His Wolf's Choice

by Mary Goldberger

  “But…” Alec protested crossly.

  “No buts,” Leonardo ordered in a hard tone. “You have your own issues to fix just like Garin, and I suggest you take this opportunity to decide what are you going to do. Are you going to wait for a mate that you may never meet, or be happy with a woman who elicits the feelings in you just as in meeting your mate? That’s your choice, but in two days’ time you will be leaving with your pack for home.”

  Leonardo didn’t raise his voice, and yet Alec heard the note in his voice daring him to disobey an Alpha order.

  “Yes, Sir,” Alec replied seething with fury, and when Leonardo dismissed him, Alec didn’t waste any time leaving the office and heading for the stairs.

  He absently noted that Alpha Ralph and his mate were gone, but that wasn’t his concern. He stormed up the steps heading for Garin’s room surprised to find Alpha Female Whitney knocking on his door.

  “Garin,” she called in a cajoling voice, and Alec gritted his teeth.

  “Alpha Female,” he called satisfied when she jumped and spun around at the sound of his voice. “Is there something you want because if not, I need to speak with my Fighter Wolf.”

  After his confession, Garin held his breath at what had come out of his mouth. It was the only thing he could say, but it was Daya’s next words that had his heart jumping in his chest.

  “He told you what he learned about Brianna.”

  “He did,” Garin admitted in a low voice.

  There was a shuffle over the phone which made Garin’s heart leap knowing that Daya was moving around on his bed.

  “We also learned that you, and the others, would be coming home soon,” Daya replied. She hesitated briefly before continuing. “Alec volunteered to stay, but…”

  “I told Alpha Leonardo that I would stay in place of Alec,” Garin interjected hearing the note in her voice. “I believe Alec needs this push, but there is something I need to learn myself.”

  There was silence at his words, and he swallowed surprised at the fear which shot through him.

  “Daya.”

  “I understand,” she said slowly sadness reflecting in her voice. “From listening to Brianna, I think it was a good idea even if…” she hesitated slightly, “it means you are staying with your mate.”

  “Ex-mate,” Garin corrected closing his eyes. “I’m sorry.”

  “Nothing to be sorry about, Garin,” Daya countered although sadness still coated every word. “I also understand that it happened fast between us, and then you were tasked with protecting your ex-mate. Meeting her again probably drudged up some feelings…”

  “Daya,” Garin cut her off.

  A knock sounded on his door and Whitney’s pouting voice echoing through the wood drifted over the line.

  “Garin.”

  Garin scowled, but it was the voice on the other end that took his attention.

  “I’ll get off,” Daya uttered quietly. “I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Count on it,” Garin promised a hard look in his eyes that was directed to the locked door. “I’ll call you tomorrow after your therapy.”

  Although he heard the surprise in Daya’s voice, she didn’t ask him how he knew about her routines only giving him a quiet ‘good night’.

  Garin snapped his phone close after Daya hung up, and he stared at the door while Whitney knocked again until Alec’s voice drew her away.

  Then another, stronger knock sounded on the door and Garin couldn’t ignore this one getting up off the bed to unlock it.

  “Garin, what in the hell did you do?” Alec stormed at him slamming the door behind him after entering the room.

  “What you, my friend, was running away from doing,” Garin shot back bluntly without hesitation seeing the panic and fear on Alec’s face, but there was a light of anticipation and excitement in his eyes that he couldn’t hide. If Garin pointed it out, then Alec would probably kick his ass, so he held back that observation. “You need to go home and finally face Brianna because right now, you have only hurt her and yourself.”

  Chapter 14

  The next day, Daya went through her exercises without saying a word and even though pain shot through her, she merely gritted her teeth sweating through it.

  “Daya,” Brianna asked after calling a halt for the day. “Is something bothering you?”

  Daya glanced over at her wiping her face with the towel she had bought down with her and catching the haunted look in Brianna’s green eyes that hadn’t disappeared from yesterday, she smiled and shook her head. “No, Doc, I’m just following doctor’s orders without complaining,” she teased getting a light growl from Brianna.

  “Are you sure?” Brianna asked with a narrowing of her eyes.

  “I’m sure,” Daya assured her with a single nod of her head. “I want to get my leg back to its original mobility, or as close to the way it was before the attack. The best way to do that is not complaining and doing my exercises.”

  Brianna nodded her head although she frowned slightly. “Don’t push yourself too hard either, Daya, or it can have a reverse effect than the outcome you want. We will stick with the same routine for another week or so before, if your leg has improved to my satisfaction, then we will increase the exercises.”

  Daya smiled giving her a thumb up, and Brianna studied her intently before she shook her head and took her vitals.

  “Once you get better, maybe you would like to help me in the infirmary,” Brianna suggested once she finished. “You have some knowledge of medicine and I could use someone when it gets really busy especially after a pack war.”

  “I only know the basics,” Daya warned her. “Taking vitals, seeing to their daily comforts, and so on. I don’t know how much good I would be to you.”

  Brianna smiled putting away her equipment before helping Daya to her feet. “But that’s exactly what I need. If you know basic aid, then you can take care of the less severe individuals, so I can focus on those who are really injured until their next shift. If you don’t get to a wolf before their next shift, then they may not be able to recover even if they do shift.”

  “I didn’t know that,” Daya muttered rubbing a hand down her leg feeling the puckered flesh from her wound.

  “Many pack doctors don’t advertise it, so they won’t be held responsible,” Brianna revealed with a shake of her head. “My father was a pack doctor and he taught me that as a doctor, we should be responsible for every patient that comes to see us, shapeshifter and human alike.”

  Leaving the gym, Daya was deep in thought that she didn’t realize Kelsey had come home and was talking to her.

  “Earth to Daya,” Kelsey shouted in her ear making Daya flinch ducking her head away from her and almost falling since it was a sudden movement that her leg didn’t anticipate.

  “Sorry,” Kelsey apologize catching her by the arm her face pale. “I was just trying to get your attention.”

  Daya blew out a frustrated breath. “It’s not your fault,” Daya assured voice a little breathless. “Normally, my body wouldn’t want to collapse from a sudden shifting of my weight, but since the attack my leg just doesn’t like it.”

  “It will get better,” Brianna told her getting a snicker from Daya although she gave her a brief grin.

  “As you say, Doc, so I’ll believe it.”

  Brianna chuckled shaking her head while Kelsey laughed out loud turning them for the kitchen which is where they normally ended up after Daya’s daily exercise.

  “Daya.” Once in the kitchen, Kelsey fixed their drinks and brought them over to the table where they resided today. “I brought home your homework as ordered by the Alpha Female. Although you have a medical reason for not going to classes, you need to do your work in order to still be considered present for class.”

  Daya sighed but nodded her head in agreement. “I know, and I’ll contact my teachers today after I get back to my room…” she froze at her own words and amended ignoring the smiling looks from Brianna and Kelsey. �
��Garin’s room.”

  Brianna and Kelsey hid their giggles by drinking their drinks, and then changing the subject especially after Daya blushed at their teasing.

  They were sitting their talking when Kala stormed into the kitchen followed by Trevor who was trying to reason with her.

  “I don’t want to hear it,” Kala stated without hesitation swinging around to meet him. “Garin has no right volunteering to stay there. In fact, I think all of them should come home. There have been no attacks on the Alpha Female and I want our members back no offense to Alpha Leonardo.”

  “Honey,” Trevor said running an agitated hand through his hair. “Garin has his reasons for staying.”

  Kala grunted folding her arms across her chest. “And I bet it had to do with that damn mate of his although he has a woman waiting right here for him.”

  Trevor blew out a breath turning to face the windows when he froze, and Kala catching his look turned to see what had caught his attention her face paling.

  “Daya,” she began when Daya smiled gently shifting her eyes to her glass.

  “Garin called me last night,” she revealed lifting her brown eyes up unaware of the hint of sadness that lingered in their depths. “He told me what he planned to do and explained his reasons which I understood. As I told him, everything that’s happened between us since our first meeting happened fast. Then he was called away to protect not just an ordinary Alpha Female, but his ex-mate who rejected him. I’m sure he has some unresolved issues concerning her and he wants to deal with them, so I gave him my approval.”

  She went to continue when her phone rang in her pocket and she pulled it out checking the caller id a smile drifting across her face.

  “He also promised to call me,” Daya finished shooting Kala a reassuring grin. Before answering, she remarked quietly. “Until he stops calling me, then I will take it that I’m still important to him.”

  She answered the phone with a soft tone a light laugh coming out when she heard Garin’s voice sharing a look with Brianna and Kelsey before she turned slightly away to talk to Garin in some privacy.

  Trevor walked over to pour himself and Kala a drink after she glared at him but accepted the drink without argument.

  Daya turned back a few minutes later after a saying ‘goodbye’ to Garin a slight frown on her face.

  “He asked if I heard from my uncle,” Daya said giving Trevor a look. “But after that brief call letting me know he arrived safely I haven’t heard from him. Have you, Alpha Trevor?”

  Trevor gave her a single nod of his head. “He has been busy since arriving home. It seems that they had some trouble while he was away, and although his Beta dealt with it, there have been some complaints about how it was dealt with especially by a shapeshifter named Jared.”

  Daya’s mouth pursed at the name. “He would since technically he is the next Alpha, and any faults he can lay at my uncle’s feet may give him the position faster although my uncle is the one who has worked hard to make the pack it is today.” Yawning slightly, Daya waited until she was done before she tacked on. “Please tell my uncle I love him and not to work too hard. Let Tobias and his father help out.”

  “I will,” Trevor assured her.

  “I’m confused, though,” Kelsey interjected sharing a look with Brianna. “What was all that talk about Garin?”

  Kala growled which earned another groan from Trevor who was about to respond when Daya beat him to it.

  “Garin went to Alpha Leonardo and volunteered to stay so Alec could come home.”

  Brianna’s eyes widened swinging them to Daya who met them with a smile. “But…”

  Daya shook her head. “Garin felt that Alec had ran away enough, and he needed to come back here, so he can finally come to terms with his feelings. I agree with him, and besides, Garin and I only met recently. We are still trying to understand what is happening between us.”

  Brianna felt tears slip down her face earning her a look of worry from Daya and Kelsey.

  “I’m sorry, Daya.” Brianna covered her eyes with one hand while the other clenched around the glass she still held.

  “Don’t be,” Daya scolded lightly. “You just make sure to tell Alec exactly what you told us yesterday including how you feel and don’t leave anything out even if you may think he doesn’t want to hear it.”

  Kelsey nodded at each word Daya spoke giving Brianna a glare. “He needs to know how much his being gone has hurt you, but even more he needs to know how you feel about him.”

  Brianna lifted her head when Daya started to speak, and now she shifted it between Daya and Kelsey who were both staring at her with stern faces which made her laugh.

  “They are right, sweetie,” Kala backed them coming over to put a hand on Brianna’s shoulder. “You need to be honest with him about everything you are feeling.”

  Brianna nodded her head catching the brief nod of her Alpha’s head while a quick grin shifted across his face.

  “I will be more honest with him,” Brianna assured them all.

  “Good,” they chorused as one except for Trevor who merely shook his head once and left the room although there was a grin on his face.

  Afterwards, Brianna went to the infirmary to check on a few patients while Daya headed for the gym to do a few exercises nothing extraneous per doctor’s orders.

  Daya was lost in thought while she worked out that she lost track of time, and her leg started screaming in pain.

  Her leg collapsed underneath her, and she fell to the floor wincing. Glancing at the clock, she was surprised that two hours had gone by since she had entered the gym.

  “Daya,” Brianna scolded striding into the room five minutes later a heavy scowl on her face.

  “I know,” Daya uttered getting slowly to her feet. “I was lost in thought and didn’t realize the time had gone by.”

  Brianna shook her head giving Daya a hand up. “All right,” she said quietly, “but next time, make sure to keep an eye on the time. You don’t want to overdo it.”

  Daya nodded her head biting her lip from the pain going through her each time she put weight down on her injured leg.

  Trevor sat back in his chair after getting off the phone with Jordan a heavy frown on his face.

  Kala came into the room but stilled when she saw it. “You’re thinking about something.”

  He shifted her an absent smile before shaking his head once putting it back against his chair. “I just got off the phone with Jordan. He is tired and trying to deal with a mess that his next Alpha has created although he isn’t taking responsibility for it.”

  Kala shook her head a look of anger flashing across her face.

  “I was thinking of calling Leonardo and telling him about Jordan’s situation,” Trevor’s voice held a hint of a question in it. “But I’m not sure…”

  “I thought you had already called and talked with him about it,” Kala asked watching Trevor shaking his head.

  “No, not yet,” Trevor admitted. “We’ve only talked about the issue with Garin, Daya and the Alpha Female.”

  Kala walked over and leaned down giving him a soft kiss. “I suggest you do so. Maybe Leonardo can help Jordan out right now.”

  Trevor slanted her a brief look before he chuckled nodding his head. “You’re right, and I just needed you to affirm it for me.”

  “Any time,” she promised giving him another kiss before stepping away. “What would you like for dinner tonight?”

  Trevor laughed reaching for the phone. “How about pizza to give everyone a break from cooking?”

  “That’s a lot of pizza,” Kala teased heading for the door. “But I’ll call our usual place since they know us.”

  Trevor’s laughter followed her out of the room, but once the door was closed the smile drifted off his face.

  Picking up the phone, he dialed a number and leaned an elbow on the desk waiting for it to be answered.

  “Hello.” It was greeted by a harsh voice, but Trevor merely chu
ckled.

  “Hello, Leonardo. I think there is something you should know.”

  Leonardo stared at the phone he had just hung up the muscle in his jaw tense.

  “What is wrong, honey?” His mate questioned entering the room. “I can feel your tension all the way in our room.”

  “I just got some disturbing news.” He gave her a hooded look. “I trust the source, but I want to clarify it for myself while at the same time I also want to learn more about this young woman…”

  “The one Garin left to see,” she interjected, and Leonardo nodded his head. “So, what is the problem?”

  He scowled giving her a short explanation of what he was told, and she gasped her eyes widening.

  “I think,” he said thoughtfully, “that it may have been an inside job, or someone from the inside who contracted the rogues.”

  “Why?” She stared at him in bewilderment a frown between her brows.

  He sighed running a hand through his hair in frustration. “I don’t know. My wolf went on alert after we were told.”

  She was quiet for a few minutes the frown between her brows intensifying. “Why don’t we issue an invitation for them to visit us?”

  Leonardo straightened in his chair turning narrow eyes to her although there was a thoughtful look on his face.

  “By doing so,” she continued waiting for him.

  “It won’t look suspicious if we speak privately Alpha to Alpha,” he concluded. “But what about his Alpha-to-be?”

  She grinned shaking her head. “Everyone knows that you don’t talk to the next Alphas without studying them first, and you never talk to a next Alpha privately unless you know and approve of them.”

  Leonardo grinned sitting back in his seat. “This is true.”

  Getting up from his chair, he walked around the desk and took her into his arms kissing her forehead lightly. “What would I do without you?”

  “Probably drown,” she teased leaning against his chest.