“I tested how well these bones are doing…” Pausing, he leaned forward slightly and his grin grew broad. “There’s my girl…”
“Don’t start with me.” Folding her arms, Colby echoed Gillian’s tone perfectly. The healer nodded to her. “What did you do and why aren’t you in casts anymore?”
“He had an infection,” the Willow Bend healer answered briskly. “He’ll heal better in splints where the skin can breathe and the infection can be treated if he follows the rules and stays in bed.”
“Come on, sweethearts. It’s boring down here and I’m good.” Though she hadn’t said anything further, Colby studied Luc with a troubled expression. It took Brett a beat to consider what she saw that he didn’t.
Luc held out his hands to Gillian. “Fine, slap me on the wrists and I’ll behave. As for you Colby, I owe you a big wet kiss.”
“Uh huh. When you can walk, you let me know and maybe I’ll let you get close enough for me to knee you in the balls.” The tart response diffused the unease in Brett’s gut.
After nudging his hands out of her way, Gillian pressed her palm to Luc’s forehead. Though she didn’t face Brett, the pull against his power was significant. Luc was his wolf. Newly returned or not, Brett had claimed him. He folded his arms and opened himself to Gillian’s call. She could have all she wanted. Fortunately, Colby didn’t intervene.
The pull eased almost as soon as it began, and the healer slid her hand down to the pulse point at Luc’s neck. “So, doc,” the wounded wolf emphasized the human title for the benefit of their audience. “Will I survive?”
“I haven’t decided yet.” Submissive by nature, Gillian still didn’t take guff from any dominant when she was in charge of their health. “You keep doing stupid things, and I’ll add a few weeks to your recuperation.” A heady threat, because his breaks made shifting harder and she could and would help him heal faster if she could help him shift.
Wolves could heal most general injuries with a shift. For more serious matters, they relied on their healers. In the direst of circumstances, they would need their shift, their healer and their Alpha. Luc wasn’t at dire any longer, at least as far as Brett could tell.
“How is the pain level?”
“I’ve had splinters that hurt worse.” Bravado couldn’t disguise the underlying ache or the lie in his voice. Showing off for Colby, but her troubled expression and ever-deepening frown told Brett she didn’t buy Luc’s bullshit anymore than he or Gillian did.
“You need to keep taking the Norco, at least for another couple of days…and yes, I am well aware that you don’t like the medication. I can switch you back to morphine, but the best thing for you is to heal, clear the infection and then we can work on—” Gillian paused when Luc cut his gaze toward Colby, then sighed. “We’ll work on developing a treatment plan.”
“I can manage a couple more days…”
“Shut up.” Brett tired of the brash showing off. He understood it, even respected the urge especially in front of the women. However, Luc was hurting—a wolf who belonged to Brett hurt and he’d had enough pain in his pack. “Do as Gillian tells you to do, smartass. Take your Norco. Get better. Until then you’re not allowed to be a pain in the ass.”
He’d chosen his words with specific authority. The simmering ferocity in Luc’s gaze promised retribution. Unperturbed, Brett stared at him until Luc lowered his eyes in deference. Any other time, he’d let the other man blow smoke up his ass until he was ready to cooperate. To do that, however, he had to be healthy.
“Fine.” Luc closed his eyes. “Think I can bribe you into another sponge bath, Colby?”
Brett clenched his fist, officially keeping score for the number of thumps he owed the hard head.
“Thanks, but I’ll pass. I have a party to get back to.” The hint of meanness erased the irritation Luc’s jab caused. Brett grinned at her. “You should do what the doctors tell you.”
“Promise to stick around until I can dance with you at the next party?”
“No promises. I try not to bullshit a bullshitter if I can help it.” Stiffness in her tone didn’t match the teasing of her earlier statement. “If you need me to help out, Gillian, don’t hesitate to let me know.”
“Aww, you’re abandoning me?” Pathetic and Luc were not a good fit. Nor did his soulful puppy dogging have any effect on the human he wanted to stay so desperately. The more he observed, the more intrigued Brett grew. Only one certainty did he grasp…