“She has serious injuries, Jase,” Cat says. “Multiple broken bones, serious swelling, and significant internal injuries. Based on my suspicion about the head injuries she sustained, she won’t be waking up anytime soon to shift and heal, which puts her at grave risk. Frankly, it’s a wonder she’s alive. A medication Dr. Blakely brought for Cicely’s mate can work in our favor. Shifters from Brody’s pack used it to reconnect with their wolves and if we administer it to Sherry at a specific dose, it will force a shift in order that she can heal while unconscious. We’ll need to administer multiple courses, depending on how quickly her injuries heal. This is still experimental, but we believe it’s the best chance in helping her heal.”
“Thanks, Cat,” I breathe out and look my sister over.
She’s covered so I don’t see her body, and though her face is uninjured, the scent of her is wrong. She smells like death.
Cat continues. “We’re meeting with Jared and Cicely this morning out at the storage bunker. I’m having Amie Quinn come in and watch over Sherry for the short time we’re gone. Amie is a trauma nurse, very capable, and she’ll have access to me by phone for those couple of hours. We’ll administer the first round of Dr. Blakely’s recommended meds and that first shift should heal her enough that we can feel confident stepping away for a couple hours. Of course I’ll check her vitals as well as run a blood test and ultrasound to check on her pregnancy before we go. And if Amie needs me, I can be back here in fifteen minutes or less. Does that all sound okay?”
“I trust your judgement. I know my parents do, too. Do what you think needs to be done.”
She squeezes my arm and I step into the waiting room and sit beside Joel.
“You okay?” I ask him.
He runs his hand through his hair. “I’m okay.”
“Not your fault, Joel.”
“Wish I’d gotten her down before I turned down that pass she made at me. Might’ve changed the outcome.”
“Don’t do that,” I tell him. “It’s not your fault.”
He huffs out a frustrated sigh and turns to look me over. “What about you? What happened with that lunar event last night?”
He smells Bailey on me, but of course it isn’t my mating scent that’s flooding the village.
“I held off. Bailey was moon drunk.”
“I think the moon affected your sister the same way. She was talking about how the moon didn’t seem to know her mate was dead. I’m sure it didn’t help her mindset.”
“She wasn’t in a good state of mind yesterday, that’s for sure,” I say.
We’re quiet for a minute and I know he’s feeling guilt.
“It’s not your fault, Joel. I know you did whatever you could do.”
He exhales hard, leaning his elbows on his thighs.
I grip his shoulder meaningfully. “Thanks for getting her here. Go home and get some sleep.”
“In a while. Wanna see how she’s doing after that first shift. At least last night’s moon did good things for Jared and Cicely, though. His wolf recognizes Sis now. Isn’t trying to attack.”
“That’s something good, at least,” I say. “And Brody…”
“Yeah. Brody’ll be good now. Hope you and Bailey are good soon, too, brother.”
“Me, too,” I say. “Well, better go tell my folks,” I add.
It’s still early, I’ll wake them up, but they need to know.
“Anything you need, say the word,” Joel says.
43
BAILEY
By nine o’clock, I can’t take any more pacing without answers, so I go to the clinic. I’ve already changed my clothes, done my face and hair, and answered a text from Mom, who wrote:
I don’t smell Jase yet. But fingers crossed everything is going well. Love you.