AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Beyond it, the trauma bay stretched out with over thirty beds, each one adorned with privacy curtains. Some were open, revealing people writhing in pain, filling the air with distress. Elias had to swallow hard several times to get the thick lump in his throat to go away. He didn't like being in this place, as it always came along with flashes of memories from his stay in one of those very beds, blood flowing so thickly it dripped to the floor, coating white shoes and leaving gory footprints.
Lena, a sweet beta woman whom he'd known since that harrowing day, was behind the counter, typing away with a phone between her shoulder and ear. He stopped beside her, using the counter to avoid swaying as his damp hair fell into his eyes. Elias was so tired he didn't bother smoothing it away.
Levi moved closer, like he could read Elias' thoughts, and took care of it. Elias couldn't resist the allure of the cool touch on his skin, causing him to nuzzle closer to the source. Without realizing it, a sound of contentment slipped from his throat, prompting Elias to abruptly straighten himself and collide with the counter.
Lena looked up from her phone call. A single loose curl of her blonde hair escaped from her neatly tied bun, her face contorting into an irritated expression until she recognized the person standing before her. With an indistinct murmur to the other end, she hung up, pushing back her rolling chair and holstering her pen in the pocket of her scrubs. Her hazel gaze narrowed on the shaking of his fingers and flush of his cheeks, lingering on the crunchy, stale clothing he had on.
Levi had heated seats in his sleek, navy blue roadster, so he didn't ruin them and his clothing dried perfectly. Sel would be so disappointed.
"Eli," she greeted, her fingers wrapping around his wrist to read his pulse as she glanced at her watch. "Did you go out in the rain again?"
Levi snorted beside him, giving Elias the side eye. "So this is frequent, then. I thought your friend was being dramatic."
Lena smiled at the alpha, slight amusement lining the edges. "Sometimes Ian will come home to find Elias out on the balcony, standing in the rain with his head tilted toward the sky, only to get sick hours later."
"Lena!" Elias complained, a little too loud.
"Sorry, I thought you guys were close," Lena replied, her smile turning strained as her fingers slid off his wrist. "Your heart rate is one-fifteen, not too bad considering it's you, but still concerning. I can get Ian to do the IV, but he—"
"Nope, that's fine. You can stick me really quick and be on your way. You don't even have to update my records. Keep it all hush hush."
Lena gave him a disapproving glare before gently leading them to an unoccupied side room. "You know I can't do that."
"A guy can dream. Hopefully, he doesn't notice. I don't want to interrupt his workday."
Elias hopped up onto the bed, wiping his sweaty palms down his thighs. While partially true, Elias didn't want Ian to rush in here, worried, only to find yet another unfamiliar guy standing next to him. He had no clue what would happen and couldn't really take one more—whatever you decide is fine.
Levi walked over and positioned himself in his personal space, arms crossed and biceps so inflated that his suit looked like it was about to burst. Elias tried not to think about it. Or glance at it.
"I'll be right back with fluids, alright, Honey?" Lena said, rubbing his shoulder with affection.
He smiled back at her. "Sure thing."
Then she was gone.
"How often do you come here each month for an IV?"
Elias' eyes flitted around the room, taking in the plastic chairs, a medicine cabinet, the red and yellow crash cart in the corner, and a strange painting of the night sky over a vast lake hanging on the wall. It was better to call out landmarks than to devolve into the panic hospitals instilled in him. Elias didn't wanna be here, but he appreciated warm rain on his skin and nights out in the cold with nothing more than a thin jacket. Life didn't stop because his body was weak. He wouldn't let it.
"Only when I get sick."
"Quit being evasive," the alpha snapped.
Elias' shoulders bowed, and he grit his teeth. "Fuck you, don't command me. I can take care of myself."
"I had more faith in you twenty minutes ago, so forgive me."
Before he could respond, Lena came back into the room carrying a tablet and his IV with her hands gloved up. For the first time, his blurry, fried brain noticed the tiredness beneath her eyes. Elias sensed the necessity to comment on it, surging forward and almost losing balance on the bed when he misjudged the distance.
"You're tired! Too many back-to-back shifts this week?"
Levi grasped his arm at the last moment, yanking him back onto the gurney with a scowl. "Will you sit still? You're too feverish to be flailing around."
Elias glowered at him and offered his arm. Lena steadied it with a smile after tapping the screen a few more times and setting it aside.
"I'm alright, Honey, no need to worry about me. We're swamped. So, I updated your chart and now I'll insert the IV, okay?"
Elias nodded, trying to keep himself from swaying or twitching or bouncing his legs. To do so, he reached out and slipped his sweaty hand against Levi's palm, lacing their fingers. The alpha's smile was gentle and tight, revealing a hidden worry that seemed overly intimate. He glanced away.
