Page 32 of Hers to Call
No!
He turned inward about to let his bear out, but his beta grabbed his arm.
“We’ll get there faster in the truck.”
He nodded, it made sense. He could travel fast in his skin, but the truck would travel faster. He jumped in the passenger seat since Gavin had already jumped in the driver seat and started the engine.
They made it to the small town clinic in no time and he rushed through the doors. The receptionist pointed, though he didn’t need it. He’d picked up his mate’s scent from the moment he opened the doors. He found her in one of the exam rooms getting stitches. He hissed, his eyes cataloguing the bandage wrapped around her wrist and the one peeking from under her t-shirt. Her eyes were closed, her lips pinched in pain. Her distress brought a growl to his throat.
Her eyes popped open and widened. “Simon,” she whispered his name and he was at her side.
He watched the slow bear put in a final stitch, taking his sweet time. He wanted to growl at the male to go faster, but knew it would make no difference. Once the doctor tied it off, Simon moved him aside and leaned down to hug Calita. She hissed in pain.
“I’m sorry, my love.” He pulled back from the exam table. “What happened?”
“Someone ran me off the road.”
He snarled, the sound menacing and filling the small room. Calita’s heart rate increased. He sucked in a deep breath to calm down.Our mate is here and safe,he reassured his bear. The doctor ignored his growling, handing Simon a bandage and pointing at Calita’s wound. It strangely calmed Simon as he did as the doctor ordered. Instead of questioning Cali further, he would visit Nate after he got her settled.
“Is she free to go?”
The doc nodded. “I gave her something for the pain, though she’ll feel it more tomorrow. I called in a prescription for you, I suggest you take it before you go to bed tonight, Calita.”
She nodded and winced.
“Give your wrist a day before you start using it. Nothing is broken, so the tenderness along your ribs are likely bruises and will go away in a couple of weeks. Try not to lift anything for about a week to give your body a break. Two would be better, but, if you’re anything like Selena, that’s asking for a lot to stay out the kitchen that long.”
“She’ll rest,” Simon assured him and earned a glare from his mate.
Calita cut her eyes at him and sighed.
“Selena can make do without you for a few days.” He softened his voice.
“I’m not sitting around doing nothing for a week.” She grumbled.
He crowded her space and her scent changed, immediately a spike of fear intertwined with her wariness. She squashed it so fast, he was confused as to whether or not he’d really smelled it. He backed up anyway, holding up his hands, suppressing a frustrated growl.
“I just think it best if you follow the doctor’s orders.”
“I don’t want to argue with you, Simon. I’ll be fine in a few days. For now, I just…I need to get out of here.” Her breath was speeding up, her eyes darting around the room in nervousness.
She moved to sit up on the examining table, nimbly, as though used to moving about with injuries. He had a pretty good idea why and it did nothing to cool his worry. He tamped down on his anger. He couldn’t let his mind dwell on what could’ve happened to her in the past, not when she needed him now. Calita climbed down off the table and he rushed to her side to help. He was relieved when she didn’t pull away from him.
He walked her to his truck and his beta handed him the keys. He paused before cranking up the car.
“I would really like to take you to my house and take care of you.”
She looked up at him, her eyes hazy from the pain meds, but nonetheless wary. “I’d feel a little more relaxed in my own space.”
He nodded, and started the engine. “I’ll get you settled, then go out for your pain meds. Can I get you anything else while I’m out?”
She looked at him, her lips parted in shock. “You aren’t going to argue?”
“About what, sweetheart?”
“About the fact that I don’t want to go home with you.”
He turned to face her. “Calita, I don’t know what your past relationships were like, but I’m not them. Am I bossy, yes, controlling, absolutely not. You want to rest at home, I’ll take you home.”
Wonder filled her face. “Thank you. I would appreciate it.”
He grabbed her chin. “You’re my mate, so naturally I want you in my den where I can make sure nothing happens to you, but your comfort is always a top priority for me.”
She grabbed his arm and nuzzled into his hand.
“One day, you’ll tell me about the shadows lingering in your eyes, yes?”
She sighed, kissed his palm and nodded. She turned from him and stared out the window.
He wanted her secrets, but he wanted her willing to give them to him. Like he told Nate, he wanted his mate’s trust. He drove her straight to the hotel and with much protesting from her, carried her up to her room. Once he had her settled, he went to the drugstore to fill her prescription. There was already talk about the accident, his bears stopping him to ask how she was doing. He took a trip to buy her candles and flowers and headed back to her hotel. He was staying the night to keep an eye on his mate. Hopefully she wouldn’t argue with him about it.
