Returning to the cabinet, I see Aleksei’s presence again in the organization, along with the foresight of what is in them. I have to block out the questions about why he’d need so many hospital supplies. Thinking of him being here alone, hurt, no doubt by Sergey or doing something for Sergey guts me. I force myself to focus on how organized my mate is. I don’t even know his birthday or his favorite meal, but I know he’s incredibly organized and neat. I send a little thanks his way that he had all this set up. It’s going to make what I have to do a hell of a lot easier.
Getting Kade out of the car takes a little while, since his leg is becoming more painful. We make it in and then have fun getting him down onto the bed. He looks relieved as soon as he’s lying down.
I go back out to get Nalla, and she’s pissed off.
“I didn’t forget you, so don’t be crabby. And seriously, if you bite me, all you’ll be doing is wasting time. I’ll also tell Roshka what a little bitch you were. But all that is me just trying to lull you by talking to you about shit, isn’t it? You are a giant, snarly fluff ball.” I scoop her up, nearly breaking my fucking back because she weighs a ton. I keep talking to her softly, hoping she stays docile and noodle-like as I carry her inside. “So, your daddy’s a bit of a hottie, isn’t he? And look, we need to talk about how you’re probably about to inherit two other daddies. I promise they’re all equally stunning and squishy on the inside. Altogether, we might just make up our own pack, if no one loses their shit and kills anyone. Which leads me into the discussion we need to have about you sharing a room with Kade. He's kind of special to me, and if you so much as snarl at him, I’ll be stepping on your tail. Okay?”
I nearly drop her trying to navigate the back door, and only through my stubborn determination do I manage to get inside the house.
She struggles in my arms when I’m just about to lie her on the ground. “Stop!”
My bark of dominance is enough to subdue her, and once she feels the solid ground under her, she relaxes even more.
The way I have the beds set up means I can keep an eye on them both, and they can see each other too. They’re both unmoving and quiet. Racing back outside, I load up anything I think we will use from the car, dumping it just inside the door before I triple-check the windows are up, then I lock the car, shut the back door, and engage the internal locks, securing us inside.
And it's there, with my head resting against the back door, that I take a couple of steadying, slow inhales and exhales to settle the last of my nervous energy. Getting here, then getting them inside was a big stressor. I feel a lot better now we’re settled.
Walking into the room, even more of my anxiety falls off my shoulders. Looking after people is my happy place, when I feel most like myself. Although, since I met them, my priorities are changing to make room for them, and I’m happy about that.
Both of my patients track my movements. “All right, you two, we’ve survived the drive here. And then I didn’t let either of you fall or be dropped coming inside, so we’ve faced our biggest challenges already. Now, I just want you to lie back and trust me.”
Kade laughs softly. “Quinny, are you okay?”
“Sshh, I'm getting into work mode. I want you and Nalla to rest.”
I put my back to them and get busy, working through the supplies Aleksei has. I pretty much find everything I need and start laying everything out on the countertop, much like I used to do at the clinic.
Pulling out two IV fluid packs, I grab a couple of cannulas too before I use my phone to make sure dogs can have saline.Dehydration is a slippery slope I don’t want to have to deal with if possible. I go back to the supply closet and find Aleksei also prepped for his dogs, which isn’t surprising, considering how much they obviously mean to him.
I split the equipment and the drugs evenly, and then set about getting their drips started. Centering one of the chairs in the room between them, I set up the IVs. I get Kade's done first, also adding a dose of antibiotics to his bag to be safe. And then I do the same to Nalla, although she sits half up to watch me, growling when I bring the cannula closer.
“You can’t be worried about a needle, Nalla. I saw you attacking the wild dogs.” I stare her down, talking softly, and as soon as she stops growling under her breath, I strike and get the needle in her paw. Luck is on my side, and it goes straight in. Admittedly, I’d also had a quick read while I was checking the drugs, and I found a pretty good diagram of where the best veins on dogs are.
I leave her glaring at me, returning to Kade. I sit next to him, brushing my hand over his face, pulling back his hair.
“You need a haircut.” I grin before leaning closer and running my nose along his jaw, driven by pure instinct and need. But it’s like I don’t have a choice; I need his scent to fill my lungs. The reality of how close I came to losing him today stirs up like a dark shadow.
“I’m okay,” he says, like it’s the only words he knows.
I bite my tongue to swallow a snarky reply before I distract myself, again, by caring for him. If he was having a general anesthetic, I wouldn’t let him eat, but with a local anesthetic, it’s better to have food in your stomach.
“I’m going to get some food and more water. I’ll be back.”
The kitchen in Aleksei’s hideaway is as bright and as “happy” as his kitchen back at Sergey’s estate. I know there are endless reasons why people need to conform, but I experience a growingwarmth of pride as I take in the room. Aleksei isn’t a dark, soulless Alpha; I’ve got no doubt he’s done some awful things as Sergey’s Atroviet, but it’s not who Aleksei is. The kitchen is more proof of that.
Opening the fridge, I find it switched off and empty. But I find everything I need in the cabinets. The food is long-life but nutritious; there are lots of lentils, beans, chickpeas, plus a variety of canned fish, including tuna.
“Damn it, Aleksei, you lose points for thinking tuna is fit for human consumption,” I whisper, grabbing several of the plant-based sachet meals of pasta and meat sauce, along with cans of dog food. Mixing up a large container for Kade and me to share, and a separate bowl for Nalla, I’m back with my two patients before even five minutes have passed. Under my arms are two large water bottles.
“Who were you talking to?” Kade asks as he takes the bottles of water out from under my arms, putting them next to him so I can also hand him the bowl of food I made us.
“Myself.”
He pulls a grimace, but it’s laced with his typical gentle, cheeky smile. Without being prompted, he opens the water bottle and takes a massive drink.
I go to Nalla, and even injured, she waits for me to give her the eat command. Leaving her devouring the food in her bowl, I sit with Kade and share with him what I made us to eat.
“I don’t want to put you under in case our day turns to shit,” I say, accepting the forkful of food he holds out. The beans are extra chewy, so it takes a bit for me to keep going with my plan. “A local is going to hurt, though, and probably worse than usual because the wound is open and your nerves may be exposed.”
