Eventually, they moved Mom to the ICU, and Ryenne and Gavin got to change waiting rooms. This one was a little nicer, a little less institutional and sterile. While still plastic chairs, now they sat in upholstered plastic chairs.

By the third cup of coffee, someone finally came to talk to them. He was dressed like a doctor in blue scrubs covered by a white coat. Of average height, he was solidly built and had dark hair and dark eyes. Gavin immediately straightened in his chair and smoothed a hand through his blond hair.

Ryenne and Gavin were the only ones in the waiting room.

The doctor stepped forward. “Miss Cavanagh?”

Ryenne nodded and stood.

“I’m Doctor Nakamura. I’ve been treating your mother. She has several broken ribs, one of them punctured a lung, which we repaired in surgery, and she has a concussion.”

Ryenne let the words wash over her, pushing the anger down, trying to only hold onto what would be most productive and most helpful for Mom. It was hard to do. Her wolf wanted revenge. Her wolf was impatient. And Ryenne was in complete agreement.

But she needed to be strong for Mom. Only her mother’s condition mattered now.

“Will she be okay?” she asked.

“I’m still concerned about pressure on her brain. We just have to keep an eye on her and see, but physically, she will be okay, eventually.”

Gavin heaved out a sigh of relief.

“When can we see her?” Ryenne asked.

“When she wakes up.”

“Thank you, Doctor. Any way of knowing how long before she wakes up?”

“I’m afraid not. It depends on how her body metabolizes the anesthesia.”

They nodded at each other and the doctor turned to leave. Ryenne and Gavin returned to their seats. There were no windows in here, so she checked her phone for the time.

It was nine o’clock. They’d been here for hours. It must be dark already outside.

“Do you think I have a chance with him?” Gavin asked.

Ryenne turned to look at him, trying to make the leap from how late it was to Gavin’s statement. She shook her head, uncomprehending.

“Doctor Hottie,” he said.

“You think he’s gay?” Ryenne asked.

“I don’t know.”

Ryenne realized that beyond recognizing the doctor’s attractiveness, her wolf had stayed calm, maybe because of the trauma her mother was going through. Huh. So all she needed to do to control her wolf was constantly be under huge emotional strain.

Great.

But the threat of Mom’s kidnapping hadn’t been enough, so she needed more than emotional strain. Now the subject had come to mind, her skin started to itch and she wished she could run. At least she didn’t want to jump anyone’s bones.

“What are you thinking?” Gavin asked.

She told him.

“Well, good, because I’d kinda like to jump that bone.”

The sound of someone clearing their throat came to them and they both turned their head toward the door in surprise.

Dr. Nakamura stood there, his formerly impassive face now pink.

Crap, he must have heard Gavin. But he couldn’t know who Gavin referred to in that comment unless he’d been standing there much longer than seemed normal. Then something came to her that she should have noticed as soon as she got close to him. His smell. He was a shifter of some kind.

She frowned. “Yes, Doctor?”

“Your mother is awake. You can see her now,” Dr. Nakamura said.

Her stomach dropped. She didn’t know what to expect but she jumped to her feet, nerves at war with relief and anticipation. Gavin followed.

“Is he family, too?” the doctor asked.

Gavin and Ryenne shared a glance. They were both blond and both the same age. “Yes,” she said, “he’s my brother.”

The doctor looked between them, wrinkling his nose, and then he shrugged. “This way.”

They followed Dr. Nakamura to a set of closed double doors with a sign reading, “No unauthorized personnel beyond this point.” The doctor waved an ID badge from a lanyard around his neck in front of a scanner to the left of the door and they heard a click. He opened the door and held it for them.

Ryenne stood back to let Gavin go first, so she saw the look Gavin gave the doctor as he passed.

Man, if looks could scorch.

She also saw the look Dr. Nakamura gave Gavin. Huh, maybe he was gay.

Lucky Gavin.

Right now, despite Ryenne’s own condition, she didn’t trust any shifter. Sure, she knew perfectly well that not all shifters were rogues, and not all rogues were Fangs. But she’d been through a lot in the past several months thanks to the Fangs, and in her lifetime because of rogues, and she wasn’t ready to allow anyone to be innocent before proven guilty. It would have to be the other way around for now.

A serious mask came down over Dr. Nakamura’s face. “This way.”

He led them to a room several doors away from the Nurses Station. He lowered his voice. “Just a few minutes, okay? Don’t tire her out. She needs all her strength right now.”

Ryenne nodded. She didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize her mother’s life.

The room was dim and there was only one bed. Her mom looked so tiny. As soon as Ryenne saw her, she wanted to crumple on the floor, holding her mom’s hand. She’d never had to see her mom like this. Mom was always there for Ryenne when she was growing up. Her only constant. Ryenne didn’t remember her mom ever taking a sick day, and now here she was, broken and battered in a hospital bed.

Concern for Mom soured in her belly and turned into something stronger, more violent. Ryenne would get the fucker who had done this to her mom.

Gavin went to the other side of the bed. “Hey Willow,” he said, rubbing her hand where it lay on top of the thin blanket. “How do you feel?”

“Like I was hit by a car,” her mom answered in a raspy voice.

“Oh Mom, I’m so sorry.”

“Why are you sorry, sweetie? You didn’t do this to me.”

“But I’ve put you in danger,” Ryenne said. “The Fangs have been after me from the beginning. Because of me, they’re after you.”

Her mom shook her head and then stopped with a grimace. She raised one hand to her head. “Maybe,” she said. “Or maybe they know me from my work and want me for their own reasons.” She paused for a breath. “You can’t take all this blame on yourself, Ryenne.” Pause. “You thought it was your fault the Fangs went after the Malraux.” Pause. “And you discovered that wasn’t actually the case.” Pause. “It may not be the case here, either.” She stopped with a cough, her voice dying out as if she was exhausted.

And, of course, she was exhausted. “Okay, Mom, you’re right.” But it would take more than words to convince Ryenne.

Not wanting to upset her mom any further, Ryenne patted her hand and nodded.

There was a knock. Dr. Nakamura poked his head around the opening door. “You should leave now.”

Ryenne didn’t want to leave, but she wouldn’t upset her mother by arguing with a doctor. “Bye, Mom. Rest. Get better. We’ll see you as soon as they let us back in.”

“Yes, sweetie, go. Go home and rest. You can’t do anything more for me here.”

“Okay,” Ryenne agreed, knowing it was a lie. There was no way she was leaving her mom alone here.

Ryenne and Gavin went back to the ICU waiting room and found Lucien. “What are you doing here?” she asked in a halting voice.

“Of course, I had to come for your mother,” he said. “How is she?”

Gavin filled him in. “Where have you been, man?”

Ryenne walked away from him and wished there were windows to stare out of. She was happy to see him but didn’t know if she was allowed to be. He hadn’t smiled at her and gave no indication he wanted anything to do with her. As he said, he was here for her mom.

Everyone was here for Mom. Ryenne closed her eyes and breathed through the unnatural and sudden stab of jealousy. She was glad he was here.

She just wished he’d wanted to see her, too.