Filed to story: The Alpha’s Pen Pal Book
I stepped towards her, but the nurses rushed in at the same time, blocking her from me as they crowded around her, grabbing her hands to stop her from removing her IV.
“No!” she croaked, her feet kicking out at the nurses.
Her chest rose and fell in quick, shallow pants, her eyes darting around the room, flicking between all the machines.
I realized then the emotions I felt weren’t mine but hers. Nolan growled and snapped at a nurse, and I lunged forward, moving them out of the way.
“Leave her alone,” I commanded, my voice low but cold, leaving no room for argument or disobedience. “Let her go and move away from the bed.”
They all stepped away as soon as the order fell from my lips. Haven’s eyes moved to me, and a sliver of relief formed within her tangled mess of emotions.
“Please, Wes,” she whispered, her eyes looking around the room again, taking in the nurses, monitors, and the wires. “Please,” she repeated, her arms wrapping around her knees as they curled into her body.
Her breaths were still shallow, her body shaking as I walked to her slowly, taking her face in my hands and lifting her gaze to mine. My thumbs stroked her cheekbones, and I held her stare. Her eyes were still wide and glassy, but her gaze didn’t move from mine.
“Get Dr. Russo,” I told the nurses, my eyes still locked with Haven’s.
Her legs uncurled from her body, and she scooted towards me, her arms wrapping around my waist. I let go of her face so she could rest it against my chest, my hands moving to her back and rubbing up and down in long strokes.
“Yes, Alpha?” Dr. Russo asked as he rushed into the room.
“I’m taking Haven back to my house,” I told him.
“But—“
“Her wound is healing faster than a human normally would,” I said. “There is no blood on the bandage, and you haven’t had to change it at all since they placed it on her neck. Whatever else you need to do to monitor her, you can do at my house.”
“Wesley, that isn’t how—“
“Can’t you see she’s terrified?” I growled, glaring at him. “She doesn’t feel safe here!”
Her arms tightened around me, and I could feel her surprise at my understanding of the cause of her panic.
The hospital. Of course, the hospital gave her a panic attack. Before, when they’d been stitching her up, she wasn’t lucid. She was in pain and shock and had adrenaline coursing through her.
But after all that wore off, and she realized where she was—well, she panicked. And it made sense. The hospital most likely brought back memories of the worst day of her life, the day social services took her away from Jack and Shirley. From her family.
I’d heard all about that day, both from her and her parents—heard about how everything had happened and how awful it had been for her. I wasn’t about to force her to stay in a place that made her relive those moments.
“Is she stable?” I asked him.
“Yes.” He sighed. “Her IV antibiotic is done. I can do all her checkups from your house.”
I didn’t say anything else. I just scooped Haven up into my arms and cradled her against my chest. The nurse removed her IV. Then Haven looped her arms around my neck, burrowing her face into my chest.
I walked out of the clinic with her in my arms, Nolan trotting along behind us, still ready and in his wolf form. I carried her all the way to my house, holding her as close to my body as I could, using the mate bond to soothe her and settle her frayed nerves.
When we reached the house, Nolan stayed on the porch as I took Haven into my room and settled her on the bed. I turned the lamp on, looked her over, taking in the uncomfortable hospital gown she wore. “Do you want one of my shirts?” I asked
She nodded, and I kissed the top of her head, then went to my dresser to grab a shirt for her. Through the bond, I could feel her calming down, and I could hear her breathing through her nose.
“Can you untie this?” she asked me as I handed her the T-shirt, her fingers pinching the fabric of the gown. “My shoulder is still sore,” she added softly.
Her voice was still raspy from the damage to her vocal cords, but the swelling and bruising on her neck was already diminishing.
“Of course,” I murmured, moving behind her to help.
She pulled the loose gown off her arms, and I stayed in my spot, putting the shirt over her head so she didn’t have to lift her arms. I closed my eyes to give her privacy, even though I’d seen her naked before. But I didn’t know where we stood anymore and wanted to be respectful.
“Do you need any other clothes?” I asked her as she changed. “I’m sure Maddie has more in one of the guest rooms.”
“I’m fine for now,” she said.
“Okay,” I replied, peeking through my shut lids to see if she’d finished.
She gave me a weak smile. Her eyes were still puffy and watery, and even though she was calming down from her panic attack, there was still lingering anxiety under her brave face.
My lycan whimpered in my head, urging me to take her in my arms and hold her, but I held myself back, too nervous to hurt her or scare her.
“I’ll sleep on my couch,” I muttered as I turned off the lamp, pointing at the white couch in the sitting area of the master suite.
I stepped away from the bed, but her hand grabbed mine with an iron grip, stopping me from going any further. I turned to her, and she shook her head, scooting over to make room for me on the bed.
“Are you sure?” I asked, and she nodded, leaning back against the pillows and sliding under the white comforter.
She rolled onto her right side and curled up into a ball as I crawled onto the bed with her. I lay down next to her on my back, an inch of space between us. I could feel my lycan glaring at it in my mind, pushing at me to close the gap.
I clenched my jaw, though, and held still. I didn’t want to push her. She wanted me with her in the bed, but did she really want me? Would she spurn my affections, or would she return them?
The answer to those questions came in the form of her small voice. “I need you to hold me, Wes.”
I wrapped my body around hers in less than half a second, pressing myself close to her. She didn’t need to tell me twice.
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?