Page 12

Chapter 12

Prowl

The buzzer had my arms tightening around Daff and cracking an eyelid to see who came through.

We’d had three safety checks through the night, each one requiring a verbal answer from both of us.

Daff’s growl was as cute as the cubs.

“Why can’t they let us sleep?”

Between the steel I had pressed against her soft ass and my need to remember every second of this heaven, sleep had been the last thing I’d wanted.

She wriggled, her scent changing with her arousal.

Jeans voice froze her.

“Daff, are you safe?”

I hid my grin in her hair at her groan.

“Yeah, Jean, I’m good.”

“Prowl?”

I lifted my head to look at him.

Jean stood just in front of Lara, Doc Paula and the vet.

Just as Jean took lead on the health and welfare of the on-base females, Lara was the on-base boss of ours.

Three doctors ran the hospital along with half a dozen nurses, but I’d been specifically assigned to Doc Paula, unlike the others who saw whoever was available at the time.

Then there was the asshole vet.

We’d been told he had a PhD in Zoology, alongside a psychology degree.

Having those two together had the top dogs believing he was a necessary asset to The Compound, when in reality he was an over-applauded wanker who always thought he knew best.

“Still good, Jean.”

Daff patted my arm.

“Let me up, big guy. I need to pee so I can think straight enough to talk.”

It was terrifying releasing her; but I refused to do anything that might break her trust in me.

Even if what she was asking for felt like a step towards death.

“Just gotta pee,” she announced, heading for the toilet.

“Feel free to start without me.”

I watched her until she pulled the curtain across.

Lara took a half step towards me, drawing most, but not all my attention.

“How are you feeling with all of us in your space?”

I swung my legs over the side of the bed, ignoring my hard-on as I stood, keeping my movements small and slow so I didn’t alarm anyone.

I took my time looking over each one of them, scenting the air before settling on Lara.

The females were a nonissue.

I felt a flicker of annoyance at having other males close to Daff, but they weren’t a threat to her.

“Stable.”

Lara’s smile was genuine.

“That’s great to hear, Prowl. If things continue as they are? We’re feeling extremely optimistic for you.”

Daff’s footsteps stopped beside me, her fingers slipping between mine as Doc Paula ran through her usual list of questions before approaching me for bloods.

Daff’s wince told me when she’d slid the needle in and started the draw.

My skin was so thick, and I’d had so many done, the pinch didn’t even register.

“We’ll have a second bed brought in by the end of the day,” Lara said, looking at Daff.

“We hadn’t considered Prowl’s reticence to continue sleeping on his side of the room.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Daff said, her body going rigid beside mine.

“We’re fine with the sleeping arrangements.”

She looked up at me, a small wrinkle above her nose.

“Unless you want one?”

“I want what you want.”

She hesitated, like she wanted to say something, but stopped herself, her attention going back to Lara.

“We’re good.”

“I’m concerned with the level of co-dependency developing between them.”

Thank fuck Daff’s grip went from gentle to fierce in a heartbeat because it cut off my snarl just in time, forcing out a purr for her instead.

“And you are?” Daff asked, sounding pissed.

I fought a smirk at the vet’s ruffled feathers over being asked.

“Doctor Lucus Helliot. Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology and clinical psychologist,” he said, just like he had the other day.

Only this time she got his list of titles tacked on the end.

“Not sure if you got the memo, Doctor , but Prowl’s not a fucking animal.”

“He was created in a lab with both human and animal DNA. We must consider all aspects of both to see to their appropriate management. Which is why I’m the leading consultant on their care.”

“Are you serious?” Her head swung to Jean and Lara.

“Is he where you got the shitty advice to tell the hybrids never to expect females to ever want them?”

God, this woman.

She was practically vibrating with anger for me.

For all of us. And he wasn’t even close to the top of the biggest asshole list of doctors we’d dealt with.

I pushed my purr louder for her, and Jean dipped his chin in my direction, acknowledging my effort.

Which was appreciated.

“While I agree we need to be mindful of them developing an unhealthy level of co-dependency,” Doc Paula said, continuing the original conversation, “I think our ultimate priority should be Prowl’s health, and doing everything we can to enable him to return to a fully functioning life outside these walls. All other concerns, excluding safety, should be secondary to this.”

“Paula—”

She raised an eyebrow at him.

“Do you have an issue with exposure therapy, its use, or documented results, Lucus?”

“If we can avoid it from the start?—”

“At the expense of slowing or altering Prowl’s potential for a full recovery?”

The asshole’s jaw clenched.

“If my opinion wasn’t needed, I wouldn’t have a job. And in my opinion, they’re already exhibiting alarming signs of co-dependency that could be detrimental to all the hybrid’s mental health and expectations. If they?—”

“Enough!” Lara snapped, cutting him off.

“I appreciate both your opinions, but the end decision is mine. While it’s definitely something to be mindful of, I’m going with Doc Paula on this one. For now,” she said, stopping the asshole before he could wind himself up for another round.

“What happens now?” Daff asked.

Lara gave me her full attention.

“What would you like to happen, Prowl?”

Daff squeezed my hand, as if she’d felt the spread of warmth roll through my chest at Lara’s question.

At someone, anyone, letting me have a say in what my life would look like next.

I cleared the emotion from my throat.

“I’d like to see my brother again.”

For him to see me without bars between us.

“I think that’s an excellent idea.”

“If he handles it well, send in another hybrid,” said the vet.

“If he’s already excessively attached to Daff, he could easily destabilise or attack. The full level of his protective instincts won’t be triggered around us, and likely not King or Rage either, since they’re part of his coalition.”

Doc Paula nodded.

“I agree with that plan.”

“Jean?” Lara asked

“I’m on board as long as the current protocols continue.”

“Daff? Prowl? Are you two okay with that plan?”

Daff looked at me.

“I’m good.”

Daff nodded.

“Me too.” She looked back at me, her teeth tugging on her bottom lip.

“And maybe Mandy? If she’s feeling brave?”

I smiled back at her.

“Absolutely.”

“Let’s see how the other two visits go before I clear her coming in.”

“Thanks, Jean.”

Jean nodded as his hand slipped to his belt, unhooking his pager.

“I need to see to this. Is that everything?”

“I’d like a blood sample from Daff to compare to her pre-arrival take.”

“Daff?” Jean asked, catching her shudder.

“Yeah, sure. That’s fine,” she replied, though she sounded far from it.

“I’ll contact King and let him know you’d like a visit,” Lara said, as Doc Paula tightened the strap around Daff’s upper arm and swabbed her inner elbow with an antiseptic wipe.

Daff turned her head, pressing her face into my arm.

Her skin had paled, and her breaths were falling shorter and faster.

I turned towards her, careful not to jostle her as I stepped closer, my purr filling the small space between us.

“All done,” Doc Paula said, releasing the cord from around Daff’s arm.

“You’ll hear from King soon,” Lara reassured me.

“Thank you.”

Lara nodded, and they saw themselves out, Doctor asshole shooting us both a frown right before the door closed behind him.

“Are you okay?”

Her head nodded against my chest. “I hate needles. Not that I should be complaining to you about them.”

I buried my nose in her hair, her sweet scent rolling through me.

“I’m sorry.”

She squinted up at me.

“What for?”

“This. Me. Doc Paula wanting your blood.”

“You,” she said, her palm settling against my cheek, “have nothing to be sorry for. I’ve said yes to every single thing that has landed me here in this moment with you, and I wouldn’t change a single thing.”

My hand found hers, holding it steady as I pressed my lips to her palm.

“See, that right there? The way you touch me? The way you look at me? Sometimes I wish…”

I gripped her hand as it tried to slip from me.

“Tell me. What do you wish?”

Her eyes fluttered closed.

“I wish I knew if it was really me you wanted or if you’d be looking this way at anyone who was able to finally calm you.”

My growl ripped through me, my fingers diving into her hair, forcing her head back and her eyes to fly open.

“You. Are. Mine.”

“Prowl—”

“You get that shit out of your head right fucking now. You didn’t just calm me. You saved my fucking soul. You stole my fucking heart. From the moment you stepped into my cage, you saw me. Me. And I saw you. You are kind and fierce and so fucking brave. If this, right here, is all I ever have of you?—”

Her lips crashed against mine, shutting me up in the best possible way.

Her tongue slipped between my lips, drawing a shudder from me.

I lost myself in her taste, in the feel of her smooth tongue grazed against the rough texture of mine.

Her hard nipples brushed my chest, her soft stomach pinning my dick between us.

She broke our kiss, dropping her head to rest against me, her short, panting breaths tickling the hairs on my chest.