Chapter 42: The Injured.
Before we go our separate ways, Warren kisses me, really kisses me, in front of the entire pack. I don’t know what it looked like, but it sure felt like a movie kiss.
“If we’re attacked, I’ll send warriors to protect the hospital. You just worry about doing what you do best,” he says, his eyes soft as they look at me.
“Then you do what you do best, Alpha. Fight hard and stay strong.”
I
“With you by my side, how can I not stay strong,” he says, leaning in to kiss me again.
When I turn, I see Bradley, Savannah, and Noelle all waiting for me.
Noelle isn’t wearing a mate mark, but she smells strongly of Charlie. I see her look past me, trying to hide her smile. When I turn I see Charlie winking at her.
“Morning, Luna,” he says as if he wasn’t just flirting with his mate.
“Morning, Beta,” I say, turning back to the group.
“Okay, I guess you three are with me. Did Anna get some sleep?” I ask Savannah.
“She, Katie, and Erica all took shifts today so they could sleep and Erica could spend some time with her pup.
“Who’s on right now?” I ask as we walk to the pack hospital.
“I believe Katie is waiting for Anna to come relieve her.”
“We’ll relieve her. The three of us slept. Let them rest,” I say, then turn to Noelle. “You did get some sleep, right?”
“Yes, Luna,” she says blushing.
“How about you, Luna. Did you get any sleep?” Bradley asks, his tone teasing. I know even with the shower that Warren’s scent is all over me.
When I look, I see him trying to hide a smile.
“I did, thank you very much for your concern, Bradley. How about you?
Did you get any sleep?”
“I get energized in other ways, Luna,” he says, giving me a full-on smile.
I shake my head and I’m about to ask Savannah if she got enough sleep, when I see her blushing. “Savannah?”
“I slept,” she says much too quickly. Interesting.
When we walk in, I see Katie sitting in a chair in the waiting room, rubbing her stomach.
“Katie?” I ask, walking up to her.
“Oh, Luna. How did you sleep?” she asks me.
“Good. How are you?” I ask, beginning to do a visual assessment of her.
“This little one is being very problematic today,” she says.
“How far along are you?” I ask her.
“Oh, I’m still a couple of weeks out, Luna. I’m sure these are just Braxton-Hicks contractions,” she says. “Savannah…” I begin.
“Come on, Katie. Better to be safe than sorry. Let’s get you ready for our Luna to check you out,” she says.
“Noelle, you’re with me,” I say to her, turning to Bradley who is watching Savannah and Katie. “Should I call her mate?” he asks me.
“Not yet. I’ll let you know that changes,” I tell him and Noelle and I move to check on Piper first. When we walk in, I see that she’s awake.
“Hey, Piper. This is Noelle. She came from Thomas’ pack and wants to be a nurse or a doctor,” I say turning to look at her. “We never really talked about it.”
“I’d really like to be a doctor,” Noelle says.
“Perfect. We need more of those,” I say, turning back to Piper.
As I begin to check Piper, I tell Noelle what happened to her.
“Wow. You saved her life?” she asks.
I look at Piper. “I did, but I’m hoping I saved her voice box too.”
“How’s your wolf, Piper? Answer in the mind link.”
I’m good, Luna,’ I hear her wolf say.
“Good, that’s good,” I say out loud so Noelle can participate in the conversation.
“Does it still hurt to swallow?” I ask.
Piper nods, but she also answers in the mind link. “It does but not as much.”
“Not as much, that’s good,” I say for Noelle’s benefit.
“I’m going to keep you on soft foods,” I say and Piper silently groans.
“I know it’s gross, but I said soft foods, not fluids. Let’s see how your throat does. It needs to work, to be
able to swallow. Have your wolf practice that and work to heal those muscles in your throat. Once the pain
is gone and you can swallow, we’ll see about talking. Is there anything else you need?”
‘Friends?’ she asks in the mind link.
I laugh. ‘Yes, you can have visitors. But no talking out loud and if you get tired, rest.” ‘Yes, Luna.’
We leave Piper and head to Laney’s room. When we walk in, I’m surprised to see Haynes sleeping in a
chair, his head on the bed beside Laney with her hand laying half on his head, half on his shoulder. “Oh,” Noelle says.
“Do they know each other?” I ask quietly.
Noelle doesn’t look away from her sister. “No, I don’t think so. But my sister has never shown any
affection to a man in our pack. I think…”
“You think both of you found your mates in this pack?” I ask her as Laney’s eyes open and Haynes begins to shift.
“How are you feeling, Laney?” I ask her, watching as Haynes head pops up.
“Oh, I fell asleep,” he says.
“So you did,” I say walking up to look at Laney’s leg.
“How is Haise feeling this morning?” I ask, referencing Laney’s wolf.
“I’m good, Luna,” Haise says as I pull off the bandage.
“Whoa,” Noelle says, seeing that the incision has already healed. I begin pressing gently on the areas that were broken.
“Any pain?” I ask her.
“Just tenderness, Luna.”
“You’re healing nicely, Laney. I can give you some crutches so you don’t have to stay here, but you can’t fight until I clear it,” I tell her.
She glances at Haynes. “I don’t have anywhere to stay, Luna. So, if it’s okay with you…”
“We’ll find you a room, Laney. It’ll be more comfortable than staying here,” Haynes says.
“Haynes is right, and he’d know. Besides, spending time with your mate will strengthen your wolf faster
and therefore heal you faster,” I say, making both of their eyes go wide.
“I didn’t… we didn’t…” Laney begins.
“Our Luna is very intuitive, Laney. I’m not surprised that she figured it out.”
“You sleeping in here was a pretty big clue, Haynes,” I say. “Check with Warren and see what rooms we
have available unless you’re ready to share a room,” I say, turning and heading out. I’ll let them figure their mate bond out between them.
“Noelle,” I call as she stands there, staring at her sister.
“Yes, Luna.”
“I need to know about this next guy. He came from Thomas’ pack,” I say.
“Who?” Laney asks, sitting up, instantly alert.
“I don’t know, that’s why I need Noelle.”
“Here, I’ll go with you,” she says.
I point my finger at her. “Stay where you are. You are not fit or cleared to fight if that’s what’s needed.”
“I’ll come with you, Luna,” Haynes says, standing and nodding at Laney.
“Bradley’s coming too. Warren wants two in the room with me, just in case,” I say, stepping out and calling out to Bradley.
“Luna. Katie is in a bed. Savannah says she’s in labor.”
“Looks like another fun day at the hospital. Did you tell her mate?”
“I did. He’s on his way.”
“You and Haynes are with me,” I say, walking toward the next door where the warrior is strapped to the bed.
“Travis!” Noelle says, rushing to the bed.
“Noelle?” he asks, groggily. “Where am I?”
“You know him?” I ask her, stepping up. Bradley and Haynes stepping up behind me.
“He’s a good guy, Luna. He wasn’t part of Thomas’ crew.”
Travis hisses at Noelle. “Alpha Thomas, Noelle,” he corrects her.
“He’s dead, Travis. Alpha Warren’s pack killed him.”
He looks back at me. “So, I’m a rogue?”
“That depends on you. Noelle says you’re one of the good ones, so my mate will want to talk to you.” “Your mate?”
“She’s the Luna, but she’s also a doctor, Travis. She’s the one that saved your life,” Noelle says to him. “Can I get out of these restraints?” he asks me.
“That will be up to Warren,” I say, looking over his injuries. “How is your wolf, Travis?”
He’s quiet a moment and when I look up at him, his lips are pressed tightly together. “Silent.”
I nod. “I’m not surprised. You lost a lot of blood. You’re probably only alive because of your wolf. We’ll get you healed up and help your wolf get stronger.”
“Wolves don’t come back when they go silent,” he says, looking away.
“They do in this pack,” Haynes says to him. “If you’re a good guy and Alpha Warren agrees, then our Luna here will have you and your wolf up and fighting in no time.”
“So, it’s true? You’re the lady doctor that’s making Alpha Warren’s pack stronger?” he asks me.
“What an interesting question, warrior. One that I would be very interested in knowing more about,”
Warren says, walking in. “Your lifespan very much depends on whether or not you’re willing to tell me everything you know about the plans of the other Alphas to come after my mate.”
Travis looks from Warren to me and back again.
“I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”
“Good,” Warren says, turning to me. “When you’re done here, we need to talk.”