Chapter 8: She’s my mate

(Logan)

I rush through the hospital doors like I’m being chased by the hounds of hell themselves. I’ve mind linked Dr Fairfield to meet me here with a brief description of what’s happening.

I had raced with her in my arms to my car, where I had a spare blanket in the boot with which to cover her body, careful not to jostle her too much and cause more harm than good. But her skin remains cold, and I’m aware that I may have caused some of her injuries to worsen. I couldn’t leave her there to freeze to death, in a spot where an ambulance wouldn’t be able to get to anyway.

The doctor stands there waiting for us, along with Aaron Waters, the doctor from the Snow Moon pack, and three nurses.

As I lay her down on the gurney they have ready, both doctors do a sharp intake of breath, and look at each other before they look back at her and then me.

“Oh shit!” Waters exclaims, shocked.

“No!” Fairfield whispers and springs into action, barking orders at the nurses as he feels for a pulse and starts assessing the damage at a remarkable speed.

“You know her.” It’s a statement I throw out at the two doctors, not a question. It’s Waters that nods and looks at me, while Fairfield takes charge of her care.

“Yeah. She’s our new intern. Supposed to start tomorrow morning. What happened to her?”

I find it hard to control my emotions, or my wolf. I’m anything but calm, and I feel myself flicker between a half-shift and my human form. I breathe deeply, her scent and the fact that I can still hear her faint heartbeat, calming me. I try to remind myself that these doctors are trying to help, not harm.

“I don’t know. My men found her in the river, right on our border with Dark Moon pack. I’m no doctor but those injuries tell me that she was attacked and then dumped in the river.”

“Holy crap! Who the hell would do something like that?”

I shake my head. “Trust me, I’ll find out,” I say and move with the medical team when they start pushing my mate through a set of wide sliding doors.

Fairfield stops me. “Alpha, I’m sorry but this is an operating theatre with strict hygiene controls. You can’t be in here.” He says sternly, and I almost deck him.

Despite my aggressive stance and Alpha aura, he stands firm.

“Alpha, please. If you want to help her, you must stay clear of this room.”

I meet his gaze, still breathing hard, and his eyes go wide.

“She’s your mate, isn’t she?” he whispers to me. I could do nothing but nod.

He puts a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll make sure she’s okay, Alpha. I’ll take care of our Luna, don’t worry.”

Then he turns away and leave me standing there as the doors slide closed and I can’t see her any longer.

I run my hand over my face, through my hair, and take a deep breath. Her floral scent still lingers faintly, mixed with the antiseptic smell of hospital. I find a seat in the corridor outside. There’s nothing to do now but wait.

Jonah. Are you still up? I mind link my Beta.

There’s a slight pause before he answers.

Yeah. What’s up. Are you back from the meeting?

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Yes. Came back about an hour ago, but there’s been an incident on the border. Get in touch with Tim, let him fill you in, but the basics go like this: They found a rogue girl in the river right on the border with Dark Moon. Looks like she was badly beaten up then thrown in the river further upstream.

I ponder what else to say. What to leave out.

Shit. Okay so you think Dark Moon’s guys found her on their territory and did a number on her? Why are we getting involved?

It was a fair question. Rogues have no rights if they wander into pack territory, no protection anywhere else either. But this was different. She is different, not like an ordinary rogue.

It’s a bit of a long story but suffice to say she’s not a regular rogue. She is the new doctor that was supposed to start working with Fairfield at the hospital tomorrow. I want you to investigate this, Jonah. We need to find out why she got banged up.

You want me to start now?

Yes, immediately. Sweep that area, go to her accommodation, find out who she interacted with the past days, everything. There’s another reason I need you to do this, Jonah, but this is the very confidential bit, okay?

Yeah sure, what is it?

She’s my mate.

I can practically feel his shock reverberate through the mind link.

Oh shit. I mean, congratulations? But wait, is she okay?

I don’t know yet. She’s alive. I’m at the hospital. The medics are working on her.

I’m so sorry, Logan. I’ll find out what I can, okay? What’s her name?

That one had me stumped. I don’t think Fairfield had ever mentioned her name, not even when he spoke to me about her before.

I give a cynical laugh. I don’t know yet. Will let you know as soon as I do.

Okay, that will help with the investigation.

Thanks man. Let’s keep each other updated.

I break the mind link and run my hands over my face and through my hair again. One of the nurses at reception looks at me funny, and I look down at myself.

No wonder. I’m shirtless, only having thrown on my pants when I reached my car, and there were blood smears all over my abdomen and chest. Hers.

I stand up and approach the nurse.

“Excuse me, do you have something I can use to clean this up?” I ask as I gesture towards the blood.

She blushes and nods.

“Of course, Alpha. There’s a washroom just over there,” she points to the ‘male/female’ signs on a door further down the hall. “I can bring you a few towels and a shirt if you’d like?”

“That would be great, thanks,” I say and head to the washroom.

I use the towels she brings to wipe off the blood, then try to put on the stiff shirt she brought me. It’s one of those dark blue linen tops that surgeons wear, scrubs I think it’s called, and it’s not big enough for me. So, I abandon it.

I leave the washroom to take up a seat again. My wolf is antsy, I’m on edge with worry and anger and this feeling of helplessness.

Fuck. If only I didn’t have this meeting out of town, I could have met her earlier. If only I had arranged to meet her and make her part of my pack the day she first arrived here. She would have been safe. I would have known she’s my mate.

Goddess knows, I’m going to hunt down the fuckers who did this to her. I’ll tear their limbs off slowly, one by one, and make them eat their own eyeballs.

Noticing that I’m still shirtless, the nurse from earlier approach me again.

“Alpha? I was hoping the scrubs would fit – it was our largest one. I’m sorry I don’t have anything else.” She says, the stench of fear seeping through her pores. She must have sensed my anger and came over to apologize.

“It’s okay. Thanks for trying though.” I say.

“Is… is there anything else I can help you with?”

“Yes, there is actually. Do you know the name of the new intern doctor that is supposed to start tomorrow?”

She nods and smiles.

“Yes, it’s Doctor Greywood. Jaime Greywood. Everyone’s really excited because she’s pretty famous and we can’t believe she’s chosen to come here, you know?”

Jaime. That’s her name. And then the rest of her words sinks in.

“Famous? Why is she famous?”

The nurse takes her phone from her pocket.

“As in the model, Jaime Grey. Have you not heard of her? Let me show you,” she says and taps on her phone. Then she extends it to me, face up, and there’s a picture on the screen of a stunningly beautiful woman. I’ve seen her before, yes, but only in pictures like these.

“That’s her?” I ask, frowning even while my heart is making summersaults in my chest.

“Yep. Pretty cool huh? We can’t wait to meet her.”

I hand her back her phone.

“What’s your name?” I ask.

“I’m Betty, Alpha. I’m from the Dark Moon pack.”

“Well Betty. Thanks for your help.”

I dismiss the nurse, deciding not to divulge the information that, behind those doors, doctors Fairfield and Waters are currently trying to save Jaime Greywood’s life. I don’t tell her that the new doctor they are all so eager to meet was attacked and left for dead. Or that the ones who did it can expect heavy retribution from the Moon Lake pack.

I feel my anger flaring up again, and the nurse takes a step back.

The nurse nods, clearly frightened by my black mood, and scurries back to her station.