~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She felt so cold! Even her wolf couldn't keep her warm. She huddled next to him but couldn't stop shivering. And every part of her body ached. There wasn't a muscle or joint that didn't feel like she had just run a marathon. And why all of a sudden did her vision seem so blurred? And the numbness, where did it come from? There were times when she had her face buried in her wolf's fur but could barely feel him there with her. It was like she wasn't really there. What was happening to her?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What's wrong? She's in pain! Give her something Jeff, don't just stand there! What kind of a Doctor are you?" Cole stood there with Karen's hand in his, watching her body shake as the drugs wore off that were keeping her in the coma. He glared at Jeff. He should be making her feel better, not letting her suffer like this. His eyes were swirling green and amber. His wolf paced in his mind, ready to take over if need be. He'd do whatever he had to do to protect his mate!
Jeff ran a hand through his hair and hoped he could explain this without setting Cole's wolf off. God he wished Carr was here, but he had left the compound an hour ago. He'd sent someone to look for Brett but he hadn't shown up yet. "Cole, I induced coma so her brain could heal from the injury she sustained hitting the wall. The CT scan showed the swelling is down, it's time to let her come out of it. Once she's awake I can assess her condition and treat her for the pain, but I can't just keep her drugged til she's healed. It doesn't work that way. All I'm thinking about is what's best for her condition, and I know you are too. So let's work together on this and not against each other, OK?" Jeff hoped Cole was in control enough to think things through, otherwise he might have a wolf at his throat any minute.
Cole stared at the doctor, the color in his eyes swirling faster. His wolf was going to act soon. Jeff was glad he had sent most of his staff out of the room. If anyone was going to get hurt, he wanted it to be as few as possible. If it was going to be him, so be it. He could see every muscle in Cole's body was tense, ready to fight, ready to protect his mate.
"Ohhhhhh, it hurts, it hurts." Karen started to cry, the pain in her back unbearable as she awoke from her long sleep. She was having a hard time comprehending where she was. She felt like a child, just wanting to cry and have someone hold her and make her feel better. "Wh-wh-what happened? Where am I? Who are you people?" Karen was wide eyed and frightened, looking at unfamiliar faces in this strange room that looked like a hospital, but didn't. Someone was holding her hand. She looked up and saw green eyes with flecks of amber swirling in them. The strangest green eyes, but familiar to her. Looking at them seemed to calm her down a little, but she couldn't figure out why. Her head was swimming and she felt nauseous. "What's happening to me?" She started hyperventilating and gasping to try to breath.
Cole was immediately bending over her, whispering to her, stroking her hair, trying to calm her. She looked up at him and was startled to see her wolf, but he wasn't her wolf. But she knew in her heart he was, he was who she had been dreaming about. Cole, that was his name, Cole. He made her feel safe. She stared into his beautiful green eyes and concentrated on breathing. "That's it, just relax Karen. I'm sorry, we didn't mean to scare you. Breath!"
She leaned into him, needing to feel close to him, somehow knowing he would keep her safe. He was her anchor. She needed him. She couldn't take her eyes off him. Her breathing was becoming more regular. She saw the doctor cautiously approaching, syringe in hand. She wondered why he looked so apprehensive. Then she heard the growl coming from deep in Cole's chest. Her wolf was still here. She smiled at him, resting her head on his arm. He smiled down at her and his wolf calmed. The doctor breathed a sigh of relief and attended to his patient, giving her some Morphine for the pain.
When the Morphine hit her bloodstream she felt immediately drunk. She looked up at Cole and smiled. She didn't know what had happened to her or where she was, but she was glad he was here with her. She remembered the night in the park and wondered how long ago that had been. She wondered why in her dreams he was a wolf? He did kind of remind her of a wolf, especially when he growled. It was kind of cute. She giggled to herself and then winced when she realized that made her broken ribs hurt. She wondered what else was hurt. Felt like it was everything.
The door opened and Brett walked in, in full uniform. He'd been at work when the doctor sent for him. Luckily for him, his beat included the pack lands. 'Hey kiddo, you're awake! About time." Brett was grinning ear to ear, glad to see his friend conscious, finally. And things must have calmed down since Jeff seemed relaxed and Cole's wolf was at bay for the moment. "People at work are asking about ya, I told them you had an accident but you were getting better."
"I had an accident? What kind of accident?" Everyone in the room stared at her, then all eyes turned to Jeff. Karen looked confused. She had wondered what had happened to her. She thought maybe a car accident on her way home from the park. That must have been it.
"We'll talk about it later, it isn't important now. What's important now is that you rest." Jeff patted her hand, checked her vital signs, and walked away, motioning Cole and Brett to come with him.
"I'll be right back pet, I promise." Cole smiled at Karen who had an anxious expression on her face as he stood. "I'll just be a minute." She gave him a weak smile and tried to relax.
The three men walked out the door into the hallway, Karen's eyes on Cole's back the entire time. "She doesn't remember. Maybe that's a good thing." Cole wasn't sure if he should be upset she couldn't remember, or glad.
"Just because she doesn't remember now doesn't mean she won't remember later. We won't know til it happens. It could be a few days, weeks, even years. And there's no way to know if it's from the shock of what happened, or the head injury. For now, it'd probably be best not to talk about it. Brett, what did you tell her supervisor?"
"I said she'd had a car accident out of town and that she was recovering with family. Said she didn't want calls or visits, the usual for the Police Department. People tend to stay out of other people's business there. And to be honest, most of Karen's friends are pack even though she doesn't know it. So there isn't anyone pressing for more info."
Cole had only been half listening. He kept looking through the window, locking eyes with Karen and trying to reassure her through a glass barrier and 25 feet. But that last remark got his attention.
It got Jeff's attention too. "Most of her friends are pack? You hadn't mentioned that before. Doesn't that seem kind of strange?" Jeff looked to Cole and Brett with his last question. "She's definitely not Were, but why would she have such an affinity for our kind?"
"Does it matter?" Cole glared at Jeff and went back to his mate.
Brett looked at Jeff. "Does it?"
