When the door closed behind him, I turned to the young werewolf slumped casually in his chair, legs spread and shoulders thrown back. With my hands at my sides, I stared at Fang in silence until he slowly drew himself up to sit straight in his chair, pulled his knees together, and drew in a breath.
When I didn’t move, Fang’s face paled and he rose to his feet, standing at attention before me. “Sir?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Perhaps things have changed since I was active in the Brigade, but I’m unable to recall any point where I would have refused to communicate with the head of security, instead pulling the manager of an organization away to meet with me, claiming need to know on an assignment that I had literally only just arrived on.” Gesturing for Kade to step up beside me, I raised a brow. “Was I not clear that Alpha Bauer was your point of contact?”
Fang swallowed hard, his adam’s apple bobbing. “But..but he’s a…” The young soldier caught himself just in time, snapping his jaws closed. “No, sir.”
Beside me, Kade snickered. “I’m a what?” he prodded, clearly amused. “Is this because I’m just a lowly hyena, oh powerful werewolf?”
Despite the expressionless set of his face, the flare in Fang’s eyes showed Kade had hit the nail squarely on the head.
“Oh, hell, no,” I huffed, swallowing the snarl that threatened to rise in my throat. “If this is speciest bullshit, I don’t have time for it.” I glared at the young were, furious that I was being kept from Julian for such nonsense. “If you can’t take orders from him, you need to go. Period, full stop. Are you going to get your head out of your ass or should I make a phone call?”
Fang stiffened noticeably. “I will get my head out of my ass, sir.”
“Good,” I snapped, shaking my head. “From this moment on, anything you think I need to know, Alpha Bauer needs to know. Then, ifhethinks I need to know, he will tell me, understand?”
“Yes, sir. I apologize,” Fang’s cheeks were red, but he met my eyes and his tone was contrite. His eyes flitted to Kade over my shoulder before coming back to mine. “I, uh, do have some suggestions about reinforcing the perimeter.”
Reminding myself that Fang was young -not that that should have been an excuse with him being in a leadership role- I narrowed my eyes. He quickly realized his error and drew in a deep breath, shifting his gaze to over my shoulder again.
“Alpha Bauer, can we schedule a time to discuss the problem?”
Kade’s hand clapped down on my shoulder, setting my mind at ease that he wasn’t holding a grudge against the kid before he answered. “I’m free now. Let’s take a walk and let the Director get back to work.”
Julian
“Jules?” Gentle fingers stroked my forehead, making me smile as I was pulled from my dreamless rest. “Wake up.”
“Do I have to?” I teased lightly, stifling a yawn. “Is it cold pizza time?”
When Chuck made a choking noise, I frowned, annoyed that the bandages kept me from seeing him. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Chuck assured me, his voice thick with amusement. “You just caught me off guard. If you’re up to making jokes, I guess you must be feeling a little better.”
Reassured, I reached out blindly and waited for him to take my hand. “Why don’t you feel me and find out?” The sound of a third party clearing their throat made me cringe. “Oh, crap. Sorry.”
“You have nothing to apologize for, Mr. Loukas,” a calm voice said soothingly. “Head injuries can often result in less control over thoughts and behaviors until healed.”
I swallowed a chuckle at the thought that I was only flirting with Chuck because I’d been bopped on the head and tried to nod seriously. “Thank you. That’s good to know.”
“Happy to help,” the voice continued smoothly. “I’ve known Director Keir for many years and I’m certain he would never take advantage of your condition.”
Well, crap.
Chuck rejoined the conversation, an odd note in his tone that I wasn’t able to place. “Jules, this is Doctor Alfred Lafrentz. He’s been seeing to your treatment, but you’ve been pretty out of it each time he has been here.”
Ah. That made sense.
“Nice to meet you, Doctor,” I tried to smile at him but wasn’t really sure which direction he was in. “How am I doing?”
“That’s what I’m here to find out,” the doctor said gently. “First, we are going to unwrap your eyes and then have the Director slowly decrease the Alpha comfort he’s been offering. Once we determine how the light affects you, we’ll have a better idea of your condition. Do you have any other questions?”
“I don’t think so.” I shook my head slowing, noticing that the movement didn’t leave me reeling like it had before.
Speaking gently, the doctor walked me through his actions, giving me warning before touching me as he unwrapped the bandage holding the cotton pads to my eyes and then bathing my eyelids with a cool, wet cloth.
“Whenever you’re ready,” he said in his soothing voice, “try to open your eyes.”
