"-nton. Trenton!"

I snap my head up at the sound of my name, taking in my surroundings. I'm still sitting in the pack doctor's office on one of the uncomfortable beds they have. My blue gaze connects with my father's equally as oceanic stare, taking in the look of concern in his expression.

"Huh?" I sputter, unsure of what we were talking about. It was only half an hour ago my father, and his Beta Timmy, came into the pack doctor's office to discuss what happened earlier today with Brett Lockman. I, being concerned about what Roni could be planning, zoned out almost immediately after the two started discussing Brett's punishment. After that, I have no clue regarding what Timmy and Dad were talking about.

"Trent, son, are you alright?" My father asks, looking into my eyes, his own filled with worry.

"Yeah, sorry. I was just . . . thinking. What were you saying?" I respond, rubbing the nape of my neck. This is awkward.

"We're discussing what we should do with Brett. Give him another chance, or kick him out of the pack? What are your thoughts, Bud?" Timmy chimes in, smiling reassuringly at me. Timmy is Roni's father and my uncle. My dad and him have always been close—they are only a year and a half apart in age, after all.

"Hm . . . if Brett is willing to change his views, then I don't see any reason to kick him out of the pack. If he won't do that for this pack, then I don't want to see him. Just the thought of seeing him again anytime soon isn't very pleasant—considering he insulted my mate—but if he's willing to change, then I can give him the benefit of the doubt." I voice my thoughts, genuinely hoping for Brett to change. I know how much he means to my dad.

"We'll talk to him, Son. On that note, Timmy and I should head out. We need to . . . discuss a few things. We haven't found a pack doctor, yet, but I have some wolves looking for one as we speak. Just wait here, alright? We'll have someone in to take a look at you shortly. Love you, Boy." My dad says, patting my left shoulder, mindful of how my right hand is probably very broken.

Before I can respond to Dad, I catch the all too familiar scent of my mate. Completely putting this discussion on the back burner, I jerk my head toward the door, awaiting Kai's entry.

Thirty seconds later, my red headed mate peeks through the door, looking around the room before his green eyes meet my blue ones. Kai widens his eyes in a look of shock mixed with horror as he sees what I assume to be the bruise on the left side of my face, as well as my oddly angled hand.

Kai's reaction is very unexpected as he opens the pack doctor's office door rather aggressively, and quickly makes his way over to me. I can't help but notice the fresh bruise forming on his own face and my expression turns to one of concern. I look passed Kai—who is making his way over to me—to see Roni looking rather distraught. I give her a questioning glance and she returns it with a dismissing shake of her head, mouthing "Later." Nodding my head at her silent affirmation to explain further at a later time, I return my attention on Kai.

Kai remains silent as he scurries to the side of the hospital bed and, to my utter surprise, embraces me in his arms.

"Roni told me about what happened on the way here. Are you okay? Who did this?" Kai interrogates, his voice taking on a worried undertone as he looks me over, probably checking me for more injuries. I don't respond to him, I simply pull him back into my arms and gently rest my forehead on his right shoulder, releasing a breath I didn't know I was holding in. Nothing puts me at ease in the same way Kai's presence always does. Kai seems to take the hint that I'm not in the mood to talk, reinforcing his hold on me as he rests his head on the top of mine, nuzzling his face into my hair as he breathes in my scent. We slump against each other, barely noticing my father and Timmy slipping out of the doctor's office with Roni right on their heels.

"What did the doctor tell you?" I hear Kai ask shyly; his voice is slightly muffled as he speaks into my hair.

"Well, we kind of don't have a pack doctor at the moment. The one we had before found her mate and moved into his pack. Dad said he's working on finding a replacement, so I've just been waiting for him to find one." I inform Kai as I rub soothing circles onto his back, not quite ready to let this moment end. I was very shocked when he initiated the contact—usually I'm the one to do that—so I want this hug to last as long as Kai will allow it to.

"What if your father can't find a pack doctor?"

"I'll be alright either way. I'm a werewolf, Kai—or have you forgotten?" I chuckle, silently enjoying the way he curls his fists into the back of my shirt, tightening his hold on me in an attempt to cope with his embarrassment.

"Right . . ." Kai trails off, finally pulling away from the embrace, leaving me to feel colder than before. Kai takes a seat in the chair next to me and rests his elbows on the bed, his chin sitting in the palms of his hands as he looks up at me through his eyelashes. So cute!

"So, um, what exactly happened?" He asks me, slightly tilting his head to the side as if he were a puppy.

I hesitate. Should I tell him? No. I don't want Kai to blame himself for what Brett did to me. Brett just turned out to be an asshole, which is not at all Kai's fault. It's better he doesn't find out the exact reason.

"Just some jerk that thought he could defy the Alpha is all. I would've been able to avoid getting injured if I was expecting it, but this guy has been a trusted member of the pack since my dad became Alpha at the age of 19, so it was entirely unexpected." I respond with, looking into Kai's tired green eyes.

"Oh . . . alright."

"Are you okay? You look tired." I ask Kai, my voice thick with concern at noticing his eyebags. Kai looks taken aback for a moment, before regaining his composure and shrugging his shoulders at my question.

"Where is that bruise from?" I attempt to ask another question, using my left hand to gently brush my knuckles over the bruised skin as I try to keep my simmering anger toward whoever hurt Kai under control.

Kai remains silent yet again.

"How about you rest for a bit? I can wake you when they find me a new pack doctor, alright?" I try to ease the tension, letting him know that he doesn't have to tell me anything he doesn't want to.

"Yeah, okay. I guess I could sleep a little." Kai whispers, resting his head on his arms as if they were his own personal pillow. He closes his eyes as he takes a deep breath, slumping against the hospital bed. Hesitating, I raise my good hand up and gently rest it on Kai's head, watching as he slightly flitches, only to realize it's just me and settles back down. I begin carding my fingers through his ginger curls as Kai's breathing evens out and he falls asleep. I can tell by the steady rise and fall of his shoulders and the calm beating of his heart.

I sit there, gently running my fingers through Kai's messy hair for quite some time. I'm not exactly sure how long we sit there in silence, Kai fast asleep and me admiring the fluffiness of his curly locks. All I know is it must have been around an hour later when the doctor's office door slowly creaks open and Roni steps in, giving me a weary look as she checks to make sure Kai is really sleeping.

"Hey . . ." Roni whispers, her expression one of hesitation.

"Hey?" I whisper back questioningly, unsure of why Roni is acting like this.

"Um . . . so, I figured out why Kai's house smells so pungent of alcohol." She starts, her voice still a soft whisper as what appears to be rage takes over the concerned expression she once wore, "It's his parents. When I left to pick him up, I went up to knock on the front door. I heard loud sounds coming from inside the house, so I busted through the door and found Kai's dad about to attack him. I . . . think that's where the new bruise came from."

WHAT!?