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“He said no hospitals,” he snarled.

“If you don’t mind, I’m having a private conversation with my patient. If you can’t handle that, I’m more than willing to call Argus,” Dr. Shera said cooly.

“What scans?” Royce asked without missing a beat. Dr. Shera was dutifully ignoring him.

“I don’t mind,” Theodore said. “Royce can hear this.”

Why did he suddenly not care if Royce was involved, he had no idea. Perhaps it was the shock of an alpha openly fighting for an omega’s wishes instead of trying to browbeat them into submission.

“Ultrasound, CT scan, possibly a scope depending on what those show,” Dr. Shera said.

“Does the vet clinic have those?” Royce asked.

“They do,” Theodore said.

“Would it be possible for you to get the scan done there? Where you feel safe?”

Theodore wanted to cry. How long had it been since someone, anyone, had given a second thought about Theodore and his needs?

Royce gave Theodore his phone, and he’d called Margarette who put Gerald on speakerphone and talked to Dr. Shera about what they needed. In no time Royce was carrying Theodore across the lawns and in through the back of the vet clinic.

Margarette and Gerald about had a heart attack fussing over Theodore when they saw him. He must look worse than he thought …

Thankfully it was determined the scope was unnecessary, but he needed to continue the stomach meds and rest until further notice.

Chapter seventeen

Theodore

The IV had been removed, and he was free to roam around at his discretion. The first order of business was a bath. Royce had explained there was a water tank that could be heated by a cast-iron stove in the kitchen. Theodore hadn’t realized there was another stove in the kitchen … Seriously, he wanted to slap whoever built this cabin.

When he was scrubbed to his heart’s content and wrapped in clean sweats, he wandered out to the main room. He fiddled with the hem of the sweatshirt and bounced between his feet.

“That smells good,” he said.

“I made pasta.” Royce smiled. “I figured plain noodles with olive oil and herbs would sit well on your stomach and give you a bit more substance. And I see you found the clean laundry in the bathroom.”

“Who …?”

“My neighbors, Sandy and Evea, they offered to help and have been bringing by things you needed.”

“Oh, that was really nice of them.” Royce handed Theodore a cup of tea and ushered him to sit at the kitchen table. It was the mint tea Theodore had brought with him; it had a spoonful of honey added to it, just like Theodore liked it.

“You’re telling me, I’m practically a shut-in. I wasn’t expecting any type of help from them. But after Buford, my other neighbor, told them you were my mate, they couldn’t help but be nosy. He kept your personal information to himself, but they knew you weren’t feeling well and thought we could use some help.”

Royce shuffled around the kitchen with ease and comfort. He set two bowls of pasta on the table along with some chocolate berries.

“There’s no meat,” Theodore observed aloud.

“No.”

“But are you okay with that?”

“I’m not anti-vegetable,” Royce said. “I just don’t like doing a lot of cooking when it’s just for me.”

“Why are you here?”

For a moment Royce looked startled, then his eyes fell. “Where else would I be? You’re my mate, Theo, you were sick. I knew you wouldn’t like going to the hospital; it just made sense for me to stay here with you.”