Page 105 of Ascendant Moon
############
Infirmary, late afternoon
Exam Room One now held side-by-side exam tables so that Lincoln could stay with his mate while he slept. It had taken two more hours of touch-and-go treatment, plus a forced feeding of pureed meat (that Lincoln couldn’t watch) to stabilize Scooter. Donna explained that the severity of his injuries required a lot of healing sleep and did what she could to make both of them comfortable. Perdy brought a hearty snack for Lincoln early on, and then returned with a full meal for supper.
While Scooter slept, surrounded by calming scent, Lincoln had plenty of time to reflect on the challenge and its aftermath. His fiercely protective mate had almost died in the fighting, and Lincoln nearly burst with pride—grateful that Bruce was finally dead. No more living in fear. No wondering if the evil man would reappear in the future to claim his pup. No chance for him to abuse or threaten someone else. Oscar’s devious plan worked perfectly, and both he and Colton were pleased to know that Bruce would never hurt another soul.
According to Evan, those who had donated blood were now feeling fine and back on their feet. Lincoln tried to convey how grateful he was for their help in saving Scooter, along with Donna and Erin, though Lincoln wished he could verbally express his feelings. He’d have to wait a few more weeks to do it properly, and by then, he’d have a little one to care for and a mate to become acquainted with in human form.
A soft knock on the door interrupted Lincoln’s rumination, and Melva’s familiar scent preceded her into the room. She came directly over to give him a hug and then laid her hand gently on Scooter’s head.
"You must be proud of your mate. He was magnificent out there, avenging you and ridding the world of Bruce’s poison. At first, I didn’t care how it happened, but it was much more satisfying this way. I’m sorry he got hurt so badly, but Donna does good work. I’ve heard some of Gladstone’s stories, and I’m convinced that if Luna has favorites, this place must be one of them.
“I thought you should know that I called Ginny to tell her the news. She was happy and relieved to hear it and promised to share it with Alpha Reynolds. Ben told me that President Sheppard was mighty pleased at the way things turned out, and that Eagle River’s new Alpha is cleaning up the mess Richmond left behind. It feels good to finally relax, doesn’t it? You don’t have to be afraid anymore, Lincoln; not with Scooter and a whole pack to keep you safe.”
Shortly after Melva left, RJ, Jonah, and Evie came for a visit. Evie began to cry when she saw the condition Scooter was in, gently stroking his remaining ear. Most of the blood had been washed away after he’d been stabilized, but the poor wolf truly looked awful. Standing on his hind legs, Jonah licked the tears from her face and then shook his head. The bitter tang of her distress was not what Scooter or Lincoln needed at the moment, and she focused on using her scent to comfort instead. RJ praised her.
“That’s it, Evie. I know it’s hard to see him this way, but Scooter will be back to normal in a day or two. After he shifts, he’ll look just the way he always did.”
Lincoln knew exactly what was happening with Evie because he’d experienced it himself. No one, not even an Omega, could always be cheerful, upbeat, and unaffected by the pain and sorrow of others. They were drawn to it as part of theircaregiving nature, but it didn’t mean they were unmoved by its effects.
RJ let Lincoln know what had been happening around packlands since the challenge, though he left certain things out. Ballard’s body had been removed for burial after Evan collected some fur and soil for the memory pouch, and he intended to make discreet inquiries about any living relatives. Afterward, the challenge circle was hosed down to remove the blood and gore, and the security team resumed their normal patrols. Everyone from Ben on down was breathing easier now that Ballard was out of the picture, and life at Gladstone resumed its normal ebb and flow.
############
When Donna arrived to force-feed Scooter, Lincoln took the opportunity to get some fresh air and empty his bladder. The new infirmary entrance now included a wolf door, and he slipped out to head for the nearest cluster of trees. Only one of his bodyguards accompanied him this time, and he assumed they would no longer be needed once Scooter had recovered. When Lincoln returned, Donna had already finished the feeding and was gathering supplies when he jumped up on the table. She turned to smile at him.
“I gave Scooter an injection that will help him sleep through the night. If he wakes up and moves around, he might pull out the stitches too soon. I’ll feed him again in the morning and see how things look. Maybe by afternoon he’ll be ready to shift. If you need me for anything, just howl, and I’ll come right down.”
Lincoln yipped his thanks as Donna turned out the lights, leaving the door open. She had repositioned Scooter, leaving more room for him to snuggle against his mate’s belly. Despitethe odd location and lack of a proper bed, Lincoln was exactly where he wanted to be.
############
The next morning
Lincoln awoke when Donna and Erin arrived carrying breakfast. His mate hadn’t stirred at all during the night; heartbeat strong and breathing steady. He got down to eat his meal, giving Erin room to feed Scooter while Donna checked him over.
“He looks good. I’m going to give him another injection so he sleeps while Erin and I are at the clinic. Ben and Evan plan to stop by, and Jonah and Melva will be staying with you all morning. If anything happens, I can be here in a few minutes.”
Lincoln went to do his business and found that Melva and Jonah had replaced Donna and Erin by the time he got back. They greeted him with licks and hugs, and he found a comfy position next to Scooter before settling down. Melva held up a familiar paperback and announced her intention to read for a while.
“I stopped by your apartment and picked up “The Duke’s Forbidden Love”. Is that all right with you?”
Jonah preferred human shifter stories, mostly for the laughs, but he and Lincoln both nodded. As time went on, Melva got wound up and excited by the novel, especially the parts that included steamy romance. It was as if she’d forgotten that she was reading aloud to others and not sitting at home by herself. While Lincoln enjoyed the book immensely, he couldn’t help but chuff at the performance of his friend. That got Melva’s attention and she abruptly stopped reading to look up in confusion.
“What? Oh dear, I’ve gotten carried away haven’t I? We best take a little break here boys and air out the room. Poor Scooter’s going to wake up and wonder what’s going on!”
Fanning herself with the book, the poor woman looked totally flummoxed. She might be unmated, and of a certain age, but clearly she possessed a working libido—even if the romance was about two men. Just to make the situation even more embarrassing, Ben and Evan walked in, noses madly sniffing the air and brows wrinkled. Red-faced, Melva tossed the book on the chair and made a hasty retreat, promising to return with snacks. Had Scooter been awake, he might have wondered why everyone was laughing.
############
Shortly after noon…
Scooter awoke as Donna began removing his stitches, and he lifted his head to look around. Lincoln was right there next to him, and Ben and Evan stood over by the wall. His last clear memory was of the challenge circle and crushing Ballard’s neck, not the infirmary. Whatever the doctor was doing stung like hot needles, and he tensed to stand.
“Lie still! I need to get the rest of these out before you can shift. I’ll explain everything in a minute.”
Scooter obeyed, enduring the minor discomfort as Lincoln licked his muzzle. What had happened? How long had he been out of it? It must have been pretty bad if he was still in wolf form and full of stitches.
