Surrogate for My Brother-in-law - Chapter 47: Chapter 47

Leo
One of Leo's wolves was attacked by more Rogues while on patrol. Leo rushed to the site of the attack as soon as he heard. One of Ethan's wolves met him there, and told him they'd found his wolf injured and sent him to the hospital Ethan sponsored, because it was closest.
Leo arrived at the hospital where the receptionist was quick to reassure him.
“Your wolf will be fine,” she said with a smile. “Dr. Angel is taking care of him.”
“Dr. Angel?” Leo asked. “She's still working here?”
He hadn't been sure she would be, since she had apparently broken things off with Ethan.
“Yes, we're very lucky to have her,” the receptionist said with a smile. “If you like, you may wait out here, or you could go see Ethan, he's in his office.”
“I'll go talk with him. Please send someone to get me when my wolf is ready for a visitor,” Leo said.
“Of course, I will see to it personally,” the receptionist promised.
Ethan looked up when Leo peeked into the office.
“Hey, buddy,” Ethan said. “I'm guessing you're here about your wolf?”
Leo nodded and moved to settle in the seat across from Ethan. He had seen enough blood and damage at the site of the attack to know it would be a while before he heard anything from the doctors. The longer it took, the longer his wolf was alive.
“Don't worry,” Ethan leaned across the desk to pat Leo's arm. “Angel has him, he'll be on his feet in no time.”
“She's still your Angel?” Leo asked.
Was he still dating her now that he had Tessa? It was one thing when it was just casual dates, but Tessa was pregnant!
“I mean it's her name,” Ethan said with a shrug. “Don't worry, there's no relationship drama here. Hey, I work with Dr. Lee just fine and we dated for quite a while.”
“That's because Dr. Lee is a professional and deserves better than a rake like you,” Leo jabbed his friend.
Ethan laughed. “So, so true. Lucky for everyone, Angel is just as professional. And she gets it, so no hard feelings.”
“Okay. I'm just... Tessa's one of my wolves. I know you mean well, and you'd never hurt someone on purpose,” Leo said.
“But I broke plenty of hearts when I was young and stupid,” Ethan finished.
Leo shrugged. Ethan was a good alpha, a good man. He was his best friend. But he did have a bit of a rocky past where women were concerned.
“Don't worry,” Ethan said, “I would never, ever do anything to hurt Tessa. And I expect you to punch me right in the face if I do.”
“What are friends for?” Leo chuckled. Then he sobered, remembering his injured wolf. “I heard Jack was pretty badly hurt. Can Angel really heal him?”
Before Leo could answer, there was a knock at the door. It was the receptionist, who leaned in to announce, “Alpha Leo, your wolf, Jack, is awake and would like to make his report on the attack.”
“He's well enough to talk? Already?” Leo asked, impressed.
“I told you, Angel's the best,” Ethan said.
Leo hurried to his wolf's side. Jack was sitting up in a reclined hospital bed. He was covered in bandages and hooked up to all kinds of tubes and monitors, but he was conscious and alert.
The wolf thanked Leo for coming to see him. He explained that he'd finished his patrol and shifted back to human form to head home. He'd checked in with his patrol partner, and during the brief time they'd been separated to gather their equipment, he'd been jumped. There were three Rogues, and they fled before his partner could make it over to them.
It was a coordinated, efficient assault. Just like the attacks on Ethan's people. This wasn't random violence, it was targeted. There was a purpose to it all. But what?
Jack was in much better shape than he should have been after an attack like that. Jack insisted he was only alive because Dr. Angel had been at the hospital when he was brought in. The nurses agreed.
Leo went back to Ethan's office.
“Hey,” he said, “Is there any chance I could meet with this Dr. Angel? I mean, I know I met her that once but I'd really like to sit down and have a conversation.”
“I suppose,” Ethan said, “She's resting right now. A healing like that takes a lot out of her. Can I ask what you want to talk about?”
“Mostly I want to thank her. I saw Jack's scars. We would have lost him without her help,” Leo said.
Ethan looked uncertain, but nodded. “Yeah, okay. Let me go see if she's up to it.”
Dr. Angel agreed, and Ethan escorted her to his office since she apparently didn't have one of her own.
“And I need to fix that oversight post haste,” Ethan said, “So I'm going to check with the administration staff to see what's available.”
After Ethan left, Leo asked, “You don't have an office?”
Dr. Angel shrugged. Her mask shifted as she shook her head slightly. “I've only started working here, and I'm a consultant, not full staff. I don't really need an office.”
“Ethan thinks you do,” Leo said, “and I agree. But that's not what I wanted to talk to you about. I wanted to thank you.”
“Why?”
“You saved my wolf, Jack. I saw the blood at the site, and the scars. He'd be dead if not for you. So thank you.”
“I'm just glad I was here,” Dr. Angel said, “and that I was able to help. Jack's a good man, he'd be a terrible loss to the pack.”
“He would,” Leo agreed. “There is something else, though. I need your help.”
“You do?” Dr. Angel asked. “Are you injured?”
“No, no I'm physically fine. But my wolf has been acting strangely. For a while now, actually.”
“How so?” Dr. Angel asked.
“It becomes agitated at odd moments. It seems confused. One moment it rejects our mate, the next it won't let me have a moment's peace until she's in my arms. And it only calms down if my maid is nearby. Well, and it seems content in your presence, too.”
“Oh, that's just because I'm a healer,” Dr. Angel said, “All wolves react like that to me.” She paused. “If you shift, I can take a look.”
Leo did as she asked. His perception of time while in wolf form was fuzzy and distant as the wolf was in charge. In a fight, they were one being with one will. But in a peaceful office with a healer's calming influence, the wolf came forward and Leo rested.
He shifted back at Dr. Angel's word. He found himself sprawled across the woman's lap, and quickly scrambled to his feet.
“I am so sorry,” he said. “That was utterly unintentional, my wolf-”
“I understand, it's perfectly normal.” Dr. Angel rose to her feet, brushing her hands off on her pants. “The wolves are drawn to healers. And I needed to touch to check on him anyway. No harm done.”
Leo took his seat while Dr. Angel borrowed Ethan's. He stared down at the surface of the desk, too embarrassed to meet the healer's gaze. He should have better control over his wolf; he was an alpha.
“Your wolf is fine, Alpha Leo,” Dr. Angel told him gently. “He is healing from an ordeal, and that might explain some of his odd behavior. He is learning to trust your mate, so sometimes he might seem to reject her. It's just an adjustment period.”
“And Tessa?” Leo asked.
“Well, I understand your maid is pregnant, yes? Like your mate.”
Leo nodded. Ethan must have mentioned it. He would have had to explain breaking things off with Dr. Angel somehow.
“Your wolf is calm near her so he doesn't upset a pregnant member of his pack, and he may be associating her closely with your mate because they both have pups. There's nothing wrong, he's just trying to take care of his pack the best way he knows how. He, and you, only need time.”
Leo slumped, relieved. “Thank you, Dr. Angel. I really appreciate your time and your help.”
“Any time,” Dr. Angel said. “I'm honored to help.”