He would need to know a great number of things.
Bringing up a chart, I began to make notes. A real scan would make it easier to see the situation, but my fingers had told me enough for now. Shifters had a flexibility that humans lacked. Giving him a chance to undo enough of the damage to live a pain-free life as long as he was willing to accept some limitations and was willing to work hard.
I noted adjustments and exercises, had the receptionist reschedule any appointments that were possible in order to lay out a whole treatment plan for Striker. I’d found him just in time because eventually even a wolf shifter would lose some mobility permanently. The young athlete’s previous exercise regimen had bought him time, but his face showed what he’d been through. When a person had unrelenting pain, even low-grade, it was hard on them. Affected all aspects of wellbeing including sleep, eating, and learning. They could never totally relax.
So, while I couldn’t make him as good as new, maybe I could help him get a good night’s sleep. Enjoy a meal. Play a scene for reasons other than masking another kind of pain. I should have gotten his number, but since he was a member of the club, maybe Evander or someone could help me getin touch. I couldn’t ask them for contact information because privacy was paramount at Crowned, but maybe they could pass my information along to him? I hadn’t told him what I did for a living or basically anything about me, but the night had been about him and I just let it get by me. While I examined the injury and massaged the muscles and guided him through stretches, I didn’t even remember that he might not know what I did for a job. I just wanted to make him feel better, and by the time I gathered him in my arms, he’d relaxed so much, the lines of pain and tension faded from his face.
I needed to tell him about myself, what I did for a living and what I could do for him.
I helped many people every day, but rarely did I have the opportunity to do so much good for someone. Especially someone my wolf was already convinced belonged to us. Never had I believed there might be another person for me, another mate, but the moment I touched him my wolf howled and I knew.
But not only could I get to know him better, find out if he felt the same but I could…
I could—
I could do nothing.
Because dating a patient lay completely outside the rules I operated under. And I would have to choose between mate and patient. A choice I could never make.
His pain poured over me, and I had the key to easing it, but he admitted to both physical and mental pain. If he was my mate, for me to choose to be his therapist instead, that could also hurt him.
And for just a moment I’d thought I could see a future.
Chapter Eight
Striker
I woke up the morning after the club feeling like a new person. Bracing myself for the morning stiffness and pain, I carefully sat up and placed my feet on the floor.
But nothing happened.
I pushed off the side and stood up, still waiting for the inevitable. Shaking my leg, I looked down at it.
No pain. Minimal soreness.
No shooting pains or the weird icy veins feeling.
None of it.
I checked the phone next to my nightstand and realized how long I’d slept. Thank goodness I was off work today, otherwise, I would’ve been three hours late for my shift.
My thoughts immediately drifted to Wulf. He was the first alpha I’d let touch my leg. And the whole time we were playing, it felt like he knew exactly how to touch me. His fingers kneaded my muscles in a way no physical therapist had. No doctor.
I’d been offered all kinds of surgeries after the accident but most of them had a higher rate of being completely immobilized than they did helping me. My agent found some of the best surgeons on the planet and they gave me less than dismal news every time.
For me, it wasn’t worth the risk. In the end, I decided not to take the risk and to just deal with the pain.
Some days I regretted that decision. There were days, rainy ones and cold ones in particular, where the pain was so unbearable, I could scarcely get out of bed. Nothing helped. The pills didn’t touch the pain at all.
And now, after one night with Wulf, I felt better than I had in years, physically. Emotionally and mentally, better than I was before the accident.
Somehow the alpha’s touch and time with him had given me healing. Parts of me that were shattered weren’t so sharp anymore.
Instead of staying home, as I usually did on my days off, I treated myself to a walk in the sunshine. A latte and a scone were the perfect top-off for a day like this. A quick stop at the cafe turned into a full morning of thrift store shopping and library browsing.
I stopped for lunch and picked up some for my roommate. He usually woke up about noon or a bit later.
“Hey,” I said as I walked back into the apartment.
