Chapter 5 You Can Reject Me

Grace

My hands are fucking trembling as I follow Ethan through the doorway. Something primitive and powerful surges through my veins, demanding I stay close to this injured wolf I barely know. I want to bolt back to my sterile apartment and familiar textbooks, but Mercy is howling inside me, desperate to help our mate.

Our mate. The thought makes my stomach drop.

I've spent years avoiding Pack life, yet here I am, following an Alpha I met hours ago because something primal won't let me abandon him.

"I'm assuming you want to do this now, Alpha?" I ask.

"Yes, the sooner the better." Those forest-green eyes never leave mine.

"Okay." I list the items needed. "And we'll need to sedate you."

"No," Ethan says firmly.

"No sedation?"

"No sedation." His jaw sets in that stubborn Alpha way.

"Okay then, a nerve block—"

"No," he says again.

"Alpha, please. I'm going to scrub your leg clean, cut it open, pin back skin and muscle to reset the bones. The pain will be excruciating."

"No," he repeats, holding my gaze with intensity that makes my cheeks flush.

I look away, muttering "So arrogant" under my breath. When I look back, he's watching me with a raised eyebrow. Shit. I've been around humans who can't hear whispers too long.

Dr. Richards barges in, throwing the requested items onto the tray with a clatter. Ethan's warning growl makes me jump.

"Will there be anything else, doctor?" Richards asks, making my title sound filthy.

"No. I'll take it from here." I don't bother looking at him.

I scrub my hands, anxiety gnawing at me. What kind of crazy wolf is he?

"You're thinking so hard there's steam coming from your ears. What are you worried about?" Ethan asks.

Is this the mate bond already forming? The thought terrifies me.

"This will be extremely painful. Can I at least give you a local anesthetic?"

"No, I need to be alert to protect my pack."

"You can't exactly protect your pack with only one leg, Alpha," I snap.

"Ethan. Call me Ethan. And you said you could save my leg."

"I can, IF you're sedated and not flinching while I'm digging around in your muscle."

"I have a very high tolerance to pain."

That doesn't surprise me. He wasn't even whimpering when we found him in that silver snare. My eyes trace the faint scars across his torso—evidence of many battles.

"How strong is your wolf right now?" I ask, prepping his leg.

"I am very strong, little one," a deeper voice answers, and Mercy begins purring in my head. Ethan's wolf is speaking directly to us.

I shake my head and try to focus, desperately ignoring his intoxicating amber scent.

"If I hold the bones in place, how long to set them?"

"Not long, little one," he purrs. "I am a very strong, powerful Alpha wolf." He sounds like a peacock showing off.

I begin washing his leg. Under his amber scent, I smell war and death.

"Talk to me," he says through gritted teeth.

"About what?"

"You know what you are to me," he states. My stomach knots.

"Yes. After you've healed, you can reject me." I don't know why that thought hurts so much.

"Who says I'm rejecting you?" he asks, sounding offended.

"But I'm a lone wolf."

"What you are is my future Luna."

"You don't even know me," I counter, heat rising to my face.

"I know you're intelligent, compassionate, brave, and lonely."

"Why do you say I'm lonely?" I ask, lifting the scalpel. He nods, bracing himself.

"Princeton Medical School is an hour north. You could run anywhere as a lone wolf, yet you chose an area full of wolves."

He's right. Mercy misses pack life. I'd be fine alone, but my wolf needs the forest and pack scents.

Ethan hisses as I slice into his leg. His knuckles turn white as he grips the table.

"How the hell do you manage this pain?" I ask, impressed.

"Mind over matter. My mind is stronger than my body, and my body is very strong."

"You've been fighting long?" I ask, exposing the broken bones.

"Since becoming Alpha, twelve years ago."

"Twelve years?" He's older than I thought.

"I took over at eighteen. I'm thirty now."

"Mercy's not that little," I say, returning to his leg.

"She is compared to Shadow."

"Well, Shadow is an Alpha wolf," I say, carefully positioning the first bone fragment.

"Okay, Shadow, show me what you've got." I watch in amazement as the bone begins healing before my eyes.

"Cool!" I exclaim. I've worked with humans so long I forgot how quickly wolves heal.

"Is it that exciting?" Ethan asks dryly.

"It is for me."

"Then it must be my lucky day," he smiles just as someone pounds on the door.

"I told you I would protect you," he says. "Come in, Jackson."

"Alpha... what the fuck are you doing in here?" Jackson asks angrily, rushing to the table.

"Saving his leg," I answer without looking up.

"By butchering him? Who the hell are you?" Jackson demands. "Some random lone wolf? And you're letting her cut you open?"

"She's a doctor, Jackson," Ethan says calmly.

"A 'student' doctor," Jackson corrects. "Alpha, Dr. Richards said this leg needs amputation. We should wait for him to—"

"Dr. Richards is wrong," I interrupt. "And I've completed more surgeries than most residents. I can save his leg."

"And if you're wrong?" Jackson challenges. "If you cripple our Alpha permanently?"

I meet his gaze steadily. "I won't be wrong."

"She's not just any doctor," Ethan interjects, his voice commanding. "She's my mate."

The room goes silent. Jackson's face hardens, jaw clenching. "If you hurt him—"

"The only one delaying his healing right now is you," I snap, feeling Mercy rise inside me. "Every minute we waste arguing is another minute he's in pain. So make your choice, Beta. Help me save your Alpha, or get the hell out of my operating room."

The air crackles with tension as we lock eyes. Behind him, the door swings open, revealing Dr. Richards with a bone saw.

"I see the amateur is still playing doctor," he sneers. "When you're finished mangling our Alpha, I'll be ready to perform a proper amputation."