Chapter 10

Build a jungle gym for our kids with Uncle Jimmy.

This thought sticks with me for the next eight hours as Kade and I alternate between snuggling on the recliner, taking walks through the hospital, grabbing sweet treats and decaf coffees from the cafe—because he's worried I'll OD on caffeine my first day—and making out whenever we're alone. I've come so many times today, I'm surprised I'm not the one on life support.

Is six times a lot in one day?

It seems like more pleasure than one body should be allowed.

Kade speaks to me like we are building a future together. He's genuinely interested in my dreams. What he doesn't understand is that the plan Jimmy and I created consisted of escaping the Family and learning who we are outside of their control. I've dreamed of being anything from a housewife to an airline pilot flying around the world–even though I've never been on a plane. Jimmy dreamed of building a cabin for him and a special someone or living in a sky rise apartment in the middle of New York City. Neither of us had the basis to understand which dreams were feasible and which ones weren't considering that none of them had been sanctioned by the Family. Honestly, the only thing consistent in our dreams is being happy with someone who loves and cares for us—not like a brother or sister—but in a romantic way.

My big, burly savior definitely makes me feel loved and cared for romantically. Could I be lucky enough, after everything I've been through, to meet the man of my dreams on day three away from the Family?

It seems unlikely, but what do I know?

Jimmy's woken up a few times, but never long enough to have a coherent conversation. The drugs they have him on remind me of the time he was beaten and a fever took over his body. He spoke in tongues—which the Family said was evidence he failed me as a husband—but I didn't believe it. As Wiley explained, the body does what it has to do to heal and repair itself, and this includes fever which heats the body to battle infection, bacteria, or viruses.

In this case, the drugs help him relax so his body can heal.

Nan walks in with Wiley and Sly, whom I've learned were combat medics in the military with Kade, Erick, and Cricket. Nan received her medical degree at a school in Canada before moving down here to open her clinic. They've known each other for years, and Nan is Wiley's older sister. Although unrelated, Kade thinks of them as a second family to his birth family in Fortune Falls.

"How's my patient?" Nan steps up to Jimmy's side, flashing me a soft smile as I sit by his other side. Kade excused himself to make a phone call ten minutes ago, muttering something about getting out of his responsibilities for the moon party tonight considering everything else going on. I feel bad disrupting his life, but I don't mind him picking me over a party.

"He's woken up a few times and talked to me." I grab Jimmy's hand and squeeze his fingers.

"That's a great sign. Did he seem like himself?"

"Yes."

"And how are your feet feeling?"

"We haven't checked them, but I have no pain." I smile at the reminder. "Actually, I forgot all about them."

Nan glances at Sly and Wiley. "Why don't you find Kade? Give us some time for a little girl talk."

I watch the men suppress smiles, nod in my direction, and leave the room without speaking a word. Trepidation settles in my tummy, as I'm not sure if I'm in trouble or not. Nan seems suddenly serious, and in my experience girl talk is never a good thing.

"Did I do something wrong?" I ask when they close the door.

"Not at all, Dinah, but I thought we could chat. This morning Kade mentioned your childhood and how they raised you. I also know you and he have gotten very close in a short amount of time. I thought, well, if you need a woman to talk to, I'm here for you."

I bite my lip and glance at Jimmy's serene face. He was talking in his sleep earlier—he's always done that when he's stressed—but Wiley injected something into the tube in his arm and he passed right out. He's looked peaceful ever since. "I wouldn't know what to ask."

"I know you don't have experience with men, but you met the best one your first time out. Kade will move heaven and hell to make you happy."

Smiling, I glance down at my shoes as a furious blush hits my cheeks. "He's been very kind. Patient. Generous. Gentle."

"I never thought anyone would call Kade gentle. That must be because you're his mate." Nan laughs.

"Mate? What's that mean?" I don't know why, but something about the word makes me think this is one of those life-changing pieces of knowledge.

"He hasn't told you?" Nan blanches, all the color draining from her cheeks.

"Hasn't told me what?"

"Oh, Dinah, it's not my place. That's between you and your mate." Nan glances at the door. "But I will tell you this—one woman to another—the way he feels about you comes from the core of his being. It's ingrained in him at birth, and while you only met him yesterday, he's been looking for you his whole life. You won't ever find a man like him. He'll never change his mind about his feelings for you. He'll never hurt or betray you. And no man will ever fight harder to protect, love, or cherish you."

"I don't understand." I shake my head.

She sighs. "I know you don't. That's what makes this difficult."

"Tell me what to do."

"I can't tell you what to do. You've had a lifetime of being told what to do. All I can say is that when Kade talks to you about the important stuff, use your female intuition and trust your heart."

"Hey," Jimmy croaks, drawing our attention down to the patient in the bed. "So thirsty."

Nan hands me a cup of ice chips. "You can feed him these."

Jimmy sucks on a couple of ice chips, his eyes and throat clearing after a minute. "How long have I been asleep?"

"You've been in and out of it for almost twenty-four hours," Nan says while checking the bags of fluids attached to his arms.

"That's it? It seems longer. I've been having the most vivid dreams."

"What dreams?" I give him another ice chip, thankful he's fully awake for the first time today, smiling and interacting as if his brain is clearing from its fog.

"Weird ones. Like, I walked in on you kissing and hugging a man. You looked so happy—truly in love, Dinah—that I was happy for you too. So I left you in his care because I knew you'd be safe. Then I turned into an enormous wolf, and I was running so fast through the woods. I felt strong, invincible, and freer than I've ever been. But I was searching for something I couldn't find, and so I kept running. Then I was cornered, only I wasn't afraid. If anything, I felt sorry for them because I knew I was more powerful than them. I knew I could destroy them because I was smarter too." Jimmy rambles a mile a minute, his voice that of a child retelling an amazing day full of wonder.

Days we never had as children.

Nan arches her brow. "What color was your fur?"

Jimmy turns his excited eyes to her. "Black as night. I was beautiful."

She nods, her lips pressed into a thin smile. "Interesting."

"That sounds like an amazing dream." I offer him more ice chips.

"I wish it was real. Can you imagine turning into an animal? Strong like a bear, or cunning like a cat, or flying high like an eagle?"

I smile, relief settling in my bones. Jimmy definitely sounds like himself—the private version he only showed me when we hid in our room away from prying eyes. Traces of the boy he never got to be—full of awe and wonder instead of fear and despair of the outside world. "I can't imagine, but I like the idea of not being afraid."

Nan straightens, her eyes on the closed door. She points at the chair in the corner and gives me a hard look. "Sit down and be silent—both of you."

Her sudden demeanor change causes warning bells to go off in my head as I do what I'm told while exchanging a worried glance with Jimmy. I crawl into the chair, pulling my knees up under my chin as she walks around the curtain and pulls it closed, shielding us from the front door.

The overhead lights dim as the door opens, the bright lights from the hallway casting large shadows against the curtain.

"Dr. Barton. Mr. Wilcox. Can I help you?"

"Dr. Grey. Do you have a patient?"

"As per my agreement with the board, I have private access to two rooms and four beds for tribal members when their injuries are beyond the scope of my clinic."

"Yes, but per our agreement, private doesn't mean off the books. There were no surgeries booked last night and yet, someone used and reset one of the surgical suites. Despite our informal agreement, we still have to consider the liabilities of performing unauthorized procedures, hence why we keep a log and have patients sign forms."

Nan sighs. "You're right. The surgery was minor, but I will update the logs and have the patient sign all the forms. Now if you'd please leave. My patient is resting."

"Perhaps we should take a look to make sure your unorthodox behavior is above board?"

"My patient requires privacy and anonymity."

"Screw this." A man pushes past her and yanks the curtain back, his blue eyes landing on me. "I told you I saw her. Son of a bitch—I can't believe he's alive."

"Well, damn," Mr. Wilcox says as a bright light and loud crackle sound, Nan's petite body falling to the floor with a yelp.