“We’re mates,” Felix said, choking the words out. Behind him the sound of raised male voices grew closer before two men assisting two teenagers made their way inside the tent. His dark-haired god of a man immediately diverted his attention to the two young men being helped onto two of the cots.
“What do we have here?” his mate asked, walking up to the men.
“Hey, Doc Claybourne, Kyle and Steven collided on the football field,” Kaden said, standing next to Kyle.
“That young man shouldn’t be playing with the kids that actually go to school,” the older man said, standing next to the other boy. Kyle flushed and looked down. Felix walked up to stand beside Kyle. He met the younger lion shortly after moving into the pride house. He was impressed with the way the teenager studied to get his GED, since he was unable to handle crowds for any duration of time. It made attending the local high school impossible. The fact that he attended Field Day spoke volumes. Felix sighed dramatically, drawing their attention.
“I know, right! He has college courses he should be studying for. It’s too bad Arkadia doesn’t have an accelerated curriculum. I had to practically kick him out of the house this morning to get him to take a break,” Felix lied boldfacedly to the older man and his son, whose sneer disappeared and was exchanged for a look of disbelief.
“Now, Steven, where are you hurt?” Felix asked, turning to the boy. His father looked from Felix to Dr. Claybourne.
“Who the hell are you?” the older man asked, blustering. Felix waved his hand around.
“I’m so sorry. I’m Felix, I’m a registered nurse and I’ll be assisting Dr. Claybourne from now on.”
“We don’t need help. Come on, Steve,” the man said, pulling the boy up. Felix’s demeanor shifted almost immediately as he leveled his stare at the father.
“Shifters may heal quickly, but why deny your son treatment if it could help him heal faster?” Felix asked coldly. The older man simply turned to Dr. Claybourne.
“You need to reevaluate who you hire, Dr. Claybourne. I would hate for your well-earned reputation to be ruined by an air-headed twink.” He turned and pulled his son out of the tent. Felix’s mouth dropped.
“It’s true I am young and gorgeous, but seriously. I have depth.” Felix turned his attention to Kyle who was staring at him with his eyes bugging out.
“It’s okay, sweetie, I know that secretly, I scare heterosexual men. It’s because they want me. Now, where did you get hurt?” he asked. Kaden snort-laughed and Kyle broke out into a shy smile.
“You didn’t have to lie for me, about being smart,” Kyle whispered. Felix patted the young lion on the shoulder.
“Honey, you have taught yourself the entire high school curriculum. I bet you start that college workload in the next month or two. Besides, a tiny white lie here or there is worth cutting down asshole bullies like that. Now where are the boo-boos?” Felix asked again. Kyle shook his head and lifted his T-shirt. Felix whistled.
“Damn, boy, what were you doing out there?” Felix prodded the tender flesh, making Kyle jump a few times.
“I’d recommend some ibuprofen and a shift. Take it easy at home for a few days. Would you like to take a look, Doctor?” Felix asked, turning to his mate.
“So nice of you to remember I was in the room, since I’m the one who went through eight years of higher education for this sort of thing,” Claybourne said dryly.
“I went through higher education too, but was smart enough to stop before I got a stick stuck up my ass,” Felix snarked back. Claybourne glared at him then looked over at Kyle.
“As much as I hate to admit it, he’s right. A shift and some rest will do wonders,” Claybourne agreed.
“Get used to saying that ‘he’s right’ part,” Felix said. Kaden looked back and forth between the two of them, his face burning with curiosity.
“Thanks, Felix, Doc. I’m going to head home, I have some reading to do anyway,” Kyle said, easing off the cot.
“Come on, kid, I’ll drive you,” Kaden walked out with the teenager.
Claybourne opened his mouth to speak when a little girl was carried into the tent crying. Felix instinctively turned to the upset child.
“Oh my goodness! What is wrong, princess?” Felix said, rushing over to where the harried-looking father set the girl down on the cot.
She looked up, sucking on her lower lip. Tears continued to spill over her eyes on to her cheeks.
“I fell down,” she said. A large gash became apparent as she held up her hand.
“Doctor,” Felix said urgently as soon as he saw the wound. He felt Claybourne move quickly to his side, his body heat scorching him through their clothes.
“Hello, Bethany. Can I see your hand?” he asked. The little girl shook her head and pulled her hand back to her blood-covered chest. Claybourne looked to Felix. Felix nodded, understanding that his mate wanted him to distract the girl.
“Bethany, I simply love your name! If I were a girl, I would want to be called Bethany,” Felix said, spinning around dramatically. Her big blue eyes followed his movements.
“Really?” she asked.
“Oh yes, I love that name. But I’m a boy so my name is Felix,” he said, sticking out his hand. She responded by offering up her wounded hand. He gently took it in his.
“You did a really good job with this cut. Simply amazing. I don’t think I have ever seen a cut this gorgeous. Dr. Claybourne, you have to look at this marvelous cut.” Felix was rolling his r’s, making the girl giggle. Claybourne leaned in and looked over Felix’s shoulder.
“Mmmm yes, I have to agree, this is the most super-duper cut I have ever seen.” Claybourne’s vernacular sounded stiff and forced, but Felix’s heart melted a bit at his mate’s attempt to sound more approachable.
“She managed to fall on the only piece of broken glass on the school grounds,” her father said, rubbing a hand over his daughter’s hair.
“Ben, that seems to be the way with children,” Claybourne said to the father before turning to look at Bethany.
“I have just the thing for that cut, too. We’re going to put butterfly bandages on it,” Claybourne said, heading to his supply table.
“Butterflies?” the little girl asked excitedly.
“Yes, it will help hold your cut closed so it can heal.” Claybourne walked back with the supplies in hand and the little girl allowed him to clean the cut and put the butterfly bandages on. She looked down at the bandages critically.
“They don’t look like butterflies,” she said, frowning. Felix looked down and nodded.
“You’re right. Hold on,” he said, reaching into his man bag and pulling out a ballpoint pen. Carefully he doodled antennas and larger wings on one of the bandages. She smiled and reached up for him. He leaned down and she kissed him on the cheek.
“Bethany, you’re going to get me in trouble with my mate,” Felix said, whispering to the little girl. Her innocent eyes widened and she looked up at Claybourne.
“Sorry,. I think he’s really pretty and nice,” she said, ducking her head. Claybourne chuckled.
“He’s not too bad,” he said, looking Felix up and down, making him blush.
“He’s an amazing nurse,. You really lucked out with getting him as a mate. He’s a looker too,” the man said, winking. The little girl looked up and eyed her father.
“I’m telling Mama,” she said. The father laughed and picked her up.
“Thanks, Felix, Doc,” Ben said, then walked out of the tent.
“You wouldn’t be too bad yourself, if you weren’t obsessed with your freakishly organized world order,” Felix said. Claybourne gave him a look before turning his back to throw away the used cotton swabs and gauze.
Felix was about to say something to his rude mate when Rebecca popped into the tent.
“Hey, Doc, do you have any human blood?” she asked. Claybourne nodded.
“I’ve been keeping a stock of it since it’s neutral to shifters and vampires,” he sa
id, putting the bandage rolls into a neat row.
“Can I have a bag of it?” she asked. He nodded again and pointed to the small portable medical mini fridge. She went over, grabbed a bag, and left. Felix watched the entire thing in gross fascination.
“You didn’t even ask why she needed it,” he said, watching as his mate started organizing the bandages into three rows of four instead of four rows of three.
“It’s Rebecca, sometimes it’s better not to ask,” he said, sounding distracted. Felix walked over and bent his head slightly to stare at his mate’s ass. Feeling slightly mischievous, he reached out and grabbed a solid handful of his mate’s round, muscular cheek. Claybourne gave an undignified yelp and turned to face Felix. He was about to say something when Rebecca raced back in.
“Hey, Doc, can a human ingest small, diluted amounts of human blood?” she asked, She gawked at Claybourne’s flushed face before looking over to Felix.
“Yes.” Claybourne’s voice broke and he cleared his throat. “Yes, in small amounts human blood is safe to ingest,” he said, his voice returning to its normal lower octave.
“Yes!” she said as she raced back out. Claybourne watched her leave, and a thoughtful look came over his face.
“Okay I have to admit, I’m intrigued,” he said, facing Felix, wearing the first real smile Felix had seen since walking into the tent. Felix could feel his inner animal morph into a tiger. He was reacting to being close to Claybourne.
“Tell me you feel it too,” Felix said quietly. A shocked look appeared on Claybourne’s face.
“Of course I do. All I can think about is getting you on the closest flat surface, but seeing as how you and I are the only medically trained people in town, we cannot disappear on Field Day of all days,” Claybourne said as his breathing became shallower. His eyes shifted from his normal crystalline blue to a light sky blue.
“I thought you were a tiger?” Felix asked, feeling his body respond to his mate’s growing need.
“I am. I’m a white Bengal tiger. My eyes are blue, not the normal orange of a regular Bengal,” Claybourne explained.
“I’m a hybrid,” Felix said. He looked down, unsure how his mate would react.
“I think that hybrids are the very best that shifters can be,” Claybourne said. Felix felt tears prick his eyes. Being a hybrid had opened him up to scorn before, and he was relieved that his mate accepted him as he was.
“And of course, your genetics and physiology are fascinating,” Claybourne said, turning back to his table. Felix was looking around for something to hit his mate with when David and Daniel came running into the tent, Roman hot on their heels. The twins ducked behind Claybourne, trying to use him as a shield.
“You do know I won’t help you, right?” he said dispassionately.
“Yeah, but if Roman does to us what he is threatening to do, we want you close by,” Daniel quipped. Seconds later an annoyed Gabriel glided into the tent. He stood next to Roman, who was glaring at the twins.
“Ah, it’s the sarcastic doctor. You didn’t by chance give Daniel and David blood did you?” Gabriel asked. “Of course not. I gave the blood to Rebecca,” Claybourne said reasonably. Gabriel pinched the bridge of his nose.
“It’s actually not bad,” Rebecca said, licking an ice cream cone as she walked into the tent.
“Wait, is there blood in the ice cream?” Felix asked as he watched Rebecca lick the cold treat. She nodded.
“Yup. I saw that some ice cream parlor out on the west coast has been using animal blood in ice cream. I thought that since this is a shifter town that might not be a good idea, so we used human blood for the vampires. It’s actually pretty good,” she said, looking at her ice cream cone, then she looked at Gabriel. Standing on tiptoe she pushed it onto his lips. He simply stared down at her with an eyebrow raised, the smear of ice cream on his face taking away from his normally regal appearance. Reluctantly he licked his lips and a surprised expression came over his face.
“You two made this?” he asked. The twins nodded.
“I’ll have to call Ms. Brayburn back and apologize for the shock she had when she saw the twins pouring blood from a medical bag into the ice cream machine. She called Ashby to complain about wanting her chocolate ice cream, who then in turn called me since he knew I was here on the vampire panel we created to answer questions from the townspeople. I’ll also have to buy Ashby new equipment for the shop,” Gabriel said, glaring at the twins before reaching for Rebecca’s ice cream cone and taking a bite.
“That way we can keep the equipment you used today at the coven house to make more. This is truly decadent.” Gabriel held the ice cream cone in one hand and with the other offered the crook of his elbow to Rebecca, who took it daintily. Rebecca winked at the twins before they both walked out. David and Daniel exhaled loudly.
“I saw my life flash before my eyes,” David said.
“You two aren’t off the hook yet. You have to thoroughly clean the ice cream equipment at the tent and start breaking it down. I doubt anyone will want ice cream now. Then you have to store the equipment at the coven house and order more for Prince Ashby. Tonight, gentlemen. And they better offer expedited processing,” Roman said, taking out his phone planner. The twins groaned as Roman walked them out of the tent. Felix watched them as they marched out. Claybourne shrugged.
“Never a dull moment,” he said, walking across the tent to pull more supplies out of a large duffel bag. Felix watched him for a few minutes.
“How many injuries are you expecting?” he asked after Claybourne had emptied the duffel bag and completely stocked the two long folding tables.
“It’s a completely shifter town on a day where we are encouraging competition and sports activities.” Claybourne smirked at his mate.
“You have a point,” he said when Emmett Arkadion walked in, holding his hand.
“Got it caught when we were collapsing the bleachers in the gym,” he said, grimacing.
“You were competing with Duncan, weren’t you?” Claybourne turned his hand over gently.
“Maybe,” he said, then gasped in pain when Claybourne rotated his hand more.
“Broken, but nothing that won’t heal after a shift. I’ll wrap it so that it will stay aligned while you head home. You should be okay by tomorrow evening,” he said, picking up the Ace Bandages and wrapping the bear’s hand tightly.
“Thanks, Doc. I’ll let Ma know that I’m heading home. She was still yelling at Duncan when I left to come here. He was making her late for a chocolate-eating contest she had.” He tried to flex his hand and winced.
“Don’t move that hand until after your shift,” Claybourne warned firmly.
“Yes, Doc,” Emmett said, staring down at his hand as he walked out of the tent.
“We need to work on your bedside manner,” Felix drolled. Claybourne turned to him, his eyes taking in every inch of Felix’s body.
“There is nothing wrong with my bedside manner,” he said, blatant sexual need in his voice. Felix shivered.
“I’ll be the judge of that,” Felix said, running his hands down his chest before stopping just above his hips. Claybourne swallowed hard.
“That you most definitely will.”
* * * *
The rest of the day Felix tortured and was tortured by his mate. If Claybourne accidentally ran his hand over his ass again he was going to scream. As they were finishing packing up the medical supplies, Rebecca came back into the tent.
“Ready to go, Felix?” she asked as she rubbed her stomach. Claybourne frowned.
“Are you okay?” he asked, walking over. She waved a hand at him.
“I stuffed myself silly eating from all the vendors. Everyone wanted me to try what they made. But I’m only human, literally. I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings though, so I kept eating. The food was amazing though.” She hummed her appreciation. Claybourne looked to Felix guiltily.
“You never got to go out and grab anything. I kept you in he
re,” he said, frowning. Felix walked over to him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
“I was exactly where I wanted to be,” he said, grinning happily.
“Oh, my, goodness! You’re mates, aren’t you?” Rebecca asked, rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet. Felix nodded. Rebecca squealed and launched herself at Felix. “I’m so happy for you both! Felix, when are you going to get pregnant?” Rebecca blurted out. Behind him Felix heard the sound of a box dropping and a man cursing.
“Oh dear, didn’t he know?” Rebecca asked, both hands flying to her mouth as if she were trying to call back the words.
“Sebastian hadn’t made an appointment yet to explain. He was going to bring me along to explain some of the biology of it, we just haven’t gotten that far yet.” Felix shrugged.
“What!” Claybourne bellowed.
“Sebastian is preggers. Since he’s a hybrid he can get pregnant. But he keeps his penis and doesn’t get a vagina until he gives birth, but then shifts back. Felix is a hybrid so he can get pregnant, too,” Rebecca explained. Felix slammed his palm to his forehead as he heard his mate begin to hyperventilate.
“I’m okay, Rebecca, I’ll be helping Claybourne for a while. You can head home,” Felix said, turning to stare at Claybourne who was trying to slow his breathing as he kept a death grip on the side of one of the tables.
“Are you sure?” Rebecca asked.
“I’m very sure. Goodnight, Becca,” He waved at her as she walked out.
He walked over to his mate, who had a hand to his chest.