Page 12 of Love in Excess (Beta Accepted #9)

LINCOLN

My heart’s in my throat as I tear through the park, Jasmine at my side, both confused and excited about wherever I’m dashing off to.

I didn’t really expect to hear from Celeste again after she texted me the location of our date tomorrow and then let me know she was going to bed.

Hearing her voice from an unknown number, though, has my heart racing.

Which is why I didn’t even think. I just started running.

“Jazz, wait here, okay?” I tie up her leash on the bike rack before darting into a corner drugstore and grabbing a few basic things. If this won’t cover it, Hunter will have to go to the hospital so I’m hoping he isn’t actually dying.

The second I’ve paid for the supplies, I dash down the street toward where Celeste led me earlier today. Jasmine whines beside me, sensing my unease but I can’t very well comfort her when my mind is running through a few impossible scenarios.

Fuck. Please be okay.

The house finally comes into view, my breath mere pants as I jog up to the door and pound on it.

Celeste opens it a minute later, her face is twisted with worry, her eyes red like she’s been crying.

But when she sees Jasmine, her expression softens, just for a second, and she kneels to ruffle her fur.

“I was out with her,” I say, a little breathless, “and it would’ve taken too long to take her back.

Where’s Hunter?” I hold up a bag and shake it, a little confused by how slow she’s moving.

“I’m sorry. He’s not dying. He was gonna be stubborn and patch it up himself, but he’s horrible at it,” she growls out as she stands back up, her hands fisted against her sides. “I don’t want to see him in the hospital again. He’s a bad patient.”

I snort, the sound slipping out despite the tension.

Figures that the Alpha who catches my attention dodges hospitals.

“Alright, I’ll take good care of him, sweetie.

” My heart is still racing, though, because I have absolutely no idea what I’m walking into or why Hunter would be in such dire need of a doctor.

Leaving Jasmine by the door, I head for the bathroom, a tight smile on my face.

“Jesus.” He’s sitting on the edge of the tub, only dressed in his boxers, his leg a mess of dried blood.

That’s not as bad as I feared but it’s not just a quick clean either.

“Hunter, I came as soon as I could. I can leave Jasmine outside, but I just—”

“No,” Hunter says, shaking his head. His dreads swing with the movement, his brown eyes meeting mine.

There’s an exhaustion in his expression that wasn’t there yesterday as if whatever caused this wound took a lot more out of him than he planned.

“Jasmine’s fine in here.” He turns to Celeste, who’s hovering in the doorway.

“The doc is here, baby girl, okay? You good now?”

She glares at him, her scent sharp with anger, her gaze slowly narrowing at her Alpha but she gives him a quick nod. “Much better. I’m going to go play with Jasmine.”

That leaves me with Hunter as I try to understand what I’m looking at.

Despite the blood and the strewn clothes, there’s also a poorly made nest on the rug, which means Celeste probably slept in here.

I make note of it but don’t say anything, placing the first aid kit I bought on the floor before crouching in front of Hunter.

It takes me a few minutes to focus, distracted by the power rolling off this Alpha.

Not to mention the chiseled chest I can’t tear my eyes away from, ink covering nearly every inch of skin.

Most of my male partners have been filled out in some way but they didn’t exude the same confidence or raw energy that Hunter does.

It’s a bit terrifying but also comforting. Like I want to lean into it.

Focus, Lincoln.

I drop my gaze to the gash on his leg and sigh.

The wound’s ugly, a deep graze that’s torn the skin clean open.

I’ve seen worse on the job, but not on someone I…

care about. My hands pause as I recognize just what made this wound.

“Does she know this came from a bullet?” I ask, keeping my voice low.

Hunter’s jaw tightens. “No, and I wasn’t gonna tell her. She doesn’t do well when I get hurt. Hence the reason she didn’t think twice before calling you.”

“She called from your phone,” I mumble, not really looking for an explanation or confirmation.

He lets out a small laugh, the register in his tone sending a shiver down my spine. “Celeste falls hard and fast, Doc. When she wants something or someone, it’s hard to tell her no. She’s most likely already memorized your number, too which would explain how she dialed from my phone.”

I nod, taking that in as I start pulling out antiseptic wipes and gauze, my movements automatic.

Hunter doesn’t even flinch but his breathing kicks up a little, one of his hands moving to rest at the base of my neck making my thoughts shift slightly.

And when a few of his fingers sift into my hair, I nearly let out an embarrassing sound.

Instead, I focus on Hunter’s awful decision not to take his ass to the hospital. “She’s gonna worry more when one day you aren’t here, and she’ll wonder why she never knew how dangerous your job was.”

He doesn’t answer but I can feel him watching me, the Alpha still playing with my hair, kicking up my nerves until I know he can tell how flustered I am.

In response, I press on the open wound, causing him to hiss.

“Sorry,” I mutter as I continue. The wound isn’t that deep.

It truly was a scrape but it could have been worse.

It still needs stitches, though, and I’m not sure I’ve got the supplies for that in this kit.

“Talk to me,” Hunter purrs. “What’s it look like?”

“Like you got lucky,” I say, sitting back on my ass before meeting his eyes. “It grazed you, but it needs stitches, and you’re gonna have to keep it clean or it’ll get infected. You should’ve gone to a hospital.”

He snorts, leaning back a little bit. “Hospitals mean paperwork. Paperwork means probation. Again. I’m already on thin ice.”

I shake my head, focusing on the wound. “Yeah, well, playing hero’s gonna get you in worse trouble if this festers.” I finish cleaning it and then start wrapping it. “Either way, you will still need a hospital for the stitches. The wound won’t close properly otherwise.”

“You see everything, don’t you?” he muses. His question is an obvious redirection of the conversation but now he’s peeling back layers of myself that I usually keep hidden. No one’s looked this close since my last boyfriend and he was never fond of what he saw.

“I have to. It’s kind of my job.” I finish wrapping his leg and sit back more comfortably.

Hunter shakes his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

“No, you see everything and everyone around you. Always trying to make connections, see where you fit in.” He pauses, observing me for another minute before speaking.

“You forget I work with the police. A lot of my job is interrogating people for answers. I can see that you watch and wait first.”

“How could you possibly know all that? Just yesterday, you didn’t even know I existed.”

“But I do know,” he purrs. “And in the 24 hours or so that we have known you, my omega can’t stop talking about you.

” He leans forward slightly, wincing as the movement shifts his leg.

“Lincoln, I don’t think you understand how important it is that she called you.

Not 911, not our regular doctor at the clinic, but you .

And right after that call, she called you her Beta. ”

Her Beta. No one has ever called me that before.

“I just…” I start, my voice faltering. “That’s…”

Hunter offers me a gentle smile, his hands settling in his lap. I almost miss his touch from a few moments ago but right now, I’m trying to wrap my head around being someone’s Beta. Around someone wanting me to be their Beta.

“If this is too much too fast, say something, Doc, just like I tell Celeste, I need your words.” When I search his expression, I can tell there’s no lies in his words.

“I need you to tell me what pace we’re working with, because Celeste will push.

I love that about her, but I’m not about to ruin this new thing budding between us. Tell me, Lincoln. What’s too fast?”

I stare at him, my thoughts a tangled mess.

My eyes dip to his lips, just for a second, and it’s like a spark ignites.

Before I can process it, Hunter pushes forward, his mouth brushing mine in the briefest of kisses.

It’s soft and barely there, but my entire body lights up, a rush of heat spreading from my chest to my fingertips.

Caught beneath the intensity of his gaze, I can only just sit there, still trying to work through whatever just happened. Mostly because I really, really like it and am trying to understand why I’m not curling into myself or asking Hunter to slow down.

“Is that too fast?”

“It should be,” I breathe out, both confused and turned on. I push to my feet, needing something to busy my hands with. I grab the kit and the other supplies before setting it on the bathroom counter.

Hunter stands as well, bracing himself on the back of the toilet before testing his weight on the patched-up leg.

He keeps enough distance between us but his scent is so strong, I might as well have my nose buried in his chest. “The first time I saw you, I thought you were handsome, something out of a magazine. Definitely mine, ours. But I only got a glimpse of you. Now? You’re adorable with the way your face flushes every time I look at you.

” He leans in, just enough to make my breath catch.

“Doc, I can’t wait until you let me touch you. ”

My face burns and I swallow hard as I pack everything back into the bag and push it to the corner. “You already did,” I say, my voice quieter than I mean it to be, the memory of his brief kiss lingering.