Mates of a Human

Part Three. Chapter Six. Michael

Author's note; 18+

Saturday was full on hectic. One of my patients suffered a sudden stroke, although he was in only after a gallstones operation and only due his impressive age was he recuperating within geriatrics so we could keep a sharper eye on him. It was a good job too, Clover was quick enough to catch the early signs and he was given a CT scan to help determine the severity. Fortune was with us and we were able to treat him using drugs given intravenously.

We then needed to find beds for a number of patients as there had been an accident. A trip had been organised for a group of elderly men and women and the coach that they were on was involved in a collision. Fortunately, there were no deaths, but a couple were injured quite badly. Emergency doctors wanted to keep a few in under observation for the night. Trying to find beds at short notice was always a challenge, but fortunately, we were able to safely discharge one lady into the care of her family and were due to discharge a gentleman as he had made a full recovery and was deemed well enough by social services to return to his own home.

One of the incoming patients was quite short with the nurses, declaring that he did not need to be kept under observation. His scent hit me quite profusely, declaring that he was a shifter. Not only that, he was a bear. Unlike most shifters, bears didn't gathering in packs or prides, they attended social gatherings a few times a year in designated areas to keep in touch with their own, find mates, catch up with the local gossip. Otherwise, a happy bear was a solitary or small family bear. I requested his care be left to me, explaining to my superior the man's species.

The old man and I had quite the chat and in the end, I declared him fit and called him a taxi, which I paid for. I also left him my work number. I'm one of the few shifter doctors in quite a large area, there are certainly no more in this hospital, even though a ward for supernatural patients was open in the private side of the hospital.  If he had any issues, he could talk to me.

And just as I thought that the last hour might be a little calmer, Clover decided to probe me for answers about the health of my human mate. She was like a mother wolf when it came to Alex and was worried about my intention towards him. Although she had been the one to encourage him to talk to me, she also knew that I was a wolf and would never get serious with anyone who was not my mate. If she was a younger, spryer woman, I swear she would have performed a backflip when I advised her that my intentions towards him were serious and that he was my mate.

Speaking of whom, despite the on going, full nature of the day, my wolf had been sulking at the back of my mind, clearly aware that his second mate was not close by. After the merry chase that Alex had lead us on before, I could sense his worry that Alex might not return home. During every checkup, every emergency and every suggestive word certain nurses made, at least a few of my brains cells were thinking of Alex and only of Alex. Of course, I still thought about my rough and ready tiger, but Eric was only a thought away, Alex was not marked by us and that caused an underlying sense of insecurity.

But while I allowed myself to acknowledge this, I did not allow it to interfere with my work nor afterwards... unlike Eric.

The lights were out and no dinner in sight when I arrived home. Eric was lounging on the sofa in just a t-shirt and boxers, flicking through the numerous television channels, but not bothering to settle on anything. "Hey, babe," I called to him, while loosening my tie. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing," he said in a tone that was thick with sullenness.

"Nothing, huh?" I sat down beside him and leaned back, resting my head as I glanced at the ceiling. "So, you aren't missing him or anything then."

"Never said that," he pouted. "Did he say when he will be coming back tomorrow?"

"No," I shook my head. "I didn't want to press him. He's opened up to us, now we need him to trust us. Besides, he'll probably head to his place when he arrives back in town, don't you think? I believe he has work on Monday."