All Chapters of Please Keep Your Alpha On A Leash: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

MaraSomeone pounded on my apartment door. I froze. Not knocked. Pounded. Three days ago, I probably would've rolled my eyes and assumed Tessa forgot something. Tonight? Two men had walked into my clinic carrying photographs of three werewolves, and apparently paranoia had become a basic survival skill.I grabbed the heavy flashlight from my nightstand. Another knock."Mara."I stopped. Kieran. Of fucking course.I lowered the flashlight and marched toward the door. "You know phones exist, right?""Open the door."I unlocked it, but only opened it a few inches. Kieran stood on the other side. Behind him were Cassian, Rhett, and Sabine.I stared. Then opened the door farther. "Did you bring the entire fucking supernatural neighborhood?"Kieran ignored that. "Are you okay?""Yes.""Did they touch you?""No.""Threaten you?""No.""Did they come upstairs?""No."His shoulders lowered slightly. Then, "Pack a bag."I blinked. I should've known we'd get there eventually."Excuse me?""You'r

RhettBy six in the morning, I had decided Kieran owed me more than breakfast. A lot more. I'd spent the entire night in the woods behind Mara's clinic, alternating between walking the perimeter and sitting beneath a cedar tree that had somehow managed to find every uncomfortable angle in my spine.The clinic remained quiet. No strange vehicles. No unfamiliar scents. No men carrying photographs. Nothing. Exactly the way I wanted it.My phone buzzed. Cassian. Status?I looked toward the clinic through the trees. Clear.His response came almost immediately. Mara awake?I frowned. How the fuck would I know?Three dots appeared. Kieran wants to know.Of course he did. I glanced toward the second floor apartment. Tell Kieran to go to sleep.I shoved my phone back into my pocket.At 6:27, one of the upstairs lights came on. Not that I was watching. I was guarding. There was a difference.At 6:38, Mara appeared downstairs. She went straight toward the back of the clinic. Probably checking th

MaraSunday mornings were sacred. Not in a religious way. In a nobody better fucking call me before coffee way. The clinic was closed, Tessa was home, and for the first time all week I had nowhere I technically needed to be except downstairs to check on the hospitalized tabby.I wore sweatpants. My hair was piled on top of my head. I had coffee. Life was good. Suspiciously good.I should've known better.After checking the cat, changing his water, and confirming he still thought I was personally responsible for every bad thing that had ever happened to him, I stepped out the back door.Rhett was near the tree line. He wasn't hiding anymore. Progress.I lifted my mug. "Morning."He nodded. "Morning.""How's the hip?""Fine.""Pain?""None.""Stiffness?""No.""Clicking?""No.""Any weakness?"Rhett stared at me."What?""I'm starting to regret telling you."I smiled. "Look at you. Participating in follow up care like a responsible patient.""You asked.""Still counts."He rolled his hi

MaraMy fingers moved carefully through Corvin's abdominal cavity, following the path the bullet had taken. Blood still coated everything despite the suction and irrigation. Too much blood. Too many places for one tiny piece of metal to hide.Kieran stood somewhere behind me. Cassian too. I had stopped paying attention to them approximately ten minutes ago. Right now, Corvin was the only person in the room who mattered."More saline."One of the healers handed it over immediately. That was new. Nobody questioned me anymore.I flushed the area again. Blood and diluted fluid pooled before being cleared away. Then a flash."There."Sabine leaned closer. I reached in with the forceps. Tiny. Barely larger than a grain of rice. I pulled it free."Four."It hit the tray with a soft metallic click. I searched again. Nothing. Shifted the light. Nothing. I followed the wound tract backward toward the damaged tissue. Still nothing."I think that's all of it."Sabine looked at me. "You think?""I

MaraSabine finally kicked me out of the healer's room. Not dramatically. She just put both hands on my shoulders, turned me toward the door, and said, "Go."I looked back at Corvin."He's stable, Mara. Go." Sabine smiled at me. "You've been standing for hours.""I'm fine.""You have blood on your face."I immediately wiped at my cheek.Sabine laughed. "Other side.""Helpful."She handed me a clean cloth. "Corvin is sleeping. The silver is gone. His wolf is healing."I glanced toward the bed again. The incision I'd made was already barely visible. Still fucking insane."What if something changes?""I will find you.""Immediately?""Yes.""Promise?""Mara.""Fine."I surrendered. Mostly.I stepped outside the healer building and immediately stopped. Right. Pack territory. I had somehow forgotten that part while elbow deep in a werewolf.The sun was lower now, throwing gold through the trees, long shadows stretching across a road I hadn't really let myself look at before. Homes stretche