AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Bruce turned to Derek, visibly exhausted. “Are the bad guys all gone?” he whimpered.
“Yes. I’m going to make sure they stay gone,” the Alpha replied, tying his own robe closed.
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
Iris grasped Derek’s arm and motioned for him to come to the healing room. There, he saw spaces cleared out for the wounded. Maria joined them, holding Casey as she helped him lie down.
“Iris helped me get all of this set up. I’m just glad we won’t be laying down any dead of our own.”
Casey passed out as soon as his head hit the pillow. Maria rushed out, leaving Iris and Derek by themselves.
The pack leader smiled at her as a sense of pride washed over him. He was glad the mating bond had paired him with such acapable warrior and leader, and he had no hesitation in making it known to her.
“You displayed marvelous guidance and bravery,” he said, taking her hand in his.
Iris blushed as she glanced down, but her hidden smile quickly faded when she caught sight of the bite mark on his arm. She pushed him into the nearest chair and began a disinfection treatment.
“You’re hurt,” she snapped.
“It’s fine.”
“Any wound can get worse if untreated. We have to at least clean it. We don’t know what bacteria your attacker was carrying.”
Derek chuckled and let Iris do her thing, impressed by her lack of tolerance toward any excuses from him. He looked around at the makeshift emergency room, marveling at her ability to have formed a harmonic, professional relationship with the others already.
The praises from Elias and Maria repeated in his head, and he found himself staring deeply into Iris’s focused eyes as she concentrated on cleaning his wound. She was a natural-born leader, sharp as a whip and cool in crisis. Not to mention beautiful. Whichever fate had sent her to him, he wanted to thank them just as soon as he figured out how.
“You’re settling in far quicker than I expected you to.”
“Well, one has to act when something like this goes down. Otherwise, I’m just dead weight around here.”
“Are you sure you didn’t get hurt?” asked Derek.
“I told you, I’m fine.”
“Let me see,” he said, suddenly standing and pulling her close.
“Hey, what are you …”
In the blink of an eye, Iris’s face was only inches away from Derek’s. He felt her stiff frame in his grip quickly relax as he gazed deeper into her eyes. Her soft skin was as smooth as velvet, and he unknowingly gripped her tighter.
Iris’s cheeks quickly blushed as she pushed him gently away. She cleared her throat.
“There you two are,” Ava startled them both from the doorway. “Oh! Did I interrupt some … healing?”
“No, we’re all done here,” Iris said. “Can you see if Maria needs any supplies?”
“I sure can,” said Ava, winking at Iris, who scoffed at her. “Nice job kicking their asses.”
Iris muttered to herself as she turned away, slicking her hair back.
“I’m proud of you, Iris,” spoke Derek in a sincere tone. “These people will be able to rest safer at night with you around.”
Iris looked over her shoulder and smiled with a nod.
“Thanks, Derek.”
