“A shaman performed surgery?” My gaze veered between the two men.
At that point, Dr. Drake stepped forward, smiling at me with a twinkle in his eyes. “Oh yes. I’m a certified veterinarian as well, Alpha Queen.” He chuckled and nodded at Henry. “Alpha told me weeks ago about your Henry.”
His gaze shifted between Chael, Henry, and me. “It’s not often that I get to perform hip replacement surgery. Not since we’re natural healers. I was glad to have the time to brush up on my more technical skills before you all arrived.”
“Hip replacement?” I asked, staring at the bandages. I peered up at Chael. “You fixed his hip?”
His lips twitched. “Not me. Dr. Drake.”
“Thank you, Alpha. It wasn’t as complicated as I thought. Though it did take most of the night.”
I listened to the doctor while stroking Henry’s head. “And will he recover fully?”
He nodded eagerly. “Oh yes. In total, recovery will take a few weeks, thanks to the ointments and herbs I have already mixed for him. He should be able to get up and take a few steps in about a week. But we’ll keep a close eye on him. We already have him scheduled for physical therapy.”
I swallowed the emotion in my throat, but the tears in my eyes threatened to spill over. “He won’t be in any more pain?” I croaked out.
Chael stepped closer, his hand rubbing my back, comforting me. His hand on my back caused the tears to break free and slide down my cheeks.
“No.” Dr. Drake confirmed. “No more pain for your pup. He will make a full recovery.”
“Thank you, Dr. Drake,” I mumbled, swiping at the tears.
He waved his hand. “Please don’t thank me. It’s a pleasure to use my skills in service of my alpha queen.” There was so much pride in his voice that I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I wasn’t his alpha queen.
I glanced at Chael. “Thank you.” I moved back to Henry and stroked his head. Confused about everything, I was still pissed at Chael, but Henry was my focus.
“Thank you, Dr. Drake,” Chael said. He nodded as if to dismiss him.
Dr. Drake left and Chael held out his hand for me to take a seat on the stool by Henry’s bedside. He did the same on the other stool. I kept my attention on Henry, ignoring the way my body warmed from his nearness.
“Reese, I’m sorry for the bullshit way I handled things.” He sighed, but still I didn’t look his way. “When I first found you, I was so overcome…” He trailed his fingers down my arm. “I protect what’s mine,” he said more firmly.
I shifted my eyes his way to see the stern look in his eyes.
“I thought I was protecting you by staying away but you were attacked because I failed. You’re my mate and I failed. You could’ve been hurt. I’m so sorry,” he said with an almost plea in his voice.
I finally turned to face him and my heart thumped against my rib cage from the softness in his eyes.
“I should’ve been there,” he said. “That’s why I’ve brought you here. Where you’re safe.”
“I—” I didn’t know how to respond to that. I couldn’t trust him but a part of me really wanted to. Frankly, I was a little tired of doing life alone and the sincerity in his voice when he said he wanted to protect me and that I was his mate spoke to the yearning I had deep in my soul.
“I can see the doubt warring in your eyes, but I need you to believe me.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re mine.”
My throat caught and I turned away.
“Stay here with me, with us, Reese.”
“Is that a question or a command?” I asked.
His Adam’s apple visibly bobbed as he swallowed. “Both.”
A small smirk tugged at the corners of his lips.
