A Strong Female Warrior

Emily

I am confused. I am sprawled out on my hospital bed, picking at the blue flowers on my gown, staring blankly up at the ceiling. I know what he meant, but am I still misunderstanding? Is he taking a step towards me? We have known each other less than a day, so is it okay to already have these thoughts? I know not everyone moves at the same pace, but is it okay for someone like me to shoot my shot with someone like him? Is it too fast or should I just go with it? For many shifters, as soon as they find their bonded partner they mark and mate each other almost immediately, they just naturally trust the bond that they are given. The Goddess only gives you one bonded mate and if it does not work out for one reason or another you still can have a second chance with a chosen mate. But is it fine to just jump into something? It has literally been hours.

I have never dated, and I am still a virgin, not that I did not want to date or have sex, it is just that I have never had the opportunity. I have had crushes on a few people, but nothing ever reciprocated. I got close once with this girl I met, but she stood me up on our first date. I sat in a restaurant for three hours until the server told me she doubted whoever I was waiting for was going to come. The whole dating scene and meeting you mate has seriously been a huge turnoff for me, yet here I am, all sexy in my hospital gown, thinking about a much older guy in a position way above my own. I really seem to set myself some challenges or is it an unattainable goal? I do not know.

I let out a deep sigh and stretch. My legs feel pretty good right now, so I should try to see if walking is still a thing. I slide over to the end and let my legs drop over the side and slowly sit up; I look down and flinch; I need to shave. I am a little sore and my legs feel lethargic but so far so good. I pull my IV and monitor a little closer and I let my feet hit the ice-cold tile floor and stand up and curl my toes, getting ready for that first step when I hear a knock on my room door. I look up at the same time that a head pops in and around the door.

"Hi, I'm Cassie. I am one of your guards, so anything you need, you can just ask me. Do you want so company?" Cassie seems nice Even with that resting bitch face, I can still see the kindness in her eyes. I nod my head yes and she takes a step into the room. She is a giant. I mean, everyone is super tall to me, but I rarely see females this tall/ She is really pretty with her short blond hair and paisley blue eyes. She is butch, strong looking, and reeks of authority. I think she might be a dominant. She definitely looks like she can put anyone in their place. I am guessing she is older than me, but she looks younger than Thomas. She is wearing a black suit with a white shirt and tie and when she moves her arms, I can see a gun in a holster.

"Should you be up? You just woke up. I can call in the doctor if you want," Cassie asks as she takes a couple of steps towards me and stops. She gives the room a once over before looking at me again.

"Yeah, can you? I think I am okay; I am bored and would like to try walking a bit." I tell her as I take a hesitant step. My hospital gown slides down my shoulder and low over my chest, and I realize it came undone and I adjust it back up my shoulder, I did not miss that subtle look of admiration in her eyes before she quickly glanced away to give me privacy. I am not uncomfortable with the look since it was not sleazy or gross, but I can't wait to get my own clothes on.

"Sure, no problem, but the walking has to stay in this room or your restroom. Gamma will have my head if you leave this room. No one wants to rattle that chain." She shudders as she steps over to the phone and call for the doctor to come in. She honestly looks like she could go rounds with Thomas and come out of it just fine. I am debating if I can ask her questions about Thomas without it looking like I am interested in him. I do not want it to be obvious, but the curiosity is killing me. I should as the most important question first.

"How tall are you?" That was not the question I was going to ask, but that is the one that came out. I was wondering anyway, so I guess I will lead with that one.

"Six foot one," she answers as she looks me over. "You cannot be more than five-five, right?" She gives me another once over, again not weirdly. I can tell she is just curious.

"Five foot three," I tell her, and she slowly nods and mutters something that I can't quite catch, but kind of sounded like pussy sleeve while she giggled and slightly flushed. She clears her throat and sits down. That had me raising and eyebrow, but I am going to let it go. I scoot my butt back onto the bed and adjust my blanket over my legs, so that I do not accidentally flash her my flaps. I need undies like asap. I take a deep breath and go in for another question.

"You said no one wants to rattle that chain. Does he have a bad temper?" I finally get out. I hope I just sound mildly curious, like I am just making conversation. She looks over at me and I cannot tell what she is thinking.

"Only if you fuck up" she chuckles out "He is a good man and trustworthy, but he is a demon when it comes to work and pack safety." She slightly leans her head to the side and silently studies me for a moment before adding "I do not think you are going to have to worry about his temper." Her comment has me blushing a little and I try to look anywhere but at her. She stands back up and walks over to a chair by the door and bends down to retrieve something on the floor next to it. When she turns around, I realize it is my backpack. I had dropped it outside when I was dragged by Jake, and I am so happy to see it.

"My baby!" I gasp out and shoot my hands out with a grabbing motion and she chuckles again while reaching out to place it on my lap.

"I found it while we were clearing the area, sorry I had to look through it to figure out who it belonged to, but I thought you might want to see it again," She wiggled back into the chair as she gave me her explanation.

"I am grateful, really," I reply as I open my backpack and start digging around. My laptop, phone and iPad are still safely tucked into their pouches. I was worried about my babies. I shift through the various odds and ends I have got stashed in there. I pull out one of my cosmetic bags and sign in relief. All my travel dental stuff is in here. I am weird about oral hygiene, and I will brush my teeth after every meal. I currently have a seriously awful taste in my mouth and my face flames up when I realize he was close to my swamp breath earlier. Yuck. Double yuck when I realize I have not showered in a while. I look up and she is watching me in amusement. I like this lady. She is a beast and considerate, with just a hint of inappropriateness.

"Do you know what they did with the clothes I was wearing that day?" I ask. I really need to put something other than this gown on.

She nods her head. "Gone. It was either bloody or had to be cut off. I think it was packed up and sent over to evidence." I nod my head in understanding but before I can ask anything else, someone gives the door a quick knock, and it opens to reveal a short middle eastern mas in a white coat and thick, black-framed glasses. He walks in and gives me a cursory glance before pushing his glasses back up his nose, smiling.

"Hello, I am Doctor Ayad. Gamma Thomas told me I am to remain your medical provider for the time being since I was there from the start." He has a mild accent and a head full of thick grey hair. He strides over to me while pulling out a penlight and stops in front of me and clicks it on to check my pupils and then looks over my vitals. "Everything looks great. Lycan blood really does wonders, doesn't it?" He asks no one in particular. "You will be able to be discharged probably tomorrow. Have you tried walking yet?" he pulls his glasses down his nose and looks over the rim at me.

"I started to, but I have not had a chance. Can I take a shower?" I ask. I feel gross, so he better say yes.

He slowly nods "That should not be an issue, I will have a nurse come in and remove everything but when you are done the IV and monitors have to be reconnected until you are discharged." he adjusted his coat and continues "hospital policy." He smiles and starts walking to the door before turning to give me a quick wave and then the door closes behind him.

Cassie looks over at me and tells me to give her a minute and walks out the door and quickly returns with her backpack. "I have some clean clothes I was going to use for PT tomorrow morning after the shift change, but I bet you would like to get out of that hospital gown. I cannot imagine it would be comfortable to walk around with your ass hanging out. "They are going to be big on you, but you can roll the waist." She looks over at me, not sure if I will take her offer. "I live in the main pack house so I can grab myself some clean clothes on the way."

I think Cassie might be an angel. "Yes, please! Seriously, I am so grateful to you right now. You saved my children and offer me your clothes." I chuckle as I move closer to the side of the bed and swing my legs over to wait for the nurse. A couple of minutes later, a nurse comes in and unhooks me from everything, and Cassie guides me over to the restroom for a shower. She helps me down on the shower chair and closes the beige shower curtain.

I undress in a hurry and turn the water on. I am really excited to have a shower even if it is in a hospital shower stall with the cheap soap you use for both your hair and body. I lather up and give my scalp and give it a good scrub. The shampoo smells like baby shampoo. Not my favorite, but it could be worse, it could be some strawberry scented nonsense. I hear the door open up and Cassie announces she is setting down some clothes and my bag on the sink and she leaves, closing the door again. The hot water feels amazing, but I am feeling sleepy, so I hurry and finish. I dry off and slide Cassie's grey sweatpants and blue t-shirt on. I have to roll the waist more than a few times, but they are on, and I feel better. The mirror is telling me I look like shit with my bruises, and I am not sure what is going on with my eyebrows, but I need to get them under control soon. I give my teeth a good cleaning, flossing like a good respectable girl does, and I pack up my stuff.

I get an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach as I stand here. The mate bond is a weird thing. When your mate is near you, they are felt. It is supposed to be a good, pleasant feeling., but with Jake it is not. I know Thomas said he has been lurking and I am guessing he is looking for a way to get to me, but I know with the care they have given me that Jake will not be able to get to me easily. I bet Cassie can rip him in two; I wish I was as strong as her. Should I ask her to teach me some self-defense moves?

I call for Cassie, and she walks in to help me back into the room. I am halfway to the bed when I hear a sharp ping and a crack, followed by an echo. Cassie jerks back and cries out in pain but regains control quickly and shoves me off to the side and down onto the ground. I fall hard, but it happens so fast I do not have time to react. She shouts to the guard outside while dropping into a crouching position under the window and lifts her arm up to close the blinds while staying out of the direct line of the window. That is when I realize the window is cracked with a hole and Cassie is bleeding from her left shoulder. The door flies open, and a large burly man comes in and assesses the situation quickly. I start to move to Cassie, but she orders me to stay in my position. Just as the other guard starts moving towards us, I hear several more pings and cracks and the guard drops to the ground with a growl. He is not hit and starts scooting back out the door; he sits with one leg out to keep the door open and shouts orders to the other guards out in the hall. I can hear the pounding of feet, but I do not know where they are going.

I am worried about Cassie, and I think she can sense it because she looks up at me and tells me she is fine. Her eyes are hard, cold, and calculating. I shiver a bit and remember, this is a warrior, and she has been switched on. Mode: kill. I trust her and I sit back into the wall and wait for her orders.

I can hear shouts in the distance and Cassie looks over at me and tells me that Gamma Thomas has been called so I just need to sit tight. I nod and relax, knowing he will be here soon.