Chapter Eighteen

Kirk

"Kirk. Kirk. Kirk. Kirk. KIRK!" Someone repeated my name over and over inside my thoughts.

Everything ached. I didn't bother opening my eyes. I didn't need to see whatever contraption they wound my leg up in. My pinky bent and moved at my side. At least that was one less worry. I held tight to my end of the mating link I shared with Chasten. The last thing my pregnant mate needed was to experience this pain along side me.

"Kirk. Alpha! Kirk! Frost damn it! I felt you wake up!"

"Chasten?" I thought at him while still trying to hold my side of our link mostly closed.

"Are you okay?"

"I think so. I'm in the hospital. I think you know that much. I sent Treg to get you. Grina kept crying like I died. Didn't think she'd be the right person to go to the house. You were out so cold. I told them that too. That's why they had to go get you. You had to know. I'm sorry. I tried to avoid the pole but it didn't work. What happened to her?"

"Grina? Her mate took her home to get some sleep," he said, realizing who I meant only after he thought the last word. "She didn't make it."

I let out a long, slow sigh.

"Her door came while she was on the table," Chasten added a moment later.

"She was so young."

"Twenty," Chasten said and I saw him nod in my mind's eye.

"Are you okay? The baby?"

"I've been looked over about fifty times. Doctor Dreala met us here. The hospital called her."

"I remember she was here. I told her to knock you out if she had to," I chuckled.

"It didn't come to that, thankfully," he said, letting out a long, slow sigh.

"She wasn't wearing her belt."

"I know. Treg told me."

"I'm feeling very mortal right now."

"You're no more mortal than you were when I asked you to go out to get ice cream," he sighed again and his guilt slid across our mating link.

"Don't do that. It's not your fault. Things just fuck up sometimes. And I know I'm not extra mortal, but I don't walk around feeling mortal every day. Some days, depending on what happens here at work but not most days. Today it's like my cells are vibrating with mortality. Like they want to shake themselves up as much as possible to prove they're alive and not dead."

"I think that's the pain meds talking but I'm glad you wore your belt."

"I always do. It's the law."

"Laws don't make you do that. Only steal your money if they catch you not doing it," Chasten let out a soft laugh.

"Well, some laws are worth following. Don't worry. My truck was insured. Might get something more baby friendly, though. Like a tank."

"Huh?" Chasten grunted in confusion.

"A tank would be safe for the baby," I laughed and then said the words aloud, laughing again.

"Hey Mr. Gruff."

"Yeah?" I smiled because I couldn't help myself.

"You're high but look up at the ceiling? Is it there?"

"Call don't fall," I read it off to him. "Don't worry. I'm not gonna try to hop out on one foot."

"I'm going to find out if I can get some pregnant mate perk and see you sooner."

"You probably can. Send the angry dragoness to ask."

"She's not angry. She's just assertive. Don't be sexist."

"Sorry. Wasn't trying to be. Tell her to use whatever it is on them."

"I will. You just rest."

"You better have eaten something for my baby."

"My baby too."

"Eat."

"I did. I had a burger that Treg ran out for."

"Good boy."

"Don't start that."

"My leg's broken. Not my eyeballs. I can still watch."

"Alpha?"

"Yes, Chasten?"

"I love you, but you're fucking higher than the peak of Hemlock Mountain right now."

"Hey?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you too, mate," I murmured the words. "Next fall lets go see those damn leaves."

"I'd love to."