Chapter Ten

Tate

“You can’t be serious.” Contrary to my words, I threw the sheet off my legs and instantly felt the soreness seeping in from that easy movement.

Oh man, this was going to suck.

“I’m absolutely serious. I’ll watch the door.”

“Thanks.” I slid my legs over the side of the bed and then realized we had another predicament. A small one since shifters were more accepting of nudity, but this was Bronson.

Bronson, the alpha of my dreams.

“I’ll turn around. Don’t worry, sweetheart.” He moved to face the hospital hallway while my chest exploded from that term of endearment.

I wasted no time, since I had none to waste with humans all around. I tore off the gown and shifted right there, barely containing the howl from my wolf. Not only was I shifting for the first time in a long time, I was in front of this delicious alpha. Once I saw Bronson through my animal’s eyes, there was no doubt in my mind.

My wolf had fought me over Ryder, over being with him.

He was begging me to bond with Bronson. Begging.

My paws walked over the cold floor toward our alpha. He lifted a paw and pressed against Bronson’s calf, wanting him to see us.

“There you are.” He crouched down and ran his large hands through my fur. “Get a good stretch and heal that beautiful man of yours. But quickly. There are so many humans about.”

A whine left my wolf’s mouth, making Bronson pout out his bottom lip. “Oh, that sound, little one. I know. We will have more time. Go on, be a good boy and stretch.”

Good boy.

Yeah, I could be his good boy.

My wolf did as the alpha commanded. I stretched my legs out in front of me in a bow to the alpha and then did the same with the back legs. My wolf took over our bond, healing me with the same supernatural magic that made me able to transform from wolf to human and back again. My human side went into a sleep state while my beast did his work.

“We’re out of time, Tate. Shift back now.”

Too bad, my wolf told me. I need a bit more time. The thing was, I couldn’t exactly tell Bronson that.

“Hold on a minute. He’s changing,” Bronson yelled through the window, but the nurse only said he’d seen everything. It was no problem but he needed to check me over and talk to me.

Shit.

A few minutes later, my wolf finally released me to shift back and by that time, the nurse was banging on the door and threatening to call security. Why, I didn’t know.

My vitals just weren’t that important especially since they were already monitored on the…oh, wait, they weren’t anymore.

Especially when I was a wolf.

I flailed about, trying to get my gown back on, and hurled myself back into bed and covered myself with a sheet.

Bronson nodded, calm as fuck, and let the nurse in. “I asked you to wait. He was getting changed and using the bathroom. No need for the theatrics.” The power in his voice was undeniable, and it made me shiver.

I was all healed up, thanks to my wolf.

“I…I’m sorry but with the nature of the accident…I was concerned.”

My body and heart stilled, waiting for Bronson’s response. “He is safe with me. There is no danger here. Perhaps you could get along with whatever was so important for you to bang on the door like that?”

They stared at each other, but it was the nurse who lowered their gaze. He was human and probably had no idea he didn’t stand a chance with Bronson being an alpha. The alpha would always win.

Shit. That was something Ryder used to say.

Once the nurse took my vitals and typed them all into the computer, he nodded. “You are cleared to go home now. The doctor prescribed some pain meds. You can pick them up downstairs.”

“Oh, thank you.”

I should be happy. Should be thrilled to be able to get out of this sterile place and return home.

Except I had no home.

The nurse made his way out of the room, claiming they would be back with a few papers to sign.

“You don’t look happy, omega.”

My wolf lay on his belly inside me. That one word meant the world to me.

“I’ll figure it out. It’s not your problem. I really appreciate all you’ve done for me.”

Bronson approached the bed as I wrung the sheet in my fists. I would make do. I was a survivor, not a victim.

“You’re dismissing me.” There was no disguising the hurt in his tone. “Well, I’m not going to let you. What are you going to do, Tate? You haven’t told me if you have a place to go. No one has been here to visit you. You have no phone. No ID. I’m sorry but I can’t just walk away and be okay with not knowing. In fact, I’m not fine with walking away at all.”

“He won’t stop,” I confessed. “If you get involved with me, it will only lead to trouble.”

Bronson sighed and came to perch on the side of the bed. “Trouble I can handle. What I can’t handle is going to sleep at night wondering if you’re okay.”

I couldn’t deny this man the truth. No matter how embarrassing or humiliating. “I don’t have anywhere to go. I was living out of a seedy motel. I bought my dinner with most of the last of my money. I have nothing.”

“You have me,” he said, taking my hand in his. “You have me.”

“I don’t want to be a burden.”

“You’re not. Not to me. Let me take care of you. I have a comfortable home and make a good living. Let me help you get back on your feet in a healthy way. No more surviving.”

No more surviving sounded nice.

“I don’t even know how to live in a healthy way,” I admitted. “It’s been too long.”

“Then I’ll teach you.” Goddess, that sounded loaded. I would bet this strong, serious alpha could teach me all kinds of things.

I sighed. “Are you sure?” I asked, stroking my thumb across the back of his hand. Because how could I not touch this man?

“I’m sure. I even brought you some clothes. It’s not much. We’ll get you some more but it’s enough to get you out of here without flashing someone.”

Snorting, I watched as he fished out a bag from the tiny bedside table. I hadn’t even seen him put that in there. “I might want to flash someone.”

“Not on my watch. The only person you will flash is…your mate.”

Going with Bronson scared the living crap out of me, but not going, well, that was a mistake I didn’t want to make.