The Pack's Doctor

Chapter 20: Taking Charge.

Yara.

I have no idea what Dr. Stevens is doing here. Well, actually, I'm pretty sure he thought he was going to come in and take over the hospital. What I don't understand is why he tried to do that in front of Arric? Warren was clear with him that the hospital was mine.

I must be muttering out loud again because Savannah keeps glancing up at me and smiling as she helps me to close off the internal bleeding that Charlie had. That's why his heart was struggling. He was losing blood as fast as his heart was pumping "Okay," I say, stepping back. "Close him up, let's keep a close eye on him. If Dr. Stevens is back, how many more nurses can we expect?"

"Only two more Luna. That's all we have."

"One doctor and five nurses for a huge pack of fighting warriors.

Okay, we'll make it work. Also, who does the ordering for medical supplies?"

"I do, Luna."

"Let's talk, sooner rather than later. We're missing some things that we need in the supply room."

"Yes Luna. I'll tell you, I'm pretty sure I know what's missing and Dr. Stevens told me we didn't need those items, that they were a waste of money."

"Right, just like stitching up wounds is a waste of time," I growl, walking out.

"Piper," I call, glancing around the room to make sure no one else looks bad, glancing at Arric who is

lounging on the gurney as if he's a lion surveying his kingdom.

I hear some chuckles from the warriors and I frown. Did I just say that out loud?

"Yes, Luna?" Piper asks, walking up to me.

"I need a report. Did any other serious injuries come in that I need to take care of before I take Alpha Warren in for surgery?" I ask.

"No, Luna."

I focus on her. "Nothing happened with Dr. Stevens, did it?"

"No, Luna. Alpha made sure he left."

"Good. And no one else caused you any problems?"

"No, Luna. I think they're all in awe of you," she says, whispering the last part.

"Well, they'll be in awe of my anger if they mess with you.

Where's Anna?"

"I'm here, Luna. I made some extra triage kits just in case more warriors come in."

I turn and look at Arric.

"Are there more coming?" I ask. I wouldn't think that Warren would leave warriors out there if they needed help.

"Alpha says there are some minor injuries to the patrols, but he was just getting ready to switch them out with some of the healthier warriors here that you've healed."

"It wasn't me, it was my nurses, thank them," I say, looking around, wondering which warriors he's going to send out.

"Alpha says he believes that every warrior in this room and probably the nurses as well would disagree with that statement,"

Haynes says. I turn and look at him, but he refuses to look at me as his lips twitch. I narrow my eyes at Arric, but the bastard begins purring at me. Loudly.

I turn and look at the room. "He's right, Luna, or Dr. Luna, whatever you want us to call you. All these nurses have been working in the hospital for years. It's not them that has us healing, although now that you're here, they're being allowed to treat us as they've wanted to," one warrior says.

"He's right Luna. Dr. Stevens always restricted what we could do to help the warriors. You being here, empowering us like you have in such a short time, is already making a huge impact on the warriors' healing," Piper says.

"I haven't done anything," I murmur, feeling completely inadequate in the face of so much injury, but I'm glad I've helped some.

"Alright Warren, who are you sending? I want to check them out and give my approval before you do," I say.

The warriors begin stepping up to me. I'm assuming he's telling them in the mind link to come get my approval.

"You're good," I say to the first and second warriors who approach me.

"Not you, you're ready yet," I say to the third. He isn't happy and begins to argue with me.

"Luna, I..."

"I said no. Have a seat, warrior."

"Yes, Luna."

I clear the others that Warren sends over to me before turning to look at him.

"Are you ready, Alpha?" I ask him.

He chuffs.

"Piper, Savannah is finishing up with Beta Charlie. When she's done, she can help triage. If you need me,

let me know. I'm guessing our stubborn Alpha here won't let me put him under again," I say, turning to look

at him. He shakes his head no, he won't let me sedate him.

I sigh and turn back to her. "So, if you need me, I can come quickly."

I step up to Haynes and reach out to touch his face. Arric growls softly behind me.

"Knock it off, Arric. Haynes was near death less than a day ago.

He's been running non-stop since your warriors started coming into the hospital," I say, touching his forehead, then his cheek, then his neck.

"How are you feeling?"

He glances at the other warriors in the room. "A bit weak," he says softly.

"Have you eaten?" I ask, just as softly.

"No, Luna."

"Anna, can we get some food sent over here for our warriors?"

"Yes, Luna, I'll get right on that."

"Eat something," I say to him quietly. "Why don't you grab a chair and sit outside Charlie's room. No one

but me and the nurses go in or out without my say so and that includes Dr. Stevens."

"Yes, Luna."

He grabs the chair, and I can tell he's fading. I look over at Piper as I move to the gurney that Arric is laying on. She glances at Haynes and nods at me. She'll keep an eye on him.

"Alright Alpha, let's get you put back together," I say, pushing his gurney into a room. When I get there, I look around, not having everything that I need.

I'm about to go get it when there's a knock at the door. I open it to Anna with a wheeled tray that has pretty much everything I need on it.

"Thanks, Anna."

"You're welcome, Luna. Food's on its way," she says, her head snapping to Arric.

"What did he say?" I ask, aggravated that I need an interpreter.

This would be easier if he was in human form.

"He said to make sure I set some aside for you since he's pretty sure you haven't eaten yet today."

"Set some aside for your Alpha too. I'm not the only one who hasn't eaten."

"Yes, Luna," she says, walking out.

"Well, since you can't speak, this will be a fun one-sided conversation," I say sarcastically. I grab the hair sheers and begin to carefully shave the fur off his leg.

"Are you sure you don't want something for the pain?" I ask, looking up at him.

He shakes his head again.

"Fine. I'm not surprised. Your entire pack seems to be mostly immune to pain anymore. I guess, over time, you get used to it.

But I don't like them getting used to it, Warren. From what I've seen today, your pack has been suffering needlessly. Dr. Stevens is a problem. One that you need to handle sooner rather than later," I say, looking over the wound.

"Did you get bit?" I ask, appalled. When I look up, his big wolf's head nods at me. "Someone wants you to lose this leg."

He chuffs at me, but since have no idea what he's trying to tell me, I show him the scalpel and I open his leg. As I slice into his leg, Arric moves to watch what I'm doing.

"Big guy, I can't see. You need to sit back," I tell him, gently nudging him out of my light.

I growl when I see the snapped bones in his leg again. Without warning, Arric leans over nuzzles my cheek, his tongue gently licking me.

"Tell me you aren't trying to calm me down when you're the one who is injured," I say, looking up at him. Arric whines at me and I can almost see the war in his eyes as Warren tries to get his wolf under control. "I need you focused, Arric. I'm going to have you heal a couple of these bones, then I'm going to have you shift. It's going to hurt, there's no way around that, but I need to be able to talk to Warren and know what's going on with you two since you refuse to accept any sedative.

He chuffs softly, watching me intently. Where the man terrifies me as a mate and a woman, the wolf is utterly charming. I lean forward and kiss his nose. "Behave. Are you ready?"

He chuffs again and I take the snapped bone and hold it to the intact bone, just like I did before. Arric watches intently as he heals the bone, just enough that it's set.

"Nice. One more, big guy," I tell him. I pull the other shattered bone out of his leg and show it to him. "Ready?" I ask.

He chuffs again, and then watches as I hold the bone, and he begins healing it. He chuffs again, leaning forward to lick my face.

"Yeah, we do make a good team. Okay, you ready to shift? I'm going to hold your leg so that you don't jerk it and snap more bones during your shift."

I set my hands on his leg and foot, above and below the injury, and then look at Arric. "Whenever you're ready."

He begins to shift and I feel his body jerk with the pain of it. He clenches his teeth together as Warren pulls the shift, a low moan of pain the only sound that he makes. It's soft enough that I don't think the warriors in the main room can hear it.

When he's done, Warren is laying on his side, panting heavily. I walk up to his face. Once again, he's covered in grime and guts. I ignore it, putting my hands on his cheeks. "Are you okay?"

He looks up at me and I can see the pain in his eyes. "Do I get a kiss, since I behaved?" he asks.

I shake my head. I can't believe the man is thinking about kissing me while he's in so much pain. Maybe

it's because he is, or maybe it's because I like the way he kisses me, but I lean down and touch my lips to

his.

Before I even know what's happening, he sits up, pulling me across his lap as he deepens the kiss, growling possessively in way that has my body and my wolf humming with pleasure.