Chapter 35
After explaining who David was and, more importantly, who he wasn’t, Logan heard his brother’s audible sigh of relief on the other end of the call.
“Thank the gods I listened to you,” Jackson said.
“Yes, and I will collect on that debt in the future but right now, I’m concerned about protecting David and Zane.”
“It would be easier to protect them here,” said Jackson.
“True, but David won’t go until his mother is free and Zane will support that decision. We need a plan to get his mother out of the clutches of this so-called High Priestess and do it as quickly as possible. What about Dylon? Would he be willing to come up with a plan?”
“You’re reading my mind,” said Jackson. “I planned on talking to him as soon as we hung up. I also want him to coordinate with Groose.”
“Good. I gotta go ‘cause everyone’s waiting for me. Talk to you later,” Logan said, and clicked off.
~/~/~/~/~
Checking the incision site to make sure it was healing properly, Ian mentally cursed the jackass who inserted the bio-tracker so deep into David’s abdomen.
It was a tricky operation and he had to carefully move organs in order to reach it.
The surgeon who’d done the procedure knew his craft; it was expertly nestled deep in the folds of the small intestines—nevertheless it didn’t change his mind about considering filing a report about the unethical surgery.
Noticing David’s embarrassment when he’d undressed and donned a hospital gown, he’d chalked it up to shyness, that is, until he saw the many scars on his legs.
Ignoring them to save David further stress, he helped his patient up and positioned him for the full body scan.
Inside, though, his anger raged; he’d seen that type of scaring before—years and years of corporal punishment without permitting a shift, which would hasten healing. Essentially, sadistic torture.
Ian made a mental note to talk to David about what happened to him to make sure there weren’t any lingering emotional scars.
His eyes moved to Zane, sitting next to David’s bed, holding his mate’s hand, lifting it to kiss every so often.
Peeling back the bandage, Ian saw the incision knitting together nicely—it would soon be time for David to shift.
He turned to Zane. “Everything looks good, so let’s get ready for a shift to finish the healing.
Do you know if your mate will have a problem shifting in here?
I’m asking because some wolves react badly to shifting in a confined space. ”
“David doesn’t shift,” replied Zane.
Taken aback, Ian asked, “Why not?”
Sighing, Zane said, “David didn’t know he was a shifter until one day when his wolf forced a shift. It was so painful, David decided he’d never do it again. Now, the only time he shifts is when his wolf feels threatened.”
“The first time is always painful but it is easier the next time when you initiate the shift yourself. Has he ever tried to do that?” asked Ian.
“Not that I know. After the first shift, David was shackled to prevent him from doing it again and now, I think, he doesn’t see a reason to do it since he can disappear,” Zane answered.
“Well, I can try something else,” said Ian. “But let’s keep the option open just in case.”
Colton stuck his head in the door asking Ian, “Ready for the ultrasound? I have everything set up.”
Ian glanced at his mate. “David isn’t awake yet and I want to be here when he comes to.”
“Is everything all right?” asked Colton.
“Yes, he’s healing nicely,” Ian replied.
“Go ahead and get checked out, Ian,” Zane said. “I’ll stay. Just tell me what to do in case he does wake up while you’re gone.”
“Are you sure?” asked Ian.
“Yes…besides, Colton will owe me big for this, right bro?” Zane snickered.
Smiling at his brother, Colton said, “Right.” Then, motioning to Ian, he added, “This way, Your Majesty. It won’t take long.”
Ian chuckled before checking David’s vitals one more time. “I’m sending Logan in,” he said, “to come get me when he wakes up or if you need me for anything else. I don’t want you leaving David’s side.”
“Gotcha,” replied Zane, his eyes roaming over his mate’s sleeping body.
After Ian left, Zane lowered his head onto the bed, taking in deep breaths of his mate’s scent, willing him to wake up.
He had refused to leave David, even for a minute, during the procedure and Colton had set up a screen in the operating room so he could sit near his mate’s head without seeing Ian make the incision.
The smell of David’s blood nearly drove his wolf insane, but he was able to control his shift with the help of Logan using his alpha power on him.
When the operation was over and Ian handed the bio-tracker to him, Zane could finally relax—now all he needed was for David to wake up so he could hold him once again.
Then it would be time to figure out how to rescue his mate’s mother.
Sitting in the quiet room, Zane wondered what Jackson’s reaction would be to the addition of a human to the Blackwood Pack, something he was sure Logan hadn’t even thought about—mainly because he didn’t know about it… yet.
As Ian exited David’s room, he saw Logan leaning against the wall, and said, “David isn’t awake yet. I’m going for my ultrasound. Would you please stay with Zane, and if David wakes up, come get me?”
“No problemo,” Logan said before heading into the room Ian had just left.
Glancing at Colton, Ian said, “Now I’m ready. Let’s go.”
After helping his mate up on the exam table, Colton rolled the ultrasound over, lowered the lights and sat down next to him.
After he prepped his mate’s belly, Colton turned on the ultrasound, pressing the paddle to the slight baby bump.
Looking at the screen, Colton was stunned as he spotted two pups.
“Babe, we’re having twins,” he gasped before moving the paddle around further.
Suddenly the room was filled with the sound of three heartbeats.
“Oh, my gods, we’re having triplets!” Colton shouted, looking up at his mate.
Staring at his mate, Ian was still trying to accept what was happening to him. Triplets? Three pups? No wonder I’m so tired all the time! “I thought I was only having twins,” Ian murmured.
“You knew? When were you going to tell me? I’ve been worried sick something was wrong with our pup because you were tired all the time and it was far too early in your pregnancy for that.”
“I didn’t know for certain, it was just a feeling I had.”
“Did this ‘feeling’ occur before our trip to Scotland?”
“Yes, but I decided that everything could wait until we were home again. Don’t give me that look. I’m a doctor you know.”
“But I’m your mate and that trumps everything else.” Colton clenched his jaw, reining in the anger and hurt filling his body.
“I didn’t tell you because you were already freaking out,” growled Ian.
“I was not,” Colton said, indignant at the accusation.
“Yes, you were and you know it,” Ian said, struggling to sit up.
“Ever since you found out I was pregnant, all I ever hear from you was ‘don’t do this’ or ‘don’t do that’.
You treat me as if I’m an invalid or that I don’t know a thing about being pregnant.
Grant you, I don’t have firsthand knowledge but I’ve had hundreds of pregnant patients that I successfully took care of including the birthing of their pups.
But does that mean anything to you? No, because for some reason you think that because I’m pregnant, I’ve suddenly become stupid. ”
Grabbing a towel and wiping the gel off his belly before standing up, Ian pulled on his scrubs, headed for the door and wrenched it open.
Then turning to look at his mate, he said, “Do you know how much it hurts to know you don’t trust me to take care of the life…
lives growing in me? I’m their papa…and a doctor who has taken an oath…
yet you believe I’d be so careless as to hurt my… our pups.”
Colton stared at the door Ian had just slammed shut behind him, his mate’s words still lingering in the air.
His immediate reaction was to reject what Ian said, but as he thought more about it, Colton knew it was true.
From the moment the pregnancy test came back positive, he’d been hovering over Ian and always cautioning him about everything from standing too long to walking too much to not getting enough sleep.
Groaning, he remembered the day they spent at the National Museum and the frequent rest breaks he forced his mate to take, ignoring Ian’s protests that he was fine.
Seizing upon his mate’s tiredness, Colton had blown it out of proportion, using it as justification for his over protective behavior, ignoring the fact that Dr. Ian Wallace was a world renowned physician, sought after for consultations—so much in demand, Zane had set up a telemedical link to handle the many requests for his mate’s knowledge.
Examining his past actions, Colton closed his eyes, disgusted with himself.
Determined to make it up to his mate, he pulled out his phone and called the one person he knew who could help him.
~/~/~/~/~
Sitting in a recliner in a corner of David’s hospital room, Logan sent a text to Jackson letting him know Ian had removed the bio-tracker. Then, glancing over to Zane, he asked, “Any signs of David waking up?”
“No. Should it take this long for the anesthesia to wear off?”
“I don’t know. Do you want me to get Ian?”
“No…maybe. I’m just worried something is wrong.”
“If he doesn’t wake up in the next five…”
“Zane,” David whispered, then repeated it louder, “Zane…”
Jerking to attention, Zane looked at his mate and saw his beautiful eyes looking at him. “Babe, oh, I’m so glad you’re awake. How do you feel?”
“Water…please?” asked David.
Logan jumped up. “I’ll go get Ian.”
Nodding, Zane held the glass of water while his mate sipped from the straw. “Just a little bit babe until Ian says it’s okay.”
“So sore. Is it out of me?”
“Yup, no one will be able to find you anymore,” Zane answered.
“Why does my gut hurt?” David asked, closing his eyes, exhausted from the effort of keeping them open.
Zane didn’t have the answer and was relieved when Ian hustled into the room followed by Logan. “David says his gut hurts. Is that normal?” Zane asked.
“David, it’s Ian. Can you open your eyes?”
Feeling his mate squeeze his hand, David slowly lifted his heavy lids, looked at Ian, and said, “Hi Doc.”
After checking his vitals, Ian said, “David, I’m going to press on your stomach, okay?”
“Uh-huh.”
Pressing lightly around the incision, Ian saw David wince several times. “David, the soreness you feel is usual after the type of surgery you had. I would normally suggest you shift but Zane told me you don’t because it hurts too much, is that right?”
“Yes,” David whispered, afraid Ian would make him shift.
“Okay, I want to try something else,” Ian said. “Logan, please tell Colton I need him.”
“Why do you want my brother?” asked Zane.
“Colton is a natural healer,” Ian said.
“What’s that?” asked David.
“A natural healer can help heal any shifter who has a non-life-threatening injury. In other words, Colton can remove the soreness and pain you are experiencing right now without you having to shift,” Ian replied.
“That’s great, babe, isn’t it?” asked Zane.
“Uh-huh. Will it hurt?” David asked.
“No, not at all,” replied Ian. “But,” he added, looking at Zane, “he does have to touch your mate all over. Is that going to be a problem for your wolf? Because if it is, you need to leave the room.”
“No, love, don’t leave,” David murmured.
“I won’t babe,” Zane said to his mate. Then answering Ian, he said, “I’ll control my wolf.”
Ian heard his mate enter and walk over to the opposite side of the bed, waiting for him to speak.
“David’s incision is healing nicely but he’s still experiencing internal pain.
Normally, at this point, a shift would take care of it but he’s unable to shift, so let’s try your natural healer ability to see if that will work. ”
“Sure,” Colton said. Then, eyeing his brother, he said, “Zane, please step outside for a few minutes.”
“No…I want him…”
“Sorry bro, I’m staying. I already promised your mate my wolf will be a good boy,” Zane said.
Logan moved behind Zane, resting his hand on the back of his brother’s neck, “Go ahead, Colton, I got this.”
Nodding, Colton moved to the other side of the bed, standing where Ian had been and began by laying his hand on David’s chest to feel the pain he was experiencing.
Humming to himself, Colton started by slowly rubbing David’s body, concentrating first on his stomach, then moving his hands over the rest of him, massaging as he went.
He could sense David’s pain beginning to recede and saw the scar from the surgery slowly disappear.
Finally, removing his hands, he said, “I don’t sense any more pain. How about you, David, any soreness?”
“No. I feel great!” an astonished David said. Sitting up, he was surprised not to feel even a twinge. “Wow, that’s amazing! Thank you very much, Colton.”
“Yeah, thanks, bro,” Zane said, joining his mate on the bed. “Is there anything I should watch out for?”
“Nope,” Colton replied, disconnecting David from the different devices.
“Ahh, any restrictions on activities?” asked Zane.
Colton paused, looking at his brother, then smirked as he realized what Zane meant. “Ian, you want to field that one?”
“Take it easy tonight,” Ian said, smiling at David.
His cheeks turning pink, still unused to talking about sex with anyone other than his mate, David mumbled, “I will.”
“Good. If you’ll give Colton and me a few minutes to tidy up, we can then be on our way,” Ian said.
“No problem. C’mon guys, let’s wait out in the hall,” Logan said.
Zane helped David off the bed. Then, wrapping his arm around his mate’s waist, he escorted him out of the hospital room.