Alx’s P.O.V.

‘Alpha?’ doc, hoping that he isn’t bothering me.

‘Yes, Doc?’ trying to think of this conversation and only this conversation.

‘The beta has requested that I release the girl after examination.’ Doc, being very professional.

I laugh slightly at the thought of Chris using those words; knowing that he never would.

‘Alpha? Should I prosed?’

‘Give me a sec, and I’ll be there.’ Leaving my desk and all the work that I was meant to be doing today.
I walk straight to her room. I don’t deviate from my path. But I don’t walk any faster than I would normally. Although the urge to is slightly overwhelming.

‘You don’t need an excuse to see her. She is our mate, dam it!’

‘If it was up to you the whole pack would know that she’s our mate. Without thinking about how she feels.’

‘She’s our mate! There is no changing that! Whether she likes it or not, does not matter.’

‘It does matter! Eric, she can reject us. It matters quite greatly. If we go about this the wrong way, she will reject us.’

‘She wouldn’t.’

‘You don’t know her very well my friend. Neither do I.’ pushing him to the side as I walk into the room.

“Alpha.” Doc, nodding his head.

“Alx.” Chris, nodding his head.

My mate just looks at me. My mate? Yes. My mate. I like that. She looks to her brother. I believe she’s wondering why I’m here.

"Good evening." Smiling at her as I sit in the chair.

Her eyes widen for a moment before she shakes it off? The doctor and Chris also give me their own confused looks. Is it really that bizarre for me to smile at someone?

‘Yes, it is. You only smile at very few people. And you never smile at strangers. They wouldn’t be looking at us like this if they knew she’s our mate.’ Eric, slightly angered.

‘Just because I ask a question, doesn’t mean you answer it’

She looks at her brother again.

“He’s here because he also needs to give you the all-clear.” Chris answering her unasked question.

She continues to look at him.

“Because you’re weaker than a werewolf. He needs to know that you can at least defend yourself long enough to call for help. Not that I would ever let that happen.” he answers again.

Neither would I.

She raises an eyebrow at him.

“No, I’m not doubting you’re fighting skills.” Chris, rubbing his eyes.

She smiles briefly. That smile. I want to see that smile again. No, you can’t do this now.

‘Yes, you can.’

‘Shut up.’

She gives him a slightly pleading look.

“Yes, he has to.”

She gives him a more pleading look.

“Again. That phrase can mean a thousand things coming from you.” Chris, raising his voice to show his frustration.

“Are you talking through mind-link?” I ask very confused, to be honest.

“I wish.” Chris, placing his hand in front of his face.

My mate put her hand over her mouth. Her face is going red. Why's her face going red? Oh, she’s trying not to laugh. She finds that funny? Chris removes his hand from his face. Giving her a questioned look as he studies her for a moment.

“I never told you about mind-link.” Chris, raising an eyebrow at her.
She just taps her head.

“Talk, dam it! I don’t know you that well.”

“I’m smart.” Giving him a look that asked: ‘what else could I have meant’.
I laugh. I genially laugh. I’m laughing.

“Hey, aren’t you meant to be on my side.” Chris, somehow giving me a confused and betrayed expression.

Doc just gives us a bewildered expression. Now that is justified.  I don’t show this side of myself very often.

“You know. You’re very different from our last encounter.” She states tilting her head at me.

Images of that note cross my mind. Still freshly burned into my memory. I should never have looked at it.

‘Told you.’

‘Shut up.’

“The same can be said about you, little miss.”

She frowns at me. I don’t want to see her frown. Chris’ eyes dart between her and myself. He seems confused.

“Oh, right. You guys haven’t been formally introduced. Alx this is Shayla. Shayla this is the Alpha.” Chris, introducing us to one another.

‘She is not to call us alpha. She is our mate. She will not call as alpha.’ Eric infuriated to even think that she would call us alpha. He normally wants to rip the heads off of people that call us anything but alpha without permission.

She gives him another look.

“If you’re not going to call him alpha then it’s best that you don’t refer to him at all. Referring to him as anything other than Alpha is highly disrespectful” Chris, explained.

I want to frown at his comment. But I know I can’t.

She tilts her head at him.  

“He has given me permission to call him Alx.” Chris explains again.

“Oh. Good. You were given permission. You were starting to worry me, beta.” Doc, relieved.

“Please tell me I don’t have to call you beta?” a tired look taking place on her face.

That too makes me want to frown. But I can’t. I can’t. they can’t know yet.

‘No, they need to know now!’

‘For the last time, we have discussed this. She is not ready. Hell, she’s still recovering from her injuries. Our pack attacked her. I highly doubt that she’s jumping for joy to join it.’

‘We should punish them for that.’

‘They were doing their jobs. We can’t punish them for that.’

“That’s actually a good question.  You don’t have to when we’re talking to each other. But when referring to me to other pack members you must refer to me as beta. At least for now. Ok. Them knowing that you’re my sister will make our lives a very difficult.” Chris said with a sigh.

“Ok. They have their reasons. Good reasons at that. Those fucking assholes.”

We all look at her a bit shocked.

“Since when in the hell did you swear?!” Chris shouts.

“I’m not twelve anymore, brother.”

“That doesn’t give you the right to swear.”

She just rolls her eyes at him.

“Doc, can I meet you in the bathroom.” Quickly changing the subject as she makes her way to the bathroom.

“Why?” Doc asks tilting his head at her.

She merely points to her brother then to me. I give her a questioned look.

“Talk.” Chis irritated.  

“You know why.” She stats plainly, turning to face Chris.

“I know why me. Why him?” Chris, pointing at me.

“He’s a stranger. No offence. Or disrespect. Or whatever. The only reason I let the doctor look at my wounds. Is, well, because he’s a doctor.”

Stranger. Being called a stranger by her hurts. But we are strangers to each other. Given the fact that her wounds are all over her body. It’s only normal for her not to want a stranger looking at them. If doc wasn’t doc, I wouldn’t let him look at them.

“She has a point. I’ll take doc’s word.”

“Are you sure Alx?” Chris askes gratefully.

“Yes, I am. Doc’s judgement is always spot on.”

Before walking into the bathroom my mate gives me a weird look. I don’t know what it was meant to express. And I don’t know whether I was meant to notice it or not. Doc follows her in, still a bit shocked.

“If she didn’t want me to look at her wounds because I’m a stranger. Then why didn’t she want you looking at her wounds?” I ask, turning to face Chris.

“Oh. That. Um, she’s well aware that I would have gone on a killing rampage.” Chris explains taking a seat on the bed.

“Yes, well…. Werewolves are quite protective.” Thinking that I might have done the same. Not might have.  Definitely would have. Maybe it’s I good thing that I didn’t see her wounds.

“It has nothing to do with me being a werewolf. She put that rule in place a long time before I became a werewolf. If the tables were turned, she would do the same.”

I was about to ask him why she would ever put such a rule in place. But before I could, my mate casually walks from the bathroom and sits next to her brother on the bed. Doc walks straight to the small table and starts making four cups of coffee.

“Do you need a refill for your pain medication?” doc asked Shayla, giving us all our cups of coffee.

“No, I’m all good there. Thank you.” Shayla says politely, sipping her coffee.

“To my knowledge, I’ve only ever given you one bottle. Praytell how has it managed to last you five weeks.” Doc.

“I haven’t touched it, doctor.” Taking a longer sip of her coffee.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!” Chris shouts, standing from his place beside her.

“Pot calling the kettle l black.” She stats plainly, sipping her coffee as if nothing has happened. What does that mean?

“Why?!!” Chris shouts again.

“Because.”

“Because why?!”

“Because, because.”

“Stop being so fucking cryptic.”

“Because I need it. I need the pain. And that is all you need to know.” Putting her coffee down, she gives him a look telling him to drop it.

“Fuck that I’m your brother.”

“And I’m your sister.” Stating that it makes no difference, maintaining direct eye contact.

“You and your self-torture shit.” Chris says with a sigh, sitting back down next to her.

“Hay come on. Don’t worry. Brother, please don’t worry. Don’t worry about me.” She says elbowing his side. A sad smile taking place on her face.
“The look of worry doesn’t suit you very well.” She says trying to lighten his mood, messing up his hair.

“How can you hide it so well.” Chris asks a bit defeated.

“Well, I would say that I’ve been throw worse. But we both know that that would be a lie on more than one front." she stats honestly. Taking a deep breath before speaking again. "You don’t like seeing me in pain. So, I made sure that you didn’t. Simple.” Putting him in a headlock and rubbing her knuckles on his head.

“Stop it. Come on. Stop it.” Chris trying to get free without hurting her.

“Never!” she says smiling.

“Shay, you’re embarrassing me.” Chris trying to reason with her.

She just shacks her head in reply.

“Shayla!”

“I’ll tell you what. If you smile, I’ll let you go.” Giving him a big smile.

Rolling his eyes, Chris smiles. She pats his shoulder after letting him go.

“So, doc. Am I good to go?” she asks straightening her posture.

“*Sigh* I would ask you to stay. But all I can do for you here, you already do yourself. Keeping you here is of no benefit to you. However, I would like you to come in for check-ups fortnightly if not weekly.” Doc.

“Humm. Ok… But only because you’re nice to me.”

“What do you mean?” Doc, tilting his head at her.

“You had so many opportunities to kill me, yet you didn’t. So, thank you.” Giving him a grateful smile before leaving the room.

“Chris is there a shop nearby where I can get some clothes?” she calls from the hallway.

Chris nods us a goodbye and follows her.

“Yep. Would you like to stop there?” he answers her.

“If you don’t mind.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll shout for ya.”

“Na, I have money.”

Smiling, sensing his confusion, I leave the room. Dam it. I like her. This might be hard.

She thought that the doctor would kill her. And thanks him when he doesn't. He is a doctor. The thought never crossed his mind. She doesn't trust a doctor. A person that swore an oath to do no harm. How am I going to get her to trust me?