Darkest Wolf(15)

“So far I’m not detecting any obvious neurological damage. But I’m going to want to run a CT scan just to be sure.”

“How long will the test take?”

When Rex asked questions it sounded like he barked orders and Dr. Smith responded as if his life depended on it. The faster Rex spoke, the quicker the doctor answered. Liz was getting enough of it. She was the patient, not the wolf with the attitude problem who apparently saw nothing wrong with taking other people’s property whenever he felt like it.

So why wasn’t she outing his theft to the doctor? She bit down on her lip. Sure, she needed his information to trade for her family. But was it something more? He acted like he genuinely cared about her condition. When was the last time someone had?

“Is that fine, Elizabeth?” She looked up as Rex addressed her directly. Both he and the doctor stared at her. Well, the doctor winced more than stared, but he got credit from her for making the effort.

“Is what fine?”

Rex turned his attention to the doctor. “Should she be losing track of conversations like this? Is this normal?”

The doctor scratched his head. “I think she was just not listening in this case.” He paused for a second. “Who are you to her exactly?”

“I’m her husband.”

Elizabeth couldn’t suppress the little shriek escaping from her mouth at his pronunciation. Married? To a wolf? It was bad enough he’d declared them mated. He wouldn’t be announcing them married without so much as a by your leave by her.

Unless wolves behaved strangely was what mated meant. She groaned. There was no question about it; she was in a ton of trouble with this wolf. Even if he had dreamy near-black eyes and an intensity which made her want to shiver. Goddess, what was the matter with her? Maybe she really needed a CT scan.

“Is he not your husband?” The doctor looked at her with such sincere concern mixed into his disgust at viewing her that she had to smile at him.

“Oh, yes, he’s my husband.” Rex smiled a look of pure male satisfaction at her announcement. “But only because I felt sorry for him.” The doctor looked back and forth between them. “Sorry for him?” She could imagine what he saw. Rex—tall, strong and intense—married to her—

someone who appeared to be the most physically horrific person he’d ever laid eyes on.

Why would she feel sorry for Rex?

“Well, we only got married because of his problem.”

“Problem?”

Rex crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t think the doctor needs to hear about my problem, Elizabeth.”

“Oh, but, sweetheart, he asked.” She sat up in the bed feeling more jovial than she had in years. Life might have picked her up and shoved her into her own personal hell but that didn’t mean she couldn’t poke fun when she wanted to. At least for now. With the twins from hell, she could never make jokes.

“We don’t have to share.” Rex said the last word like he might choke on it.

“Rex, I think he can hear our story.” She turned her attention to the doctor. “Rex grew up in a cult. If he didn’t get married, his people were going to have him killed.” The doctor looked between them. “A cult.”

“Yep, a cult.” She was enjoying this. If she wanted to, she could give Rex any past history she could invent and he wasn’t going to be able to say a damn thing about it unless he wanted to expose them. “They thought they could become wolves.”

“Did you say something about a head CT, Doctor?” Rex seemed calm, but Elizabeth felt she could sense currents of anger radiating from his very pores.

“I’ll order it.” The doctor turned on his heel and exited the room fast.

Rex stared at her in silence, but Elizabeth didn’t feel intimidated. By contrast, her heartbeat was fast from excitement. She’d thrown down the gauntlet for Rex. He wasn’t going to get to run this show simply because he could be scary.

“I am going to wait and see if your head has been damaged in any significant way.” She raised a challenging eyebrow and hoped he took it the way she meant it. “And?”

“And when I am assured you will fine…” He walked to the bed and leaned over her until his head was just above hers. “I am going to punish you for your little stunt, witch.”

“Making physical threats now, wolf-boy?” His breath was warm, and she couldn’t help but wish he’d lean down just a little bit more so she could feel the firmness of his mouth on hers again.

“No. You need never fear me.” He smiled. “But I think we both know there are other ways I can amuse myself with you, Elizabeth. There will be ways to make you pay for your stunt.”