One of her Alphas is coated in a seriousness that’s as obvious as Jana’s sense of free love. He and another woman in their pack guide me away from the noise of Jana updating her pack on howwe met and into the dining room, where there is already what looks like medical supplies laid out, ready for my arrival.
The Alpha, whose name I can’t remember, and Hannah are both doctors, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.
Hannah fills in the gaps. “Jana texted and asked if we could help you out. We’re both medically trained.”
I take the seat already positioned in front of the table.
The man covers himself in a mist, the telltale chemical burn of a scent blocker floating to me, and Hannah does the same. Then he pulls over a rolling stool and sits on it, which makes him look a little absurd, considering his size and the size of the tiny stool. “Anything you're worried about?”
Again, I’m struck by the strangest sense of already knowing these people are good and reliable. “Nothing is broken. I had an X-ray to confirm.”
“May I?” he asks as he rolls closer, and as soon as I nod, he’s moving slowly. And he keeps his eyes away from mine, but that’s an Alpha thing.
He wraps his hand around my face and uses the pad of his thumb to press over the worst bruises. I know he’s satisfying himself and confirming what I said. He pushes over my eyes socket, and I hiss, making him drop his hands and roll away, but that’s when Hannah takes over.
“Open,” she says gently but firmly, using one a tongue depressor to check inside my mouth. “The last thing you need is an infection. But I’m just seeing if we have internal swelling or loose teeth as well.”
The two of them work methodically, running their hands over the back of my head before checking my neck and asking for me to lift my top so they can see my ribs. Because, apparently, I hitched my breath too many times for their liking.
Once done, they both give me some space.
“Layne, did they give you a morning-after pill or anything for STIs?”
“He didn’t touch me like that,” I say, meeting their concern head-on. Thankfully, they believe me immediately and leave it at that.
“And would you like us to prescribe more suppressors and a script for scent blockers?” he asks quietly. “I would like you to consider agreeing to a short course, no more than a couple of days. If we take away the push and pull of your designation, I think you will be able to heal a little quicker.”
My eyes jump over to Hannah, and the small smile on her face confirms what he’s saying. “I bet Jana has all but adopted you.”
I smile in confirmation while also accepting the bottle of pills that the man passes over, along with the bottle of water.
“Don’t let her push you around,” Hannah says firmly as she holds up a roll of tape, indicating she wants me to stand. “I think this will help. The additional support of the tape on your ribs will help you heal faster.”
Hannah starts taping me up, and the man interrupts my thoughts.
“What’s wrong?” he asks. Infusing his question with his designation, he makes it impossible for me not to answer.
I take a deep breath before confessing. “I don’t know how to thank you, and I wish I had money to offer, but I don’t.”
“We’re not asking. This is why we both became doctors. To help those in need, and you, my dear, are in need,” Hannah says, before getting back to taping me up. “Besides, you working with Jana means we’ll be the ones owing you!”
Once they’ve given me a rundown on what tablets to take and when, what they can help me with or help me find, they guide me back to the others, where a pile of clothes, blankets, and supplies are stacked on the kitchen island.
A tidal wave of appreciation hits me, and it starts to feel overwhelming until Jana steps up between me and the others. “Right, kid, that’s your free pass. We’ve got a life to live, and you’ve got yourself to reclaim. Plus, taxes wait for no one. I’ll take you down the elevator and show you to your room.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, to stop my gratitude from making me overly teary, but her pack isn’t done.
“The room isn’t flashy, so don’t go thinking you owe us at all. We won’t bother or check in on you, unless you ask, and you don’t owe us a single update, either. If this”—Tomas waves his arm around, indicating his pack and what they’ve offered—“doesn’t work out, leave the keys on the kitchen table and a note that you’re okay. That doesn’t mean we’re kicking you out of our lives. We’re simply telling you we’re here for you.”
4
Layne
The reversing alert of a truck intrudes my nap, but I’m getting used to the noises here. Stretching, I roll to my side, watching the way the lights dance over the walls while I mentally work through the day ahead.
Jana and her pack have done exactly as they said they would, leaving me alone, unless I look for them. Though, it’s pretty hard not to see them, considering they’re always at Styke, either working, visiting Jana, or eating.
She wasn’t exaggerating when she said Styke was one of the best steak and wine bars around. It wasn’t an offhand remark, either. Jana has made me eat out at her competitors’ restaurants, triple-checking that hers can still claim the top spot. While I’m no food or restaurant critic, there is no real competition. Despite a few other contenders, Styke is in a world of its own. Its success is hard to pinpoint, but I suspect it comes down to Jana and her staff. And that’s not because every person working for her greeted me like I was their long-lost relative. I’vewatched them treat the customers, the delivery people, everyone the same way.
