"Oh, Raymond. You are here." Steele said walking into the hospital room with a tray and an iPad.
"No shit, Sherlock. Where else would I be?" Raymond spat, not taking his eyes off his mate.
'I don't know, somewhere that isn't here.' Steele wanted to retort, but knowing better he swallowed it.
"I'm sorry, Alpha." He said making Raymond spare him a tiny glance that read half shock and half indifference.
Steele shook his head at the complexity of his Alpha. Moving on to Anna's other side.
"I'm going to check her vitals and wounds now." Steele said giving Raymond a half smile before turning to do his business. Raymond watched closely as Steele attended meticulously to his mate, continously taking measurements and typing on his iPad.
He moved his seat closer to her, taking her hand in his, caressing it softly.
"You know" Steele started. "I remember the first time she was brought in here and you sat by her side. In this same room, in that same position. You were worried sick, looking so fucking deadly."
"And?" Raymond deadpanned.
"Nothing. I was just recalling a memory that's all." Steele said shrugging his shoulders.
Rolling his eyes at the short doctor, he turned back to his mate. " How is she doing?" He asked.
"She seems okay. She's healing fine and faster than a regular human, just like the last time, thanks to you." Steele said giving the grumpy man another soft smile.
Raymond sighed, placing his head on the bed a little bit. He couldn't tell if it was a good news or a bad one. The fact that it could be either irritated him even more.
"Any sighs of that hostile takeover?" He said, closing his eyes, al little afraid of the reply he could get.
"Well, honestly, I can't find any signs. I mean, your presence sure does help her wolf heal her but the silver cuffs and beatings dampned the powers of her wolf deeply. So as her wolf gets more strength from you, she would heal and if she gets a little too much, the headache might come up again." Steele said, choosing his words carefully.
Raymond's heart broke even further in his chest as he assimilated the news. Confusion filled his mind as he contemplated what course of action he had to adopt.
"Do I really need to leave her? Is that the only way?" Raymond asked lifting his head from the bed, looking up to Steele.
"Uh..well, yeah. That's all I've been able to come with for now." Steele replied muttering the last part.
"You are working on something?" He asked, hope glinting in his eyes.
"Well, yeah. But it's not finished yet. When it is I'd let you-"
"What the fuck happened?!" Screamed Fernando as he barged into the room running straight to Anna's bed. He leaned just above her chest, hoping to feel her heart beat.
"Get the fuck away from her!!" Raymond said as he pushed Fernando away from beside her, making him fall hard on his ass.
"What the fuck, Ray!" Fernando snapped getting up from the floor and charging at his friend.
"What the fuck?? I'm meant to be asking you that?! Why did you barge in like that?! What was that for?" Raymond screamed right back at him, shocking him to his bones.
In all his years of knowing Raymond he has never seen him look so on edge and vulnerable. He wanted to sympathize with him but quickly remembering that he was angry.
"Why?! You are really asking me that? I'm out of town for work for three months only to hear that she had been kidnapped the whole time?!! What the fuck where you doing?! She's your fucking mate!! Or have you decided already to abandon her?!"
Seeing as Raymond wasn't moving or replying he turned to Steele who froze seeing that Fernando had turned to him.
"You put him to it, didn't you? Answer me!!" He scolded.
"I..I didn't-" Steele muttered.
"Look, you might be smart and hate supernaturals but when it comes to her I need you to be fucking diligent, understood?! He isn't giving her up for any fucking reason, do you understand me?!" He barked in the young man's face, his eyes glowimg in anger, Steele to shiver running out of the room as soon as the angry man turned away from him.
Fernando turned to see Raymond sitting in his seat holding Anna's hand in his.
"Are you done yelling?" Raymond asked, his voice sounding monotonic and grave.
"What do you mean by that? Are you out of your mind, Raymond? How can you be so calm about this-"
"And how can you be so insensitive?!" Raymond snapped. " She had been kidnapped for three months, three long fucking months!! I just got her back after crying and sweating and you come in here from where ever to start apportioning blames? Who does that, Santiago?!-"
"- She's my mate! I waited, followed her and waited for so long and you really think id just give her up?! Just like that?! I admit I was about confused the last time but that doesn't make me stupid. So either you sit the fuck down and take a break or you get your ass out of this fucking room. You choose. But I do not want to hear anymore rantings from you."
With that he turned back to his mate, kissing the back of her hand.
" I'm sorry." Fernando said looking down at his hands as he fiddled with his fingers.
"Look I know you care for her just like everyone of us does and that you are really scared for her but we all share in your fear as well, so don't take it too hard. Yes, we went on a not so dangerous mission because she was kidnapped by my dad. But we have an her now. She's safe and has all of us to protect her. So please relax, okay?"
"Alright, atleast you aren't planning on dumping her yet " Fernando said edging towards the door a sly grin playing across his face
"Fernando.." Raymond growled, throwing a pillow at him, before he could run out of the room.
"Fucker." Fernando spat, running out of the room.
Raymond smiled, shaking his head slightly, turning back to his mate.
"Everything would be fine baby.."