The Pack's Doctor by Cooper

Chapter 189 Quirin I meant what I said to Kennedy. I could live forever in her beautiful mind, surrounded by her love and light. Opening myself to her has made the tightness that has always constricted my heart snap. I feel free, light, and oh so happy. It's an unfamiliar feeling, but one that I want to feel forever.

58 Waking up with her warm, soft body tucked against mine, her sleepy consciousness in my head is the best way to wake up. That is, until Raif and I hear Echo's weak voice. If I'd been standing up, I think Raif would have tossedto the ground in his excitement to get to his mate. But as rough as he was with me, he's nothing but gentle with her. In our shared mind space, he carefully walks to his mate and lays beside her, curling himself around her protectively. She licks his face briefly before laying her head back down. Raif begins purring at her and she sighs contentedly.

"She's back," Kennedy whispers and I can hear the teary happiness in her voice.

"Yes, she is. She's a strong wolf," I say, just holding her. "Four. I still can't believe it." "We have a lot to do before they arrive. But I know Mom and Dad will help, and so will the others," she says.

"I'm sure the pack will too, once they get over their shock," I say, smiling. I'm glad I wasn't the only one rendered speechless with the news.

"So, tellabout David," she says. I get up, carrying her to the shower as I tell her about my conversation with David, how he knew about Arlo's obsession with Christy, and how I told him that I would leave his fate in her hands.

"No pressure," she says sarcastically, staring up at me.

"If it were up to me, he'd be dead," I tell her honestly. "This, your meeting with him, is his only chance to surv this for you, not him. If you don't want to meet with him, he'll be dead before breakfast is over." "I thought we decided stress wasn't a good thing forright now," she says, looking nervous.

I'm doing 1 cup her face in my hands and tilt her head to look at me. "All I need to know is if you believe him. If you do, if you trust that he can live in the spack as Christy and our other vulnerable omegas, he lives. If you don't, then I'm the one who decides his fate. All I need to know from you is if you believe him." I know my mate isn't a warrior. She's a healer. Killing or being responsible for death is hard for her, which makes her a perfect balance for me. I don't care about killing. She's becthe conscience of my actions.

"Okay, I'll meet with him," she says, just like I knew she would.

"Good, then after breakfast, I'm finally going to walk the pack lands with your father and then we need to start thinking of how to structure our floor for babies and speak to Christy about being our nanny." "I can do that. I think Mom released her last night, so she should be around this morning." "Do you need to eat something or do you want to talk to David first?" I ask, watching her. I've noticed that while we were showering and getting dressed, the feeling inside her was changing, turning towards nausea.

"Maybe just scrackers and club soda or ginger ale." "Okay, we'll stop by the kitchen. I'd prefer to meet with him outside. I'm guessing he hasn't showered in a while and I don't want his scent making you any more nauseous or stinking up our packhouse," I say, scooping her into my arms. I'm careful not to move too quickly, but I have to hold still when her hand goes to her mouth. She swallows hard a couple of times before nodding.

I carefully carry her downstairs and straight to the kitchen.

"Luna!" Susie starts, then stops. "Crackers!" she says, rushing to the pantry. She grabs a sleeve of crackers and opens them, handing them to Kennedy.

"Do we have club soda or ginger ale?" I ask.

"We have both. Which do you prefer, Luna?" "The soda is good," she says.

"I'll have ssent up to your room too, Luna. It's better to cat first thing in the morning. It helps." "Thanks, Susie. Is Christy here this morning?" Kennedy asks.

"She is, Luna. She's in the back. She asked to stay in the kitchen today and Beta Arianna put her on stocking duty," she says, looking behind her. "She made sure it was easy duty, but it gives her something to do," she whispers.

"Will you let her know I'd like to speak with her after breakfast?" Kennedy asks.

"I will Luna. It's so good to have you back," Susie says, squeezing Kennedy's free hand before getting back to breakfast preparation.

"Kier, bring David to the back patio,' I say in the mind link.

'Yes, Alpha.

"Susie, can we get a blanket as well? Kennedy is going to be outside for a few minutes and I don't want her getting cold," I say.

"I'm fine, Quirin," she says, looking up atas she nibbles on her crackers.

"And you'll be better with a blanket," I say, kissing her nose.

She shakes her head as we walk outside. Rather than putting her in a chair like I'd intended, I sit and get her settled in my lap -just as Susie brings out the blanket. I tuck it around her and have just gotten her settled when Kier brings D.

Out.

"Luna, I'm so glad you're okay," he says. "I swear I didn't know anything about Slater working with Alpha Jasper and Alpha Brogan to kidnap you," he says immediately.

"Well, that's good to know," she says, watching him. "But you did know about Arlo, didn't you?" He looks down. "I knew he was had a thing for Christy, yes Luna. I didn't know he'd attacked her, I swear." "And what if you had, David? Would you have done anything?" she asks him. Through her, I feel Echo paying attention. She's not strong enough to push forward, but she's listening in, making her own judgements about David.

He looks down at his clasped hands. "I've had a long tto think about that, Luna. I don't know if I would have said anything at first, but I do know I wouldn't have let her bleed out overnight. I wouldn't have let her die or nearly die like that." When he looks up, his eyes look truthful and distraught with his part of this deception.

"And now? What would you do now, if that situation presented itself to you, David? What would you do if another warrior, another friend, took an interest in an omega or another warrior who did not want his or her attention?" "I would let Beta Kier or Alpha Quirin know right away," he says.

"Would you protect them? Would you stand up to a friend who was harassing a packmate?" "Yes, Luna. I intend to do a better job of choosing my friends in the future. But if the choice cto siding with a friend who was hurting a pack member or protecting that pack member, I would choose to protect our pack member. I've felt the difference in the pack, even down in the cells. It's a good change; one I want to be a part of. I just want a chance to prove that I can do better," he says.

Kennedy stares at him for a long moment, deciding if she believes him or not. Then she turns to me.

'Can we demote him for a few months? Make him work to regain his warrior status?' she asks in the mind link.

I raise an eyebrow at her. 'You want to make him an omega?' 'Yes. I want him to see just how hard our omegas work and why they're worth the protection of our warriors,' she says.

I smile. I truly love this woman.

I turn to David, the smile falling away.

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"Warrior David, your Luna has decided to give you a chance to prove yourself," I say and watch as his relief makes him slump: m om "However, you will be demoted until such tas you have proven yourself as being worthy of the status of warrior in this pack," I say and watch Kier smile. He obviously approves. "Demoted? You mean, I'll be an omega?" he asks, looking shocked. "That's correct." "I don't know how to be an omega," he says.

"Then I guess you'll learn. It's the only way you can work yourself back into we can just end status, or we your life now and be done with it," I Warrior say, making my voice hard as steel.

His back goes ramrod straight. "No! No, I'll do it. I'll do whatever it takes to prove myself to you, Alpha."

"It's notyou have to prove yourself to, David. You have to prove C yourself to yourtuna and your pack. Now, go get showered. It's nearly tfor breakfast and I'm sure Beta Arianna needs more hands to wash dishes." "Yes, Alpha. Thank you, Luna. I won't let you down." "See that you don't, David," she says, watching him walk away.

When he's gone, I turn to Kennedy. "How's your stomach?" "Settling," she says just as my phone rings. I pull it out of my back pocket and see that it's Henry.

"Good morning, Henry," I say, smiling as Kennedy snuggles against me.

"0 guess taunts.

it is a good morning. Four? Damn Q. Maybe try spending a few minutes OUTSIDE of your bedroom," my brother I'm going to kill Kier.

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