Page 27 of It’s Kind of a Bunny Story (Hey There, Hop Stuff #3)

“I don’t know them. But I’m aware of what the burrow put you through, and they must be pretty amazing for you to step foot inside these boundaries again.” Using his sleeve, he wiped at the sweat dripping from his forehead into his eyes. “It’s time for change, and I want to be part of that.”

“Thank you,” I sniffled.

“For possibly killing you by injecting you with a toxin? Or for rescuing you?”

“Both.” My laugh was more of a wheeze.

“You’re welcome.” His fingers tightened around the steering wheel.

“I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you for this—assuming we both survive.” My heartbeat was becoming more erratic, staying on beat about as well as a drunk girl singing karaoke.

Boone shook his head. “You don’t owe me anything. In fact, I’d say the council owes all the women in the burrow for what they’ve put them through.”

He turned to me with a cheeky smile. “Although, if either of your wolf mates has a sister who’s single, I’d love an introduction. As you’re aware, dating isn’t a thing in Blackberry Burrow. Even if it were, a lab nerd like me doesn’t get out much. It can be lonely.”

Was it just me, or was his breathing becoming raspier with each word he spoke? Boone sneezed once, twice, a third time. “Is it cold in here? I’m going to turn up the heat.”

He clicked several buttons on the dash, and warm air began blasting out of the vents. I said nothing because we both knew the truth. We were getting sicker, and our fevers were getting worse.

“Here.” Boone held out a cell phone. “Call the pack. I don’t think it’ll be safe for me to drive us all the way to the hospital. See if they have anyone who can meet us now that we’re past the toxic perimeter.”

“I don’t know anyone’s number,” I admitted, my fingers tightening around the small device in my hand.

“Huh. That’s a problem. It’s not like we can Google werewolf pack alpha’s numbers,” Boone joked, his laugh quickly turning into a cough.

I couldn’t help but snort with amusement. If you could simply Google an alpha’s number, the man’s phone would never stop ringing once the BookTok girlies got ahold of it. They’d never be able to resist a real werewolf.

Shooting Boone a small smile, I tapped the screen. “I have an idea.”

“Let’s hope it’s a good one,” Boone teased before succumbing to another round of violent sneezes.

Opening the internet browser, I did a quick search and found the number of the hospital. I called the number, listening to it ring as I waited for someone to answer.

“Bradford Hospital. How may I direct your call?” an elderly-sounding woman answered.

“My ma…” I trailed off, unsure if the woman was a werewolf or a human. “My husband was brought into the hospital a few hours ago. Dr. Blaine is his doctor. Can I speak with one of his nurses to get an update?”

I waited while she transferred the call. Instead of a nurse or the doctor picking up, it was a familiar voice that yelled through the phone, nearly busting my eardrum.

“What hare-brained idea did you come up with?” Monroe demanded.

“And don’t bother lying because I know you’re doing something your mates wouldn’t have agreed to if you’d bothered to discuss it with them first. Fletcher thinks you went to Blackberry Burrow, and he’s in the process of raising an army to storm its gate.

And Linc gained consciousness just long enough to rip out his IVs so he could come after you.

They had to give him a double dose of horse tranquilizers to take him down just to get him back in the bed. ”

“Everything is fine, and I’m safe!” I squeaked out, trying to cut off her tirade.

“For now!” she shot back. “I wouldn’t be too sure of your safety once your three men get their hands on you!”

Tears of joy sprang to my eyes, and I sniffed. “They’re both still alive?”

Just as quickly as it had come, her frustration with me melted away. “Yes, they are. But you need to hurry back. They’re not getting better, and the doctors think it would be best if you were here.”

I’d held it together as long as I could, but I’d reached my breaking point, and her words tipped me over the edge. My quiet sniffles turned to great racking sobs that shook my body, making it almost impossible to breathe.

The car jerked as Boone reached over to snatch the phone where it had fallen in my lap. “Hi? I’m Boone, and we’re headed your way, but we need help. Do you have anyone you can send to meet us? We think we can save her mates, but I’m not confident I’ll be able to get us there safely.”

I zoned out as he rattled off directions for a meeting point and hung up. Lost in my exhaustion and the toxin spreading through my veins, I wasn’t sure how much time had passed before the car rolled to a stop on the side of the road. Before either of us could react, his door was wrenched open.

“How dare you!” a female snarled before throat-punching Boone and hauling the gagging man out of the car as though he weighed nothing.

The female tossed him on the ground, then leaned down so she could see me. “It’s okay. You’re safe now.” Her eyes glowed just like Linc’s and Copeland’s eyes.

So she was a wolf shifter.

“I’m Reese, Monroe’s best friend,” she continued, giving me a friendly smile. “You must be Charlee.”

“Did Monroe send you?” Boone choked out the words.

“No, she didn’t send me, you barbaric, backwoods, brother-banging, black-hearted, boring buffoon of a bunny!” Reese snarled, trying to kick him, but Boone caught her foot at the last minute.

“Hey, that hurts.” He used his free hand to adjust his glasses. “I’m not boring.”

It wasn’t until that moment that it dawned on me that she was butt-naked. Wolves didn’t seem to care much about modesty. Reese yanked her foot free and tackled him, straddling his chest as she prepared to choke the life from him.

“I’m one of the good guys,” Boone protested, trying his best to look anywhere but at Reese’s bare chest, which was practically shoved in his face. “I spoke to Monroe on the phone, and she was going to have someone meet up and drive us to the hospital.”

Reese paused, suspicion written all over her face. “I’ve been running in my wolf form, idiot. How was she supposed to call me? I haven’t exactly been taking phone calls, and I’m too far from the alpha for him to relay a mental message.”

Opening my car door, I staggered to my feet. “We think we have something to help my mates, but we have to get to the hospital. Fast. We can sort this mess out later. Can you drive us there?” Using the car as a support, I made my way around to stand beside them.

“I’m happy to drive you there. But him…” She cocked an eyebrow and jerked her chin down to where Boone lay beneath her on the ground. “I’d rather leave him here.”

“Boone’s a good guy. He saved me, and he wants to help the pack.” My legs trembled. I wasn’t going to be able to stay standing much longer.

“You’re sure you’re not a bad bunny?” Reese leaned down and growled in his face.

Instead of being offended, Boone gave her a dopey smile. “I can be if you want me to be.”

That earned him a genuine laugh from Reese. “You might be alright. Who knows? Maybe I’ll just keep you. Monroe is so adorable, but her mates refuse to let me keep her as a pet.”

“You can keep me as long as you want,” he promised.

I rolled my eyes. Was he seriously going to fall for the first girl he met?

“This has to be the world’s most violent meet-cute ever. I’m going to vomit, and I don’t know if it’s because of the toxin or all the flirting. Right now, I need Reese to focus and get me to my mates.”

“Yes, we need to get you back.” Reese’s glowing eyes searched the road behind us. “Not to mention it’s possible the burrow could’ve already sent people after you. We need to get back to the hospital, where the pack can protect us.”

With that decided, she opened the back seat, grabbed Boone by the collar of his shirt, and tossed him inside. “Let’s go.”