Page 106 of In Control

“Did he hurt you?”

“You asked me that already, Alpha. You don’t remember?” She strokes her fingers over my knuckles, her touch featherlight yet electrifying.

“I remember,” I say, holding her hand and her gaze, “I remember everything.”

Her smile is teasing as always. If she chooses to be ours, if she chooses to be mine, she’ll never let me get away with my bullshit, she’ll always keep me on my toes. “And you meant it?”

“Yes. Every word of it.”

A door on the other side of the room opens and a doctor and nurse walk through.

“Ahh, you’re awake,” the doctor says. “How do you feel?”

“It depends,” I say.

The doctor looks up from her notes. “It depends?”

“Yes, on how she feels,” I say, motioning my chin in Sophia’s direction.

Her blue eyes are violet today against the landscape of white, and I remember the first time they locked with mine, how alive and beautiful she looked.

“I feel the same,” she says and my heart kicks so violently I’m surprised all the machines I’m hooked up to don’t go into meltdown.

“Yes, well,” the doctor says, still looking confused, “we need to do some checks. If you wouldn’t mind …” She points to the door and Gabe and Sophia reluctantly squeeze out of their seat and walk away. I don’t let go of Sophia’s hand, tugging her backward.

“I’ll be right outside,” Sophia says, prising my fingers open. “We all will.”

We all will.

I like the sound of that. I like it a lot.

* * *

I’m dozingwhen they all creep into my room later, Sophia and Gabe claiming the chair again while Ro and Liam stand by my bedside.

“How you feeling, mate?” Ro asks.

“Groggy and sore,” I confess. I guess those drugs are wearing off, or maybe it was the absence of my pack. The room seems brighter with them in it and my head less painful.

“Are you drinking enough?” Liam starts to flick through the notes hanging at the end of my bed and then goes to read the various monitors they have me hooked up to.

“How long do you think they’ll have me in for?”

“I think they’ll keep you overnight and let you out tomorrow.”

“So soon!” Sophia gasps as I groan.

I want to get home with my pack. I want to talk about the future. I want to hold Sophia in my arms and never let her go.

“You’re lucky you have a medic as a packmate,” Ro says, slapping Liam on the shoulder. “Apparently his quick actions saved you a lot of blood loss and a transfusion.”

“Thanks, man,” I say, trying my best not to choke up.

“It was nothing,” Liam waves his hand at me, “nothing I wouldn’t do for any other stupid tosser who ran at a mad man with a knife.”

Gabe snorts and I smile sheepishly. “I wasn’t exactly thinking straight.” I peer over at Sophia. “I just wanted you safe.”

Gabe hooks his arm around her and snuggles into her neck. “And she is.”

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