The Dragon's Pursuit (Lochguard Highland Dragons 7)

Her beast grunted. He's done an amazing job today, which tells you a lot, considering the feedback from the clan about his treatments.

Layla studied the chiseled face and warm eyes of the doctor in front of her. By all accounts, he had done well with the patients, even to the point Lorna MacKenzie had praised him for how he'd treated her.

Even though Layla suspected Lorna hadn't needed to see a doctor and had only come to see Dr. Keith for herself, the dragonwoman's good word meant a lot to anyone inside the clan. Especially since Lorna remembered back when Dr. Keith had lived on Lochguard, before his father and human mother were tossed out by the former leader and their son had followed, which meant Lorna had a more well-rounded opinion of the male.

As Layla struggled to keep her eyes open, she made a decision. She couldn't help Yasmin if she passed out from exhaustion. "Fine, I'll rest until morning. And you'll ring me the second anything changes with any of the patients, understand?"

"On my honor, you have my word." He smiled slightly. "And to think that my mate says I'm the most stubborn doctor she's ever met. I'm going to have to introduce her to you just to prove she's wrong."

Standing, Layla shook her head. "I'm stubborn out of necessity, as most any dominant female dragon-shifter has to be to deal with you lot." Once she picked up her bag, she added, "Although I'd love to meet your mate one day, Dr. Keith."

"Call me Daniel. And she'll be excited to meet you, too. She's human and has wanted to come to Lochguard ever since Finn started making headlines."

The two clans had been strangers for too long. But that was more Finn's problem than hers. Layla would think of talking more with Daniel and his mate at some later time, when she wasn't about to fall asleep on her feet.

Layla gave the last few instructions, said her goodbyes, and made her way out of the surgery.

It was dark outside, with only the faint glow from the sparse streetlamps. Not that it was too much of a problem considering her keen dragon-shifter eyesight.

However, she'd barely taken a few steps away from the building when someone took her hand and a familiar male voice filled her ears, "Let me help you, lass."

Chase. A sense of relief washed over her. If it were anyone else, she'd brush off their offer. However, she was too exhausted to do it with him. She leaned against his chest and whispered, "I'm so tired."

He stroked her back. "I know, love. I know."

In the next second, Chase gently lifted her into his arms, and Layla could do nothing but loop her arms around his neck and lean into his hard, warm body. His steady heartbeat lulled her into sleep within minutes.

It had been a lot fucking harder than Chase had imagined to simply stay away from Layla and let her do her work.

But he wasn't a doctor or nurse, and all he would've done was slow her down or worse, caused her to make a mistake. Instead, Chase had run as many errands to help the surgery as he could and did his best to give an account to Grant of all that was said with Phillip and Yasmin.

Soon he'd had nothing to do but wait.

So he'd ensured there was food to warm up in Layla's fridge and did his best to get things ready for when she came home, so she wouldn't have to expend much effort to go to sleep.

And sometime during the blur of activities, Finn had given him a strange order—to make watching over and taking care of Layla his top priority.

As if he wasn't going to bloody do that anyway.

His dragon huffed. Finn knows Layla keeps everyone distant. You can't fault him for wanting to encourage any sort of closeness.

I guess this means he supports the match.

If not, he would've said so.

Chase grunted. Although it's not Finn we have to ultimately convince.

His dragon stood a little taller. She'll say yes soon enough.

A companionable silence fell between him and his beast as they waited outside the surgery. As the hour grew late, he wondered if Layla would force herself to work until morning.

He'd give her another half hour before checking on her. Aye, he did his best to not interfere with her work, but part of Chase's job was to ensure she didn't kill herself.

However, after about ten minutes, Layla finally stumbled out.

And aye, she stumbled and he had to reach out a hand to steady her.

After offering her help, she leaned against him without a struggle, and his restless energy vanished. His only job for the foreseeable future was to take care of Layla. Nothing else mattered.