“You are?”
She sounded so happy that he almost didn’t have the heart to tell her that Iva was hurt. But lying would do no good. Sana would smell the blood and pain on Iva. She’d instantly be aware that Noah had lied to her. “Yup. I am. Aunt Iva got a boo-boo so we’re having her looked at by the doctor.”
There was silence before there was the sound of fumbling again. “Aunt Iva’s hurt?” Milo sounded scared. Noah could only imagine how Sana was reacting.
Maybe he should head home? “Listen. She’s going to be fine. I think she’s got a broken bone, that’s all. I’ll bring her back with me, all right?”
“Promise?” There were sniffles in the background. God, the kids had gotten attached to Iva quickly. He’d listened to them in the night, crying, talking about their mother and father, but he hadn’t been able to interrupt. The loss of their parents was a pain only they shared, and putting his own grief on them was wrong. To find that they were worried about Iva both thrilled and concerned him. Were they already thinking of Iva as a surrogate mother?
“I give you my word as alpha that Aunt Iva will come home with me, if only to show you that she’s all right.” He had no idea if she’d need to be in the Throne to fully heal or not, but either way she’d be in his home, lying on his bed sooner rather than later. “So go wash up and eat breakfast, and listen to everything Paisley tells you to do. And yes, that means do it.”
“Okay, Uncle Noah.” Milo sniffed. “She’s not as cool as you are, though.”
“That’s because I’m alpha, kiddo.”
“I guess so.”
“Take care of your sister for me, all right?”
“Yes, Uncle Noah.” Milo handed the phone back to Paisley without another word.
“So, how’s the alpha mate?” Paisley sounded distracted, but the kids were moving around in the background so he couldn’t blame her.
“She’s still being checked out. It might be a while because she was reinjected with black blood.”
“Shit.” Paisley’s tone became dark, angry. “Anything I can kill for her?”
Noah yawned wide. Damn, he was tired. A good hike followed by combat and a lope back to town could really take its toll of a wolf. “Nope. Already taken care of. Trajan flamed it into ash.”
“Good for him. I’ll send Eddy some Oreo pie as thanks later.”
Noah laughed. “Get off the phone and go take care of my kids, idiot.”
“Yes, alpha idiot.” Paisley hung up before he could growl at her.
Smart lady.
“Alpha?” The orderly was back, this time with Dr. T. The doctor seemed exhausted, dark circles under his eyes and his skin an unhealthy pale color. “The doctor would like to—”
“I’ve got this Gary, thanks.” Dr. T pushed past the young orderly without even glancing at him. “I’ve got good news. Iva’s not infected.”
Noah, about to light into the doctor for being rude to one of his wolves, stopped cold. “What?”
“She’s not infected.” Dr. T shrugged and put his hands in his pockets. “I triple checked the lab work, and there’s no sign of black blood in her system. However,” he held up one hand to stop Noah from standing up and possibly hugging the life out of the prickly doc, “she does seem to have a different reaction to it than I had anticipated.”
Noah shook his head. “Again, what?”
Dr. T waved Gary the orderly out of the room. When Gary was gone he closed the door behind the young wolf. “I can only describe it as her blood cells are eating the black cells.”
“How is that possible? Vampiric blood destroys them, but—”
“She’s not destroying them. She’s assimilating them. Her white cells are attacking first, like they normally would with a foreign body, but when they hit the black cells those cells start to change. When the white cells are done with them, they’re just like Iva’s other cells. Some become white, some red, some platelets...they transform into whatever Iva needs to heal. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.”
Noah stood, ignoring the doctor’s sigh. “Can Iva’s blood be used in conjunction with the current vaccine to enhance it?”
“Maybe?” The doctor scowled. “I need to sleep on that.”
“Amen. I think we can all use some sleep.” Noah put his hand on Dr. T’s shoulder. “Is she ready to go home?”
“Almost. We’ve cleaned up the wound and we’re putting a cast on now. She’ll heal just fine, but don’t take her into battle again until she’s completely healed. She’ll try to use that arm and then I’ll have to rebreak it when it heals all wrong. I hate doing that. The screaming hurts my ears.”
“Got it.”
“You already know how to deal with burns, so I don’t think I need to go over that care with you, right?”
“Right.” Noah started toward the door. “I’m going to go sit with her.”
Dr. T sighed but didn’t bother arguing. Instead he led the way, showing Noah to where they were working on Iva, talking the entire way. “I want her to rest when you get her home, understand? Her body is working overtime. Exhaustion will kick in, possibly a fever. If the fever gets too high she’ll either need to be brought in or taken to the Throne to commune with her tree.”
Noah nodded, but all he saw was his mate lying on a gurney, her arm being wrapped in a cast. At least she could cancel her appointment with the doctor tomorrow. The bloodwork had been done to check if the injection had re-infected her. That clean bill of health could mean...
“Is it safe to claim her?”
“I think so. In all ways but one her blood seems perfectly normal.” Dr. T muttered a farewell and left, leaving Noah with the doctors who were working on Iva, and Iva herself.
Iva looked like death warmed over. “Hey, you.” She tried to smile at him, but her lips wobbled. A yawn shook her delicate frame, earning her a stern glance from her doctor.
“Hi, back.” Noah did manage to smile, but he doubted it was that much firmer than hers. He took her good hand in his. “How are you?”
She kind of giggle-sighed, a weird sound he planned on teasing her about later. “I’m really good.”
He glanced at the doctor, who was grinning back at Iva. “Pain drugs?”
“We have to. We never know if we’ll get thrown against a wall while setting a bone.” The doctor stood and stretched his back out. The scent of bat drifted to Noah. The man must be a bat shifter. “Okay. Keep this out of water and come see me in four weeks, two if Greer does his singing thing and gives the healing a boost. We’ll check how well it’s doing then and maybe get that cast off you.”
“Was it a bad break?” Noah examined the bright green cast on his mate’s arm.
“It didn’t need surgery, but we did need to scrub the wound and align the bones, which is why we gave her the happy juice.” The doctor laughed as Iva waved her hand in front of her nose and frowned at it in confusion. “She’s having a bigger reaction than most dryads do, but according to her charts that’s normal for her. She’ll be good to go when the nurse brings in her discharge papers.”
“Good. How soon will the paperwork be ready?”
The doc grimaced, removing Iva’s IV. “Hospital time.”
Noah settled down in the chair next to Iva. It seemed he was in there for the long haul.
“Mm.” Iva rolled her head toward him, a goofy smile on her beautiful face. “Hey, mister. You’re kinda cute.”
Noah shook his head, all ready to pass out now that he knew she was safe. “Go to sleep, you silly dryad.”
“Aw.” She pouted at him. “You don’t wanna play?”
He put his head back and closed his eyes. His exhaustion was like a physical weight, dragging him down into sleep. Before it could get too far, though, he had a lap full of warm, drugged dryad. He put his arms around her to keep her from falling right
off. “Get back in bed.”
Iva nibbled on his neck. “Why sir, what a lovely taste you have.”
“Thank you kindly, ma’am. Now do as I say. Bed. Neither of us is up to what you’re thinking.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, the cast bonking him on the side of the head. “Can I lick you all over?”
“Like a lollipop, but you have to wait until after we both get some sleep.” Damn it. Now his dick was hard at the thought of her lips wrapped around his length. Fuck. How was he supposed to nap now?
“Grr.” The growl was impressive for a non-shifter. Iva put her head down, nuzzling his cheek. “Smell good too.” She wrinkled her nose. “Is that sulfur?”
Noah smiled. “Go. To. Sleep.”
“What do I smell like?” She snuffled against his neck, tickling him. “Like sunshine and roses?”
He sniffed deeply. “You usually smell like warm earth and sunshine, with a little tartness thrown in.” He adjusted his legs because she was about to put his right one to sleep. “Don’t you want to climb back on the nice, comfy bed?” And get off my nice, hard cock?
Damn. Never thought I’d think that.
“Nope.” She wiggled closer, sighing deeply in satisfaction. “Wanna stay on the nice, warm Noah.”
She was killing him. He was gonna die from lack of blood to his brain, because it was all in his cock. He thrust his hips almost involuntarily, the pain of not having her wreaking havoc on his control. The urge to bite her was overwhelming. His gums ached, his fangs ready to descend and gently press into her flesh until he pierced her, making them one. She’d be riding him, making access to her body and her neck easier. She’d carry his mark forever, showing that she’d been claimed body, heart and soul. He’d make her wear off the shoulder shirts just so others would spot the bite mark and back the fuck off from his delicious little mate.
Her loud, ear-piercing snore catapulted him back into awareness of their situation. “Fuck me.”
“Nah. I’m not into hairy asses. Sorry, dude.” Greer grinned at him from behind Iva. Noah had been so focused on his fantasy he hadn’t even scented the dryad. He’d been too fixated on what his dick was telling him. “How is she?”
“Broken arm, and get this. Her blood assimilates the outsider black blood.”
Greer’s eyes widened. “She is Borg,” he whispered.
“Four of Four?” Noah shook his head, unable to believe he’d just revealed his Star Trek roots to Greer, of all people.
Greer gave him a cheeky grin. “Maybe Three of Four. I think Ash is Four of Four.” Greer took a deep breath and stood, puffing his chest out. “I, of course, am Two of Four.”
“Uh-huh. I’m pretty sure Ash would argue that.”
“Nah. He’d have to understand it to argue it.” Greer chuckled. “Not that it means anything. We’re all equal.”
“Except for Mina.” He’d seen all three of the other dryads bow before Mina’s edicts.
“True. Hadn’t thought of that.” Greer grinned. “That would make Mina our Borg Queen.”
Noah stood, easily lifting his mate’s dead weight. He needed to feed her more often. She was skinny as a rail. “I’m taking Iva home. The kids are worried about her, and we both need some sleep before we try and figure out how the fuck the fucker got on our land and planted a totem.”
“A what?” Greer’s expression turned from cheeky to shocked.
“I’ll explain it later. Tell Mina that Iva’s all right. She’ll worry otherwise. Ask Trajan about the totem. He seemed to know a lot about it.” He began striding out of the ER cubicle, Greer on his heels. “We’ll be in the Throne for dinner and a meeting. Do me a favor and call all the leaders together for it.”
“Will do. This isn’t something that can wait.”
Noah nodded. “Take Selena and Lore up on the mountain as soon as possible. Amara can show them where. Make sure it’s completely cleansed.”
Greer nodded again. “I will. Nothing will get past us, I promise.”
Noah turned. “I believe you, or I’d ask Mina to go instead.”
Greer grimaced. “Fuck you, Noah.”
“Nope.” Noah smiled as he turned away, taking his precious bundle with him. He did like all the dryads, which was good, since they were now family. “I’m not into hairy asses either.”
Chapter Eleven
“Ugh.” Iva groaned, trying to blink the gummy feeling from her eyes. Where was she, and how had she gotten there? Her vision was blurry from morning goo levels that exceeded the norm. She lifted her hand to wipe the muckiness away, clearing her vision enough to realize she was in Noah’s bedroom. Trying to sit up, her left arm throbbed in pain when she attempted to lean on it. “Ow.” Glancing at it she realized it was in a cast.
Memories of the night before came flooding back. Images of Godzilla, Blake puking and hunting down the source of Blake’s illness flashed through her mind. Yew rustled restlessly as she remembered her arm being broken and the destruction of the totem.
“Aunt Iva?” Sana stood in the doorway, her expression fiercely worried. “Can I come in?”
“Yup.” Iva patted the bed with her good hand. “I could use the company. Where’s your Uncle?”
“Talking to Paisley.” Sana crawled onto the bed and sat practically seiza-style, her calves under her thighs, her big toes touching and her butt resting on her heels. If her back was straight and her hands folded together it would be almost perfect. Instead she sat with the boneless ease of the young. “Does your arm hurt?”
“A little.” No sense in lying to an Omega wolf. Sana was already aware that Iva hurt. Her pain was probably what brought the little girl upstairs to check on her. “I think I need my pain medicine.”
“I’ll get it.” Sana moved swiftly, crawling over Iva to pick up the brown bottle with the white child-proof lid. “Do you want some water?”
Iva glanced at the label. Tylenol with codeine, one week’s worth. She’d have to check, but she’d probably be on over the counter meds if she needed to take anything after that. “Yes, please.” She’d never mastered the art of dry swallowing a pill. Every time she’d tried she’d gagged, so she’d given up on it.
Sana scrambled out of bed and ran out of the room. Minutes passed, but the little girl didn’t return. Instead, Noah stepped into the room carrying a tray with delicious smelling food on it. “I hope you’re hungry. You shouldn’t take that medication on an empty stomach.”
Her stomach rumbled right on cue. “Smells delicious.”
Noah set the tray across her lap. Scrambled eggs, bacon and toast, with a glass of orange juice. No coffee. “Huh? Where’s my caffeine fix?”
Noah sniffed. “Take your meds and eat.”
“But...coffee,” Iva whined.
Noah’s brows rose. “If you think I’m making a perfectly good cup of joe just so you can ruin it with hazelnut creamer, you’re wrong.”
“I’m wounded.” She held up her broken arm, careful not to hit the tray. No point in wasting perfectly good food.
Before Noah could reply Paisley came in the room, carrying a mug. “I’m not as much of a freak as the boss is. Here.” She placed the mug on the tray. “I’d buy a one-cup coffee maker if I were you.”
Noah sighed mournfully. “Goodbye, coffee. I hardly knew ye.”
“Drama king.” Iva sipped her coffee gratefully. “I love you, Paisley.”
Noah growled and Paisley, a smart girl, ran for it.
Her laugh escaped before she could stop it, but she managed to cut it short by clearing her throat. “Can you give me a pill please?”
Noah promptly turned his attention back to her. He fumbled with the container until he finally got the adult-proof lid off, slipping one of the pills into her outstretched hand.
Iva popped the pill into her mouth and, with a mouthful of delicious, creamy, h
azelnut infused goodness, swallowed. “Ah, that hits the spot.”
Noah shuddered. “Eat your food, woman.”
“Mm,” Iva moaned at her first bite of food. “I am so glad one of us can cook.”
Noah snorted. “So am I.” He sat carefully on the edge of the bed, holding one end of the tray when it jostled. “Seriously, though. How are you feeling this morning?”
She grimaced. “A bit sore, and my arm hurts. I think Sana sensed that, and that’s why she came to check on me.”
“I agree. Omega wolves are sensitive to pain, among other things.” Noah continued to hold the tray steady while she polished off the food. Now that she’d had some coffee and taken her pain pill she was suddenly starving. “Sana more than most. She seems to feel more since her parents passed.”
“Did you call Cliff Owens?” Iva couldn’t make that call, not yet. She wasn’t considered part of Noah’s family until their mating was complete, so she wasn’t allowed to act on their behalf.
Noah shook his head as he set the tray aside. “Not yet. It’s on the agenda.” He shrugged, looking unapologetic. “I was a little distracted and completely forgot about it.”
“That’s okay. We’ll take care of it today.” She was really coming to love those kids. The thought that they were in pain and there was nothing she could do to ease it was making her crazy.
Noah nodded and glanced at the doorway. “I canceled your appointment with Dr. T, but we’re heading to the Throne to meet with everyone and discuss what happened last night.”
“Oh?” She frowned, focusing on her cancelled appointment. She’d hear what she missed later. She could wait. If not, she had her own ways of discovering what had happened. “Wasn’t that appointment kind of important?”
“Not anymore. When they ran your blood last night, you were completely cleared of any infection.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
All thoughts of broken bones and doctors fled at the thought that, finally, she’d be able to claim her mate. She shivered, imagining the scene that would transpire. She’d place part of herself in her tree, making herself not only vulnerable to her mate but creating the link needed to complete the dryad side of the mating. Her tree was just as much a part of what would happen as she was.
Hour of the Wolf Page 11
