The She-Wolf Alpha (Book 1 She-Wolf Series)
Chapter 14

Samantha

My eyelids were heavy and my head fuzzy when I awoke. I looked around me and did not recognize the surroundings. Before panicking, I glanced to the right and saw Emerick passed out in a chair, his head resting on the bed next to me. One arm was serving as his pillow, while the other was holding my hand.

I reached over to run my fingers through his hair. He stirred before slowly looking up to me.

“Hey handsome,” I gave him a small smile.

He immediately stood and grabbed my face in his hands before planting a soft kiss on my lips. He pulled back and scanned my face, searching for answers to questions he wasn’t asking.

“You scared the shit out of me,” he said, softly.

“Yeah me too,” I tried to keep my tone light. “But I think I won, right?”

He nodded but stayed silent. There was pain and fear in his eyes.

“Hey, I’m okay,” I reassured him.

He nodded again but didn't seem convinced, “Okay.”

We stayed that way for a moment. Silently, just looking at each other before I heard him kick off his shoes. Without a word, he crawled into the bed and curled around me.

“Where are we?” I asked as he settled in.

“In the med bay. You’ve been out for hours.”

“What time is it?”

He paused and I felt him check his watch, “Just after midnight.”

“Mmm,” I sighed.

I snuggled my back closer to his front, and his arms tightened around me. He started to trail his fingers along my arm, and I felt his breath against my neck.

“How am I so… okay?” I asked, “I know you said werewolves heal quicker than humans, but I guess I thought it still might take a while.”

“You’re not in any pain?”

I did a mental scan.

“Not really. My left side feels a little bruised and my leg is sore.”

I thought back to my injuries after the fight, but my memory was fairly clouded. All I could remember was excruciating pain and fighting to stay on my feet in front of the crowd. Then I was in Emerick’s arms as he ran through the pack house. Everything else was a blur, and I couldn’t pick out specifics.

“The bones are probably still mending,” Emerick explained.

I frowned, “How many bones did I break?”

He hesitated before answering, “I’m not really sure. A few.”

I could tell he didn’t want to discuss it further. He was probably tired.

“We can talk about it in the morning. I’m sure you want to sleep,” I told him and he stiffened behind me but nodded.

“Sure, Sam.”

Alright. What was his deal?

I pushed away and turned to face him. His expression was stoic, but his eyes swirled with emotion. He looked tormented.

“Em, what’s wrong?”

His eyes darted away and he rolled on his back. “I thought I was going to lose you.”

“Was it that bad?”

He nodded, “The doctors were shocked you walked away from the fight. They had to give you a blood transfusion and reset your ribs. Your lung was punctured. Your leg was broken. They had to seal a wound on your abdomen.”

Wow. That explains his trauma.

“But I am okay, Emerick,” I told him. I pulled his cheek to face me. “I’m sorry I put you through that.”

He laughed without humor, “What? Why would you be sorry? You’re the one who got hurt.”

“I can imagine how I would feel if I saw you with those injuries, so I’m sorry I made you stay to watch the fight.”

He stayed silent for a moment before saying, “Sam, I told you I would always be by your side, and I mean that. It’s not about my feelings, and I’m sorry that I’m making you feel guilty for being attacked.”

He checked his watch before continuing, “Actually, I probably have to leave in a few minutes. I bribed the nurse on duty to let me back in while Dr. Martin sleeps, but she will be swinging by shortly. She had me banned from the med bay.”

I frowned, “How did you get kicked out?”

“I may have… done a little damage in the hallway while the docs reset your ribs. They tried to sedate you but I guess your body processed the medication faster than they were expecting so it didn’t fully take. When you started screaming, I lost it.”

“Yikes.”

“Yeah. I was deemed a distraction and told to stay away until you were awake and asked for me,” he grinned down at me, “My charm and a coffee bought my way back in when Dr. Martin left, though.”

“Ahh yes. I can attest to your charm getting you in places,” I joked and he laughed quietly.

“Will you just stay? She can’t get mad at you if I say I want you here, right?” I asked.

“Well she already told me my standing as beta has no merit, but you are the alpha,” he said with a smile.

I felt my face fall. The one issue I had been avoiding with him. I looked up at the ceiling to replace the right words.

“Emerick, I need to talk to you about something,” I started.

“Uh oh. Am I in trouble?”

He asked in a joking way but looked concerned when he saw my face and sobered.

“I can’t have you as my beta,” I watched hurt spill over his features in my periphery before he hid it. I continued, “I think you would be the obvious choice. You know the job and I trust you completely. It’s sort of crazy because I barely met you yesterday, but already, I know you would be an unwavering ally. You would stand beside me and lead the pack with strength.”

I paused and waited for him to say something. When he didn’t, I kept going.

“For all of those reasons, I replace myself wanting more with you. I’ve given this a lot of thought and ran scenarios through my mind. If I make you my beta, we can’t be more than friends. If we broke up, then it would be a very awkward situation. I would be putting the pack’s stability in jeopardy, again. If we didn’t break up, I would want you leading by my side as an alpha’s partner would, not in a subordinate role.

"I’m so sorry. I’m sure this feels like you’re getting fired, and that’s not my intention at all. I still want you to be one of my advisors it’s just -“

He cut me off with his lips on mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he ran his fingers through my hair. It was a gentle, intimate kiss and I melted into him. He pulled away to look into my eyes.

“Sam, if I have to choose, then I choose you. Would I like to stay your beta? Of course. But I understand your reasoning and I accept it. If you will allow me, I’ll help you with the day to day until you can replace a suitable replacement.”

This time I kissed and he deepened it, putting a knee between my legs to lean over me. I ran a hand down his back and along his side, feeling the muscle beneath his shirt. Then I heard a throat clear from the doorway and we both jumped.

“I am all but 100% sure I told you, you were no longer welcome until I rescinded my ban, Beta Stone,” said a tall woman with icy blue eyes and gray hair pulled back in a ponytail.

From her white coat and cold demeanor towards Emerick, I assumed this was Dr. Martin.

“Sorry doc,” I apologized, “I asked him to stay and keep me company.”

“Mhmm,” she responded with an eye roll. “Looks like he’s keeping you plenty of company.”

“I assume I can count on your discretion?” I asked pointedly.

“Of course, Alpha Paulson,” she bowed her head slightly. “It’s only my business so much as it affects you as my patient.”

I nodded.

“You on the other hand,” she turned to Emerick and pointed at her eyes with two fingers and then pointed at him. “I’m watching you. I don’t know what you said to Stacey to get her to let you back here, but she was under strict orders.”

“It didn’t take much,” Emerick muttered and I elbowed him in his side.

“I’ll make sure he stays in line, Dr. Martin,” I told her.

She looked at me curiously for a brief moment before saying, “From what I hear, he would do well to listen to you. The entire pack is talking about what a fierce wolf our new alpha is.”

I blushed, “Honestly it was all Ayisha.”

“You are one and the same,” she insisted, “And I for one look forward to the leadership a strong she-wolf can provide.”

“Thank you,” I replied, “I hope I can live up to the expectation.”

She smiled warmly, “Well I was just stopping by to check your progress and it seems you’re recovering quite well. I’ll let you get some sleep,” she gave Emerick a pointed look and he rolled his eyes. “If all is well in the morning, I will discharge you.”

“Sounds great,” I said cheerfully.

Emerick grunted his thanks next to me. With that, Dr. Martin left the room and we were alone again.

I giggled and Emerick broke out in a grin.

“I feel like a teenager who got scolded in the principal’s office,” I told him.

“Apparently Stacey doesn’t know the doc’s schedule as well as she thinks she does,” Emerick muttered.

I slap his chest lightly, “Maybe you shouldn’t have been breaking the rules Prince Charming.”

He put up his hands, “Look, I did what I had to. You saw how she was. Obviously she has some sort of personally problem with me.”

“I think someone is used to giving most of the orders instead of having to take them, and the good doctor was just putting you in your place.”

“Maybe,” he grinned but then frowned. “I guess I’ll have to get used to no longer being part of the command staff.”

I sobered, “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” he said quickly. “I meant it when I said I would choose you, Sam. It’s just going to be an adjustment.”

“Okay,” I said, agreeing to drop it.

I yawned and snuggled up against Emerick’s chest. He laid on his back with one arm tucked behind his head and the other around me. Listening to his heartbeat, I realized I was still absolutely exhausted. In moments, I drifted off to sleep.