His words died in his mind. His hand was still on Rick’s throat, painted with the drying blood. He thought he felt something, a tiny flicker beneath his fingers. He remained perfectly still and pressed his hand more firmly against Rick’s neck.
It took almost a full minute, but he felt it again. A single heartbeat, it was faint, but it meant Rick was alive, barely. Jakes understood, Rick’s body had slowed down his heart beats, it was a means to keep him alive. Rick was hanging on to his life by a very thin thread, but he was alive, that was what mattered.
Jakes was glad they had their backs to the rest of the Grey stone men, because he smiled a little with relief. Then he told his Alpha. “He is alive, but he won’t be for long if we leave him here.”
Jakes spoke to Rick, “For the sake of
