Chapter 4
Maximus looked at Oracle as she hung up the phone after talking to Ian. “Honey, why were you baiting him? I know you think very highly of Colton so come on, fess up. What are you trying to do?”
“I wanted to see what Ian’s response would be if I criticized his mate.”
“Colton is not his mate yet.”
“I know, but Colton is feeling the mating pull. I just wanted to see if Ian was too.”
“Well?”
“He is. He immediately jumped to Colton’s defense. It is important that these two get on with their claiming. Gods, I had to pull in some favors to get Ian replaced early, so I am just helping him along.”
Maximus chuckled. “You know sweetheart, we think alike. One day shortly after Steel had mated, I questioned whether Jackson’s brothers were handsomer than his mate.”
“You didn’t!”
“Yup, and boy, did Steel snarl at me. But, I found out what I wanted to know.”
Oracle swatted Maximus. “You are so bad! Poor Steel, having to fight you about his mate. And you are coming at me for baiting Ian before he is mated? Shame on you.”
“Hey, I’ve learned from the best,” Maximus said, wrapping his arms around his wife.
~/~/~/~/~
“Dr. Wallace, an emergency just came in.”
“Thanks, Rita. I’ll be right there.” Ian breathed deeply, reaching for that last bit of energy he had somewhere.
It’s going to be another long night. He hurried to the ER.
“What do we have here?” he asked, entering the cubicle and seeing the patient with blood spurting out of a massive gash on his side.
“Carpathian Wolf, unable to shift, unknown pack, between 30 to 40 years, attacked by unknown shifter.”
Ian got to work. This type of injury was typical in Tajikistan villages where harsh conditions allowed only the strongest to survive.
Why different packs of shifters couldn’t work together so everyone could have a better standard of life was beyond him.
Ian was able to stop the bleeding and stabilize the wolf.
The rest was up to the wolf’s own healing capabilities.
“Move him up to room 8. I want to be informed the moment he wakes.”
“Yes, doctor.”
Ian removed his blood-stained coat and gloves, throwing them in the hamper.
His body was sore, cramped by the prolonged tending to the wolf’s wound.
Stretching out the kinks, he craved some coffee so he could make it through this shift.
Walking down the hallway, another doctor joined him.
“On your way to caffeinate for the night ahead?”
“Yeah, I haven’t been sleeping well lately.”
“Something wrong?”
Ian had worked with Eddie at other hospitals and considered him a friend. However the thoughts causing his sleeplessness weren’t something he wanted to tell him about, at least not yet. “Naw, just juggling too much crap. I need a vacation.”
“It sounds like your next posting will be a vacation…a private patient in a private hospital. What strings did you have to pull to get that cushy assignment? If you’ve ever considered me your friend, tell me so I can get one of those,” smiled Eddie, handing a cup of coffee to Ian.
“Ha ha. It was a favor to very old friends of mine.”
“Crap, I need friends like that. So, when do you leave?”
“My replacement will be here in about a week and a half, so…”
“Lucky fucker! I think you’ll just miss the Moon Games coming up soon.” Eddie grimaced, sipping his coffee. “They appear to get more violent each year. I’ve no idea why these shifters keep trying to kill each other. It’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen.”
Ian shook his head. “Between the random attacks and those violent games, I wonder how long we’ll be needed here. There are days I think we’re fighting a hopeless battle.”
“I heard Dire Enterprises has been successful in getting all the packs’ Alphas to sit down at a conference to work out territory disputes and make peace treaties. I don’t envy whoever will be leading that effort. Those disputes go back hundreds of years.”
“Yeah, I think it’s scheduled soon, though I don’t know when, exactly.”
Eddie stood up, tossing his empty cup in the trash can. “Well, if I don’t have a chance to see you before you leave, have a good vacation.”
“Thanks, but you know it really isn’t a vacation.”
“Yeah, sure it isn’t,” Eddie laughed.
Ian watched Eddie walk out and thought about what he said. A vacation sounded great, but he wasn’t sure he was going to get that where he was headed no matter what his friend thought.
~/~/~/~/~
After another restless night of sleep, Colton was desperate to have sex.
That need led him to Steel’s office the next morning.
Hearing Steel’s, “Come in,” Colton entered and saw Jackson sitting next to him.
Shit. He’d hoped to talk to his brother-in-law without his brother present.
He hesitated, thinking he should come back another time, but then decided to charge ahead with his request. After all, Jackson was his Alpha, and it would eventually be his decision.
“Hi Colton, what can I do for you today?” asked Steel.
Sitting down, he said, “I have a request, but I think I speak for all my brothers.”
Jackson looked at him. “Are you asking Steel, or me as Alpha?”
Colton blushed. Leave it to Jackson to figure out why he came to Steel’s office instead of Jackson’s. Bite the bullet and be honest, he thought to himself. “Honestly, I was coming to ask Steel for his support before I went to my Alpha with the request.”
“I see. And what does my mate have to do with my decisions as Alpha?” asked Jackson, his voice hard as a diamond.
Shit, shit, shit. “He has nothing to do with your decisions, I know that. But I’m desperate and I was trying to figure out a way I could convince you.”
“What’s your request that I need such convincing? You know if your request benefits the pack and I can do it, I will.”
“I really do know that. But with all of this Silver Point pack crap still hanging out there, I thought you’d be reluctant.”
“Colton, stop pussy-footing around. What do you want?”
“I want, no, I need a night out at a dance club.”
“A dance club? What for?”
Colton could feel his face turning tomato red. Steel looked at Colton and then started to chuckle. Jackson heard Steel through their mind link. Babe, he wants to get fucked or fuck someone. Pretty bad from what I can figure out.
Oh shit! Jackson was dumbfounded when he heard his mate tell him that about his brother.
Of course, now it made sense. Well crap, how could I refuse my brother when I’m getting plenty of action in the bedroom?
“I understand,” he said. “You guys have been cooped up for a while. Let me figure out how we can arrange an outing so it’s safe for everyone. ”
Colton couldn’t believe it. Jackson was going to help him get laid. Hot Damn! A good rousing fuck session! Now maybe I’d be able to sleep soundly. Get my need taken care of, yes; he just knew that this would solve his sleeplessness. “Thanks Jackson, I really appreciate this.”
“Colton, just don’t pull this shit again of trying to get my mate to take your side. If you do it again, not only will I deny your request, but there will be a punishment along with the denial. Is that understood?”
“Yes, I’m sorry Alpha. I promise I’ll never do it again,” Colton said.
“Fine, as soon as I’ve made arrangements, I’ll let everyone know.”
Colton got up, leaving the office with a grin.
~/~/~/~/~
He waited for the Mexican doctor to pick up the phone. He’d designed the rooms and figured out a preliminary list of equipment needed for the clinic and hospital. Now Colton wanted to hear what the specific medical needs in Mexico were. “Hola, Dr. Juan Luna, hablando.”
Crap, of course they spoke Spanish. It’s Mexico. “Hola, Dr. Luna, it’s Colton from the Blackwood Pack.” He realized at that moment that speaking other languages would be a necessity if he was going to join Frontline Doctors. For now, he just hoped Dr. Luna spoke English.
“Hello, Colton, Slate told me to expect your call. I cannot express my thanks enough for your help in this matter.”
Thank the Fates, the doctor spoke English.
He vowed to sign up for some Spanish classes online this afternoon.
“Glad to be of help. Slate sent me the blueprint of the building and I’ve drawn the different rooms I feel should be there.
But before I send it for your approval, I want to understand what kind of medical needs you usually have. ”
“Ahh, yes. I assume Slate has told you about the attacks that are occurring down here. That is the need right now. Most of these attacks are not life-threatening but because the wounds are infected with silver, the wolves cannot shift until we remove it from their bloodstream. If we can treat them fast enough and remove the silver promptly, they can heal quite quickly. But unfortunately, that is not always possible. So, in those cases, the wolf needs to be hospitalized.”
“I understand. I’ve taken your current needs into account. What about your medical needs after this crisis is over?”
“Well, beside any problems with a birth that would require medical intervention, the rest are just the usual injuries due to falling, fighting or age related. As a guideline, if you use what you learned in your class about shifters’ injuries, it should cover it.”
“Good. I’ve planned a hospital space with two operating rooms, an ICU that will also handle newborn pups, ten hospital rooms, and a waiting room. On the clinic side, examining rooms, outpatient care plus an emergency room and waiting area.”
“Oh Dioses! That would help so many of my people. It is perfect. Would you please email the floorplans you’ve drawn? I promise I will review it tonight and give you my thoughts tomorrow.”
“I’ll do it as soon as I finalize the floorplans. I’ve also compiled a list of equipment I feel will be needed, so I’ll send that along too. And please, make any changes you wish to both the floorplans and the equipment list.”
“Gracias. Thank you so much. Just knowing we’ll be able to meet the medical needs of our people with a state-of-the-art facility is a dream come true for me. I’m looking forward to working with you.”
“I’m so happy to be included and I can’t wait to see it up and running. Good-bye Dr. Luna.”
“Adios, Colton.”
Colton hung up. Wouldn’t it be great if Jackson would allow him to go down and set up the clinic and hospital?
Get a firsthand view of rural medicine and maybe even help out?
His body shivered with excitement. That was his dream.
He was picturing himself saving patients when suddenly his phone rang.
Slate. That was fast. He knew Dr. Luna would call Slate, but he didn’t expect to hear from him so quickly. Shit, what if something is wrong.
“Hello, Colton here.”
“Colton, it’s Slate. I just spoke with Dr. Luna and he was singing your praises. I understand you have a floorplan and an initial equipment list finished already?”
“Yes, I was going to review it one last time before sending it to Dr. Luna.”
“Fantastic. Would you also send me the same documents? That way, I can go over it with Dr. Luna and if there are no changes, I can get the order placed for the equipment and flog my construction crew to finish the interior.”
“Sure. Gimme an hour and I’ll be finished. If you have any questions, call me.”
“Will do. Thanks Colton.”
Colton hung up and started to review the final draft of the floor plan he’d selected.
After checking and double checking everything, he emailed it off to both Slate and Dr. Luna.
He leaned back in his chair, imagining how his design would look.
Crap, I need to start learning some foreign languages.
Even if the doctors spoke English, he knew many of the patients in rural areas of the world didn’t.
And how the hell would he ever be able to help a patient who was in pain if he first had to find a translator?
That would cause unnecessary suffering he could prevent if he learned several languages now.
The first one will be Spanish, he decided.
~/~/~/~/~
Steel looked at his mate. “So, it seems Colton needs sex. I wonder how many of your other brothers are also in need,” Steel said smirking. “I guess the hand just doesn’t do it when they hear you screaming every night.”
“Fuck you,” Jackson said, grinning.
“No. I’ll be doing the fucking around here.”
“Really? What if I want to top? Do you have the balls to be a bottom?”
“Getting sassy, are we?” Steel said, tickling his mate.
Jackson giggled as he tried to get out of Steel’s arms and away from the deadly fingers.
Unable to do so, he decided to attack instead.
Palming Steel’s cock with one hand, Jackson started to plant hickies on his mate’s neck while pinching one of his nipples with the other.
“Okay, okay, you win,” Steel gasped, now hard and ready for action.
“That’s better,” said Jackson.
“What, you’re gonna leave me hanging?”
“I didn’t start it, you did. It’s good for you. Something for you to look forward to tonight.”
“That is so unfair. Not even a blow job?”
“Uh-uh. I hear denial is a good thing.”
“Bullshit. Come on babe, maybe a hand job? Take the edge off?”
“Okay, I’ll blow you right now, but you have to come up with a great plan for giving my brothers a night to remember.”
“I thought you didn’t want me to interfere in your role as Alpha.”
“Do you want a blow job or not?”
“Yeah, yeah, okay. I’ll figure it out. Now please…”