“I’m her betrothed,” Decebel spoke up.
Sally nearly broke her neck when she whipped around to look at him, her jaw nearly hitting the floor. Decebel glared at her, daring her to contradict him. She didn’t. Sally simply turned back around to the physician, skepticism written across his face.
“Decebel is from Romania. They do things differently there and their marriage has been planned for a long time, if you get my drift.” Sally was scrambling for some sort of reason that would justify this 20 something looking mountain being engaged to a 17 year old. Honestly, what the hell was he thinking?
“An arranged marriage?” Dr. Thomas still didn’t sound convinced.
“Yes well, things are different in other countries. But you see, Jen will be turning 18 in just a few weeks and that is why Decebel is here now, because…”
Before Sally could continue to dig her deep, dark grave Decebel stepped in. “You will tell me how she is.” Sally glared at him and he reluctantly added, “Please.”
Sally decided Dr. Thomas just wanted to be done with them because he finally relinquished. “Your friend is not conscious yet and I have no way of knowing when she will become so. It is actually a blessing for her to not be awake to experience the healing process of burns. She has suffered burns over 70% of her body.” Sally couldn’t help the squeak that emitted from her throat, she felt her knees go weak and might have hit the floor had Decebel’s hand not steadied her. “Most of the burns are on her left side and her back. There was quite a bit of glass and small bits of metal imbedded in her back and arms that we had to remove one at a time, that is what took the longest. She will need to be transferred to our burn unit where she will have daily debridement. I’m not going to sugarcoat it, she is in for a long, painful road to recovery.”
“What about scarring?” Decebel asked. Sally realized she should have been the one asking the questions since Jen was like a sister to her, but she couldn’t seem to get her mouth to work.
“It will be extensive. What? Will she no longer meet your desire for a mail order bride?” Dr. Thomas said in obvious disdain for the idea of Decebel and Jen’s impending marriage, which was fake of course.
Sally felt like cold water had been splashed on her face at the doctor’s comment. She felt anger like waves rolling off of Decebel. Damn temperamental werewolves. She reached up and placed a hand on his arm, a gesture she hoped would convey her desire for him to bring it down a notch.
“Ok, well, thank you Dr. Thomas. Can we follow them as they transport Jen to the burn unit?” Sally asked, her arm still on Decebel in silent warning.
“That will be fine. The nurses will notify me as soon as her parents arrive and I will be going over her treatment with them.” Dr. Thomas gave Decebel one last sharp look, for good measure Sally assumed, but when Decebel narrowed those yellow eyes on the doctor he abruptly turned around and, with hurried steps, walked away.
They brought Jen out on a gurney shortly after the doctor’s nervous departure. After the little display Decebel had put on, Sally was surprised when he gave her only a passing glance. Decebel looked away quickly and turned to look Sally in the eye. “I am going to go let Vasile know what is going on with Jen. You will go with her, I will send Alina to come up with you.”
“Ok, can we pause this little sitcom for just a second because just a moment ago you were all, this is my betrothed, blah blah blah, and now you are just leaving her in my care? I don’t get it,” Sally told him.
“You don’t have to get it,” Decebel almost growled at her.
“Just one, all I want is one blasted wolf who isn’t a bossy, grumpy hair ass butt head,” Sally muttered to the ceiling as she turned to follow the gurney. “Is that too freaking much to ask.”
She wasn’t positive but she thought she heard a muttered yes from Decebel.
Fane saw Decebel coming down the hall towards them. He assumed this meant they had given him news on Jen. Why was it taking so long with Jacquelyn? Just as he was going to ask Decebel what he knew, the door to the room Jacquelyn was in opened and a short woman who looked to be in her mid to late thirties emerged. She wore her hair short in a practical manner, and her eyes spoke of someone who had seen too much grief in her life. None of that held Fane’s attention as soon as he caught the woman’s scent. His head spun around to his father. He saw that Vasile’s stare was intent and he too was assessing the air. At his father’s barely apparent nod Fane confirmed what he had initially thought, this woman was a Canis Lupis.
“Who is the guardian of Jacquelyn Pierce?” the woman asked, scanning the group that had gathered around her. As her eyes fell on Vasile, Fane thought he saw a slight recognition in them.
Lilly stepped forward, her steps heavy with worry and fear.“I am her mother Lilly Pierce,” she answered.
“I’m Dr. Cynthia Steele.” Lilly’s quick intake of breath did not go unnoticed at the sound of that name. After all, it had only been 24 hours since Fane had killed Lucas Steele. “I need to discuss your daughter’s condition with you. Would you like to go somewhere private?”
Fane let out a low growl that had Dr. Steele's head jerking around to look at him.
“We don’t have to go anywhere,” Lilly explained, “everyone here is family to Jacque.”
Before the doctor could continue Vasile stepped forward. “Dr. Steele, we need you to be clear with us about everything you know about her condition. Do you understand what I am saying?”
“You don’t have to pull that Alpha crap with me, Vasile Lupei, I know who you are and I know who your pup is, considering he killed my brother only a day ago,” she snapped at him. Fane and Decebel tensed at the tone of voice the woman was brave enough to use on their Alpha. Vasile just took it in stride.
“You are correct,” Vasile confirmed, "my -"
Fane interrupted him. "Yes, I killed your brother and I am sorry for your loss, but I am not sorry for protecting my mate from someone who tried to take her from me."
"Protecting your mate? If she is so protected Fane Lupei, then why is she laid up, burnt to a crisp in my hospital?" Dr. Steele's voice was like a slap in the face.
Fane's eyes were glowing as power lashed around him, causing Dr. Steele to lower her head although it was not in true submission.
“Could we please get back to my daughter? We can deal with the werewolf crap in a minute,” Lilly said as stress laced her voice.