Melinda’s Wolves(91)

If he woke up. She cringed.

Marcy spoke again. “When he regains consciousness, we’ll make changes. Until then, he needs doctors to monitor him.”

Melinda nodded. She bit her bottom lip between her teeth and clamped down hard enough to draw blood on the inside. She didn’t care. The pain grounded her in a way.

“The best thing you two can do,” Marcy continued, “is talk to him. You’re the only ones who have any chance of reaching into his mind. And it doesn’t matter where you are—out here or in that room. If anyone can reach him, it’s you.”

Marcy was right about that too. How was this woman so levelheaded?

Her husband paced back and forth, running his hands through his short gray hair.

Melinda closed her eyes. “Keegan, babe. Please. I hope you can hear me. I’m not in the room with you, but I’m close by. I need you to wake up. We all need you. Dig, babe. Find the will.”

The door behind them swung open and Melinda twisted around to see a doctor entering the room. He made his way directly toward the group. “Are you Keegan Phillips’ family?”

“Yes,” Will said, making quick strides to rejoin the others.

“I’m Dr. Bernard.” He reached out a hand to shake Will’s.

“How is he?” Will asked.

Melinda struggled to come to her feet with Marcy’s help.

Trace did the same on her other side.

“He’s stable. We can’t be sure how extensive his head injury is yet. He has a concussion and he’s getting a CAT scan now. Then we’ll know more. He has a broken arm and several lacerations on his arms and legs. Nothing that won’t heal.”

“But he hasn’t woken up,” Melinda said. Her body trembled again. She had to fight to keep tears from running down her cheeks.

“No.” Dr. Bernard turned to face her. “But it’s early. The fact that he isn’t conscious doesn’t mean anything at this stage. It could be his body’s way of healing. I see it all the time.”

I’m sure you also see patients who never wake up.

Trace grabbed her hand and squeezed. He would have heard her thought. She did nothing to block it. She also let him hold her fingers without yanking away.

Dr. Bernard continued. “I’ll let you know more as soon as I can.”

Melinda stared at the kind man. His brow was furrowed in concentration. He reached for her shoulder and squeezed.

That was when she realized he was lupine. She hadn’t paid any attention to that detail until the moment he looked in her eyes and then switched his gaze to Trace’s. “I’m sorry I don’t know more right now. Talk to him.”

Dr. Bernard knew she and Trace were his mates. Of course. And his sympathetic touch and kind words meant the world to her. How fortunate to have a doctor who would understand their plight, comprehend their ménage on some level, and knew the importance of ensuring Keegan shifted as soon as possible.

She blew out a long breath as the doctor returned to the bowels of the hospital.

Trace still held her hand. He turned to square his body with hers, drew her hand up between their bodies, and squeezed it against his heart. With his other hand he cupped the side of her face and tipped her head back. His eyes were sad, watery. He swallowed hard and set his forehead against hers. “I’m sorry. I was wrong. I thought I was protecting you. I shouldn’t have taken away your choice. I love you with all my heart. And so does Keegan. We’ll get through this. Keegan will get through this.”

Tears filled her eyes and ran down her cheeks.

Trace swiped the closest track away with his thumb. “I will fuck up sometimes. So will Keegan. But it will never change how I feel about you.”

She licked her lips, still staring at his eyes. They were in their own world, a tiny cocoon, mumbling in hushed tones. Keegan’s parents had stepped away at some point. “Don’t ever make a decision like this for me again.”

“Swear it.” He tightened his grip on her hand so hard she could feel his chest beating. “Never. I’ll make other mistakes, but not this one.” He gave her a half smile.

She sucked in a breath on a hiccup of emotion. And then she wrapped her free arm around his waist and pulled him closer. “It was dumb and inconsiderate.”

“It was.”

“I’m still kinda mad at you.”

“You’ve earned that.”

She bit her lip on one side and furrowed her brow. Her voice dipped lower. “I need you. I feel so alone. I can’t stay angry at you because it hurts too much.”

“Thank God.” He released her hand and tugged her in closer.

She closed her eyes and spoke to Keegan, including Trace.