Page 32 of It’s Kind of a Bunny Story (Hey There, Hop Stuff #3)

T wo doctors hurried into the room, followed by half a dozen nurses. Ignoring my protests, they hurried to hook me back up to the various machines.

“When can I go home?” I asked after one doctor finished listening to my heart.

“We’re not sure. It could be a while until you’re strong enough to be discharged.

” He patted my arm, then yanked it away when Linc snarled under his breath.

“You nearly died, Charlee. Honestly, I’m still not sure how you survived, but I guess sometimes there are miracles that science can’t explain. And you’re one of them.”

When the nurses finished fussing over me, they turned their attention to Fletcher, and for the first time, I noticed there was a bandage wrapped around his arm.

“What happened?” I gasped, scanning his body for other signs of injury.

“Don’t look so worried.” He caught my chin between his thumb and forefinger. “All I did was give a little blood.”

“Your mate gave significantly more than that,” the older of the two doctors corrected him. “Every time we tried to stop, he’d demand that we take more. It wasn’t until he finally passed out and shut up that we stopped.”

My brain was still foggy, and I was struggling to put the pieces together. “Why did you need Fletcher’s blood?”

“I wasn’t the only one,” Fletcher answered before the doctor could. “Monroe and Ellora gave blood as well.”

The doctor nodded. “Yes, they did. Using the research you managed to get into our hands, we created a vaccine to give to the wolves prior to exposure. It will save so many lives.”

“But why couldn’t you use Boone’s and my blood?” I didn’t like the idea that the others had been put at risk.

“Because we nearly drained you and Boone dry to save Copeland and Linc,” the doctor answered. “It will be some time before you’re able to give blood again. With the threat of the burrow retaliating with the toxin, Fletcher was unwilling to wait.”

I looked at Fletcher, my heart swelling with love and pride that this selfless man was mine. “Thank you.” Those two words hardly seemed like enough for everything he’d done for me.

Fletcher guided my face to his and pressed a soft kiss to my lips. “You have nothing to thank me for. We’re family now, which means we’re in this together.”

“How is Boone?” I asked the doctor after I caught my breath.

“He’s doing well. Reese has taken it upon herself to be his caregiver.” The doctors exchanged knowing glances, and I caught two of the nurses trying to hide smirks.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts asking for more pain meds just to get a break from her.” Copeland chuckled. “She can be a bit much.”

“She sounds like fun.” My memory of meeting Reese was far too fuzzy to make any judgments about her character, but I was looking forward to getting to know her better in the future.

“She seems like trouble,” Fletcher corrected.

“Oh, yeah!” Linc laughed and shook his head. “The alpha has wanted to strangle her at least a half dozen times for the escapades and shenanigans she keeps involving Monroe in.”

We fell quiet as the doctors took a blood sample, and the nurses finished changing bandages.

The doctors promised to check in later. The moment the battered door closed behind them, Linc rolled me to him, his face suddenly stern and unreadable.

“I tried to get to you when I found out what you had done.”

Avoiding his gaze, I traced his jaw with my fingertips. “I know.”

His five o’clock shadow had become a scruffy beard, giving him sexy lumberjack vibes that I was here for. But it didn’t really seem like the best time to tell him that.

“You’re angry with me,” I observed when he remained silent.

Why wouldn’t he be? I’d done the exact opposite of what my mates would have wanted.

But I didn’t regret it. I knew what I was capable of and had accepted the risks.

There was no way I’d apologize for getting the job done.

Besides, my apology would be hollow since I’d do the exact same thing if a situation like this arose again.

“No, I’m not angry.” Linc caught my fingers between his teeth, gently nipping them.

My eyebrows shot up. “You’re not?”

“Of course not,” he said as though it was the most logical thing on earth.

Was he purposely messing with my head? How could this man, who seemed to want to control everything, not care that I had gone on such a dangerous jaunt through the burrow?

“No. I’m so dang proud, sugar. You’re an incredible woman, and I’m lucky to be your mate.” Linc’s tongue swirled around my fingers, making it even harder to think clearly.

“I agree.” Copeland sat down on the end of the bed and pulled my feet onto his lap. “Although I’m a little annoyed over it.”

Fletcher huffed and wrapped an arm around my waist from behind me. “I’m definitely mad about it, but I’m also in awe of our incredible mate.”

My heart swelled with happiness. All three of my mates were proud of me.

“Now it’s time for you to tell us what happened while you were at Blackberry Burrow.” Copeland began massaging my feet.

“Well…” I hesitated, not sure if I should tell them the full truth or not.

“And don’t leave out any of the violent parts. Those are my favorite,” Linc warned. “Besides, I want to know who did that to your face and bruised your wrist. Because if you didn’t kill them, I’m going to.”

All three men settled in around me like kids, waiting for a bedtime story. I cleared my throat as a flood of happiness filled my chest. “Well, you see, it’s kind of a bunny story.”

The men healed faster than me, so they’d been free to come and go while I was stuck inside the four bland white walls.

Now that I had my own room, Linc and Copeland had smuggled in a king-size bed while Fletcher caused a distraction in the lab.

It took up nearly all the free space, but it was worth it when I got to fall asleep nestled between my mates.

Despite not having to share the room, it still wasn’t private. Every time I’d fall asleep, a nurse or doctor would appear to wake me up. I’d been removed from all the machines and I was no longer in danger, but the staff didn’t seem to get that memo.

Although, that might have had something to do with the way Monroe and Cillian drilled into their heads that I was to be treated like a princess during my stay. Still, I was grateful for their kindness and friendship. Just that morning, Monroe and Ellora had popped by for a visit.

They shooed the men, as well as the hovering staff, out of my room. Once we were alone, they’d helped me into a bath overflowing with bubbles. While I’d soaked away my stresses, the girls had prepared another surprise for me.

When I’d come out of the bathroom, I’d found pajamas, bras, and panties in every color under the rainbow. Apparently, since my new friends weren’t willing to help me escape, they hoped to make the stay more comfortable.

After picking a silky cami and matching pair of booty shorts, I got back under the blanket.

Monroe had settled behind me to brush my hair, while Ellora painted my nails.

I listened as they shared pack gossip, hardly able to believe this was my life now.

By the time they blew me kisses and left, I not only felt human, I felt pretty.

I’d never admit it, but just that little bit of exertion had exhausted me. Scooting down in the bed, I decided to rest my eyes, but that turned into a four-hour nap. I was well-rested and bored out of my mind by the time my guys appeared an hour later.

“Ugh! It’s been five days! How much longer are they going to hold me hostage here?” I grumbled as soon as my three mates entered the room.

“Hostage?” Fletcher laughed. “Feeling a bit dramatic, aren’t you?”

“If I have to lie here and count the ceiling panels one more time, I swear I’m going to die of boredom,” I grumbled.

“You guys get to come and go, but when I tried to sneak to the vending machine for a candy bar, I was tackled and hauled back to this room. One nurse threatened to handcuff me to the bed!”

“Did she happen to leave the handcuffs?” Copeland asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

“Unfortunately, no,” I huffed. “Practicing how to escape them would have given me something to do.”

“I have an idea.” Copeland pulled his phone from his pocket and tapped the screen a few times before handing it to me. “That’s my Kindle account. My credit card is linked, so buy whatever books interest you. Go crazy.”

“Ooh!” I barely kept myself from snatching his phone from his hand.

Lost in the whole new world that had just been opened to me, I didn’t notice the guys moving around the room or the nurses coming in to check on me.

“That was a serious error in judgment on your part, Copeland. With so many books at her fingertips, I think she’s forgotten we exist.” Fletcher sat down on the bed beside me, but I still didn’t look up. “She’s probably already fallen for a half dozen book boyfriends.”

“Maybe she needs to be reminded why real boyfriends are better.” The foot of the bed sank as Linc leaned over to rest his palms on it.

I didn’t look up. “Shh. I just got to the good part.”

“Is that so?” Fletcher asked, amusement thick in his tone.

“The good part?” Linc growled, the bed sinking more as his full weight settled on it.

Biting my newly painted nail, I didn’t bother to answer them as I tapped to turn the page.

It wasn’t until lips brushed my ankle and moved up the inside of my leg that I looked up. “What are you… ooh!”

Linc was lying between my legs, covered by the blanket, and his mouth was making its way up my inner thigh. Gripping my hips, he gently pulled me so that my back no longer rested on the headboard, but was now flat on the mattress.

“I think we can help ease your boredom.” Fletcher lifted the blanket and climbed into the bed, stretching out on my right side while Copeland mirrored him on my left.