"I see." The doctor pushed his wire-rimmed glasses further up his nose. "And how much were you drinking?"
"A lot," I admitted. "It doesn't taste bad, and it gave me a little energy boost, so.."
The doctor nodded his understanding.
"The key ingredient in this tea is ephedra, which is a stimulant that is usually safe for humans," he paused, "but in large amounts it causes significant problems with memory loss, confusion, nervousness, irritation, and can lead to nervous system disorders."
I could feel my eyes getting wider and wider as he talked.
"Unfortunately, it is even more toxic for wolves. Well, for canids of any type, actually," the doctor continued. "Your werewolf physiology was probably keeping the worst of the reactions at bay because of the high metabolism, but then the near toxic build-up overwhelmed your body and caused you to spiral downward."
"The activated charcoal helped with what was still in your stomach, but we are going to need to give it several days for your kidneys and liver to catch up." Dr. Smudge clicked his tongue sympathetically. "If it hadn't been for the good luck of you collapsing at a medical office, we could have lost you."
"Reverting back to a werewolf will take care of it, right?" Colby chimed in. "What?" he growled at Rafe who was rapidly clearing his throat. "He's going to change back when Clint claims him again, right?"
Rafe didn't answer and, true to form, Colby stomped to the opposite side of the room and stopped in front of Clint, his hands on his hips, to demand his answer. "Well?"
"It's..complicated, Colby," Clint's voice was tired. "I'm not going to claim him just to speed up his healing."
"But.."
"Stay out of it, Colby," Rafe said quietly.
As ifthatwould ever happen.
Chapter Seventeen
Clint
As I listened to the conversation between Trevor and the doctor about that damned tea, I found myself wondering where he'd gotten the idea that he needed to lose weight. Was it something I had said or done that he interpreted to mean I wasn't attracted to him anymore? Had someone in the pack made a snide comment? Or was it just a random thought that had occurred to him after seeing the perfectskinnyOmegas on the television and in the magazine ads? I wasn't even sure how to ask him.
The only thing that I was sure of was that biting Trevor without a claim – turning him into a werewolf just to speed his healing – was a terrible idea.
After all, mine was the only werewolf pack for hundreds of miles which meant that if we didn't survive this - if Trevor didn't want to stay with my pack - he'd be alone. Of course, there was also the fact that, with no idea whose child he was carrying, turning him into a werewolf could cause even more damage to his unborn child than I already risked by losing my temper. Better to let him revert to a full human if he wasn't going to stay.
Of course, I couldn't say all of that, but I also couldn't miss the way that Trevor's shoulders sagged when I rejected Colby's around the bush suggestion that I bite Trevor to speed his healing. Talk about damned if you do and damned if you don't.
I tried to stay in the background after that. To blend into the scenery as the medical staff came and went so I wouldn't be asked to leave. Eventually, Trevor began to yawn and Colby turned the lights down, giving his Alpha a hard look that made him roll his eyes.
"Trev? I'm gonna go and let you get some sleep," Rafe said softly. "Colby will stay with you."
"Clint?" Trevor's voice was so quiet that I barely heard it.
"I'm here. Do you want me to leave?" I asked, swallowing my wolf's automaticrefusal to leave our Omega's side. Oh. Right. He wasn't mine anymore.TheOmega's side.
"Not..not really," he said. "But I understand if you have something else that you'd rather do."
"I don't," I assured him. "If you don't mind, I'd rather stay."
Trevor murmured his acceptance, and I was finally able to relax a little. Even if the only reason he wanted me there was the instinctive desire to have an Alpha's protection –anyAlpha's protection – as he slept, he hadn't sent me away.
As an Alpha werewolf - one of the most feared beings in the world – it was natural that I would take charge of Trevor's safety, but Colby had retaken his wolf form and was curled up by the door as the first line of defense. A gesture that I knew was as much out of loyalty to his friend as it was to repay the hours that Trevor had served as his protector when Colby had been injured and alone. A debt that we both knew full well Trevor didn't believe existed.
Knowing that my reflexes were faster than anything that might pose a threat, I leaned back in my too-small chair and closed my eyes, letting my mind wander. Soon after Colby's small wolf snores began to drift through the room, I picked up the rustle of fabric and light footfalls crossing the room as Trevor's sweet scent wafted toward me.
"Alpha?" Trevor's hesitant voice caressed my ears. I opened my eyes to see him standing in front of me.
"Yes, Trevor?"
