Everyone in the room stiffened, save Molly.
Brock’s jaw ticked. The doc watched him from the corner of her eye. Probably no one dared talk back to the asshole.
Brock’s jaw ticked faster, like a clock, back and forth, back and forth. Sabine’s normally formal stance was rigid. Only Ray seemed like he might be enjoying the show. Okay maybe calling him an overgrown dog was a bit harsh, but him telling me I should have stayed locked in my house made it seem like it was my fault I’d been bitten.
“It seems like she’s doing fine now,” the alpha finally said to Sabine. “Maybe you should discharge her.”
I glared at him. He wasn’t going to pin the responsibility on me. Yes, it was stupid to be out on the full moon when my neighbors were werewolves, but I was on my property, and he needed to control his wolves. I was the innocent one here.
“I-I think it would be wiser to keep her under observation for a few more days,” Sabine replied, probably stuttering for the first time in her life.
“Why?” Brock asked, as if the idea of keeping me around longer revolted him.
The thought of it stung a bit before I pushed it away.
“We’ve never seen anything like her before. I’d like to study her, run some tests, understand what it means, and what she’s capable of.”
“Not because you care about my wellbeing?” I asked the doctor, deadpan. I’m not sure why I expected a total stranger to care about me, especially one who was so stiff. It sounded like she wanted to make me a lab rat, and I wasn’t down with that. My period was definitely coming soon, because I was emotional as hell.
“Because,” the doc reasoned, “I’ve been a werewolf and a pack doctor for a long time, and I’ve never run across a specimen quite like you before.”
So it was just curiosity, not concern.
“Well, Doc, I have a cabin to keep from being demolished by some jerk who has no respect for the dead.” I scooted toward the edge of the bed, attempting to get up... and then sank back down into the pillows while the room spun.
Sabine smiled, and I suspected she took perverse pleasure in my ill ease. “Good, you’ll be staying, then. Can’t have you leaving until you’re feeling better. I’ll just run a few tests while you’re here.” Her smile widened.
I clutched Cass’s hand, and pulled him closer, genuine fear rolling through me. I hated needles. “I don’t wanna be a lab rat.”
Brock had been watching me the entire time, something unsaid scrawled across his face. “You really think I’d demolish Belinda’s cabin while you’re unwell?”
There was hurt in his voice, but that didn’t stop me from thinking that’s exactly what he’d do. Was he an amazing, tender lover? Yes. Did he also park a freaking bulldozer in my front yard to intimidate me? Yes again. I couldn’t trust him; he had to know that.
Cass looked from me to Brock and back. “Hon, first time shifts are intense,” the imp said before I could answer the alpha. “They leave the shifter weak for several days. Add to that the fact that Nathan”—Cass snarled when he said the name and I loved my bestie for having my back even when he was kind of in the middle of selling me out—“almost killed you, so it makes sense to stay here for a bit. Have the doc check you out.”
“Why?” I asked, jutting out my chin defiantly.
“Because they know how to deal with shifter... issues.” Cass shrugged helplessly.
“So do you,” I pressed my bestie.
Cass smiled compassionately. Teeth pointy and slightly crooked, it was a face you had to grow to love, unless you were a fae, anyway. Clearly the fae had no trouble loving him.
“Not really,” he replied. “I know how to take down a shifter, not how to heal one.”
“What about a shifter’s regenerative abilities? Aren’t they—uh,we, I guess—supposed to heal when we shift?” I didn’t want to, but I looked at Sabine, then Brock, and finally Ray when I asked the question. Molly looked like she had front row seats to a Supah Freak concert.
“Your shifter healing abilities are the only reason you’re still alive,” Brock said coldly.
“And your intervention, of course.” Sabine placed a hand on Brock’s upper arm, and I shot her some serious eye daggers. Jealousy flared to life inside of me before I could get myself under control. What was going on with me? I hated him. He was a jerk.
Brock noticed my look and smiled wide, the fucker. “Look, we don’t know how you are what you are. Clearly your powers were dormant, and the bite must’ve brought them to the surface. You need to rest, and you may as well stay here where Sabine can keep an eye on you.”
“Thanks, but no thanks. Or have you forgotten that I have a cabin to defend?” I crossed my arms even though my muscles screamed in protest.
He sighed. “A cabin that’s on my property,” he mumbled, barely audible.
“It is not!” I tried to stand, but I swayed again. So I growled instead.
