Liam’s POV
“Logan!” I shouted, startling him awake.
“What the hell, Liam?” he grumbled, still half-asleep, blinking in confusion at the empty bed in front of him. It took a moment for his mind to catch up with what his eyes were seeing.
“She’s gone!” I snapped, panic lacing every word. That got his attention.
“What do you mean she’s gone?” he barked, throwing off the covers and leaping to his feet. “Maybe she just went to her room. All her stuff’s still there-she might’ve wanted a shower.”
“Maybe,” I said reluctantly, “but what if she isn’t there? What if she regrets last night? Maybe we pushed too hard… too fast.” My voice fell, laced with defeat. “What if she left us?”
A low growl rumbled from Logan as his wolf surfaced, flashing briefly in his eyes. They glazed over-he was doing what I should have done earlier if I hadn’t been so rattled: mind-linking the border patrol.
“No one’s seen her cross the border,” he informed me a beat later, easing the tight knot in my chest. “If she’s not in her room, we’ll search the entire compound until we find her.”
I nodded, but as we walked toward her room, doubts crept in-dark, whispering thoughts I couldn’t silence. And when we stepped inside and found the room empty, those doubts burst out of me.
“Something’s not right. Why would she just vanish?” I asked, not expecting an answer. “When I woke up this morning, all I wanted was to hold her. Hell, maybe even repeat last night if we were lucky. But if she was really okay with everything, why leave? Unless she wasn’t. Unless she wanted to get away from us.”
“For fuck’s sake, Liam, you’re freaking me out!” Logan snapped, scrubbing a hand over his face. “I’m supposed to be the impulsive one who jumps to conclusions. Focus. We find her first-then we figure out the rest.”
From the vacant look on his face, I knew he was mind-linking again, likely rousing the warriors to begin a search.
“Open the link to me,” I demanded, elbowing him sharply in the side.
He shot me a look but complied. Almost instantly, Bastian’s voice echoed in my mind.
“I found her, Alphas!”
“Thank the goddess!” Logan exhaled heavily. “Where is she?”
“Meet me outside the infirmary. I’ll bring you to her.”
“Why the infirmary? Is she hurt?” I asked, my panic surging back.
“No! Sorry! She’s fine-I should’ve led with that,” Bastian muttered sheepishly. “Just get here. You’ll see.”
Logan and I growled in unison, but we didn’t waste time arguing. We bolted for the infirmary. Bastian stood waiting outside when we arrived. Without a word, he turned and headed inside, knowing we’d follow.
Pack members we passed either bowed their heads or called greetings, though we didn’t stop to acknowledge anyone. Some gave us curious looks as we swept past, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. Not until I saw her. Not until I was sure she was okay.
We followed Bastian up to the third floor, straight to the women and children’s clinic at the end of the hall.
My mind raced. Why would she be here? If she was injured, she should be in the emergency wing downstairs. I was seconds from pushing through the glass doors when Bastian’s arm shot out to block me.
“Wait-just look,” he said quietly.
I followed his gaze to the waiting area beyond the glass. And then I saw her.
Lia knelt in front of a little boy, no older than four, holding out a lollipop with a warm smile. Her white lab coat fell around her like a soft halo, golden curls cascading down her back. I couldn’t see her face clearly, but I didn’t need to. I could feel her light from here. She was talking animatedly, her gestures lively and gentle. The little boy launched forward, wrapping his arms around her neck in a quick hug before she ruffled his hair and stood to speak to the pregnant woman nearby.
The woman’s face lit up with joy before she pulled Lia into a hug. Our mate returned the gesture effortlessly, then guided the woman to the checkout desk, picking up a chart from the receptionist on the way.
Logan and I stood frozen, watching in awe.
“She hasn’t even been here a week,” Bastian said softly, “and they already adore her.”
“Yeah,” Logan murmured, eyes still glued to her, “she’s fucking amazing.”
“Our perfect Luna,” I whispered.
As I watched her scan the chart in her hands with focused intensity, my admiration only deepened. She had walked into a foreign place, surrounded by strangers, and within hours had made it her own. No hesitation. No fear. Just confidence and grace.
I barely had time to appreciate it all before a deep, threatening growl rumbled from Logan.
It only took a glance to see what had triggered it.
Dr. Edgewater had stepped closer to Lia, pointing at something on the chart while casually letting his arm rest across her shoulders as he leaned down beside her. The sight of him touching her made Ghost surge forward, and a growl tore from our throat before I could stop it. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Bastian shaking his head just as Logan and I lunged for the doors in unison, storming toward them.
“Try not to kill him. He’s our best doctor,” Bastian warned through the mind-link, clearly amused by our territorial instincts.
Both Lia and Edgewater looked up as we approached, our pace unrelenting. Whether it was the fury on our faces or some primal instinct that tipped him off, the doctor quickly dropped his arm and stepped back. Lia, unfazed, met us with one of those dazzling smiles that instantly calmed my wolf. Logan, however, remained locked onto the man with a glare that could’ve shattered glass.
“Control your damn wolf,” I snapped in Logan’s head. “Going full Alpha on him is only going to piss her off.”
He grumbled something incoherent, but didn’t argue.
“Hey, Angel,” I greeted, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “Looks like your morning’s already in full swing. Think you could spare a minute for us?”
“Of course,” she answered with a playful grin.
“Theron, are you okay to see the next patient? I’ll be right back.”
Theron? Logan’s voice snapped in my head. “They’re already on a first-name basis? What the actual fuck?”
“Take your time,” Edgewater replied, his tone easy. “You’ve already put me ahead of schedule.” He nodded politely in our direction. “Alphas. Good to see you.”
Lia guided us back into the hallway, but before either of us could speak, Logan swept her into his arms, lifting her off the ground and burying his face in her neck, inhaling deeply.
“Mmm… good morning, baby girl,” he murmured against her skin.
A whole minute passed, and still he didn’t let go. I had to physically pry her from his arms so I could claim my own hug, wrapping her up tight as I pressed my face into the mass of her golden curls.
“Good morning, Angel,” I murmured.
She giggled, and Logan moved behind her, pressing his body against hers so she was caught between us.
“Well, that’s an enthusiastic greeting,” she laughed.
“Not as enthusiastic as the one you would’ve gotten if you’d stayed in bed with us,” Logan growled, his voice thick with desire.
“Why’d you leave, Angel?” I asked, needing the answer even if it hurt. “We woke up and you weren’t there. We were worried.”
“I didn’t mean to scare you,” she said softly. “I just wake up early sometimes, and once I’m up, that’s it. I didn’t want to disturb you, so I left before I could.”
“So… everything’s okay? You’re not upset about last night?” I asked gently, addressing the unspoken tension.
Logan didn’t speak, but I felt the way his body went rigid beside me.
“Only upset that I passed out before we could keep going,” she whispered, her voice breathy and teasing.
My cock twitched at the memory.
“Oh, don’t worry, baby girl,” Logan promised, trailing kisses along her neck. “We’ve got plenty of time for round two.”
I leaned in to kiss her lips, only for her to pull me in deeper, fisting my shirt and demanding more. I groaned as I pressed my growing erection against her stomach, and she rewarded me with a soft moan, pressing back into me-until, just as suddenly, she pulled away.
“Sorry boys,” she smirked. “I’ve got work to get back to.”
Logan groaned from behind her.
“Come back to bed with us, baby girl,” he pleaded. “We’re the Alphas. We can write you an excuse.”
“Yeah, and it’s not like you even work here,” I added with a grin.
Lia stepped out of our arms and turned to face us, leveling us with a look that could’ve frozen lava.
“I told Theron I’d handle the routine patients this morning. I made a promise, and I don’t break those.” Then her expression softened. “But I can meet you for lunch.”
Logan’s eyes narrowed. “You and Theron seem pretty cozy already.”
“He’s just a friendly guy-when he’s not drowning in work,” she said, shrugging. **”You really should get him more help. With a pack this size, he’s juggling more than he should.”
“He looked pretty damn relaxed to me,” I muttered, still picturing his arm draped around her like they were longtime friends.
Just then, one of the nurses poked her head through the door, her eyes flicking nervously between the three of us.
“Sorry to interrupt, Alphas,” she said carefully. “Lia, I moved Mrs. Drake to the next room. Will you still be able to see her?”
“Absolutely. I’m on my way,” Lia said with a smile.
“We’ll come collect you for lunch,” Logan said firmly, stealing a quick kiss before releasing her into my arms.
“Later, Angel,” I murmured, kissing her one last time before she slipped back into the clinic and out of sight.