Page 53 of What a Wolf's Heart Decides

Yep. Totally a human doctor.

Also, what the hell? Questions buzzed through her head, overriding the pain as she tried to understand how he was standing in a human hospital like it was no big deal.

“Doctor Bennett?” The nurse peeked around Bard’s shoulder. “Do you think we should push atenolol or—”

“No. Nothing right now.”

The nurse’s eyebrows climbed to her hairline. “But—”

“I’ll take it from here,” Bard said. Gaze still fixed on Haley, he added, “The car accident in Bay Four needs suturing. Could you do the prep and then assist the PA? I already called her.”

The nurse looked between Haley and Bard, her features pinched and anxious. For a second, she locked eyes with Haley, and it seemed like she might argue.

Haley held her breath. Didn’t the woman know an Alpha werewolf had just given her an order?

But she couldn’t know. Bard hadn’t put any push behind the command. His wolf was out of sight, buried beneath the layers of whatever made him appear human. Some Alphas could do that—stuff away the essence of what made them super-predators in a species of predators. But she’d never seen anyone just switch it off.

When the nurse continued to hesitate, he turned his head. The movement put his face in profile, revealing the eye patch strap that cut across his cheek and disappeared into his salt and pepper hair.

Haley braced herself for him to say something rude.

Instead, he spoke in a soft, reassuring voice. “It’s okay, Anna. I’ll take care of Miss Michaels.”

The tension left the nurse’s face. She put a hand on his arm and said, “Of course you will.” Then she looked at Haley. “You couldn’t be in better hands. Doctor Bennett is the best we’ve got.”

Bard’s scarred mouth twitched. “You flatter me, Anna.” There was disapproval in his voice, but also a warm undercurrent that said he liked the nurse and had an easy rapport with her.

Wait. Someone had an easy rapport with him? How did that happen?

The nurse gave his arm a playful slap, then she turned and went to the curtain. Before she left, she said, “I’ll get Bay Four set up. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Will do,” Bard said, his gaze locked on Haley.

The nurse disappeared through the curtain. Bard cocked his head, clearly listening as her footsteps faded. After a minute, his shoulders relaxed.

Haley swallowed against a dry throat. “What’s a PA?”

“A physician’s assistant.” He reached out and removed the clip from her finger. One of the machines next to the bed made a sound of protest. He punched a button, and it quieted.

“What are you doing?”

He leaned across her and undid the blood pressure cuff, the Velcro a loud rip in the otherwise quiet room. “Getting you out of here as quickly as possible,” he muttered, rolling up the cuff and setting it aside, his movements brisk and assured.

“You’re a doctor.”

“Yes.” He kept working, detaching various leads and wires.

“Is that allowed?”

He paused, the brow above his good eye arched. “Allowed?”

“You know what I mean.”

He just stared at her, arrogance and expectation stamped all over his face. Somehow, he was even more intimidating in his doctor coat, with his title sewn into the fabric.

There weren’t any humans around, but she lowered her voice anyway. “We’re not supposed to expose ourselves to human doctors.”

The arrogance in his face remained, but the expectation shifted to something resembling amusement. “I can assure you, Miss Michaels, I have no intention of exposing myself to any doctors, human or otherwise.”

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