Chapter Three

Chasten

An hour later, I sat outside on a bench nursing a sugarless coffee and listening to my wolf grumble about the weird dreams the sedation caused him to have. The furry guy wasn't thrilled about being knocked out. I wasn't thrilled about fainting in general, but he'd always had a bigger mouth than I did. He grumbled about having to bite some jackass who disappeared. I left it be. Who knew what he dreamt about while he was sedated? Not me. I was still ninety percent sure that I was abducted by aliens into a life that was eerily similar to mine.

Grina had left to take Treg home away from the hum and buzz of Mercy of Frost. She'd come back and get me once they were settled in. I huffed out a long breath wishing that I'd driven myself to the festival or at least brought along a book. There was a new Alesky Mink novel waiting on my nightstand for me to crack open.

"Won't be reading that tonight," my wolf chimes into my thoughts.

I was about to tell him to shut up because he thought too loudly and made my head hurt.

"Need a ride?"

It was Mr. Gruff again. At least this time I wasn't tail ass naked under a flimsy cotton gown that made me look greener than the aliens that didn't abduct me. I almost said no. I swear I did. Almost. I would've too but waiting patiently had never been my strong suit.

"Sure," I sighed, shouldering my messenger bag and waiting for him to lead the way.

Kirk looked at me for a moment too long and I almost changed my mind. He still smelled like nothing but my wolf stopped muttering to himself when he was around. In fact, he was almost too content in the alpha nurse's presence. He butted against my ribs and I took a deep breath to settle him down.

"Is your car here or were you offering a piggyback ride?" I asked, trying to break the tension squeezing my shoulders.

"Right. Wait here."

Kirk disappeared around the corner, and I crossed my arms - finally could cross my arms without all the needles shoved into my veins like I was some alien science project. A second later a big truck pulled up. I'd never been that into cars or trucks or all the others in between. It might've been a Frost Growl 3.0 but then again that might've been the model of my toaster oven.

I started toward the truck as he pulled it to a stop, but he was out and opening the passenger side door before I made it there.

"Curb side service," I teased, glancing up into the truck.

"Need a boost up?" he asked, gripping my hips and lifting me inside before I had the chance to answer him.

He was stronger than he looked and that was saying something because his arms pushed at the sleeves of his scrubs in a way that made me want to cop a feel. I gave myself a good mental shake as he shut the door and rounded to his side of the truck. What the heck was wrong with me? I had my heat shot last week. Had I hit my head when I passed out?

"No," my wolf chimed into my thoughts.

"Then what? You? It's not like you can smell some huge, hung wolf inside him," I chided and fought off the urge to roll my eyes as Kirk climbed into the truck with me.

"It smells good in here," I commented on the coconut scented air freshener bearing the aroma of its shape, hanging from the rearview mirror.

"Thanks," he said, glancing at my chest and stomach.

I puffed up, trying to add some muscle volume to my lean frame.

"Seat belt?" he arched a brow and slid his gaze up to meet mine.

"Oh, yeah," I blushed. "Sorry."

"Don't be," he shook his head. "It's hard to keep things straight in times like this."

"Yeah. Waking up abducted by aliens is hard," I nodded, and he laughed.

"I didn't think the hospital was that bad."

"It's not. I guess. Anyway. As far as hospitals go."

He bit his lip, and I buckled up. My wolf stretched out inside his inner sanctum, along my ribs.

"Where to?" he asked, and I gave him my address.

My wolf rolled onto his back, his tongue lolling out as his tail started to wag.

"How much do you know about the sedation they gave my wolf?" I asked as much to fill the silence as to find out if the furry guy should still be acting this oddly.

"Enough. Probably more than the doctor who prescribed it. They know what it's supposed to do but we usually know what it actually does in most cases. Don't get me wrong Bane is a great doctor. You have to be pretty great to work on Hemlock Mountain, but ----"

"I get it!" I laughed. "Nurses know stuff. So, what do you know?"

"What do you want to know about it?" Kirk asked, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye.

"How long will it make my wolf act strange?" I asked.

"Strange how? Under the circumstances, he may act out of the ordinary," Kirk said.

"I know that. That's why I asked how long."

"Well, this is a big change," Kirk said, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye again.

"Look, diabetes runs in my family. Wolfen diabetes to be exact. So, yeah, I've probably had it for a bit. I should've eaten more of a wild diet than a pumpkin spice coffee diet, but I don't think my new diagnosis is what's causing all the tongue lolling and the rolling around on his back."

"Obviously not," Kirk said, his jaw tensing as he finished speaking.

I sniffed the air. What the hell had pissed him off?

"I hate not smelling other people," I huffed and looked out the window. "I really hate not smelling other people when they're crochety like they're grey in the muzzle for no reason."

"No reason?" Kirk asked.

His eyes drilled a hole into the side of my head as we waited at a red light.

"What did I do to you?" I asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about. You didn't do anything. I---"

"You what?" I asked when he didn't finish his thought.

My wolf rolled onto his belly and stuck his butt up in the air. I fought off the instinct to face palm and pretended that my wolf wasn't sending out silent invitations to the hunky nurse who offered me a ride home out of pity.

"Nothing," Kirk said, his jaw still tensed.

"That looks like a whole lot of nothing. Look, I know I wasn't nice in the hospital, but I didn't know what happened at first and you seemed determined to ask more questions than you answered. I know that's how hospitals work, but it wasn't pleasant."

"I'm not angry," he said and sniffed his forearm as if to double-check his own information.

"Then what are you?" I asked.

"That's a loaded question," he laughed as the light changed.

"Do I know you from somewhere?" I asked, facing the front now so I could see him better than watching his reflection in the passenger side window.

"I'd hope so. We met at the hospital," he said, his voice gruffer than before.

My wolf wagged his tail.

"I think my wolf is high. That's the only thing that would explain his reaction."

"Not the only thing," Kirk frowned.

"What did he do to you? Is he the one you're mad at?" I asked as the truck turned onto my street.

"He bit me, but that's not---"

"I'm sorry," I blushed. "He's always been a bit over the top ---"

"It's okay," Kirk said before I could blunder on with a longwinded apology. "It's to be expected, I think."

"Are you serious?" I spat out the words.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Kirk stopped the truck in front of my house but didn't kill the engine.

"I've never seen this---" I started but stopped.

My wolf had his butt in the air again with his tail to the side. His warmth and longing spread over me. It crawled over my skin, spinning in circles and landing square between my thighs. I bit my lip and Kirk glanced down at my lap.

"Perv!" I rolled my eyes.

I should've been angry with him for peeping at my boner, but I wasn't. Maybe I really was coming into a heat cycle. I'd heard of the shots not working before.

"Eventually, when you feel up to it, I plan to show you exactly the sort of perv I am," he chuckled, and I almost laughed.

"Did you offer me a ride home to get into my pants? What would Doctor Hemlock think about that?" I asked, my fingers sliding to the door handle. My wolf might be face down, tail up, but my head wasn't there.

"Uhh. The ride home was his idea."

"What?" I opened the door and Kirk followed me out of the truck.

I didn't have anything heavy to carry. So, I wasn't certain what his game plan was.

"Hasn't he told you?"

"Hasn't who told me what?" I asked.

"Your wolf," Kirk blinked at me.

"Yeah. He's horny. Probably going into a heat. That doesn't mean you get laid."

"I never--- No, not that," Kirk shook his head.

"If there's something you're not telling me you better speak up," I poked at my wolf inside his inner sanctum.

Kirk sniffed his arm again and then his armpit.

"You don't stink. You don't smell like anything," I informed him.

"I know and that's the problem. Bane said your wolf would know because he bit me but ---"

"But what?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out," Kirk said, squeezing the bridge of his nose.

I glanced down. He was hard too. I sniffed myself again. Kirk was hot. He was the sort of hot, educated, and employed that felt way out of this artist's league. So, what about me set him off so much? I was cute, but not stalk and hope for a heat induced booty call cute.

"Alpha," my wolf finally whimpered out the word.

"Yes. He's an alpha wolf. I assume so anyway," I nodded, silently speaking to him.

I wasn't sure what the sedation had done to him or maybe the low blood sugar affected him more than it did me, but the poor guy was out of sorts. I needed to get inside and let him out for a while safe from Boner McGruff and everyone else. Hell, maybe I wouldn't even answer the phone if Treg or Grina called. I sent them both a text saying I had a ride home already. What more did I really need to tell them today?

"You alright?" Kirk asked, stepping off around the truck on my side.

"I need to sit down," I sighed, feeling tired and frustrated suddenly.

"Let me help you inside, mate," he whispered.

"Alpha," my wolf whispered again, and the world went black.

Not a-fucking-gain.

***

I came to but the world was still dark. A big hand was wrapped around mine, Kirk's probably, but whoever it was still had no scent. Maybe the sedation stole my sense of smell. My wolf was out cold again, but it wasn't the deep impossible to reach sleep like it was before. He was remembering in his dream.

I couldn't recall passing out at the Fall Festival, but he could. Maybe, I went down before him or maybe he hadn't passed out as thoroughly as I did. Either way, I was happy to fill in the gap in my memory. I stood there in front of the giant pumpkin that was about to become a lit-up jack o' lantern and the world spun. I didn't even see the eyes carved into the giant pumpkin's flesh start to glow. The world spun and my stomach growled. Then I was gone. Treg screeched. For a big wolf, they were able to reach octaves known to just about break glass when they were upset. Grina and I always wore earplugs when we rode rollercoasters or visited theme parks with them. Grina barked. She literally barked in human form. It was enough to get the attention of the medics.

I shifted before they ever reached us. My wolf forced his way out, growling and snarling, ready to eat whoever touched us. Treg stepped in front of us, in a quick smooth motion. My wolf pushed them behind us. We'd fight them all. The medics kept their distance for a moment and then the shortest one with bright pink hair walked over and squatted down. My wolf growled and hit the ground a second later. He fainted too. Only it took longer for him to go down and he came back quicker.

He came to inside the hospital room with the CALL DON'T FALL sign. The world spun in circles and beeps as medical personnel flooded the room like we were about to code blue. Then there was Mr. Gruff -Kirk. He was there trying to squirt something inside our mouth. So, my wolf did the only logical thing he could. He bit the fucker – hard! His blood flooded onto our tongue, and he was ours! He was ours and everyone else was in the Frost damned way! I – my wolf – lunged to jump into his arms and that was when the doctor stabbed us in the ass. We missed the leap and landed with a thud on the bed. Kirk swore at Bane and the world went silent.

***

CALL DON'T FALL

CALL DON'T FALL

CALL DON'T FALL

"Frost damned sign is back," I grumbled under my breath once I could open my eyes. "So are you."

Fuck!

Fuck!

Fuck!

That's what my wolf hadn't told me yet!

"Alpha," my wolf murmured reaching out to Kirk on a link that wasn't there yet.

Our mating link wouldn't be there until we exchanged claiming vows. My face flushed hot and red as I remembered what my inner beast tried to offer Kirk on the ride to my house earlier.

"How are you feeling, mate?" Kirk asked softly, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.

"Was it the blood sugar thing again?" I asked.

"Not this time. It's still as balanced as when you first left. The consensus this time is that it was indeed the sedative and your wolf getting the better of you."

"He does that a lot," I laughed. "I'm the brawn and he's the brains."

"Awww… I think you're both and he's both," Kirk said, and I melted a bit more than I wanted to inside a hospital room with all the beeping going on. Only one needle had been shoved into my arm this time and by the smell of the clear stuff dripping from the bag it was only saline.

"You gotta stop that. I'm going to melt into the sheets."

"Under different circumstances I'd brag about that," Kirk smirked and everything inside me fluttered like a field of butterflies.

"Are they keeping me?" I asked, suddenly filled with the need to escape the hospital and be alone with him. "And can you shower? Are you still on the clock? Who do I need to tell this to?"

"Slow down, mate," Kirk laughed and helped me as I started to sit up. "They probably won't keep you overnight. Just until your wolf proves he can eat and walk in a straight line without taking an accidental nap. I am allowed to shower. Didn't before leaving because I didn't want to stress you out more. I'm not on the clock. And I don't know whose important enough to you to tell right now. I'll help you make the calls if you need me to."

"No, I meant who do I need to tell so that you weren't on the clock," I shook my head.

"I took care of that. In some ways, HR knew about our response before you did," he said, rubbing the back of his neck with the hand that wasn't massaging my shoulder.

"Keep doing that," I said, and he did – for a moment, at least.

Then he climbed into bed behind me and wrapped his arms around my middle. I sighed before I could stop the sound from bubbling over my lips and leaned back into his broad muscular body. The brush of fur played at my back as Kirk's inner beast reached out to say hello. My own groggy wolf stirred, raising his head, before tucking it right back under his massive grey paw.

"Poor guy," Kirk murmured as if he saw what went on inside my soul.

I twisted in Kirk's arms, careful of the needle shoved into my vein, but I needed to get a whiff of him. I believed my wolf and his recounting of the events that unfolded while I was conked out. Still, I needed to smell him for myself. I started with the crook of his neck, inhaling deeply and searching out his scent. Nothing but some fading fruity aroma filled my head. I growled and my wolf opened one eye as if to see what I was muttering about as I tried the other side. Still no fucking luck.

"What? Is it a lotion?" I growled and Kirk laughed.

Pushed against my hip, his dick hardened. He was big – girthy and long. I licked my lips, and my wolf lifted his head again, making sure he wasn't being left out of anything too fun. I took a long, slow breath and let it out. Then I sniffed his armpit. Still getting nothing, I wiggled around and lifted his scrub shirt until I could wiggle my head under it and sniff his bare skin. I was just about to be nose-deep in his hairy armpit when someone knocked on the door and opened it. I didn't have time to squirm into a less awkward position before they saw what was going on.

"Should I give you two a few minutes?" A perky sounding red haired man asked.

"No," Kirk said, pulling away and righting his scrub top.

"You sure, Kirk?" the man double-checked.

"Yes, Lar," Kirk said, looking like he was fighting off the urge to roll his eyes. "He was trying to find somewhere the pheromone blocker has worn off."

"Try the groin and feet. That's usually where all of them wear off first," Lar shrugged.

"I'm not going to ask how you know that," Kirk laughed.

"I could tell you but that would be divulging a trade secret," Lar wiggled his eyebrows. "I'm here for vitals and to see if you're ready to shift and walk down the hall."

I glanced up at Kirk.

"Don't look at me. I'm not the one he's asking," he said.

"Maybe not but am I? You're the nurse."

"But I'm not inside your head," he countered.

"Yet," I said, scoring the winning point.

"And I won't be unless you're cleared to go home tonight."

I pouted for a second because that last line definitely outdid me. My wolf wasn't exactly ready to come out but I tried to give him a mental shake anyway.

"I don't think he's awake-awake yet," I said, trying hard not to glance over my shoulder at Kirk.

"Don't worry about disappointing me," he said, sniffing my neck. "Worry about feeling better. I'm used to spending too much time in the hospital."

"I'm not," I sighed. "I'd like to go home and do stuff and not just that stuff either."

"Either way," Lar interrupted, "still gotta get your vitals and check your sugar."

"Fine. Prick me," I said, offering my finger up as a sacrifice to the mini blood god also known as a lancet. My glucose was fine and the rest of my vitals followed suit. I half-curled into Kirk as the nurse left and shut the door behind him. Part of me wanted to make a joke about searching out his scent but the other part of me didn't want to stir a pot I couldn't lick.

"We could shower," Kirk said, nodding in the direction of the closed bathroom door. "When I brought you back, I insisted they put you in a private room in case something happened with our response. They're not too keen on anyone mating inside the hospital, but we're wolves and they're wolves and stuff happens. That way you can smell me at least."

I thought about it for a long, quiet moment. Naked and alone with Kirk sounded perfect. How much stronger would that urge be once I scrubbed away all the evil science/magic that covered up what he really smelled like? How much stronger would everything be?

"What about the IV?" I asked.

"Bag's done. We can take it out. I'll double-check with Lar that nothing else has been called in for you," he said, glancing up at the empty clear bag that once held the saline. Before I had the chance to answer Kirk pressed the call button and Lar appeared in the room as if summoned through a portal.

"Anything else on his IV line up?" Kirk asked.

"Nope," Lar shook his head. "We're just waiting on his wolf."

"Do me a favor and unhook him. We're going to shower up and see if that gets his wolf up and going."

They shared a knowing look about all the puns that could be pinched out of what was just said but neither man commented them aloud. Some things just shouldn't be said on the clock. A few minutes later I was IV free and wondering what Kirk would think of me once he saw me with my clothes off.