The Pack's Doctor

Chapter 17: Sleep.

Warren.

As much as I didn't want to leave Yara, I knew I needed to pack to see me. Haynes and Eton aren't the

only warriors who will test me. However, rather than pushing me to show my strength, the pack surprises me. Everyone is interested in Yara.

"Is she really your mate, Alpha?"

"Yes, she's my fated mate," I say, sitting at a centrally located table, making sure everyone can see me eating and functioning.

For now, my fatigue is pushed aside.

"Where did you find her?"

I chuckle. "She found me. I was caught in the bear trap, some of you found me there with Beta Charlie. She heard Arric rustling around, trying to find a way out of the trap. Or maybe Annika, her wolf, smelled us. I'm not sure, but she came and got me out."

"She's a doctor?"

"She is. A resident, but she's majoring in human medicine, veterinary medicine, and zoology."

"Why zoology?"

I explain what Yara told me and I'm happy that I know enough about my mate to be able to answer the pack's questions.

"Is she really taking Dr. Steven's place?" someone asks.

"Yes. I've already found her to be a much better doctor than he is.

It's past time he retired, but we all know that doctors are hard to come by. The Moon Goddess has seen fit to bless me a mate who is also a doctor. "

I answer some more questions while I eat, getting an update from Charlie about just how bad Haynes is. Thank the goddess that Yara smelled that infection. According to Charlie, I was days away from losing another warrior.

After dinner, I head back upstairs, only to get another link from Charlie that more warriors have come to the hospital to be looked at.

'How many?' I ask him.

'Seven.'

I'm surprised but pleased that my mate's address to the pack was as impactful as it was. If she's able to make an impact fast with some of these warriors, the word will spread around the pack like wildfire. Maybe then we can start taking out some of these assholes who keep attacking me.

He then tells me about Yara's concerns regarding Dr. Stevens.

T'll talk to her, get a clearer understanding of why she's thinks he's being negligent,' I tell Charlie.

I shower again, feeing like I didn't quite get clean since I got distracted by Yara's scent and then her mouth. Just thinking of our first kiss has me going hard. Even though I'm still in pain, I'm able to find my release thinking of her sweet taste and the soft sounds she made while I kissed her. I know she's not ready for me to mark and mate her yet and honestly, when the time comes, I want to take my time, so it's better if I don't have a hard on all night long since I intend to have her pressed up against me.

By the time I get in bed and begin going through normal pack work, I'm exhausted again, but I refuse to go to sleep until Yara arrives. I know she'll try to get Charlie to put her somewhere else tonight, so I let him know that I'm staying awake waiting for her.

It isn't long before I hear him saying goodnight to her and then nothing.

'Charlie? Where is she?'

"Standing outside your door, looking like she's going to run.'

"He's not leaving until you come in, Yara," I say, watching the door. I hear her take a deep breath before she steps in and closes the door before finally looking at me. When she does her eyes go wide. I sleep in the nude. I have for as long as I can remember.

Since I'm not embarrassed about nudity, I didn't think to cover myself. And since my leg was throbbing, I have it elevated on a pillow, so covering myself didn't even cross my mind.

However, as my mate's eyes look over my body, I can see her assessing me. I've become so used to the scars on my body, that I forget that I have them. However, Yara's eyes on me suddenly remind me of just how scarred I am.

"I left a t-shirt out for you, in case you prefer to sleep with something on. I don't, and I would be happy if you didn't either, but I know you may be more comfortable being covered tonight,"

I tell her.

That jolts her out of whatever thoughts she was having about my body.

I'm not sleeping with you!"

"Of course you are. You're my mate. Where else would you sleep?

Remember that conversation about having you in my bed earlier?" I tap the bed. "This is that bed. So, go get ready, the shirt is there if you want it and then come join me. I'm tired and I need some sleep. You do too. You've had a long couple of days," I tell her.

"Who does he think he is, ordering me around like this? Like I'm just some fangirl fawning over an Alpha," she mutters as she grabs the shirt and heads to the bathroom.

Oh, my little mate, I have no doubt that you've never fawned over anyone in your life. Because of that, when you do finally give me your submission, it's going to taste so very sweet. Unlike my mate, I keep those thoughts to myself.

"What if he's a rowdy sleeper? What if he accidentally backhands me in the middle of the night? What if he...Oh he better not do that," she continues muttering from the bathroom. I set my work aside, smiling as I listen to the running commentary of my mate's thoughts.

I hear her run the water, probably brushing her teeth, then pull on the t-shirt before stepping out of the bathroom.

"What had I better not do?" I ask her. I'm pretty sure I already know, but seeing the blush on her cheeks is so worth it.

She points her finger at me. "I am NOT having sex with you."

I narrow my eyes at her. "It's true, that sometimes saying that you're sleeping with someone means that you're having sex.

However, in tonight's context, I truly am exhausted, and I need sleep. I need to heal so I can be back on top and ready for the next attack. And believe me when I tell you, when I touch you, taste you, and slide inside you for the first time, I want to be completely healed. Because I will take my time, I will enjoy every one of your whimpers and moans and I will have you screaming my name in pleasure before I'm done with you," I say, my voice getting deeper with my desire to have her.

I watch her pupils dilate, and her cheeks flush as her mouth drops open. Damn I can't wait to have her. She's already so responsive to me.

I tap the bed. "But tonight, we're sleeping. Come on. I know you're exhausted and tomorrow, I want to talk about your impressions of Dr. Stevens. Charlie said you have concerns."

"A lot of them," she says, walking to the bed. "He isn't fit to provide medical care any longer, in my opinion."

"Since your my lead doctor, your opinion is the only one that matters to me," I say, pulling back the covers. "Come on. Let's get some sleep."

She gets into the bed, laying as close to the edge and taking up as little space as possible with her back facing me. I smile as I lay down, then wrap my arm around her waist and tug her against my body. She yelps, but I hold her steady. "Much better," I say, breathing in her cinnamon and nutmeg scent.

"I'm not a rowdy sleeper," I say, her scent already lulling me to sleep. "And I'll never lay a hand on you, not even in my sleep." It's the last thought I have before I fall into a deep sleep.

I have no idea how long I've been asleep when the howls of alarm go up that we're under attack. I'm up and out of bed in an instant, running for the door.

"WARREN! You can't shift! Your leg isn't healed!" Yara yells.

"I have no choice, Yara. My pack is under attack and I'm their Alpha. I have to fight. Get to a safe room," I say before leaping over the banister and shifting, biting of the scream of pain when my leg doesn't shift exactly right.

'Arric?' I ask my wolf.

'It's good enough for now," he growls as we race into battle.