Hybrid: First Rare Wolf (Rare Wolves Book 1) Page 6

  “Damn it!” He looked up at me, his eyes worried. “Collapsed lung. Get your keys, Shane. You drive. I need to monitor her in case she gets worse.”

  I stood, turning, almost running into Holden.

  Holden. We had forgotten about her.

  She stood there, her eyes filled with tears, her hand half reaching for Lexi, her other hand clutching Soren against her chest. The little male pup’s eyes were crossing. I suspected he had a concussion.

  “I have a gun in the kitchen. The middle drawer, next to the sink. Please feel free to use it, Holden, in case there is any trouble. In fact, move Betta and Soren into the house with you and lock it until we get back. We need you to take care of these pups while we help Lexi.”

  Max had already picked up the pup, heading towards the house and the car. Feeling helpless, I looked at her for a moment before walking around her to go get my keys. Running, I met up with Max at the car, sliding into the driver’s side.

  “Where to?”

  He got in beside me, laying the little pup on his lap. He stroked her throat. “My office. I need to take care of her lung first and then I will need you to force her to shift. She is worse off than I expected. I just hope that shifting will help her body to heal whatever those assholes had done to her.”

  I nodded, my head jerking once before starting up the car and rolling out of the driveway. I knew that collapsed lungs were dangerous for a pup so young. Heck, it was hard for those of us adults, except the shift would heal them as we moved from form to form. I wasn’t sure if it would be the same for Lexi, since she was so young. Most shifters were several years older before they even had their first shift. I suspected my brother had forced them into their wolf form upon attack, which was part of the reason they hadn’t shifted back yet.

  My knuckles were white by the time I was breaking for the turn into Max’s office. For most everyone around, he was a veterinarian but for us he was just our doctor. Sarah, his wife and vet technician, was standing at the door, holding it open.

  Max slid out of the car and jogged over, passing her. Sarah didn’t even wait for me, just followed her husband into the building, her face serious.

  I parked and took a deep breath before getting out of the car and following behind them.

  Maggie, their receptionist and a submissive wolf in Baron’s Pack, sat behind the desk that faced the door.

  “Shane, they took her into the back. Natalie’s with them. Max stated you should stay out here in the waiting room.”

  A low growl slipped out of my lips before I shut it off. “Mags, that is Lexi…”

  Maggie stood up and walked around the desk, placing a hand on my arm. A sense of calm crept into me. I felt tired. She pulled me over to a chair, away from the other two people waiting with their pets, staring at me wide-eyed.

  Pushing me down into the chair, she leaned a little over me. “Max, Sarah, and Natalie will take care of her, Shane. Let them.”

  I nodded, rubbing my eyes.

  “Would you like something to drink? Water? Coffee?”

  Maggie’s eyes were empathetic. She was the low wolf in the Pack, and yet, I somehow felt much better, more in control around her. “Water, please.”

  She stood to walk away, but I grabbed her arm to stall her. “And thanks, Maggie.” My voice was harsh with all the emotions I was holding inside.

  She nodded before stopping to talk to the other two visitors, smiling at them and explaining about the emergency.

  The two older women, one with her cat and the other with a guinea pig, both nodded at what she said. They both opted to stay, even though it was uncertain when Natalie, the other vet, could see them.

  Maggie brought me a bottle of water before sitting back down at the desk, her fingers clicking at the computer.

  Using our fledging bond, I tried to see if I could tell how Lexi was, but could not. I groaned, sitting back in the chair, my fingers running through my hair.

  Max. I could look at via Max. Instead, I chose Sarah, since she was more submissive. Sometimes, the submissive wolves didn’t even know I was watching via their eyes. I searched through the Pack bonds and found her, easing into her mind.

  Shane. I could hear the resignation in her mental voice.

  Please, Sarah. Let me watch. I urged. I could feel the mate bond and Max through her mind. Max was aware I was now there and a little disgruntle I was splitting Sarah’s attention.

  I watched as they inserted a long tube into Lexi’s chest. Max reached out to me then.

  Shane, once we have inflated her lung and gotten her oxygenated, we will need you to force the shift. I will send Natalie out to take care of her patients and Sarah will slip you back here. We may have to get her to shift a few times before it heals enough.

  I nodded, not answering him. I watched as Lexi started to be able to breathe a little easier, with the tube in her lung helping to inflate it. As her breathing slowed, her eyes fluttered open a little.

  “There you are, little one.” Max crooned to my niece.

  Relief flooded my body. I leaned forward on my chair, dropping my head into my hands I had propped up on my knees. Thank god.

  Natalie came in through the door behind the receptionist’s desk and smiled at me. “She is now breathing again, Shane. Max will call you back to see her in a few minutes. Meanwhile…” She turned to Maggie and the young woman handed her a folder. “Ms. Whitehill? Can you bring Chubs into Room 1?”

  The woman with the Guinea Pig stood up and walked towards the room labeled 1.

  “Ms. Loring? I will be with you as soon as I can. Sorry for the wait.”

  “No worries, Dr. Jackson. Mr. Plumpernickel and I just want that young puppy to be better. We can wait a few more minutes for our annual shots, I am sure.”

  Natalie smiled and nodded to the older lady. “Thank you.” She moved into the room after Ms. Whitehill.

  Maggie stood up and waved at me. “Come on, Shane. Come see your pup.”

  I stood and moved to follow her. Max and Sarah stood next to the table in the other room, Sarah checking the tube, their voices hushed. Max glanced at me as I rushed in.

  “She is much better. Let’s try to get her to shift. I am leaving the tube in her chest. Then we can remove it and have her shift without it. I am uncertain how many shifts we can force on a young pup, though.”

  I nodded, walking over to the pup. Touching her, I could feel our bond better.

  Sarah threw a towel over the pup, just as I pushed her to shift. The young wolf shifted into a little girl easier than I thought she would.

  “I hurt.” She whined, her voice rough from disuse.

  “I know, Lexi.” Max soothed, while Sarah checked the tube. “I am removing the tube, baby, but then you need to shift to wolf again.”

  He pulled on the tube, which adhered a little to the skin surrounding it. He waited, watching as Lexi breathed, making sure the lung wouldn’t collapse again. Giving me a nod, I wrapped my hand around the back of her neck and pushed her back into her wolf.

  The wolf whined a little. I dug my fingers into the fur on her neck and checked her. Exhausted, but better.

  Max checked her lungs before gazing up at me. “If we can have her shift at least two more times, that would be ideal. Otherwise, I could work with this.”

  I nodded and checked in with Lexi. Two more times or stay here, Lexi?

  The pup shivered and then looked up at me, her green eyes dull. I want to be better, Uncle Shane. I don’t want Holden to worry about me any more.

  “Okay, Lexi. Max, she wants to go the two more shifts. She is worried about Holden worrying about her.”

  Max barked out a laugh. “Silly pup. Let’s get you better.”

  I pushed Lexi as fast as I could, but the last shift back into a pup had been hard on her. She fell asleep while Max was doing his final check.

  “Good enough. Let’s take her back. I still want to check on Soren.”

  Chapter 9

  Shane


  We entered the house, searching for the rest of them. They were on the back deck, Holden sitting on the deck with Soren in her lap and Betta leaning against her. I placed Lexi on the couch and went out to join them.

  As soon as I entered the compound, Tessa’s scent hit me, reminding me what had started all of this.

  Holden leaped to her feet, standing to meet us. Max picked up Soren, taking him to the medical area to check over again.

  I was angry. My wolf was livid, wanting to hunt and punish any who would defy my rules.

  Why would Tessa come and challenge my mate? She knew we were working with the pups. I could feel my wolf wanting to shift, to follow the female and to discipline her for disturbing my place and my Pack.

  My Pack?

  I felt Holden touch my arm, and I looked down at her. My wolf was still visible in my eyes. I knew Holden wasn’t ready to see this side of me, to learn about lycanthropes, but I couldn’t help it. My wolf didn’t want to release me yet.

  Then she asked about Lexi, while touching my face. Skin to skin. Jostling my humanity back into my head.

  My wolf descended, whispering Mine.

  My nostrils flared to take in her scent. I could deal with the situation now that we had taken care of the threat. Now that Tessa had left us, with her tail between her legs and Lexi was okay.

  I wrapped my arms around Holden and shoved my head into the nook between her neck and her shoulder, taking a deep breath. I felt Betta lean against our legs. Looking, I saw the Pack bonds between Holden and the pups forming, still weak, but there. I snorted. They were making her Pack. How was that even possible?

  I lifted my head and stared at the woman. “I am sorry. When that bitch attacked you and the pups, my heart stopped. Bitches do that sometimes, and the result never is pretty.” My voice was rough, still filled with a touch of my wolf.

  Holden’s eyes went wide. “That was a female wolf? Damn.”

  She knew that the females sometimes attacked orphaned pups. It was rare, but it happened. And she had gotten between that bitch and Soren.

  And yet…. If it happened again, I bet she would do the same. I knew her. Holden would do anything for these pups.

  I studied her. “Yes. Why did you challenge her?”

  Holden stepped out of my arms. I didn’t want to let her go, but I had no reason to keep holding onto her.

  “I would protect these pups. No one and nothing will hurt them, Shane.”

  She turned to walk into the house, her mind intent on checking on Lexi.

  I nodded. She would protect her Pack, and the pups now were Pack for her. How it had happened, I wasn’t sure. I just knew I was glad to be a part of her Pack, even if she didn’t know it. I wondered, though, how the pups had created the bonds with her.

  What had Tessa been doing here? I wasn’t permitting the Pack near the compound. My guess is that jealousy drove her, since I had been spending so much time here, with the pups and Holden. But there was no reason for jealousy. We weren’t more than acquaintances. Not even friends.

  It was unfortunate, but she was becoming a problem I needed to take care of once and for all. She had signaled several times she was interested in being my mate. That would not happen. Ever. Not even before I had met Holden. She was not the person I wanted to spend my life with. My wolf abhorred her. She just had to understand that and deal with it.

  I walked out the house, moving into the forest. Once I was far enough away from the house and prying eyes, I shifted. I needed to run and hunt to release the residual tension.

  Holden

  Soren was okay. The pup had a few scrapes and bruises, but Max had patched him up, putting him down to join his sisters. We fed the three pups a small snack, before encouraging them to go into their den to comfort each other and snuggle.

  “I can’t believe you got between the pup and that wolf, Holden.” Max cleaned up the area he was using as a medical center. “You could have gotten hurt.” His tone was even, but his words made it known he was chastising me.

  I shrugged. I would not back down on this.

  “This wasn’t the first time I have worked with aggressive wolves, Max. I have a few tricks I know, and I figured you and Shane were around for added protection. Why did she even come here? The pups didn’t act like she was part of their Pack. Why would she want to jump a barrier, just to attack them?”

  Max said nothing for a while. Once he finished, he turned towards me. “I don’t know. It makes little sense to me either. Shane and I will put deterrents around the house to keep predators away.” He shrugged. “That is the best we can do.”

  I nodded, looking around. “Where is Shane?”

  We slipped inside the house. Max sighed, rubbing his eyes, his shoulders slumped with exhaustion.

  “Not sure. Maybe he went for a walk or already started putting out the deterrents. It upset him that the wolf jumped the fence. And you being threatened.” He paused, twisting his lips in thought. “It may be best if you sleep in the house tonight. If it makes you feel comfortable, let the pups in, but I would feel better if you weren’t outside. I am sure Shane will agree. It took little effort for the wolf to jump the fence. We will have to raise it.”

  I nodded and followed Max to the front door. “Thanks, Max. For checking over Soren’s concussion and helping with the pups.”

  Max hugged me, startling a yelp from me. Holding my shoulders, he peered into my face.

  “No, thank you, Holden. Those pups were dying before you arrived. They are now beginning to thrive. Because of you. I weighed Soren today, and he has already gained five pounds. Lexi looks wonderful, still underweight, but she looks like she also gained some muscle and grew a little taller. Betta’s coat is smoothing out, not looking as scraggly as it had been.”

  He gave me another quick hug and slipped out the door, a hand lifted in a wave. “If things keep going well, I will bring my wife here to see them. She has been asking about them and is very curious about you. She is sure Shane is half in love with you.”

  He left on that comment.

  I put my hands into my back pockets and grinned at the door, hearing the doctor get into his car and drive off. Shane? In love with me? I shook my head, turning to go to the kitchen to make my evening meal. Shane reminded me of a friend I had once, another intern. That boy had been different. A good guy, just a little irresponsible. But he was also a nineteen-year-old college student. He had been gorgeous, with dark hair and green eyes. A body that caused me to go home from our internship with wet panties every day he was there. He, though, had been a huge flirt. He had made our time together fun, with so many laughs. He had made learning fun.

  And I had fallen in lust with him.

  He was not this private man. This solemn man acted as if life had shown him the worst evils and somehow he had still gotten back up and kept going. His body was lean and toned, as if it had to be to live his life. Not a body builder type of toning, but the toned, muscular body of one who does physical labor might need to have.

  Something, though, reminded me of that boy.

  I paused, looking down at the counter, wondering what had happened to that boy. I couldn’t even remember his name… Sean? John? What had happened to him? I exhaled, the memory filling my mind.

  He joined the Marines. They had deployed him the day before our first date. I had waited for him, hoping he would return once he had fulfilled his service, but he hadn’t. Letters had trailed off; lives had moved apart.

  A sharp pain stabbed my heart. That’s right, he had died in the stupid war. A war that he shouldn’t even have gone to. How had I forgotten? Perhaps it was because I had fallen into a deep depression once I had heard about his death. A depression full of dreams lost and people gone. It was while I was at this lowest point when I met Thomas. And he had put my shattered emotions back together, piece by piece.

  I shook myself mentally, not wanting to delve on that anymore and opened the refrigerator. I wasn’t hungry, but I noticed that someone had left
a salad in there. Well, that wasn’t for the pups. I pulled it out and searched for some salad dressing, making my own from olive oil and lemon juice when I couldn’t find any.

  I poured myself a glass of red wine and then moved to the couch and sat down, leaving the lights on dim only in the kitchen. The dinner of animal biologists. Salad and wine. I chuckled to myself.

  Lexi pawed at the glass door. Her siblings followed behind her a little slower, Soren looking over his shoulder to check on the forest every few steps.

  The pups were wary. And scared. I couldn’t leave them out there tonight. I put my dinner on the coffee table and went to open the door.

  “Come on in. After today, I think it might be best if we slept together in here, kids.”

  The pups yipped and ran for the couch. I watched them jump up onto it. Those scrawny pups lounged over most of the couch. I sighed, grinned, and sat between Lexi and Betta, pushing them to the side. Lexi grinned up at me as she watched her sister get bumped into her brother. Soren just exhaled and moved to the far end, curling up with his nose under his tail.

  It will be tight if we tried to sleep here on the couch. Perhaps we should move into the bedroom tonight. The queen-sized bed would be ideal for us.

  Chapter 10

  Shane

  I approached the Pack as a wolf, my ruff standing straight up. I bared my teeth, a silent snarl filling the air.

  Tessa cowered behind Miranda who stood next to Baron. Miranda and Baron were my Alpha pair. I had contacted him so he would be ready for this. He knew I was livid for what she had done.

  Tessa was my Alpha’s mate’s sister. Which was why she thought she could do whatever she wanted and wouldn’t get disciplined. It was also why she had her eyes on me since she had arrived and became Pack.

  I was Baron’s second. His Beta.

  I growled and then changed, standing naked in front of them and others in the Pack. Nudity was common among us, and I didn’t want to waste any time looking for clothes right now.