"What?" Clay roared into Kate's ear and she flinched. "What happened? Where are you?"
She gave him a brief rundown of what she'd seen and then rattled off their address. But even as she did so, she knew she couldn't keep Jeremy lying in the rain for almost an hour until Clay arrived. Kate looked down into the pain filled blue eyes of the man lying on the ground beside her, his blood mixing with the rainwater pouring down onto the tarred surface. Fear pierced through the adrenalin still surging in her veins.
"He needs a hospital," she said, avoiding Jeremy's eyes. She hoped that Clay would be more reasonable.
"No!" Clay fairly screamed at her. "Do not take him to a hospital. I'm coming!"
Kate shivered as the rainwater ran down her neck and tricked beneath the collar of her coat. So the son also had a thing against hospitals. What the hell are these people into? she thought frantically, watching as streaks of red bled through the coat she had plastered to Jeremy's wound.
"I don't think you understand. He's seriously wounded and he needs proper medical care!"
"No hospitals, do you hear me?" Clay's voice was almost threatening.
Nervously Kate surveyed the area. If the wolf came back she didn't know if she could fight him off a second time. She needed to move Jeremy. Quickly.
Making a split decision, she replied, "I'll bring him to you." Looking down, she caught Jeremy shaking his head emphatically. She ignored him, already thinking about how long it would take them to get back to his car.
"Stay there!" Clay commanded. "I'm already on my way." Kate could hear the sounds of hurried footsteps.
"It makes no sense, Clay," she snapped, irritated at his bossy tone. "In the time it takes you to get here, I could have driven him to Stonehaven myself." Groaning agonisingly Jeremy attempted to sit up, but Kate moved her hand to his chest, shoving him back down.
No! she mouthed, fire in her eyes. Why would no one listen to her?
"Get Jeremy someplace dry. I won't be long."
Kate was tired of being shouted at and ordered about. Enough was enough. She was done arguing with the Danvers' men. "Do what you want to, but I'm on my way."
She disconnected the call and shoved the phone back into her pocket. Her hands were trembling, but she brushed her anxiety aside. She needed to get Jeremy some proper medical attention. But first, they needed to get to his car.
"Come on, we need to move," she said, wrapping one arm around his shoulders.
"You don't have to do this," Jeremy panted, one bloodied hand holding his jacket to his injury, his face inches from her own.
"I don't know why I am, but you asked me to trust you and so despite my better judgement, I'm going to," Kate confessed, her unease masked by the false confidence of her tone. "You won't die here," she whispered. "Not if I can help it."
Jeremy stared at her pointedly and in spite of the rain, the cold, his wound and the possible danger they were still in, the world seemed to narrow sharply until it was just the two of them, all external factors fading into the background. Absurdly, Kate felt as though she'd never been closer to this man. Not merely in terms of proximity, but emotionally too, because as he looked at her, there was something in his gaze that had never been there before: admiration.
A clap of thunder broke the spell and her arm tightened around him. "I'm going to need you to help me. I can't get you to the car otherwise. Once you're standing, I'll help support your weight. You just make sure to keep the jacket pressed firmly to your side." She paused for a moment. "Ready?"
Jeremy nodded, gritting his teeth as he rolled onto his knees and with Kate's help managed to heave himself to his feet. He swayed unsteadily and she held onto him tightly, wrapping an arm around his waist and placing one of his around her neck. He was heavy as he leaned into her, his breathing harsh in her ear and she knew he had to be in a lot of pain.
"Slowly," she coaxed as they staggered back the way they'd come. The walk probably took no more than five minutes, but to Kate it felt like a lifetime. Every step seemed like torture for Jeremy, his face ashen, his limbs weighty and unsteady.
Eventually they reached the car and Kate almost sagged against the door in relief. It was dark already and whatever cars were driving by would have to look closely to see that Jeremy wasn't merely an amorous beau with an arm around his girl. Opening the passenger door, she helped ease him inside before rushing over to the driver's side and climbing in.
Jeremy was leaning against the back of the seat, his eyes closed, taking in deep gulps of oxygen. Kate lifted his jacket and looked at the wound, her apprehension rising. The bleeding wasn't subsiding. It needed to be stemmed quickly, then cleaned and sewed up. He'd also likely need a transfusion. There could be internal damage as well, none of which she could detect while sitting in his car. Everything she needed to ensure he survived this ordeal was readily available at the hospital.
She bit her lip as she fumbled with the keys, searching for the ignition. What did they propose to do with him at Stonehaven? They wouldn't have the type of medical supplies necessary to help him. Not for the first time, she wondered whether she was doing the right thing. Wouldn't she be signing Jeremy's death warrant if she followed through with his ridiculous request?
As though he sensed her uncertainty, Jeremy lifted a shaky hand and reached across to touch her arm. "To Stonehaven," he breathed, his face contorting in pain.
Instinctively Kate reached over and smoothed his wet hair away from his forehead. He looked exhausted. "The hospital can help you," she said, her voice a whispered plea.
He shook his head. "Only to Stonehaven."
Nodding jerkily, she turned the key and started the car. Within minutes they were heading out of town. Kate still felt conflicted about what she was doing, every fibre of her being screaming that she should turn around and take him to a hospital. But she didn't. She'd do as he asked, but if Jeremy died because she'd listened to him, she'd never forgive herself.
By the time Kate turned into the driveway of the old manor house, Clay, Elena and Nick were already waiting outside. Her nerves were on edge, the drive having passed in a blur. Between trying to ensure that Jeremy remained conscious and keeping her eyes on the road, she was barely holding onto her equilibrium.
Before the car even come to a full stop, Clay jerked open the passenger door. With Nick's help, they removed Jeremy from the front seat and half carried, half dragged him towards the front door. Kate scrambled out of the car after them, not caring that she was a sodden, dishevelled mess. It didn't escape her notice that it was the second time she arrived at Stonehaven looking like a drowned rat.
"Get her out of here," Clay called to Elena.
Elena turned apologetic eyes in Kate's direction. "You should probably go."
Kate couldn't believe her ears. They expected her to leave a man in Jeremy's condition in the hands of people who had zero medical expertise? "I can help."
"We don't need your help," Clay grunted, his tone surly and dismissive as he and Nick carried Jeremy into the foyer.
Kate had had enough. She was tired and frightened and upset. She had witnessed a man being mauled by a wild animal and she'd gone against the very oath she'd taken to preserve life by bringing him home to his family instead of taking him to a proper medical facility. All she was asking for in return was an opportunity to help him. But instead, she was being thrown out.
I don't think so.
Anger blazing in her eyes, she tugged on Clay's arm until he stopped and looked at her. Kate glared at him, furious. "I didn't know you had a medical doctorate, Dr Danvers. Oh wait," she said sarcastically, "you don't. You're an anthropologist, not a medical practitioner. I don't think you realise how serious Jeremy's injury is. He could die. And last time I checked, I was the only one here qualified to make any attempt at saving his life. As such," she breathed, her words laced with determination, "I suggest you shove your derision aside because I'm going to see to his wounds. The only question is whether I'm going to have to go through you in order to do so." She cocked an eyebrow at him, waiting.
"Oh, that's gotta hurt, Clayton," Nick murmured. "Looks like the real doctor is the one giving the orders."
Clay scowled at Nick. It would seem that not many people stood up to him. He seemed shocked, a grudging sliver of respect entering his eyes.
Clay glanced down at Jeremy's unconscious state and conceded. "There's a table in the kitchen where you can work."
Relief coursed through Kate as she hurried after them. Elena was throwing a white sheet over the kitchen table as Clay and Nick lowered Jeremy as carefully as they could onto it. Kate placed a finger to the pulse at his neck. It was feint, but detectable.
Unbuttoning her coat hurriedly, she peeled it off and threw it somewhere behind her, then impatiently shoved the damp, long sleeves of her tube dress up past her elbows.
Quickly scanning her surroundings, she spied a bottle of antiseptic hand sanitiser at the basin and rushed to wash her hands.
"What do you have that I can use?" she asked to no one in particular as she lifted the jacket away from Jeremy's side before peeling away the torn fabric of his shirt and waistcoat. He'd regained consciousness and his eyes were boring holes into her.
"What do you need?" Elena asked and Kate glanced at her, eyes bulging. She had her arms full of medical supplies. What is this place? Why do they have these things? Shaking her head, she knew now was not the time to ponder the bizarre reality of her current situation. Jeremy's life hung in the balance.
"Gauze, pads, tape, scissors," she rattled off the top of her head. "Also, some clean towels, bandages and rubbing alcohol if you've got some?"
Elena nodded and moved to get the items. Kate grabbed the scissors and handed them to Clay. "Cut away his shirt and waistcoat, I need to stop the bleeding first." To Nick, she said, "Put on some boiling water. We'll need to sanitise a few things."
Nick nodded and filled the kettle, setting it on the stove to heat up. "I see you're wearing waistcoat number seventy four out of a thousand. Your personal favourite if I recall," Nick joked with Jeremy, grabbing his hand in support before he glanced at Clay. "Any chance you can salvage-" There was a loud rip as Clay shred the garment in two. "I guess not." Nick's smile was tense and held none of its usual charm. "I guess you could do with a replacement."
Kate grabbed the alcohol and looked at Jeremy's face. He'd attempted to laugh at Nick's teasing, but the twist of his lips was more reminiscent of a grimace than a grin.
"I'm sorry, but this is going to hurt," she said apologetically. Kate glanced at Nick and Clay. "Hold him down," she whispered. When their hands were braced strategically, she poured the alcohol over Jeremy's wound. He hissed and cursed, involuntarily lifting his pelvis off the table in anguish. "Elena, do you have a coagulant of some kind? Something like-"
"Haemostatic powder?" Elena asked, holding out two sachets. Kate grabbed it, tearing the rectangular squares open. "Nick, dump some needles into the boiling water. I'm going to have to sew him up once the bleeding subsides."
"When I imagined the two of us engaging in a little role play, this was not quite what I had in mind," Nick whispered as he brushed past her.
Had the situation not been so grave or her emotions so invested, Kate might have laughed at his attempt at humour. But under the circumstances, she couldn't focus on anything other than Jeremy's plight.
She poured the white powder over his wound. "Towels, Clay," she ordered, reaching for two when he offered them to her. Padding them thickly, she held them firmly to Jeremy's side. She grabbed one of Clay's large hands. "Hold that as tightly as you can. The pressure should help."
Clay moved to her side and did as she asked. Kate glanced at Jeremy's face. He was unconscious again, the pain clearly too overwhelming. The back of her throat started burning. What if she couldn't save him? What if he died on his kitchen table? No. She couldn't afford to think that way.
"He's going to need blood. Dammit. He's too ashen. He's lost too much."
"I'll get some," Elena called, hurrying out of the room.
Kate's jaw dropped. "Are you kidding me? You keep blood handy? What could you possibly need it for?"
When neither Nick nor Clay responded, Kate wiped a hand across her forehead, perplexed. "Any chance I can get some saline too?" she yelled mockingly. Blood. They stored their own blood.
Moments later the blonde woman returned with a bag of O Positive and another of saline solution. Kate stared at both items, shocked. She'd been kidding about the saline.
Moving to the opposite side of Jeremy's injury, she grabbed an IV set, vaguely wondering why'd they'd need it, before ripping it open. She worked quickly and efficiently and within a few minutes, she had a line up. That done, she went back to Clay's side and removed the towels he'd been holding down. Her knees almost buckled when she noted that the bleeding had subsided.
"A few minutes more," she said, pressing them firmly back in place. "Nick, I'm going to suture soon."
"Got everything ready, Doc," he said from beside her, handing over what looked like a sewing needle. At least he had some synthetic thread. Beggars couldn't be choosers.
"Will he be alright?" Clay asked, his voice gruff. It was the first time Kate could detect any emotion in him. Despite his coarseness towards her, he clearly loved his father.
She cleared her throat before answering, afraid he'd sense her worry. "I don't know. It depends."
"On what?" Elena asked, moving so she could see what Kate was doing.
"The severity of the injury, how strong Jeremy is, possible infection…" her voice trailed off.
"He's strong," Nick asserted. "Stronger than all of us."
Kate didn't comment as she lifted the towels. Again, the bleeding was significantly less. She thread the needle. "I need more light," she told Nick and nodded approvingly when he aimed a large torch at Jeremy's wound. It looked horrific, but she steeled her resolve. Glancing at Jeremy's face again, her expression softened. He looked so peaceful, as though he were asleep. Swallowing past the lump in her throat, she set to work.
"Do you think there's any internal damage?" Elena asked, worriedly.
Kate started stitching Jeremy's skin together as neatly as she could. It wasn't easy, considering that the flesh was so badly torn. If he survived, he'd likely have an ugly scar, but she was sure he'd take that over the loss of his life.
"I can't be sure without having the proper diagnostic tools at my disposal, but he might just have been lucky enough to escape without internal injury."
"What makes you say that?" Nick enquired, drying his hands on a clean towel.
She glanced at him briefly. "He'd be dead otherwise."
Silence descended and Kate was grateful. She preferred to work without the distraction of their questions, wanting to channel all her concentration into doing the best job she could. Half an hour later, she sat back and eyed her handiwork. Jeremy's skin was red and swollen, but the bleeding had stopped completely, which was a good sign. After washing her hands, she cleaned the wound once more before applying the bandages.
She glanced at Nick and Clay. Both of them looked haggard, as though they'd lived through a war. Kate wasn't sure that she looked any better. "Could you place him somewhere more comfortable? I want to start the transfusion, but it would be better if you didn't have to move him again afterward."
They nodded in unison. Clay moved to Jeremy's head. "We'll take him to-"
"His bedroom," Elena inserted smoothly, exchanging a look with Clay that Kate didn't understand, but was too tired to attempt to decipher.
The men carried him as carefully as they could up the staircase to the second floor. Kate barely registered the wood panelled walls, so reminiscent of the foyer, her eyes focussed completely on Jeremy, still unconscious. On the threshold of his bedroom, Elena touched her elbow.
"You must be freezing in those wet clothes. Why don't you change into something more comfortable?" she suggested kindly.
Kate gave her a brief smile. "I will, soon. I just want to make certain that Jeremy is settled first."
"Thank you," Elena said. "You've saved his life."
Kate pressed a hand to the nervous fluttering in her stomach, watching as Clay and Nick placed Jeremy on the bed. "Don't thank me yet. He isn't completely out of the woods."
Elena didn't comment, but continued to watch Kate long after she'd reached Jeremy's side.
Jeremy awoke to the sound of silence. It was dark, only the feint glow of his bedside lamp casting a pale shadow across the room. His side hurt like hell and he gingerly lifted a hand to touch it. That's when he noticed the IV line connected to the top of his hand. His gaze followed the coils of the red chord upward until he noted the bag of blood and saline hanging from the modified hanger attached to the lamp post above his bed. Carefully, he reached down and felt the thick bandage around his waist. Lifting the covers slightly he noted that he was wearing a pair of his pajama bottoms and nothing else. Closing his eyes for a moment, he let it all come back to him.
The mutt. The fight. Kate calling his name. Being Bitten. Kate getting him to Stonehaven. Kate saving his life.
Kate.
When he'd heard her calling his name in that alley, he was sure his heart had stopped beating entirely. Prior to that he'd managed to seriously injure Salazar and would have surely incapacitated him sufficiently to transport him back to Stonehaven, were it not for his momentary loss of focus. Once his attention had been diverted, the mutt had attacked. Was it not for the injury he'd already inflicted on Salazar and Kate's killer aim, Jeremy might not have survived. And neither would she. The thought made him shudder.
She'd been so brave, acting instinctively and Jeremy couldn't stifle the flood of admiration he felt for her. Despite her fear and confusion, she'd handled the situation with grim resolve. His lips curled upward briefly as he recalled snippets of her confrontation with Clay. No one other than Elena had ever spoken to his son in that way. But Kate had done it for him. Because she was determined to save his life. Despite the many questions Jeremy was certain she had, Kate had placed his life above her own fears. He was humbled by her actions. It stirred his emotions, made him feel things he knew he shouldn't. His vague recollections while lying on the kitchen table as he'd floated in and out of consciousness was of Kate's voice calmly issuing instructions while she worked swiftly and competently. Not once did she panic. Not once did she rail against any of them for a situation she obviously couldn't make any sense of. She'd remained focussed the entire time.
Jeremy had some memories of being placed in his bed, of Clay and Nick cleaning him up. He could recall snippets of conversation too: Kate telling Clay she wouldn't leave until she knew that he would be would okay. Clay telling her it wasn't necessary, but Kate insisting anyway.
Jeremy was the medic in the family. He was the one who sewed up everyone else's scrapes and tended to their bruises. While Clay, Elena and Nick knew a bit of the basics, he doubted that they would have known what to do with him. Had it not been for Kate refusing to relinquish him solely into his pack's care, Jeremy might not have been alive. He owed her his life. The thought made him uncomfortable. He didn't like being in anyone's debt, most especially a human's.
The door creaked open and his eyes darted towards it, widening when he saw Kate enter. What is she still doing here? Closing the door quietly behind her, she walked towards the bed. She was wearing a light grey sweatpants and a plain back sweater which he recognised as Elena's. Her hair was up in a messy bun, her spectacles perched faithfully on her nose.
She reached his bedside and their eyes met, relief evident in those piercing green depths. Her obvious concern for his welfare touched him deeply.
"You're awake," she said, coming closer, her gaze assessing as she placed a hand to his forehead, casually sweeping his hair back. The gesture felt personal, intimate. She reached for his hand, checking the site of his peripheral IV before making some adjustments to the flow rate.
"Good. No allergic reactions," she said, softly.
Thanks to you, Jeremy thought before asking, "What time is it?" His voice was a little gravelly, his throat dry.
Kate reached for the glass of water on the night stand and lifted his head so he could take a sip of the cool liquid. "Just past midnight. You've been out for a few hours. How are you feeling?"
Jeremy placed his head back on the pillow and Kate pulled a chair closer to the bed and sat down. "A little sore but at least the disorientation is clearing."
"You're responding remarkably well. I didn't think you'd be conscious until morning, at least."
"I'm a fast healer," Jeremy quipped. If only she knew that his wolf DNA meant that he recuperated a lot quicker than humans. He shifted against the pillows and grimaced.
Her face alight with concern, Kate leaned forward and lifted the covers, rolling it down to his waist before checking the bandages. "I wanted to give you some pain meds, but Elena insisted that you wouldn't want it."
"Dulls the senses," was all he said as he watched her hands move lightly across the white dressings.
Kate clucked disapprovingly. She was checking to make sure that the tape was still secure, but her fingers kept flicking against the naked skin of his abdomen. Her touch was soft and gentle and Jeremy hated how much he liked her tender ministrations.
She inspected a bruise on the front of his ribcage, her fingers deft and sure as they lightly probed. "How does that feel?" she asked.
Kate's fingers fluttered against his chest again and Jeremy drew in a sharp breath, his skin on fire. Her eyes flew to his face and lingered, her cheeks filling with colour when she realised that his reaction had nothing to do with pain.
Hurriedly she snatched her hands away and made sure to keep them confined to the boundaries of his bandages. "Um…if you refuse any analgesics, then you're going to feel a lot worse before you start to feel better."
His skin still tingled. "I'll survive."
Kate's eyes kept darting to his chest, her cheeks flushed scarlet and Jeremy almost groaned out loud. Dammit. Knowing she was attracted to him too made things so much more complicated. Annoyed at his inability to control his rampant hormones around her, he snapped, "Why are you still here?"
Kate stiffened and moved back, dropping the covers in place. "You didn't really expect me to just leave you here, did you?"
Honestly, Jeremy hadn't known what to expect. Kate kept surprising him at every turn. "I owe you a debt of gratitude for saving my life."
She shook her head, the loose tendrils of hair that had escaped her bun, swaying gently against her face. "You owe me nothing. I did what any doctor in my position would have done."
"Regardless, thank you," he said sincerely.
Try as he might, Jeremy couldn't help noticing how beautiful she looked sitting beside his bed, her face devoid of any makeup, her expression clear of any artifice. It suddenly occurred to him that she was the only woman other than Elena to have ever set foot in his bedroom. The thought was more pleasing than it should have been and it worried him.
Kate licked her lips nervously before asking, "Are you ever going to tell me why you didn't want me to take you to the hospital? Why you have more medical supplies in your home than I've seen at some rural clinics?"
"I don't like hospitals, that's all."
Kate was incredulous. "You were prepared to die because you don't like hospitals?"
He feigned nonchalance. "We all have our vices."
She shook her head in denial. "I don't believe you."
I wouldn't either, Jeremy thought. "I don't know what you want me to say."
"The truth?"
"You have the truth."
She threw her hands up. "And how do you explain the medical supplies?"
"We live more than forty minutes from town, Kate. If anything happens out here, it's best to be prepared."
She was eyeing him sceptically, doubting his every word. "There's something you're not telling me."
"Like what?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. I just…none of this makes any sense. Why did you ask me to stay in the car? What were you doing when you found that wolf? And why didn't you just get out of there when you saw him?"
Jeremy wished he could answer her questions, but he couldn't. Kate needed to leave Stonehaven. The longer she stayed, the more danger she placed herself in and he couldn't let anything happen to her. He didn't question why he felt the surge of protectiveness towards her, he just did. And in order for her to be safe, she needed to be as far away from him as possible.
"You should leave. Now."
She sat still for a moment, thrown by his sudden change of topic. Then her eyes filled with hurt and Jeremy felt like a heel. He always controlled his emotions, was always unmoved by human weakness. But around Kate, none of his defences seemed to remain intact.
Her chin jutted out stubbornly as she stood, irritation clear in every line of her body. "Do you want to live, Jeremy?"
"Of course," was his immediate response.
"Then I suggest you do as I told your son: stop telling me what to do and allow me to do my job."
Kate was bristling with annoyance as she angrily stomped towards the door, closing it behind her with a decisive click.
Bemused, Jeremy stared after her. If he wasn't mistaken, she'd just told him to go to hell. In his own home. Against his will, Jeremy's lips curled into a smile. He shouldn't enjoy having her around, he shouldn't want to be near her, he shouldn't want to touch her so badly he fairly ached, but God help him, he wanted all of those things.
Lying back against the pillows, Jeremy Danvers closed his eyes and felt the heart he'd locked up so many years ago, thump painfully back to life. And it was in that instant, when his momentary weakness made him yearn for something that he never thought he'd have, that he knew for certain that nothing would ever be the same again.