Pacing the hallway at the hospital, Cage was more than a grumpy bear, he was an angry bear. The doctors wouldn’t let him follow her into the emergency triage area. They told him once she was in a room he could visit her. Since he wasn’t family they couldn’t give him any medical information.

Luckily his cousin worked as one of the nurses and had been slipping info that she was able to grab as they worked on Sophie. She had a pretty severe concussion from hitting the ground. She had two cracked ribs close to her sternum which was why it hurt to breathe. They said the bruising and cracks would just have to heal on their own.

The concussion seemed straight forward, but they wanted to keep her overnight for observation.

“Sweetheart! We came as soon as we heard!” a trilling voice called down the hallway. Cage turned and saw his mother scurrying down the hallway towards him wearing a summer dress and matching white shoes and purse, like she was on her way to a tea party instead of the county hospital. Behind her was his father, looking harassed and indulgent towards his clearly in charge wife.

Connie and Edward Rochon had been married for over sixty years. The humans they knew thought they were closer to their fortieth year together. They were lucky to have found each other young and the fates matched them for eternity. They were still as in love and crazy for each other as the day they met.

“What are you guys doing here?” Cage demanded, after giving his mom a brief hug.

“Wyatt called and said there was an accident at the camp and we needed to come to the hospital straight away. We assumed you were hurt, but you look fine to me. Was this just your brother playing some kind of joke? I had pies I was baking,” his mother asked in a huff.

“I’m fine mom, Wyatt was just being dramatic,” he explained, turning to pace the hallway.

“Well, who was hurt, son?” Edward asked.

“Our new cook, she was hit by a hydraulic hose. She has some cracked ribs and a concussion, but the doctors say she will be fine. They haven’t let me see her yet, I keep asking,” he said, running an anxious hand through his hair.

“She?” his mother queried.

“Yes, Sophie. She passed out in my arms. Why aren’t they telling me I can see her? It’s been hours,” he growled and continuing his pacing.

“Sweetheart, why are you so agitated? Your bear is right at the surface, your eyes are almost yellow. You have to calm down,” his mother whispered. Her concern clear, as well as her curiosity.

Looking from his mom to his dad and back to his mom he let out a sigh. Reigning in his bear he looked at them and said, “She’s mine.”

His mother gasped, clutching her hand to her chest, “Are you sure, sweetie?”

“Of course he’s sure, our son wouldn’t make that statement unless he knew he’d found his mate. Right, son?”

“You were right dad, there is no doubt, she’s my mate. And it’s killing me to not be with her. I hadn’t even met her yet. I was too busy to welcome her yesterday. If I had she wouldn’t have been out walking alone this morning. She wouldn’t have gotten hurt,” he angrily said, flexing his fists and trying to calm his animal.

“Son, you know that you can’t control everything. You found her now, that’s what’s important. How did she get hit with a hose? How did it even break? Aren’t those checked regularly?”

“Yes, I have Conner looking into it now. I have a good guess, but I want to have him look it over anyway.”

“Sabotage?” Connie leaned closer to him.

“Don’t know yet, but I will find out who is responsible, mom, trust me.”

Cage saw his father’s gaze move down the hallway behind where Cage stood. Turning, he saw a doctor walking towards them. Cage turned and crossed his arms over his chest. His animal wanted to lash out at the person keeping him from Sophie, but his human side knew to play nice if he wanted to see her.

“Are you with Sophie Carlton?” the doctor asked.

“Yes, we’re family, I’m her fiancé,” Cage answered.

He heard his mother sigh behind him and his dad give a snort.

“She’s in a room now, we’ve given her some medication and are keeping her under observation until tomorrow. She’ll need quiet and dark until her concussion heals. No loud sounds and keeping her calm is best. There was a fair sized hematoma on the back of her head. Is there anyone that will be taking care of her when she is released?”

“We’ll make sure she’s taken care of,” Cage’s father responded.

The doctor nodded and turned down the hall, the Rochon troop followed behind. Stopping at a door, the doctor gestured that they could go in.

The lights were low inside the room, the blinds drawn against the daylight. Laying in the hospital bed with a bandage wrapped around her head she looked so small to him. Her eyes were closed, an IV dripping liquid into her arm.

Cage took a step into the room, then another, his animal screaming to get closer to her.

“Oh, Cage, she’s sooo pretty,” His mom’s voice came from behind him.

“She’s beautiful,” he responded, not looking away from his mate.

A soft moan came from the bed, Sophie’s forehead wrinkled in a grimace. Cage rushed to her side. “Shhh, honey, it’s okay,” he crooned to her, brushing the wrinkles from her forehead.

Sophie heard the deep timbre of Cage’s voice and relaxed. Her head felt like there was an elephant sitting on it. It hurt to open her eyes and the shallow breaths she was taking made her dizzy.

“Cage?” she whispered.

“I’m here, darlin’, don’t worry. The doctor says you are going to be just fine. Just relax and let the medicine work,” he said cupping her cheek.

“Don’t go,” she pleaded, pushing her face into his palm. She breathed in his woodsy scent and relaxed.

“I’m not leaving your side honey, trust me. My mom and dad are here too, I’ll introduce you to them when you are feeling better, okay?”

“Hmm…okay,” she mumbled, letting herself slip into the dark quiet again.