”
“She sent over a huge pot of soup and another pitcher of juice.”
“There’s more?” Maddox froze while straightening the room.
“I’m not sharing the juice,” I blurted. It was heavenly.
“But you are sharing that stew.” He darted from the room before I could object, and I laughed.
“I got the bread from the shop. I can get more of that if you’d like as well.”
I didn’t want Alice going out of her way, but it almost seemed as if doing so pleased her. “Yes, I’d love that. Thank you.”
Alice beamed even brighter, and I hadn’t thought it possible.
I ate as much as I could and finished off my glass of juice before getting comfortable. I was tired again.
“Why am I so tired?” I mumbled the question more to myself than to Alice.
“Being so close to him like that allows you to heal him continuously. I would have thought that it would be enough to heal him completely. That shows how much of his life force that he used to save you. He needs you rested to cure him. We need you to get better.”
Her words made me wonder about the accident. What had really happened out there? How bad was it? How bad had my injuries really been?
“I’m going to put you into a healing sleep that should help you sleep better and speed up the healing.” Alice caressed my forehead and memories of Seuss kissing my forehead before I’d awakened surfaced. I held onto the sweetness of that moment as I succumbed to a deep, restful slumber.
“Justice …”
“Seuss …” I pulled the pillow closer and tried to relax again.
“Justice … come to me …”
I groaned and wrapped my blanket around me tightly before sliding from my bed then padding to Seuss’ bedside. I slipped into bed with him, nestling close. I did all of this with my eyes half open. I laid my head onto his very cool shoulder and shuddered. I pulled a pillow to shield the chill before dozing back to sleep.
“Justice.” Maddox called out to me before lifting me.
I heard a loud growl and Maddox froze. I looked over to see Seuss’ face snarled though he wasn’t awake.
“Seuss, you said that Maddox could take care of me while you rested. I have to go back to bed.” I reached over and caressed his face and then his hair. Eventually, he relaxed, and Maddox carried me back to my room. Those aches and pains were back. So, we did another round of Alice’s treatment complete with soup and juice. Lesson learned. No more slipping into the Alphas bed at night. I relaxed into another deep, healing sleep so that I could face another day of battling wills with the famous Seuss.

Justice
I stood at the big bay window gazing at the falling leaves as they carpeted the lawn. Though it was only mid-September, the leaves were already tugging loose from the branches. The trees were full of bright colors differing from one root to another. I couldn’t help but to stare in awe.
I blew over my hot cup of java letting the steam push back against my skin to warm me. Alice was spoiling me with treats, and this amazing brew was one of them. It was French toast dark roast with caramel cream. No sugar was needed.
“Justice, it’s time,” Alice called from the doorway before closing the door tightly behind her.
We’d set a schedule of time that I spent healing Seuss. He needed more healing than was estimated, but I could only handle the sessions in small spells. He was strong, and healing him was no easy job. His wolf also needed to heal, and the two together drained me quickly.
I moved to the bed and sat down my cup. I took off the sweater I’d taken from Seuss’ closet and laid it across the chair. I climbed in bed with him, pressed my back against his side and put his arm around me. My cup was still in reach and I grabbed it, sipping while in deep thought. I’d been in my head a lot today and decided to share my thoughts with Seuss. Maybe he could hear me, maybe he couldn’t. Either way, it couldn’t hurt to talk to him.
“I always thought that I’d be somebody important. When I was a kid, I’d pretend to be the mayor’s wife. It wasn’t that I didn’t think that I could be the mayor, because I could. But it’s always the wife that does the good stuff. Saving communities, building schools, being that voice that others are afraid to have. The mayor gets to sit in business meetings and make sure that the laws are being upheld, but the difference is made by his counterpart. She makes the people love him and have just as much faith in him as she does.”
Seuss’ hand, warm and sure, cupped my breast. Breathless, I looked down to see his hand caressing my bare skin. His calloused fingers caressed between my breasts and down the center of my stomach. I tried to focus on what I was saying. He was in some