“I disobeyed you. You told me not to leave the house.”
“I think we can overlook that with everything.” They had yet to hear from the doctor. He didn’t like how long it was taking them.
“I was so worried. I didn’t think it was anything. She was off her food all day, and she cried a lot, and then her temperature just spiked, and I panicked. I’m not an expert on baby health.” She ran her fingers through her hair.
He took hold of her hand, locking their fingers together in an effort to try to reassure her, not that he felt it was working. “It’s fine.”
“You’re not going to kill me?”
“No.”
Lucas snorted.
“Why were the guards so surprised?”
“What do you mean?”
“They didn’t believe me about the baby being yours. They must have known your mate.”
He felt Lucas’s judgment, but rather than falling for it, he ignored him. “I’m a private person and so was my mate.”
Why continue with the lie? He didn’t see any reason to. If she knew the truth, would it really matter? He’d used his title to gain her fear so she wouldn’t harm the child, and she hadn’t. She was nothing like the people he’d once known.
“Mr. and Mrs. East,” a woman said, calling out their names.
“She thinks we’re married.”
“Just go along with this, please.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Just do it,” he said, taking her hand as the doctor approached.
“Hi, I’m Doctor Sanders.”
“How is Daphne?” Winter asked. “I’m so sorry I didn’t bring her in sooner.”
“Daphne is going to be fine. We want to keep her in overnight to keep an eye on her. She has a virus…”
Rocko kissed Winter’s head as the doctor went into detail about what she’d done. None of the wolf babies ever suffered from any ailment. Their health was usually the best, even if they were weaker as children before the first full moon change.
“I’m afraid we don’t have any spare beds. I will keep an eye on Daphne, and in the morning, if she is still showing signs of improving, we can discharge her, and I will prescribe you the medication you need to treat her at home.”
“Can’t I stay with her?”
“We have no additional room.”
“It’s fine. I’ll take my wife home tonight. We’ll be back in the morning,” he said.
Doctor Sanders shook his hand and he was careful of his strength so he didn’t crush her, which would be so easy to do.
With Lucas following behind them, he walked Winter back to the truck, helping her into the passenger side and strapping her in. Lucas climbed into the back, and he got behind the wheel.
“I don’t like leaving her,” Winter said.
“It’s what we’ve got to go.” He could just leave the baby at the hospital. All of the contact information he’d filled in was fake.
He didn’t like the sharp pain at the thought of never seeing Daphne again. Winter also won’t like it.
Damn it, he was already turning into a fucking pussy when it came to this woman, and she was only a human.
Gritting his teeth, he drove back to his home.
No one spoke, and he was more than happy with the silence. He didn’t need any more bullshit from Lucas tonight. All he needed were his own thoughts and concerns tonight, not to deal with whatever shit his friend wanted to ask him.
“We need to talk,” Lucas said as they arrived back at his house.
“Not tonight.”
“The pack is going to want answers.”
“And until I’m ready, tell them to mind their own fucking business,” he said.
Winter was already heading inside. She looked so damn cold.
“Is she more than a fuck?” Lucas asked.
“I’m not talking about this right now.”
“The pack needs to come first.”
“They always do, and I’m not going to stop that now. I’ll never do anything to harm the pack.” He turned his back on Lucas and headed inside to deal with Winter.
She wasn’t downstairs, and he had no choice but to go upstairs. He found her in Daphne’s room.
“I didn’t react soon enough, did I?” she asked. “I was too busy being concerned about your wildflowers and what they meant to even focus on her. She screamed so loud.”
Rocko didn’t understand what her issues were. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. He had no intention of letting her go.
“I’ve got you.”
“Are you going to kill me?”
“No.”
“I didn’t do as I was told.”
“You did what you needed to for Daphne. I’m not going to kill you for that.”
“One day you will though.” She covered her face with her hands and he hated to see her sobbing, but she gave way to the tears, and he didn’t stop her, only held her as she cried.
“I’ve got you.”
“You probably think I’m so weak.”
“I don’t think that.”
“I do. I don’t want to die.”
“I’m not going to kill you.” He turned her around so her face pressed against his chest. He kissed her head, breathing her in, relishing the scent and feel of her wrapped around him.