Page 31 of It’s Kind of a Bunny Story (Hey There, Hop Stuff #3)

“I’ve heard positive reinforcement training works really well, though!” Fletcher laughed and stretched out on the bed.

“Shut it,” Copeland huffed, carrying me toward my frantic wolf mate.

“Just sit me on the floor.”

“Yeah, that’s not happening,” Copeland retorted.

I was about to protest, needing to be eye level with Linc’s wolf, but stopped as Copeland lowered himself to sit on the floor instead. He settled me on his lap so that I faced the wolf who was anxiously pacing in front of the door.

“Thank you.” I pressed a kiss to his cheek.

His lap was much comfier than the cold linoleum floor of the hospital. And I wasn’t about to complain when my body felt as if I’d spent the last few days doing cartwheels to earn a Guinness World Record or something equally ridiculous.

I tried again. “Linc?”

His ears flicked in my direction, but he kept snarling at the door. With his paranormal abilities, he could probably hear every person in the hospital. The wolf’s sides heaved, and the fur running from his neck down his spine stood on end.

My heart ached seeing his obvious distress. “Linc, you kept me safe. But I’m awake now, so you don’t have to protect me anymore.”

The giant wolf turned his head in my direction.

“Come here, love,” I said in the universal voice everyone uses when trying to befriend a cute pup.

He whined, but stood his ground, unwilling to leave his post.

I switched tactics, trying to offer him a different job. “Linc, I don’t need a protector now. I need you to comfort me.”

Holding my breath, I waited to see how he would respond. The wolf’s glowing eyes bore into my very soul. Finally, he lifted one gigantic paw and then the other, stalking forward until he stood in front of me.

“Hey there, handsome.” I kept my voice soothing, not wanting to startle him.

His imposing size took my breath away. Lowering his head, the wolf pressed his forehead against mine. He sniffed and made a soft chuffing sound.

“He’s taking in your scent,” Copeland explained, “checking for himself that you’re okay.”

“Physically or mentally?” I joked, reaching up to rub his fluffy jowls.

“Both,” Copeland responded, his tone serious. “Canines are known for their incredible abilities when it comes to tracking scents. Thanks to our supernatural DNA, werewolves can take it to a whole different level. We can tell roughly how much pain you’re in, if you’re happy, sad, scared…”

“Wow. That’s amazing.” I knew Linc had scented my fear in the past, but I didn’t realize how much wolf shifters could tell just from a quick sniff.

Copeland continued, “We can also tell if you’re sick, although that’s not an exact science. For example, we can’t tell the exact type of illness, but we can tell if your immune system is struggling with something.”

“And you can do this in both forms?” I yelped in surprise as Linc’s wet tongue lapped across my face. “Oh, gross! That is not a good boy!”

“Who’s the goodest boy now, Linc?” Copeland snickered. “To answer your question, we can smell those things in either form, although things are clearer in our wolf form.”

Linc lunged, snapping his teeth inches from Copeland’s face, then turned his attention back to me. He pressed his cold nose to my cheek, and then my neck, before lowering his muzzle to poke at my ribs.

“If he wants me to have a full examination, why doesn’t he let the doctors in?” My grumble turned to a giggle when he accidentally tickled my ribs.

“Because his wolf nature isn’t ready to release control. He feels better able to control the situation and protect you in this form,” Copeland explained.

The door handle wiggled, yanking Linc’s attention away from me.

He gave a sharp warning bark before trotting over and sniffing under the crack at the bottom of the door.

The room rumbled with his angry growls. Linc wasn’t hiding his displeasure.

He wanted them to know he was still there, and no one was getting into this room until he said so.

“Ignore them. Come back to me,” I pled, opening my arms to him.

Linc accepted the invitation and padded back to my side. It amazed me that such a large beast could move without making a sound.

“Remember how I didn’t want to shift the day we left the cave?

I understand not wanting to shift for fear of being powerless.

In my case, I didn’t want to shift into my wimpy rabbit form.

For you, it’s the other way around. While I love both sides of you, right now I really want to feel your arms around me. Please?”

The wolf whined, licking the palm of my hand, still reluctant to obey. But eventually, he dropped to his stomach and let the magic ripple over him, turning his fur back to the bronze tan of his human skin.

“I thought I lost you,” were the first words he spoke as he hauled me from Copeland’s lap and against his chest, nearly squeezing the air from my lungs.

“But you didn’t. Besides, I could say the same. How dare you get sick and scare me like that!” I scowled.

Copeland stood. “Alright. Linc, we need to get her back in bed so the doctors can examine her.”

Linc stood, lifting me in his arms as though I weighed nothing more than the ugly blue gown I was wearing. He gently laid me on the bed beside Fletcher, then turned as Copeland said his name.

“And Linc? Put these on. I don’t think the staff wants to see your naked butt cheeks.”

“I don’t really care what the nursing staff wants,” Linc scoffed, catching the pair of scrubs mid-air.

The idea of the female nurses seeing him naked sent jealousy sparking through me. “I don’t want them seeing you naked.”

Linc’s head snapped to my face, and his nostrils flared. “You’re angry?”

Great, he was back to smelling my emotions again. This was going to take some getting used to.

My cheeks burned. “I just don’t like the idea of the nurses seeing you naked. It’s irrational, but I can’t help it.”

“Ah, jealousy. That’s a new one.” Linc smirked. “And, sugar? I’m happy to dress if it pleases you.”

“Well, I wouldn’t go that far. If we’re being honest, I prefer getting to see you naked,” the admission tumbled from my lips before I could stop them. Belatedly, I clamped my hand over my mouth.

“That’s also good to know.” Linc winked at me.

“For the record, I’d prefer if you stayed completely dressed all the time. Just putting that out there,” Fletcher joked.

The men laughed, the last of the tension easing from their tight muscles and fatigue-lined faces. Once he’d slipped on the scrubs, Linc stretched out beside me.

“If you can behave yourself and keep from biting people, I’m going to let the staff in.” Copeland directed the comment to Linc, who merely shrugged.

Realizing that was the most assurance he was likely to get, Copeland shook his head and opened the door.