A New Lead Doctor

POV: Callum

My leg felt like it was being scorched in a furnace, but the agonizing burn of raw flesh and shattered bone faded into the background the moment I looked at my mate. Lyanna was mesmerizing. She stood over my mangled limb, her brows knitted in fierce concentration, entirely focused on her work. She was unlike any she-wolf or human woman I had ever encountered. The fact that she actually believed I would reject her was laughably absurd, but her sharp mind and endless charm made her impossible to ignore.

What I loved most was her habit of talking to herself. She kept muttering a stream of unfiltered, critical thoughts under her breath, completely unaware that both Cedric and I, with our enhanced werewolf hearing, could catch every single word. To me, it was a perfect window into her fascinating mind—a temporary substitute for the pack link we would share once she wore my mark.

Her face was incredibly expressive. She didn't bother hiding her emotions, showing no interest in playing coy or trying to flatter me just because I was an Alpha. If anything, she seemed determined to keep her distance precisely *because* of my rank. But she had no idea how futile that was. I had searched too long for this beautiful doctor to let her slip away now.

"To answer your unasked question, Cedric," I said aloud, looking up at my frozen Beta, "Dr. Lyanna here is currently piecing my leg back together. Slowly and carefully. Which, I might add, is a massive improvement over Dr. Benson’s plan to simply saw it off."

Cedric’s eyes snapped to mine. He immediately understood the gravity of my words. As my Beta, he was next in line for the pack leadership, but he had never coveted my position. He was a loyal brother and an exceptional second-in-command, which made running the pack much easier.

"Are you at least numb, Alpha?" Cedric asked, his lips twitching as he stared at the exposed muscle and bone on the table.

"Utterly ridiculous, arrogant Alpha," Lyanna mumbled to herself, her hands steady as she prepared the next bone fragment. She was clearly listening to us, offering her blunt commentary under the assumption that she was silent.

Cedric frowned, his eyes darting between her and me. *Does she really think we can't hear her?* he asked through our private mind link.

I fought back a grin. *Apparently so. Let her keep talking.*

"No, no numbing agent," I answered Cedric aloud.

My Beta scowled. *I think I actually agree with her on this one. You're a lunatic.*

Ignoring his mental commentary, I leaned back slightly, keeping my gaze locked on my mate. "Give me the report on Kaelen. Did you manage to end him?"

Lyanna didn't look up. Her focus remained entirely on the task at hand. "Bram, are you ready?" she asked softly.

"Ready, mate," my wolf rumbled inside my head.

Cedric shifted closer, leaning over her shoulder to watch the process. He looked on in absolute awe as Lyanna perfectly aligned a shattered piece of my femur. At her nod, Bram released a burst of healing energy. The bone seamlessly fused together under her hands.

"Oh, shit!" Cedric exclaimed, his eyes wide. "That is fucking awesome!"

Lyanna beamed. She looked up and flashed Cedric a massive, radiant smile that made my chest tighten. A primal wave of possessiveness surged through my veins, hot and uncontrollable. Before I could stop myself, a low, vicious snarl ripped from my throat.

The sound vibrated through the small room. Both of them jolted in surprise. The sudden movement pulled hard on my newly fused bone, sending a blinding bolt of pain up my spine, but thankfully, the connection held.

Cedric immediately dropped his head, baring his neck in absolute submission. "Apologies, Alpha," he muttered, stepping back.

Lyanna’s smile vanished, her lips pressing into a hard, thin line. She looked at Cedric’s submissive posture, then glared up at me with absolute disapproval. She wasn't intimidated by my dominant aura in the slightest.

I leaned forward, making sure she knew exactly where my boundary lay. "You are my mate."

"What I am is your doctor," she snapped back, her green eyes flashing with fire. "At least for now. And if you don't want me to walk out that door and let Dr. Benson amputate your leg, I highly suggest you drop the arrogant Alpha routine while my hands are literally inside your body."

I sank back against the table, biting the inside of my cheek to suppress a smirk. God, I loved her fierce spirit. She was absolutely magnificent.

Turning my head to Cedric, though my eyes never truly left Lyanna, I got back to business. "What happened with Kaelen?"

"He managed to slip past us," Cedric reported, his voice tight. "When you couldn't cut him off, he crossed back into his pack’s territory. We couldn't pursue him because we know their borders are heavily booby-trapped."

"Booby-trapped with what?" Lyanna asked, her hands still busy, though her ears were clearly perked. "Bram, get ready for the next one."

I tilted my head, amused. Most pack doctors would have kept their mouths shut and pretended not to hear official pack business. But not Lyanna. She didn't bother pretending. She was multitasking flawlessly—setting my bones, coordinating with my wolf, and casually joining our military discussion.

"Spring-loaded wooden stakes buried in the soil," Cedric explained, keeping his tone carefully neutral so he wouldn't trigger my jealousy again.

"Stupid pack politics," Lyanna muttered under her breath, shaking her head. "Risking lives for absolutely nothing."

Cedric's eyes flicked to mine, and I offered him a silent, knowing smile.

"Anyway," Cedric continued, clearing his throat. "We did gather one very significant piece of information."

"What is it?" I asked.

"Alpha Gideon is dead. Vance has officially taken over the pack."

If I hadn't been watching her so closely, I would have missed it. The moment the name Vance left Cedric's mouth, Lyanna’s incredibly steady hands shook violently. She dropped the surgical tool she was holding, and her face drained of all color, turning a ghostly, terrified white.

I raised my hand, silently signaling Cedric to stop talking. My brow furrowed in deep concern as I watched her chest rise and fall in rapid, shallow breaths.

"I'm sorry, Alpha," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I need to... I need to step out for a minute."

Without waiting for my permission, she ripped off her surgical gloves, tossed them into the bin, and rushed out of the room, her boots clattering against the linoleum.

"Follow her," I snapped to Cedric, the playful mood instantly vanishing. "Don't corner her, but make sure she doesn't leave the building."

"Understood, Alpha," Cedric said, immediately darting out after her.

Left alone in the quiet room, I stared at the ceiling, trying to process her reaction. My leg was throbbing fiercely, laying open and raw on the table, but my mind was consumed by my mate. Who was Vance to her? Why did his name strike such pure terror into her heart?

Before I could dwell on it further, the door burst open.

Dr. Benson strode into the room, a smug, self-satisfied smirk plastered across his face. "I knew she wouldn't hold up, Alpha," he sneered, looking down at my exposed thigh. "Just look at this absolute disaster. She’s completely botched it. Let me get the bone saw. We need to amputate immediately."

A wave of pure, hot rage washed over me. "The fuck you will," I snarled, my voice vibrating with power. "She is taking a temporary break. And for your information, she has already fused half my femur. Get the hell out of my operating room."

"Alpha, I must insist—"

"What you must do is obey your Alpha!" I roared, unleashing the full weight of my commanding aura. The sheer force of my voice rattled the glass cabinets in the room. "GET OUT!"

Benson paled, taking a panicked step back just as the door swung open again. Lyanna rushed back inside, her eyes wide as she took in the tense standoff.

"What is going on here?" she demanded, her eyes landing on Benson. "You do not barge in on a patient mid-surgery!"

"Cedric," I growled.

My Beta appeared in the doorway behind her. "Dr. Benson," Cedric said, his voice deceptively calm as he gripped the older doctor’s shoulder. "Let's step outside, shall we?"

Benson huffed in indignation but knew better than to challenge both me and my Beta. He muttered under his breath as Cedric escorted him out and closed the door.

Lyanna stood by the table, her hands trembling slightly as she pulled on a fresh pair of gloves. "I apologize, Alpha. Dr. Benson was right about one thing. I should not have left you in the middle of a procedure."

She wouldn't look at me, keeping her gaze trained on the floor. Her sudden use of my title irritated me, especially after the terror she had just displayed.

"What did you just call me?" I asked, my voice deep but firm.

Her head snapped up, her dark green eyes wide. "Alpha?"

I gestured for her to come closer. She hesitated for a fraction of a second before stepping up to the side of the table. Reaching up, I gently caught her chin between my thumb and forefinger. I didn't apply pressure, but I held her firmly enough to force her to lock her panic-stricken eyes with mine.

"And what did I tell you to call me?" I asked, softening my voice until it was a low, intimate murmur.

She swallowed hard, her pulse fluttering against my fingertips. "Callum," she breathed out.

"Callum," I repeated, letting my thumb brush her soft skin one last time before reluctantly releasing her chin. "Now, continue, Dr. Lyanna."

She took a deep, steadying breath, her shoulders dropping as the tension visibly drained from her frame. She reached back into the wound, her touch surprisingly light and precise.

"Bram?" she called out softly.

"Ready, my mate," Bram purred in my mind, the low, soothing vibration echoing in my chest. The sound seemed to soothe her as well, her hands becoming rock-steady once more as she selected another bone fragment.

Seeing her back in her element, I used our mind link to summon Cedric back into the room. *Get back in here.*

A moment later, Cedric slipped through the door, standing near the foot of the table.

"Are there any other serious injuries from the patrol?" I asked my Beta aloud. "Any patients that Benson is currently terrorizing with his medieval methods?"

"Your leg is by far the worst, Alpha," Cedric replied. "But we have several warriors with deep lacerations. Benson has been pouring raw alcohol directly into their open wounds to sterilize them."

Lyanna froze, her hands pausing over my leg. She looked up at Cedric, her expression a mix of profound disbelief and absolute horror.

"Is there a problem with that?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. I was quickly realizing that her medical knowledge far surpassed anything Benson had to offer.

"A problem?" she echoed, her voice laced with sharp indignation. "It’s barbaric! Pouring raw alcohol into deep muscle tissue destroys healthy cells and delays the healing process. Why isn't he suturing the wounds properly?"

"He claims it takes too long," Cedric explained, watching her reaction with interest. "He said we have too many injured and not enough hands."

I kept a close eye on Cedric, my possessive instincts still humming beneath the surface, but I forced myself to focus on Lyanna’s expertise.

She turned her fierce gaze to me. "Don't you have omegas in the packhouse? Women and men who handle the sewing, mending clothes, and managing the linens?"

"Of course," I replied, frowning slightly. "What does that have to do with this?"

"Suturing skin is remarkably similar to sewing fabric," Lyanna said, her tone filled with practical urgency. "Yes, skin is thicker and requires a bit more care, but the basic technique is the same. Under proper supervision, your omegas could easily stitch up those clean lacerations. It would save time, and it would spare your warriors the agonizing pain of having raw alcohol dumped into their flesh."

I stared at her, deeply impressed by her quick thinking and her genuine compassion for my pack members. She wasn't just a skilled surgeon; she possessed the instincts of a true leader.

"Cedric," I commanded, my voice ringing with authority. "Gather the packhouse omegas and bring them to the clinic immediately. Let them know they are on suture duty."

"On it, Alpha," Cedric said, a faint grin touching his lips.

"And tell Dr. Benson that his services are no longer required," I added coldly. "He is officially relieved of his duties."

Cedric's eyes widened slightly, but he nodded. "And who will oversee the incoming casualties and assess the warriors' injuries?"

I looked at my mate, who was watching me with a look of genuine surprise.

"Have the clinic nurses perform the initial assessments," I instructed Cedric, my gaze never leaving Lyanna’s face. "Then, have them bring every diagnosis and treatment plan directly to Dr. Lyanna. From this moment on, nothing happens in this clinic without her direct approval."

"My approval?" Lyanna gasped, her green eyes wide with shock.

"Yes, Lyanna. Your approval," I said, a confident smile spreading across my face despite the pain in my leg. "I have no doubts about your abilities. You are the perfect replacement for our pack doctor."