by Lacy LeRoch
“Since when did he start to care?” Dragon mocks in open shock.
“Apparently being mated changes people, just look at Rafe now,” I tell Dragon.
Even as I tell that to Dragon, I see the truth behind it. McKinley struts out of the cave, his head held high and his shoulders back. He has a swagger about him that he never had before. It is the same with Rafe, the minute he became mated he calmed down. And much to our shock and horror, he actually has feelings now.
“And so the fun begins. Do you think we will change now, too?”
I start to wonder if we will change. And if we do, will it be for the better or worse?
“Dragon, I can guarantee we will change.”
“How so?” Dragon inquires curiously.
“We will die in the next…” I glance down at the time flashing on my computer, and with a click tally in my head working out just how long we have, “…eighteen hours, if we can’t finish the mating bond.”
“You really don’t think we will get her, do you?”
“The question isn’t if we will get her or not, Dragon. The real question should be if we deserve to have her?”
“I don’t like your line of thinking, Philli. Come on, let’s get to the great hall and see what it is they want with us. The quicker we get there, the faster we can work out how to get our girl.”
Chapter Nine
I walk into Alison’s room and my heart leaps up into my throat when I glance and can’t see her anywhere. I move my feet briskly as I walk out of the room and over to the station desk.
“Chrissie, did you see Alison Harper walk out of her room?” I ask the elderly nurse on duty.
Chrissie shakes her graying head and shrugs her shoulders. “No doc, no one has left the room. Not that I’ve seen anyway.”
“Thanks, maybe she’s just using the bathroom or something.”
God, I hope it’s only that and nothing else. I didn’t think I was gone from her for that long. It was such a pain trying to get another doctor to sign off on these papers for her.
“Shit,” I grumble and step back into her room.
The minute I walk in her room, I start searching all over the place, under the bed, and in the bathroom. I am just about beside myself and ready to call for security when at the last minute I decide to check the area behind the door. The breath in my lungs rushes out when I see Alison curled up on the sofa under the window. I really don’t want to wake her, but I have no choice. I take her shoulder in my hand and gently rock her.
“Alison… Alison, wake up, sweetie.”
Her eyes flutter open and she yawns, stretching her arms over her head. God, I never realized just how small she really is. She may be nineteen, but she doesn’t look it. Her small height and elfin features make her look a lot younger.
“Sorry, it took me so long, Ally. There was so much paperwork for me to fill in for your discharge. Are you ready to go now?” I ask, reaching my hand out offering it to her.
“I haven’t been called Ally in a long time,” she groans.
“Sorry, I didn’t think. If you don’t like it.”
“No… no, it’s not that. I’m ready to get the hell out of here. I can’t thank you enough for doing this for me.”
Her words wash over me like a warm blanket, it’s been so long since I’ve allowed anyone close to me. I scan the room looking for Alison’s things.
“Where are your bags, Ally?” I ask walking over and looking underneath the bed.
She sheepishly sits up and throws her legs over the side of the sofa. Her shoulders hunch as she walks over to the cupboard in the room and pulls out a small plastic bag. Her face flushes with embarrassment and shame.
“I… um…” She stands in front of me fidgeting with the handles of the bag. She’s on the verge of tears as she shakes her head, shrugging her shoulders.
“It’s okay, Ally, don’t worry. I’m going to take care of you. Please don’t cry over it. Come on, let’s just go,” I tell her softly.
I hold my hand out and wait for Alison to come to me. She nods, walks over and takes hold of my hand, squeezing it gently.
The minute our hands join, everything goes black for a split second. Then in the next breath, I get a flash of strobe lights of all colors flashing and dancing in front of me. My ears are pounding with the beat and thud of a heavy bass. Everything around me drops away revealing two men kissing passionately in front of me. I feel my pulse quicken, as my body moves of its own accord toward them slowly. My ankle rolls a little as I take my first step, in the ridiculously high heels that I’m wearing. Even though I know I’ve never been here, my mind is screaming at me, that these men have been teasing my senses with their erotic touching and smooth swaying. I just wanted to get close to them. I’m hoping they don’t notice me.
As I get closer to the taller of the two men, he reaches out and takes hold of my hips. His ice blue eyes sparkle with mischief as he pulls me into the mix, smiling softly. I find it hard to breathe, my chest tightens and my heart beats as rapidly as the tempo of the music. The strong man pulls me flush to his hard body, and I flush red as I glance over my shoulder and notice the most handsome man with the brightest golden eyes that I’ve ever seen.
“Take my hand, beautiful,” the taller man growls in my ear, leaning down and sucking on my earlobe.
I take hold of his hand and look down to our linked fingers. It isn’t my hand.
What the hell is going on?
It’s Alison’s smaller, un-scarred one. A small gasp flies out of Alison’s mouth as she drops my hand. The minute her hand no longer touches mine, the hot erotic scene of the nightclub disappears into smoke, leaving behind the dank, dreary hospital room.
“How… How did you do that?” she gasps as she holds onto her small stomach, a blush rising up her cheeks and neck.
“I don’t know? What was it that you saw?” I ask.
I need to know if she saw the same thing I just did. Hot damn, if that was indeed her memories, my hat goes off to her. I’ve never had the time to live out any kind of fantasy like that.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Alison snaps turning around to face the door. She continues, “Can we please get out of here before the nice, kind doctor comes back to take his revenge?” she asks sobering me up, remembering the reason for her coming home with me.
“Sure, but Ally, I need you to understand something, okay? I won’t ever push you to talk. I have secrets just like you do. Just know, if you ever want someone to talk to, without judgment or prejudice, I’ll be here, okay?”
I gesture toward the door, the weight of everything going on falls on my shoulders. I automatically react by snapping into survival mode. I make sure Alison is behind me as we walk over and make our way of the room and into the elevator, taking it to the ground floor of the parking lot. From her reaction, I can tell she’s been through something bad herself. Her senses are too alert, too aware of everything going on around her. Only someone who’s been hurt would react this way. Alison looks over her shoulder every couple of steps. It’s like we’re in tune with each other, as we turn our heads in unison and scan the opposite side of each other. The fear of being caught is very real. I almost jump out of my skin as a stray cat runs the length of the carpark and knocks a can.
“This is mine.” I point over to my black SUV in the corner of the lot. Reaching into my pocket I pull out the fob, unlocking the car as we approach. Pulling the passenger door wide open, I help Alison climb up into the seat, making sure she’s safe and clipped in. Closing the door soundly behind her, I walk around the back of the SUV. The hairs on the back of my neck rise and my senses go into overdrive when the wind picks up bringing with it the smell of pine needles and salt water. My skin twitches with the feeling of bugs crawling all over me. I have learned over the years this feeling is a warning, that under no circumstances do I ever ignore it.
I know we’re being watched, but for the life of me, I can’t see anyone else around. I can’t shake that
uneasy feeling riding my body. Standing at the back of the SUV, I look around. If he comes out to attack, he’ll have a fight on his hands because I won’t back down in a hurry.
“Ally, lock the door!” I scream, feeling the hairs on my arms rising with an insistent warning.
Run! My mind screams at me and I dart around to the driver’s side, ripping open the door and lunging inside. I’m panting and out of breath as I reach down and lock the door and clip my seatbelt on.
“Is everything all right, Doctor Green?” Alison asks concerned, turning around in her seat scanning the garage for herself.
“It’s going to sound strange, but I get the feeling like we’re being watched. I looked around, but I couldn’t see anyone. But…”
“But, you can smell them, right?” Alison inquires.
My head whips around to Alison and I stare at her. I’m suddenly wary of what I can tell her without sounding like a nutcase. She looks over at me smirking slightly, and glances out the window.
“Ally?” I push.
Starting the engine, I pull out of my allocated car space and look over my shoulder making sure there isn’t another car coming through the garage as I reverse. That’s when I notice a dark shadow standing behind one of the concrete columns. I wouldn’t have even noticed him, had it not been for the blinking light above his head. My breathing increases with complete awareness that I was right this whole time. Squinting, I check the rear vision mirror, I need to make sure it isn’t Lucas.
I’m frustrated because I can’t see anything, but a set of glowing orange eyes. The shadow man grins and tilts his head in a nod. That’s enough to scare the living daylights out of me. I push my foot down hard on the accelerator and speed out of the parking bay. Only slowing down once I get to the guard house on the ground floor.
Shit, I need to keep my composure and remain calm. The last thing I need is for the guard to alert the hospital of my behavior. I’ve been told I only have one warning left and that if they catch me being reckless or out of control again, I could say goodbye to my career and my job at the hospital. Not that my behavior was bad or anything, it all came down to Lucas and his bullshit lies. Of course, his dear old daddy was on the board. That meant he believed everything that came out of his mouth. Even if it was a crock of crap. I press the button to lower my window, closing my eyes and taking a calming breath.
“Damn Doc, you in a hurry to get home or something?” Charlie laughs shaking his head, he walks out and presses the button to open the toll gate allowing me to exit.
Thank the heavens it’s Charlie on duty. He was the one who found me when… don’t go there, Madison. I shake my head to clear the black memories that threaten to swallow me whole.
“Sorry, Charlie…” I hook my thumb in Alison’s direction, “…Ally here is tired, and I’m just being the good doctor, and getting her home as soon as possible so she can rest.”
Charlie brushes the long blonde lock off his face, looking into the SUV while studying Alison. A cat ate the canary grin pulling on his strong, handsome face. Charlie brings his charisma and charm out then bows low and gestures to the open gate.
I groan and shake my head at his antics. “You’re impossible, Charlie.”
“Oh come on, Doc?” Charlie laughs, his brown eyes glittering with mischief.
“So not going to happen, Charlie boy.”
“You can’t blame a guy for trying. Until we meet again, sweet angel.” He winks at Alison and walks back into the guardhouse.
I shake my head at Charlie’s antics and pull out onto the main road. That boy is a hot dog waiting for a fluffy bun. He’s always trying to pick the girls up at work. The rumor mill around the hospital also says he’s just as bad away from the hospital.
“What was that all about, Doctor Green?”
It feels wrong for her to call me Doctor Green, so I cut her off. “Please call me, Madison.” I glance over and notice Alison’s face screwed up in disgust. “I need to apologize for Charlie and his behavior. He’s always like that. But come on Ally, you first. How did you know I could smell something back there?”
“Don’t laugh, okay?” Alison looks down at her lap and clasps her hands together.
“Sure, I promise. And trust me, Ally… I think I’m a weirdo myself, so I definitely won’t laugh.” I shrug my shoulders and pull onto the busy highway. Reaching over I turn the radio down so I can hear her without the insistent buzz of the news reporter.
“You might not think you’re so much of a weirdo, once you hear this. But I could… um…” she clears her throat and tries again, “…I could smell him there.” She sighs and waves her hand in the air. “I could sense him the minute we got out of the elevator.”
“Him? Wait, you knew it was a male? I only got the smell that someone was there, I wasn’t able to tell if it was male or female.”
“Do you think it was, Doctor Callow?” she asks shivering.
I give her knee a reassuring squeeze and focus back on the road. “No, I don’t believe it was, he doesn’t smell like pine needles and ocean air. Lucas has the strong aroma of smoke and gas. I would describe his smell as being like a burning lava.”
Alison whips around fast to face me, and I wait for the laughing and judgmental comments about my weirdness, but she surprises me by staring at me, deep in thought. Like she’s seeing me for the first time being my patient.
“Madison, can I ask you something?” she asks nervously.
“Of course, you can. What is it?” I ask, pulling into my driveway and pressing the button for my garage door to open.
“How long… I mean, how long have you been able to do that? And is that the only thing you can do?”
I pull in and park the SUV, turning the engine off then I glance over at her sighing. Her hand is clammy in mine as I reach out and squeeze it.
“Those two questions will take time for me to explain. You’re shivering and I wouldn’t be a good doctor if I didn’t get you inside and comfortable first. Come inside Ally, and I’ll tell you anything you want to hear.”
Alison nods and follows me inside, taking a seat on my mint green sofa. I’ve been told my house is so mix-matched and set up backward. The sofa that Alison is currently sitting on is sitting directly in front of the fireplace. I leave Alison to get comfortable and walk into the kitchen. I’m carrying two bottles of chilled water when I come back out. I hand her one of the bottles and fiddle with the label on my own.
With so much running around in my head, I’m unsure where to start. I suppose all I can do is tell her everything I know. If she gets confused, she can always ask me questions.
“I can turn the fire down if you want. I’m sorry, I’m just not used to having company and there’s something about a fire that comforts me.”
Alison takes a sip from her bottle of water and places it on the table next to her. “It’s fine,” she tells me looking around my home. “Your home is absolutely beautiful.”
“Thank you. I have no one to share my money with, so I put it all into making my home perfect. Well, what I think is perfect anyway.”
What the hell, why would I tell her that? I never tell anyone stuff like that. I shake my head violently, trying to clear my head. Why would I tell her things I won’t even admit to myself? It was like it just came out and I had no control over it. Screw it, it’ll be good to have someone I can vent to. “But we won’t talk about that yet, and I’m pretty sure you want answers and I need to tell someone,” I tell her.
Alison nods, so I continue, “In the last couple of months, things have been changing for me. Not just in a bad way. But I’m seeing things that aren’t there, and I’m having unusual feelings and desires that I just can’t explain. God, saying that out loud, makes me feel like an even bigger freak.”
Alison starts laughing so hard that tears roll down her angelic face. Her happiness overcomes me, and I find myself laughing along with her. Only I have no idea what it is I’m actually laughing at. All I know is her laughter is i
nfectious. It pleases me and makes me want to be happy.
“I’m sorry, Maddison, I really am. But everything you said, has been happening to me as well.” She reaches down and rubs her stomach trying to catch her breath. “Actually, seeing as though we are telling secrets and all, that’s how this little one came about.”
“Wait… what?” I stammer, looking at her completely perplexed. “What do you mean, all that stuff that’s been happening caused you to fall pregnant?” I shudder and throw my hands up in front of my body in a cross signal. “God almighty, nothing against you and the baby and all, but damn… I so don’t want that.”
Alison explodes into a major fit of the giggles when she hears my declaration. Just as fast as her giggles start, they stop. She sits up straight-backed and stares into the fire. “Madison?” she whispers edging toward me on the sofa. The panic in her voice sets my teeth on edge. I don’t like it. I need to get a hold of myself, so I inhale a deep breath, taking in the scent of the air around us. And I understand right away why Alison is feeling the way she is. Pine needles and sea water barrage my senses, making my body tense up.
He’s here. He followed us. Game on asshole. Game on.
“I smell it, Ally. Don’t you move, okay? I’m going to come and stand in front of you. I swear I won’t allow any harm to come to you or the baby. Not as long as I’m alive,” I whisper, crawling over. When I get directly in front of her, I push Alison into the corner of the sofa. With her sitting here I can protect her better, so I stand directly in front of her.
At that exact moment, the living room window smashes inward, bringing with it a shower of glass and debris flying in every direction. Alison covers her head as the glass flies around us. I try to use my body as a shield spinning around and wrapping my arms around her head. Alison and I scream at the top of our lungs when we see the huge black wolf now standing in my living room.