Page 93 of In the Mouth of the Wolf

Ivy had taken two chairs and pushed them together for a makeshift bed, looking up from a book as we entered.

“Took you fuckers long enough,” she sighed. She struggled to lift her legs over the arm of the chair back down to the ground, her large belly in the way. Cam hurried over, pulling the other chair out and helping her slip her wool-lined boots back on.

She stared at Cam, Elias, and me expectantly, clearing her throat and tilting her head towards Marlowe. “Anyone going to introduce me, or…”

Cam rolled his eyes. “Like you don’t know.”

Ivy rested a hand on top of her baby bump. “Of course, I do. I found out from at least four different people. Do you have any idea how embarrassing it is to discover secondhand that your own brother’s pack has bonded the last omega in the world? I’m starting to think he got into an accident on purpose just so I’d feel too bad to hit him.”

Marlowe tore her gaze from Archer’s face and her cheeks blushed. “I’m sorry. It’s really nice to meet you, Ivy. I’m Marlowe.”

Ivy gave her a warm smile. “And I’m sorry for the bitchy betas you’ve run into. Like any of those females had a chance with these guys, anyway. I mean, look at you, you’re adorable!”

Cam reached out and touched Ivy’s stomach, absentmindedly rubbing it. “So when is Camden Jr. due?”

“Ha, ha,” she replied. “Just as funny as the first time you asked.” Ivy noticed Marlowe staring at where Cam touched her and she laughed. “You’ve got nothing to worry about. Alphas are overprotective over any pregnant shifter, especially ones they know well. They don’t even realize they’re doing it most of the time.”

“Doing what?” Cam asked, his hand still touching her.

Ivy swatted him away and started waddling to the door. “It was great to finally meet you, Marlowe. You and Archer should stop by sometime. The pups have already heard about their new auntie and can’t wait to meet you.”

“Oh! Right, that would be great. I’d love to meet them, too.”

She squeezed Marlowe’s arm on the way out. “And don’t worry about Archer. The doctor on rotation right now is a shifter too and says he’ll bounce back in no time at all.”

Marlowe nodded, and the relief and comfort she received from Ivy flowed through the pack bond. “Thank you for everything.”

The beeps from the monitor punctuated the silence and Ivy yawned. “Okay, which one of you big alphas is going to help me back to my car?”

Cam sighed. “I suppose I can.”

“Oh wow,” Ivy replied, “thank yousomuch for your sacrifice. Good night, boys. Good night, Marlowe.”

As soon as she was out the door Archer cracked open an eye and whispered, “Is she gone?”

Marlowe gasped, whipping back towards him. “Y-you…”

“Sorry to worry you,” he said, his voice scratchy as he gave a cheeky smirk. “But she was sort of right. It was better to fake being asleep than deal with her anger over not telling her about Marlowe.”

“You jerk!” Marlowe cried, smiling and wiping tears from her eyes. “Don’t you ever scare me like that again!”

He took her hand, holding it tightly. “Never, I promise.”

“What happened?” Elias asked. “Ivy said someone found your car in a ditch and called 911 when you didn’t respond.”

Archer grimaced. “We should wait until Camden gets back. He’s going to want to hear this.”

A knock sounded at the door and a beta female walked in. “Hi, I’m Dr. Dubois, just coming in to go over your discharge instructions.”

She smelled the air and her eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Oliver wasn’t kidding. Thereisan omega in town.”

Marlowe’s face scrunched in anger at the mention of the male name, and my hackles raised in response. “Who is Oliver?” I growled.

“Whoa there, settle down, alpha,” the doctor joked. “He’s our bereavement counselor. He handled this young female’s case last week.” She turned towards Marlowe, her expression becoming sincere. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you,” she replied, turning back towards Archer. “He can really go home already?”

The doctor looked over the papers on her clipboard. “Yes. After patching him up, there’s nothing more we can really do for him here. He just needs to rest and take it easy for the next couple weeks. No strenuous activity, hm?” she added pointedly. “I’ll have the discharge planner process the paperwork, and I’ll write you a prescription for some painkillers if you’d like them. With those rib fractures, you’re going to find most movement rather unpleasant. Hope you feel better soon.”

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