Otto's POV

Jax and Jasper got along concerningly well. Once we'd dropped off Emelia at college all i could hear was their constant chatting and it was about pretty much everything. Jax delt with Jasper easily and Jasper had the balls or lack of sense (it was hard to tell which) to speak freely with the gang leader.

In some aspects Jax fit the stereotype well, but some things made it blurr around the edges. I wasn't sure what his gang did exactly, i knew what we were told but the council and journalism tended to dramatize things, make things seem worse than what it was, paint the picture that Jax was nothing but a heartless and dangerous criminal.

From the short time i've known him i have seen much more than a criminal, in fact he comes across as a regular joe asside from the intimidating and minacious air about him. I saw the affection and love in his eyes when he looked at Ro, how he spoke in a low and caring voice to him and he treated Nobu with a certain gentleness and friendly manner. Father seemed to like him, they had the same opinions on most things, maybe Jax took a very forward approach on some issues but i knew he was doing it for the right reasons, even if the law considered it as doing the wrong thing. I've heard from shifter circles how he hunted down poachers and traffickers, so of course the human populace would portray him as the bad guy. The influential shifters didn't like how he killed rapers, or those who hurt the more vulnerable shifters. Those in the wrong were often than not one of their own, sure, some less fortunate shifters were also drawn to crime, but not because they thought they could get away with it. Those influential in the world had shares in the council, so their workers tended to be more lenient, or risk loosing funding.

Our society was as corrupt as others, sure if someone with no connections or money did wrong the full force of the law would bear down on them but if a rich and well-connected shifter did the same thing all they got was a slap on the wrist. Jax delt justice no matter the person's wealth or friends, it's why the council hated him so much, he underminded them and made them seem bad, they portrayed him in a nefarious light to those who didn't know any better, hence his reputation amongst everyday shifters.

I was interrupted from my thoughts when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I fished it out and frowned at the name flashing on the screen. Why was Nobu calling me? Did he forget something? Did something happen? He seemed fine when we left him at school, has his heat spiked again?

I answered the call, not even getting the phone to my ear before i heard Nobu's distraught voice, i could hear the body wracking sobs he was holding back so he could be coherent enough for me to understand him. I stopped in my tracks at what he rushed out, it ending with him in a fit of tears and heart crushing cries. 'Get to the school. Carno's killing Ro.' I barely heard the last bit.

My heart dropped to my stomach and i froze for a second. Oh god no, no... please no. If Carno kills Ro that was bad enough, but they were mated now, if Ro dies then so does Nobu. I don't think i could take that, live in a world without my beloved younger brother.

"Carno's attacked Ro and Nobu." I rushed out and Jax and Jasper abruptly stopped walking and their chatter cut off. Their heads whipped back to look at me but i was already shifting and running back in the direction of the school, digging my legs in and running as fast as i possibly could.

We're coming Nobu... just hold on.

Nobu's POV

I could see Ro getting weaker as the minutes ticked by, how he had to throw himself to get away from Carno's teeth and claws. I could see how exhausted Ro was, he couldn't do this for much longer.

Come on Otto.

Carno leapt forward and Ro twisted and fell trying to back peddle, ending up with his already shredded front exposed. I snarled and latched onto one of Carno's large ears, tearing it clean off. He yowled and bucked, trying to get me off of him but my claws were dug into his skin and muscle deeply and i vowed i wouldn't let go until my brothers and Jax got here.

Ro lay spent on the floor, i could see him struggling to get up but he just slipped on the blood slick floor, one of his hind legs mauled and lame, he couldn't keep his feet under him.

It felt as if my heart was being put through a grinder, it was searing and unendurable to see him hurt, to think that i might lose him when i've really only known him for a short few weeks. I wasn't ready. I knew i'd die to but i found i didn't care, a life without Ro wasn't worth living, now i'd met him i couldn't be without him. He holds my heart in his chest and i hold his, he is my mate, the other half of my soul.

I almighty roar sounded, echoed by two others. I looked up, seeing Otto's pale liger, Jaspers Bengal tiger and Jax's tan and black jaguar. I felt hope bloom in my chest but for good measure i dragged my front legs back, my claws creating gaping wounds and i felt my claws scrape bone.

Carno basically screamed and managed to throw me off. I used my balance and tail to land on my feet, baring my bloody teeth at Carno, my eyes burning with fury.

His eyes had widened, the firelike glow in his eyes dimming as Otto and Jasper barreled into him and pinned him down, their claws adding more puncture marks to Carno's bloody coat.

I sprinted over to Ro and let out a distruaght yowl, blood was everywhere, i could see ripped muscle and bone on show. Jax was trying to comfort Ro but i could see the hopeless sadness in his eyes, he looked so broken, his shoulders and head dropped.

I began to lap at the many wounds, starting with his chest, my throat vibrating with purrs. I was praying that they didn't arive to late and my Omega healing would be able to save Ro. I knew he'd lost a lot of blood but i had to beleive he'd make it, him not making it wasn't an option.

I saw him shift back to his human form, his animal receeding, having fought for it's life. I felt Ro's hands card through my blood stained fur. "Nobu..." his voice was weak and pain filled. I was crying on the inside, my human side was inconsolable, a sobbing, crying mess.

I glanced up at Ro as i continued to lick, my head moving down his body to heal his thigh Carno had bitten a chunk out of. All i could taste was blood but i would do anything to save him, anything.

He looked pale, his usually tanned skin an unhealthy white, his eyes, oh his eyes, thinking of not seeing them again, not seeing the warmth, the love and the affection that shone in them like right now...

I wanted to hug him but i needed to heal him first.

I felt more hands on me and heard Jax's soft and low voice. It was filled with tension, stress and desperation. "Please Nobu please, don't let him leave us. I've just found him again, don't let me loose him." He was crying, i could hear it in his voice. He loved his son dearly, anyone could see that. He was right, i couldn't do it to him, i couldn't do it to Ro, he deserved to get to know his birth father, he deserved a family, he needed it.

I was half aware of the sirens, all my focus on healing Ro. My brain took in the paramedics in their green uniforms coming to gather around Ro, some going to check on Carno.

"He's lost a lot of blood, do you know his blood type?" I heard one of them ask Jax.

In my peripheral i saw him wipe his damp cheeks and rub his eyes. "Yes... he's AB-... like me." Jax in formed them.

"That's very lucky, AB- is very rare." The paramedic replied. Jax held out his arms and they quicky connected one of his arteries to one of Ro's veins with tubing and needles.

I contiued to lick Ro's wounds, ending up close to his face dealing with claw gouges across his left shoulder. His eyes watched me, silent tears streaming down his drawn and pale cheeks. The paramedics worked around me, checking his vitals and talking to Ro, asking how he was feeling and assuring he was in good hands.

One of Ro's hands was clasped in both of Jax's, holding on to his son, i doubt he would let Ro out of his sight for a long time, we needed a bigger house.

The wound on his shoulder was the last i could see and it had healed. I shifted and i couldn't hold back the tears that trekked down my cheeks. "Ro...." i whispered before letting out a sob, letting my head lower to rest against his newly healed shoulder. "Did i get them all?" I asked.

"Yes Nobu..." he murmured, his free hand was unusually ice cold, it rested on my back, the closest he could get to hugging me at the moment. I lifted my head and rubbed our cheeks together, purring despite tears, chest gently pressing against his cool torso, my body was like a furnace due to my heat and he needed the warmth.

Someone put blankets over us, from the crinkle one must be made from foil. "Nobu is it..? We need to move Ro onto a stretcher, the cold floor isn't doing him any favors." One of the paramedics informed me. I looked up, seeing a kind looking lady smiling softly at me, she was a shifter, some sort of mammal but i was too focused on Ro to try and figure out what she was.

"Where do you need me?" I asked, sniffing and letting out a hiccup.

Her smile widened a little and she patted the back of my hand. "Just follow Ro, he needs your warmth and presence, you're his mate yes?" She gathered and i nodded.

They laid out the stretcher beside Ro and I and a blanket. First they lifted Ro onto the blanket and i kind of squatted and used my hands and feet to move with him whilst keeping low. Then they moved him onto the lowered stretcher, Jax followed close, still giving blood to Ro. The stretcher was lifted and a paramedic led Jax as another pushed Ro and I along and into the waiting ambulance.

I curled around Ro's side which he wasn't getting blood from, making sure not to knock the tube. Jax was sitting on the other side, his arm resting on the stretcher, his free hand tenderly combing through Ro's hair.

I looked back seeing some police officers just arriving on scene, Otto and Jasper finally let Carno go and came over to us, shifting into their human forms. They sent me forced smiles and Otto wrapped his arm around Jasper's shoulders and he didn't complain like he normally would.

"We'll let mum and dad know what happened Nobu, you just look after Ro alright?" Otto told me and i nodded slightly.

"Don't you dare die on us Mr moneybags." Jasper hollered to Ro, who let out a weak laugh.

"No way in hell am i dying when i have so much to live for." Ro's voice was scratchy and quiet but it carried conviction and determination, he still had some fight left in him, and i would do all i could to keep him beside me.

I looked up at Ro and he turned his head, letting out a snuff. I purred in response and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. "I love you Ro." I murmured.

"I love you too Nobu." He breathed softly and pecked my lips back. "Not even Carno can come between me loving you..."