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Amato’s jaw tensed, his scent spiking with anger and outrage, but Caden knew it wasn’t aimed at him. “Yes, I promise.”
When Caden glanced back over, the doctor had moved back, practically pressed against the wall, and the needle was nowhere in sight, his hands hanging loosely at his sides. “You don’t have to take anything,” he echoed Amato. “I just thought I could make you more comfortable, but I don’t have to do that.”
Caden nodded slowly, easing back toward the head of the bed so he could lean against the headboard. The sudden movement and terror leached what little energy he’d woken up with, leaving him heavy-limbed and lethargic.
“What’s your name?” Amato asked, and Caden stared at him in shock.
It seemed so strange that he didn’t know his name. Then again, Caden didn’t know Amato’s first name either, and yet he felt connected to him in a way he never had before… and safe.
His instincts had known what he needed when the sight of that syringe had terrified him so much, trusting the only non-magical human in the room to protect him. It made little sense, but he was too tired to argue with his own instincts.
“Caden,” he said.
“Caden,” the man repeated, his chin dipping in acknowledgment. He pressed a hand to his own chest. “I’m Quinten Amato.”
“It’s nice to meet you… officially,” Caden said with a small smile.
Quinten’s lips twitched too, but he sobered as another voice spoke from the other side of the room.
“Caden, we need you to tell us what happened to you.”
He forced himself to turn and meet the eyes of the most powerful shifter he’d ever met. The power and authority seeping out of him was almost choking in its intensity, filling up all of the space in the room. Oppressive. Pushing in at all sides now that he was focused on him and not distracted by Quinten.
There was a hardness in his face and tenseness in his body that put Caden on edge.
Right before he opened his mouth, he made a decision.
“I… I don’t remember,” he murmured, stammering over the lie.
The alpha frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. Before he could say anything, the slight man next to him placed a hand on his bicep and quickly shook his head. He then turned to Caden and said, “That’s alright. You’ve been through a lot. Rick and I are just worried about you.”
Caden wasn’t sure that the alpha—Rick—was all that worried about him, personally, and more suspicious of the kind of trouble Caden could bring to his pack.
He didn’t begrudge him that though.
He’d been part of many packs during his life, and there were always certain things that were the same, and an alpha’s protectiveness was one of them.
“I’m sorry I can’t help,” Caden said, drawing his knees up to his chest and wrapping his arms around them.
“Don’t worry about that.” Quinten placed a hand on one of his knees and gave it a squeeze. “All you need to focus on is healing and getting stronger.”
Caden nodded and dropped his eyes. He didn’t want to talk about what had happened to him, and there were some parts he truly didn’t understand, like what had led to him being in that warehouse. But he definitely did not want to talk about the terrible things that happened in front of a bunch of people he didn’t know or trust.
“Amato,” Rick said, dropping his arms, “come with me. There’s a few things we need to discuss.”
Annoyance wafted off Quinten, but his face didn’t show it, and Caden was impressed with his control.
Standing, Quinten gave the ends of his suit jacket sleeves a quick tug, nodded at Caden, and then pivoted and followed Rick out of the room.
The man who had to be Rick’s mate stayed behind. He heard Quinten say to someone out in the hallway, “Stay with him,” and the wolf, Dare, stepped just inside the bedroom, folding his hands in front of him.
The big bear shuffled his feet and said gently, “My name’s Carter, but everyone calls me Doc. I know I freaked you out with the needles, but if you need anything while you’re here, please don’t hesitate to ask for me.”
Caden nodded, even though he had zero intention of requesting the help of some doctor he didn’t know. The man left, taking his bag with him.
Rick’s mate was slight, with unruly brown hair and bright green eyes. He smiled at Caden widely, then glanced at Dare and said, “Would you mind giving us some privacy?”
The wolf shook his head. “No.”
