Gabby took the last couple steps to Layla's cabin in a hurry. She shoved into the door with more force than she thought, causing the wood to snap against the metal.

A loud bang filled the room.

Surprisingly, Marley was the first to react. She quickly pounced from the couch. Her wolf automatically taking over. Marley bared her teeth at Gabby, blinding by the shock of being awoke before her wolf disappeared back into her mind when she knew she wasn't being threaten.

Layla gasped, sitting up as she watched Marley move to protect her. The Doctor didn't expect an injured eighteen year old she-wolf from a smaller pack to be so aggressive when awaken from a small nap.

Gabby stared wide eyed, blinking for a moment. She suddenly realized why she sprinted from hospital to get to Layla.

"Layla," she panted, moving towards the couch to grab her friend. In any other situation, Marley would had attacked, displeased with what Gabby was going with her mate, but even Marley knew something must had been wrong.

Layla got up from the couch, "Gabby, what's wrong?"

"There's been an attack," Gabby informed, her breathy uneasy. She took a quivering breath, "They attacked doing two patrols shifting, and almost killed everyone from both groups."

Layla shook her head, "No." She quickly jumped over the couch, turning towards Marley, "Let's go!" The three women scurried towards the car, hoping to make it to the hospital in time.

"The other nurses and doctors are keeping the survivors alive, but they have clearly been affected by the wolfsbane," Gabby added, taking the passenger seat as Layla started to car. Marley quickest followed, nervous as she tried to buckle up.

Layla stepped on the gas, speeding. She quickly glanced in the rearview miroir, seeing the scared look on her mate's face and noticing that her mate wasn't even buckled. She growled at herself, catching Gabby's attention.

"Can you help Marley?" The Doctor asked, "She's new with cars."

Gabby nodded her head, moving as she reached over towards Marley. She gave the younger wolf a calm smile, hoping to calm her nerves. Marley watched as Gabby buckled her in. "Everything is ok, Marley," Gabby mumbled before moving to sit back in her seat correctly.

The drive was shorter than usual.

"You want to hop out, and Marley and I can park the car," Gabby suggested, ready to jump over into the driver's seat. Layla gave her a nod before braking and parking the car in the middle of the road. She got out, a quick, lasting glance towards her mate before she sprinted inside. Layla was still torn into doing her job or helping her mate relax.

Marley watched her run away, disappearing behind the doors.

Gabby was already moving the car into an open parking spot. She jumped out, taking the keys with her as she went to Marley's side. "You ok?" She asked, showing her how to unbuckle.

Marley nodded her head, "I guess." She looked around, a dreadful feeling overcoming her. She looked down at her feet as Gabby walked next to her.

"Gabby?" Marley mumbled, and Gabby slowed her walk. "The rogues are here because of me," she whispered, swallowing.

The nurse nodded her head, "We know."

Marley snapped her head up, "Why are you fighting this battle? It will only bring pain to your pack."

Gabby smiled, "Because that's how Alpha Joey and Luna Denice are." Despite her thoughts on the pack's Luna, Gabby decided to let Marley figure out the woman for herself. Although Luna Denice was nice and respectful, Gabby could never see her in a different light from what she did to Layla.

Marley thought for a moment, "Are there more Alphas and Lunas like Alpha Joey and Luna Denice?" She watched her surroundings as Gabby parked her car.

"I guess," Gabby shrugged. "They are all protective and territorial, but they typically do what is best," the nurse added.

"Is this pack only helping me because I'm Layla's mate?"

Gabby bit her lip, unbuckling herself. "The honest truth?" Marley nodded her head, "I think the majority of the pack were fine with protecting you without any relationship," Gabby spoke awkwardly to Marley. She quickly got out of her car, ending the conversation before she helped Marley.

After Gabby closed the door after Marley got out, she quickly nodded her head towards the entrance before taking off. Luckily for her, they were plenty of other nurses to assiste the doctors, and Gabby decided to stay near Marley. They entered the building, weaving around pack members mourning about their lost ones.

They followed the empty hallway towards the break room, rubbing face to face with a male doctor.

"Nurse Gabby, surprised to see you not with Layla," he commented, his eyes landed on Marley without any hesitation.

Gabby took a protective step in front of the eighteen year old. She spoke, "Funny how you aren't working when doctors are needed, Doctor Brian."

Doctor Brain only smiled, "There is only so much a doctor can do, Nurse Gabby. Plus, the rest is under Head Doctor Layla's care."

When Doctor Brian looked over at Marley again, the she wolf bared her teeth in warning. The doctor ignored her threat, "It seems like you have gotten your bandages changed."

Marley nodded her head, politely with a hint of sass, "Yes, Gabby was kind enough to do them."

"I always thought this pack had the best doctors and nurses," Doctor Brian voiced before giving the two of them a nod, and started to head towards the group of pack members Marley and Gabby had passed.

———— A U T H O R N O T E | 9 ————

Did this author update again and change the plot?

Yes, yes I did.

The new version is all about improving. Although most people see it as grammar, punctuation, and editing, most people forget when making a newer version it is about fixing and changing the plot and characters too. I thought the way the old version went really picked up the pace, but I also thought it was where my back stories really started to develop more clearly in my mind and not in writing.

Personally, my favorite thing about a story is foreshadowing. I may not always be able to 'predict the future,' but I do enjoy finishing the book and looking back to how everything connects.

I hope to do this with The Pack Doctor's Mate, and hopefully, with my other stories.

QQ (#12): Who is your favorite and least favorite character at the moment?