Chapter 4 Clinic

• Taylor and Sara were brought into the room now claimed by Quinton. Both were forced to kneel before him, but Quinton wasn’t pleased that Taylor still met his gaze, refusing to lower his head in his presence.
• “You should be looking down,” Quinton growled, slamming his fist into Taylor’s face.
• “Quinton! You don’t have to do this. We’re not resisting,” Sara interjected.
• “That’s a wise choice, my dear,” Quinton said, gripping her chin. “Don’t think I’ll let either of you rebel.”
• “Like you did with my brother?” she asked, wincing as he shoved her chin away.
• “Your brother was weak. He didn’t think big, like a true Alpha should. I urged him to expand our borders, but he refused, always clinging to the same old ways,” Quinton sneered.
• “Philip cared about his people, something you’re not doing. We lived well here. We didn’t need to clash with other packs—that would only bring death. That’s what my brother believed. If it came to defending our pack with his life, he would, but he wasn’t willing to start a senseless war,” Sara shot back.
• Quinton clapped slowly, a smirk spreading across his face. He returned to his chair, sat down, snapped his fingers, and demanded a drink.
• “Spoken like a true Luna,” he said, flashing a sly grin at her.
• “Luna? What are you talking about?” Sara asked, confused.
• “Stand up. Let’s talk. I have a proposition for you,” Quinton said.
• Sara stood, glancing at Taylor before stepping closer. She was sharp, and hearing him call her a true Luna gave her a good idea of what he might want. But she wasn’t having it—her Alpha would always be her brother.
• “As you know, I haven’t found my mate yet. An Alpha needs his Luna to strengthen the pack. That was another thing I tried to explain to your brother. I told him he should choose a Luna, but he was stuck on waiting for his true mate,” Quinton said.
• “Don’t blame my brother for wanting to honor our beliefs,” Sara retorted.
• “And what good did those beliefs do him? He was defeated and left here like a dog with its tail between its legs,” Quinton sneered.
• “There was something wrong with him, and you know it,” she said firmly, having noticed her brother wasn’t himself.
• “Don’t make excuses for his loss. But I didn’t bring you here to talk about that,” Quinton said, shifting the subject. “I want to know if he’s contacted you. Since he’s been banished, I don’t want any communication between you.”
• “Contact?” Sara narrowed her eyes at him. “You know full well the bond breaks when someone’s exiled from the pack. He couldn’t communicate with us even if he wanted to. We don’t have our phones.”
• Quinton studied Sara, sniffing for any hint of deceit in her voice. There was none. Perhaps Philip really was dead. He was satisfied with her answer, though he’d be even more pleased if he could convince Sara to be his Luna.
• —-------------
• In Des Moines, the rain had eased up, allowing Rachel to drive a bit faster. She felt calmer, noticing that the stranger in her car wasn’t moving much or trying to strike up a conversation.
• Rachel mulled over where to take him. Since he refused the hospital, she was at a loss for where to drop him off. Yet something inside her—a quiet instinct—told her she could trust Philip. Against her better judgment, she did something she never imagined she would.
• “We’re here,” she said, waiting for him to open his eyes.
• Philip opened his eyes, first looking at her, then scanning his surroundings. His vision was blurry, but at least she hadn’t taken him to a hospital.
• “Wrap that blanket around you. We don’t want the neighbors seeing a naked guy walking into my clinic,” Rachel said.
• Philip processed her words, wondering if she was a doctor. But doubt crept in—she hadn’t followed standard medical procedure. The rain was lighter now, a gentle drizzle. She got out of the car and headed to the clinic door while he watched. She unlocked it, flipped on the lights, and came back to help him.
• With her support, he stepped out, wincing from the pain in his broken ankle. Without his wolf to aid in healing, the agony was intense. She helped him wrap the blanket around himself and supported him as they made their way into the clinic.
• Even in his weakened state, Philip took in his surroundings and heard barking. Realizing the “clinic” was a veterinary practice, he couldn’t help but crack a wry smile at the irony.
• “See, our mate can help us,” Zeus said.
• “The only one who needs a vet here is you, Zeus, not me,” Philip replied, noting his wolf’s slightly brighter mood.
• Rachel returned to the car to grab her bag, locking the door behind her. When she stepped back into the clinic, she noticed the expression on Philip’s face.
• “What’s so funny?” she asked, seeing the relaxed look on his face.
• “An inside joke,” he said, giving her a faint smile.
• “As you can see, this is a veterinary clinic. I don’t have the supplies to treat a human, but I can try to help with the wounds on your body,” she said, moving around the space. “Ideally, you should take a shower first. I can order some things from the pharmacy to bandage you up.”
• “Where’s the bathroom?” Philip asked.
• Rachel turned to answer, but Philip had already dropped the blanket again. This time, she couldn’t help but glance at him, quickly turning away. She had no idea how she’d handle this man wandering naked through her clinic.