Page 32 of Marked By Love

“Wha-wha … my patients, my—how?”

“Easy, easy, Doc. The clinic and all the pet parents have been very understanding. I called Margarette and told her you got real sick and were bedridden. No one except me, Buford, and Dr. Shera know what really happened. Okay?”

Theodore turned his gaze from the alpha kneeling in front of him. The furnace in the living room was blazing and had a pile of split wood on the side. The coffee table had been moved against the wall and was littered with prescriptions and handwritten notes. There were pillows and blankets on the floor; had Royce been sleeping next to him? Sleeping on the floor, giving him medicine, and monitoring his symptoms for four days?

“Theodore,” he whispered.

Royce hummed in question.

“My name, it’s Theodore Quinn.”

“Nice to meet you, Theodore.” Royce brushed the hair from Theodore’s face. In an instant his sappy smile turned intense, and his eyes flashed gold again. He inhaled then stiffened, his jaw locked. “Firewood.”

“What?”

“I’m going to chop more.”

“Huh?”

“Buford is on his way, I’ll be back. Firewood.”

“Firewood …” Theodore watched quizzically as Royce leapt to his feet and ran out the back door.

That was odd, wasn’t it? Why had Royce suddenly jumped at the chance to get away? He’d also seemed uncomfortable which made no sense.

Minutes later, raised voices echoed from outside the cabin. Right, hadn’t Royce said Buford was on his way? Who was Buford? A medic of some sort, most likely, because he was the one who was apparently removing the IV.

Theodore watched the door expectantly. A woman, beta, mid-fifties came through the door alone.

“Buford?” he asked.

“Dr. Shera.” The beta smiled. “Nice to meet my fellow medical doctor in Elk Cove. I just wish it were under better circumstances. Buford is a nurse, he’s outside. Royce didn’t want him coming in.”

“Huh?”

“Buford’s an alpha. Has Royce been behaving himself?” Dr. Shera asked. Theodore could only nod. “Hmmm, we’ll see. Enough about him, I’m here to see how you’re doing. Would you like to be moved to the hospital?”

Theodore’s palms started to sweat, his body trembled. He was fairly certain what little blood was left in his face, drained.

“Oh, I see Royce’s description of your reaction to hospitals was not an exaggeration. If it helps, it’s more of a medical center in the house where I live and see the patients of Elk Cove. But that’s okay, I won’t force you. I hear you’ve been eating, how does your stomach feel?”

“Better, actually. Probably better than it has in um …”

Dr. Shera furrowed her brow. “Dr. Abbott, I don’t mean to be insensitive, but how long have you been taking those pills? And why? You’re a medical professional, you knew the risks. I just would like to understand.”

“It’s been over three years. I was up to four pills a day. I-I’m hiding from an alpha. A dangerous one.”

Dr. Shera let out a heavy sigh. “I’m sorry, Dr. Abbott, I really am. As your doctor, I can’t force you to stop taking those pills, or the witch suppressor, but I can strongly advise you against the damage they are doing to your body. The alpha birth control alone is enough to permanently harm your system.

“As a fellow citizen of Elk Cove, I tell you this town is safe. As much as I sometimes dislike alphas, Royce is a good one and will do anything to protect his mate. Hell, any of the alphas here would do the same for any omega, mate or not.”

Theodore nodded.

“Now back to you and your condition. The fact that you’re eating is good. I need you to concentrate on eating as much as you can any time you feel a little hunger, if you don’t feel hunger, try every few hours anyway. And since you kept your soup down and it didn’t increase your pain, you don’t need to stick to just liquids. I want you to eat whatever sounds good, but go slow. Now I know you dislike hospitals, but I do think we should get you in for some scans.”

“Please, no,” Theodore whined. But his further protests were cut off by an irate growl.

At some point during his conversation with Dr. Shera, Royce had come in. His lean frame was outlined in the doorway, still shirtless. His muscles glistened and flexed, his eyes furious.