A Kitty in the Lion's Den(39)

Maverick moved swiftly down the hall, following Luke into an exam room.

“Set her on the exam table and move out of my way.” There was determination and a hint of a growl in Luke’s voice, and although his lion wanted to growl in warning, Maverick shut the fuck up and did as he was told. This was new territory for him, and he needed to let the doctor do what he was best at. He watched in silence as Luke gathered what he needed and went back to Kettah’s side. Her face was so very pale, and the blood from her leg wound was a steady drip down the table and making a dark red pool on the ground. Maverick’s heart was in his throat, and he had no problems in admitting that he was scared shitless. The sound of denim tearing brought Maverick back to the present, and he drew his gaze away from the puddle of blood and watched as Luke tore away the red stained jeans, revealing the gaping cut on her leg. For fuck’s sake, he could see the damn bone.

“God, Luke. Is she going to be okay?” His voice was gravelly and thick, and when Luke shushed him, Maverick moved back until the wall greeted him. Luke quickly scrubbed his hands clean and put on gloves. He handed Maverick a gown, gloves and mask, and once they both were dressed like they were about to do some kind of damn surgery, Luke started cleaning the wound. Maverick stayed back, worry and fear gripping him hard. It seemed to take forever as he meticulously sewed her wound closed, but when that was done he wasn’t nearly finished. He inserted an IV into the crook of her arm, set her up with what Maverick recognized as antibiotics and a bag of O blood, and finally took a step back. Neither said anything for several long minutes, both males just watching her. The pasty looking completion that had taken over his mate twisted his gut painfully. “Luke.” He waited until the cougar shifter looked at him. “She’ll be okay, right?” Every part of Maverick’s body was strung tight, and he felt as though his heart would burst right through his ribs.

Luke took off the gloves, mask, and finally the gown, and Maverick followed suit. “The next few hours will be very touch and go, but I think she will be okay.” They looked back at her. “I don’t want to move her, though.” Luke stepped up to him, slapped him on the back in a comforting manner and said, “I’d ask you if you want to step out into the lobby and grab some coffee and maybe some clean clothes, but I know you won’t leave her side.” Maverick didn’t say anything, just shook his head and kept his eyes trained on Kettah. “Okay, I’ll stay in the office until she wakes.” Maverick liked the confidence in Luke’s tone, but he also couldn’t hide the slight uneasiness that he picked up in the other male. But Luke, as well as every other person in his path should be uneasy around him, because if he lost her, than Maverick wouldn’t stop his lion from taking over and destroying every fucking thing in his path. The door shut behind Luke, and Maverick was instantly by Kettah. He knelt before her, took her too cold and clammy hand in his, and lowered his head until their entwined hands touched his forehead.

The time ticked by agonizingly slowly. The seconds turned to minutes, and those into hours. But Maverick refused to move, refused to leave Kettah’s side until he knew she was okay. Luke checked in occasionally, adjusted the settings on the IV pump, and left him and his mate in peace. Finally, after what felt like an eternity of Kettah not moving, her hand twitched in his. Maverick snapped his head up and stared at her. She blinked her eyes open, and the hazel orbs that were far greener than brown found him. She looked so sick, but she was alive.

“You’re okay.”

He let out a breathless chuckle, one of relief and love for this female. Here she was, lying atop an exam table and hooked up to tubes, and the first thing she thought about was of him being okay.

“I am, baby.” He kissed her knuckles and brushed the thumb of his other hand across her cheek. “You feel okay?” She grimaced, and he searched her body.

“My leg hurts.” He stood and leaned over her, kissing her on the lips.

“I know, kitten, but Luke is patching you all up, and as soon as you’re healthy enough that your animal can help heal you, too, you’ll be good to go.” He leaned down and kissed her damp forehead. She was far too pale for his liking, but Luke assured him she should be okay.

“My father? Konstantine?” She swallowed roughly when he shook his head.

“No, baby, they will never hurt you again.”

Relief came from her, and she closed her eyes and nodded.

“Okay.” She opened her eyes and offered him a smile, one he kissed over and over again. “I’m glad you’re okay, Maverick, and I’m glad they won’t hurt anyone again.” There she was, still worrying about everyone else but herself. She was his fierce little cat. The door opened softly, and Luke stepped in. For a second he stared at Kettah with a bit of surprise, but then he smoothed that away and looked at Maverick. Kettah tried to sit up, but Luke was right there.