The Pack's Doctor novel Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Apology.

Warren.

I watch as Yara walks out of the hospital. I take another step to follow her but a wall of warriors steps in my way.

I snarl, ready to fight my way to her.

"Alpha, give her some space. If you push her now, you could lose her forever," Savannah says. "The warriors will watch over her.

We've all obviously learned to love our Luna in a very short a m o u n t of time."

That's the understatement of the fucking millennium. I can't believe my pack just basically turned on me to protect Yara. Shit, if she was so inclined, they'd probably take her as their fucking Alpha. Although, it didn't escape me that she told them that she'd be disappointed in them if they tried to fight me in my current state. Disappointed, not angry. A true Luna.

"Come on, Alpha. Let's get you stitched up. It looks like our Luna got your bones all reset, but I'll take a look."

When we get back to the room, I look at her. "Savannah, I need a phone."

"I'll find one after I finish this."

"No, I need it now. If I'm going to fix things with my mate, I need to do it before it can't be undone."

"Yes, Alpha," she says, going to get me a phone.

Yara's words ring in my ears. 'He's a terrible mate.' FUCK! She's right. While my intentions had been purely to protect Yara, erasing her from the school would cause a lot of problems that I'm not sure even I could fix.

As soon as she's back, I call the warrior that Charlie sent to the university.

"Alpha, is everything alright? I heard we were attacked again last night. Do you need me to come back?"

"Archie, where are you at with erasing Yara's presence from the school?"

"T've cleaned out her dorm room, Alpha. I'm just about to wipe her records from the educational system."

"Don't. Leave them."

"Are you sure, Alpha?"

"Yes, but make a copy. She may need to transfer to a werewolf university," I say.

"Yes, Alpha," he says and we hang up.

'He's a terrible mate.' Her words keep playing in my mind. I've wanted nothing more than her my entire adult life and now, I find out I'm terrible at being a mate. I probably am. I don't know the first thing about being compassionate or loving. I know about fighting and war. But I'm willing to learn, for her. I can become whatever she needs me to be, she just needs to give me a chance.

"How is Beta Charlie?" I ask Savannah as she finishes closing up my leg.

"He's stable, Alpha," Savannah says. "If that changes, I'll let Luna know."

"Thank you for this," I tell her, pulling my leg off the bed.

"Alpha, you should stay the night, let Alpha Arric heal your bones."

"Savannah, I need to go make amends to my mate. I need to apologize, and I need her to understand that I wasn't trying to take her life or her title away from her."

I stand and she hands me the crutch. "Anna has food for both of you. Our Luna never ate today."

"Thank you, Savannah."

"She really is special, Alpha. It says a lot that the Moon Goddess gave you such a mate. Don't blow it," she says, but it's not unkind.

"I'm going to do my very best not to," I tell her.

I walk out of the room and see Haynes still sitting outside Charlie's room. "Switch out with someone, Haynes. You're still recovering. You wouldn't want to disappoint your Luna."

"No, Alpha, I wouldn't."

When I walk to the waiting room, I see most of my warriors are still there.

"What are you going to do, Alpha?" they ask.

"I'm going to go make things right with Yara. Charlie is down, do I need to make a patrol schedule?" I ask.

I feel her shift and I know the moment that she realizes that I'm behind her because her body goes rigid in my arms.

"Please don't leave," I say, pressing my lips to her shoulder. "I'm sorry. You were right. I didn't think through the decision and the impact it would have on you. I didn't do it to hurt you. I did it to keep you safe. But I understand that it was the wrong move to make and I've fixed it," I tell her.

She scoffs. "How did you fix it?"

"My warrior hadn't wiped you from the education system yet, so I told him to leave your information. However, he's cleaned out your dorm room and is bringing your things here. It's not safe for you to be there, you must know that. But you're right. Seven years of hard work shouldn't be erased. You're too good of a doctor to have to start all over. Please forgive me for my oversight. I know it was a big one, but I truly am sorry, and I've fixed it so you can maintain your title and continue your studies,"

I say quietly, hoping my words are enough.

She's quiet for a long time and I feel cold fear, unlike anything I've ever felt sliding through veins, as I wait for her verdict.

"What are those?" she asks, pointing to the flowers.

"I picked those on the way over here. I didn't know if you liked flowers and we don't have any vases for them since I can't remember ever having flowers around the packhouse, and I'm not really good at knowing how to show you that I love you, but.. I wanted to try. I know you said you wanted respect and honesty, and those things are easy for me to give you. I love you, already. I love you with everything in me, but I don't know how to show you love in a way that lets you know that I mean it. I don't know how to show the kindness and compassion like you want. I think...I think that's why the Moon Goddess paired you with me, Yara.

You are the other half of my soul. You are the softness and gentleness that I need in my life. I am willing to give you anything and everything that you desire in this world, but I need your help. I don't know how to be all of the things that you want, not yet anyway. But I will. If you can be patient and help teach me, I will."

I kiss her shoulder again, waiting a really long time again while she thinks.

"You make it really hard to deny you," she finally murmurs.

I have no idea if she meant for me to hear it or not, and I don't care. Something inside me relaxes and I wrap my arm more tightly around her.

"How's your leg?" she asks.

"Better thanks to my amazing doctor, Luna, and mate."

I close my eyes and I'm nearly asleep when I hear her again.

"I like flowers."

I smile, knowing my mate will be getting flowers from me everyday for the rest of her life.