Joseph's POV
This fucking bear trap has my leg crushed and Oliver is going crazy with pain. I know Demetrius set this damn thing. That bastard knew exactly which route he'd take when his pack retreated. I tried to circle around and cut them off, but instead I got caught like some rookie wolf.
My pack will find me eventually, but they're busy chasing down Demetrius's mutts. I've been stuck here for hours while they hunt those cowards through the forest. The trap's jaws are buried deep in my leg, and I can't risk shifting to human form. One wrong move and I'll lose the leg completely. An Alpha without full mobility isn't an Alpha for long.
The pain is intense, but Oliver and I are built to endure worse than this. We just need to wait it out until the others circle back.
Then her scent hits us like a lightning bolt.
Cinnamon and nutmeg flood my senses, and Oliver goes completely still despite the agony radiating through our leg. Ten years I've been searching for my mate. Ten years of wondering if she even exists. And here she is, appearing in the middle of a blood-soaked battlefield like some kind of miracle.
Her wolf is gorgeous, a rich reddish-brown coat that catches the filtered sunlight. She's cautious, keeping her distance while she talks to Oliver. Smart girl. But through the entire conversation, she never gives us her name. Interesting.
The moment she springs the trap, I step back and begin shifting. The transformation tears through me like fire, my bones trying to reform around the shattered mess that used to be my leg. I watch her eyes widen as she scrambles backward, putting more distance between us.
"Easy," I tell her, fighting to keep my voice steady. "You just saved my ass. I might be ruthless when I'm hunting down enemies, but I don't hurt people who help me."
She didn't trust me with her name, so I'm not offering mine until I know more about her.
"You mentioned being a doctor?"
"Medical student," she corrects, studying me with careful eyes.
"For both humans and wolves?" That combination is rare, and my pack desperately needs someone with those skills. Our current doctor is ready to retire, and finding a replacement has been impossible. Maybe fate just delivered exactly what I need.
"What pack are you with?" I ask, though I'm not sure it matters. I'm at war with half the territory, so the odds are high she's connected to one of my enemies. But she's out here alone instead of fighting alongside packmates, which raises questions.
"I don't belong to a pack. I'm a lone wolf," she says, then quickly changes the subject. "Do you want me to examine your leg?"
She deflects like a pro, but lone wolves don't end up that way by accident. Something drove my mate away from pack life, and I intend to find out what.
"Yeah, I'd appreciate your professional opinion," I say, needing her closer. Her touch will help with the pain, and I want to study her properly.
She approaches cautiously, and her intoxicating scent wraps around me. Her body is leaner than the female warriors in my pack, less muscled. She hasn't been fighting in these territorial wars, which explains the softness to her build. That softness only makes her more appealing. My hands itch to explore every curve.
"What's a lone wolf doing out here by herself?" I ask.
"Letting my wolf run free. It's difficult when you're stuck at a human university," she answers without looking up. I can't stop staring at her though. She's absolutely beautiful. Her hair matches her wolf's coat, that same rich reddish-brown falling over her shoulder as she examines my leg. She brushes it back absently, a gesture that suggests she's used to working with her hands.
"You know there are active war zones all through this area," I point out. She might not be officially mine yet, but I need her safe.
"There are war zones everywhere. If I waited for peaceful territory, I'd have to stick to human areas and risk hunters shooting Ivy. This leg needs surgery immediately. You have multiple fractures, several of them compound," she says, steering the conversation away from herself again.
I already knew surgery was inevitable. I could see Oliver's bones protruding when we were trapped.
"Ivy means merciful, doesn't it? Perfect name for a future doctor," I observe, still watching her intently.
Her fingers are incredibly gentle as she examines the damage. She seems to instinctively know how to touch me without causing unnecessary pain.
"Gracious or merciful, yes. Ivy is an amazing wolf," she says with obvious pride, still avoiding eye contact.
I'm about to tell her that Oliver is equally impressed when Karl's howl echoes through the trees.
My mate's head snaps up and fear floods her scent as her pulse skyrockets. But she doesn't run. Instead, she looks ready to position herself protectively in front of me. Perfect Luna instincts, putting someone else's safety before her own fear. I smile. She's exactly what I need.
"Relax, that's my pack coming back," I tell her.
"Good, you need medical attention quickly. I just hope they don't attack me for helping you."
"I'll protect you," I say, enjoying her nervous energy.
My warriors surge into the clearing with Karl shifting immediately and snarling at my mate. "Who is she?"
I snarl back, startling both of them. "She freed me from the trap. Back off!" No one disrespects my mate.
Karl looks between us, frowning, then crouches to assess my leg.
"How bad?"
"Bad."
"Let's get you home," he says, signaling two warriors to help me up. I wrap my arms around their shoulders and lift my injured leg, clenching my jaw against the agony.
"Ready, Alpha?"
"Yeah, let's move."
Karl shifts back and takes point while the warriors supporting me prepare to travel fast.
"Wait!" Everyone freezes. "Bring the doctor."
"Doctor?" one warrior asks.
"The girl! Bring her," I bark, turning toward my mate.
She was already preparing to slip away. I watch her glance over her shoulder, calculating escape routes.
"Don't even think about it," I warn. Karl moves to her side in wolf form, nudging her forward. I don't like him that close to my naked mate, and Oliver rumbles softly in displeasure.
Her eyes flash to mine. "I should leave. Like you said, these areas are dangerous. I should get home."
"Home?" I ask, letting skepticism color my voice. She's a lone wolf attending human university. Where exactly does she call home? I'm not letting her disappear. She'll never run in these woods again after today, and by the time I heal enough to track her down at school, she'll have transferred somewhere I'll never find her. She's too cautious to stay anywhere she might be discovered.
"School," she clarifies.
"Well, as you just pointed out, it's dangerous territory, especially for someone alone. What kind of Alpha would I be if I abandoned you to fend for yourself? No, you're coming with us," I say with finality.
She presses her lips together, nods reluctantly, and falls into step behind us.