25. Mason

Chapter twenty-five

Mason

I sat in the back of the SUV, cradling Shya's broken body in my arms. In the front seat, Derek's knuckles were white on the steering wheel.

Shya's heartbeat was erratic now and getting fainter by the minute.

"Derek, hurry the fuck up," I snarled. "We're losing her."

"I'm pushing as fast as I can," Derek replied calmly. His military training had taken over and when he was like this, he was measured and controlled. Me, my wolf was going berserk. I had to get Shya help, or he was going to lose it and start a rampage.

"The nearest hospital is a human one," said AJ, looking at his phone. "It'll take another forty minutes to get to a Shifter one."

For fuck's sake! We didn't have another forty minutes.

"Head to the human one. She needs help now."

I looked down at Shya, her face pale and still. My heart clenched, panic rising in my throat. I couldn't lose her. Not like this.

Ten minutes later, Derek swung the car into the hospital parking lot, tires squealing. Before he had even stopped, I was kicking open the door, Shya clutched to my chest. AJ scrambled out behind me, leaving the car doors hanging open for Milly to jump out as we raced for the emergency room.

I burst through the doors into the chaos of rushing bodies and barked orders. We must have looked a sight: three huge werewolves striding in, covered in blood and injuries, carrying a woman who was near death, and trailed by a wolf. I was topless, having wrapped Shya's naked body in my shirt. Her blood had seeped through the material and was dripping onto the floor. Conversations cut off as all heads swiveled toward us. I ignored them all; they were insignificant. All that mattered was Shya and anyone here who could help her.

A nurse came out from behind the desk, stepping into my path.

"I need a doctor. Now!"

"Sir, I understand this is an emergency, but we have protocols in place for a reason," the nurse said, her voice clipped and efficient. She was tall, with short blonde hair cut into a severe bob. Her pink scrubs were crisp and unwrinkled, and she had the air of someone used to being obeyed without question. "You need to sit down and wait until the next available nurse is ready to see you. I assure you, it will be as quickly as possible."

My control slipped another notch. "You have one minute to get a doctor here," I declared, each word precise and sharp-edged, "or I'm going to burn this whole fucking place to the ground."

"Sir—"

"He ain't joking, lady." AJ stepped forward. "In case you hadn't realized yet, Mason here is a werewolf, and that's his mate. Now, I'll do what I can to help you nice people out, but if you don't get a doctor here right now, I can't guarantee I can stop him from doing what he's threatening."

The nurse's eyes widened, a flicker of fear crossing her face.

She swung her gaze from AJ to Derek and back to me. I knew my eyes were flaring, that my wolf was peeking out from my eyes. She took a quick step back, then ran to her desk and pressed a button. An alarm sounded throughout the hospital, and through the double doors behind her, a team of nurses arrived at a run with a gurney.

A petite woman in a white coat trailed behind them, her dark hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. Despite her small stature, she radiated authority and competence. "What have we got?" she asked, her voice calm and steady.

Doctor. Will make mate better.

My wolf approved. That was good enough for me.

"We're not sure. We found her like this near a river. She's lost a lot of blood."

The doctor nodded, her eyes sharp as she assessed Shya's injuries. "Let's get her on the gurney."

I hesitated for a moment, then gently laid Shya on the bed, smoothing her hair back from her face. She looked so small, so fragile; it tore at something deep inside me.

The moment she was down, the nurses sprang into action. They rushed her through the double doors into a curtained cubicle. I followed close behind, refusing to let her out of my sight.

Inside, the nurses worked with practiced efficiency. They attached monitors to Shya's body, the machines coming to life with a series of beeps and whirs. IV lines were inserted, bags of clear fluid hanging above the bed.

The doctor moved to Shya's side, her hands gentle as she examined her. The doctor's face tightened, but she kept her focus on Shya. "We'll need to run some tests, get a better idea of the extent of her injuries."

She looked up at me, her eyes compassionate but firm. "I know you want to stay with her, but we need room to work. I'm going to have to ask you to step outside."

Panic surged through me at the thought of leaving Shya. "Fuck no! I'm not going anywhere."

The doctor studied my face; then her eyes flicked to Derek and AJ as they came to stand beside me. She sighed. "Fine. But you need to stay out of my way. Let me do my job."

I nodded jerkily, moving to stand at the head of the bed. I took Shya's hand in mine, careful not to disturb the IV line. Her skin was cold, her fingers limp in my grasp.

The doctor and nurses worked around me, their movements quick and precise. They spoke in low, urgent tones. All I could do was stand there, holding onto Shya like she was my lifeline.

Minutes ticked by, each one an eternity. I watched the monitors, trying to make sense of the numbers and lines. Shya's heartbeat was thready, her blood pressure dangerously low.

Fear clawed at my throat, threatened to choke me. I couldn't lose her. I couldn't.