“Okay, okay. I understand. Colton is doing a wonderful job. Still, I will feel better when you are here.”
Ian laughed. “I really do understand how you feel. Relax, I’ll be there in two weeks, in plenty of time for the birth.”
“Thank you. You made this grandmother-to-be very happy.”
“Anything for you, Oracle. Is that all, because I have hours of work ahead of me tonight.”
“Yes, good-bye Ian.”
“Say hello to Maximus for me and good-bye.”
Ian hung up the phone feeling out of sorts because of what he felt was Oracle’s unwarranted lack of confidence in Colton. He didn’t deserve it and when he arrived at Steel’s, he was going to have a conversation with her about having some respect for a damned fine nurse.
Chapter 4
Maximus looked at Oracle as she hung up the phone after talking to Ian. “Honey, why were you baiting him? I know you think very highly of Colton so come on, fess up. What are you trying to do?”
“I wanted to see what Ian’s response would be if I criticized his mate.”
“Colton is not his mate yet.”
“I know, but Colton is feeling the mating pull. I just wanted to see if Ian was too.”
“Well?”
“He is. He immediately jumped to Colton’s defense. It is important that these two get on with their claiming. Gods, I had to pull in some favors to get Ian replaced early, so I am just helping him along.”
Maximus chuckled. “You know sweetheart, we think alike. One day shortly after Steel had mated, I questioned whether Jackson’s brothers were handsomer than his mate.”
“You didn’t!”
“Yup, and boy, did Steel snarl at me. But, I found out what I wanted to know.”
Oracle swatted Maximus. “You aresobad! Poor Steel, having to fight you about his mate. And you are coming at me for baiting Ian before he is mated? Shame on you.”
“Hey, I’ve learned from the best,” Maximus said, wrapping his arms around his wife.
~/~/~/~/~
“Dr. Wallace, an emergency just came in.”
“Thanks, Rita. I’ll be right there.” Ian breathed deeply, reaching for that last bit of energy he had somewhere.It’s going to be another long night. He hurried to the ER. “What do we have here?” he asked, entering the cubicle and seeing the patient with blood spurting out of a massive gash on his side.
“Carpathian Wolf, unable to shift, unknown pack, between 30 to 40 years, attacked by unknown shifter.”
Ian got to work. This type of injury was typical in Tajikistan villages where harsh conditions allowed only the strongest to survive. Why different packs of shifters couldn’t work together so everyone could have a better standard of life was beyond him. Ian was able to stop the bleeding and stabilize the wolf. The rest was up to the wolf’s own healing capabilities. “Move him up to room 8. I want to be informed the moment he wakes.”
“Yes, doctor.”
Ian removed his blood-stained coat and gloves, throwing them in the hamper. His body was sore, cramped by the prolonged tending to the wolf’s wound. Stretching out the kinks, he craved some coffee so he could make it through this shift. Walking down the hallway, another doctor joined him. “On your way to caffeinate for the night ahead?”
“Yeah, I haven’t been sleeping well lately.”
“Something wrong?”
Ian had worked with Eddie at other hospitals and considered him a friend. However the thoughts causing his sleeplessness weren’t something he wanted to tell him about, at least not yet. “Naw, just juggling too much crap. I need a vacation.”
“It sounds like your next postingwillbe a vacation…a private patient in a private hospital. What strings did you have to pull to get that cushy assignment? If you’ve ever considered me your friend, tell me so I can get one of those,” smiled Eddie, handing a cup of coffee to Ian.
