The Pack's Doctor by Cooper

Chapter 180 Kennedy I wake up warm and comfortable, with Quirin's sandalwood scent surrounding me. I feel a slight fluttering in my mind and I know that Echo is fighting to cback to me.

'Heal yourself, Echo. I'll be here when you get back. I love you,' I say in our mind. I know my wolf, she won't stop fighting But hopefully she can hearand knowing that I can feel her trying will help her to feel better. I can still feel the pack holding on to her, helping her to find her way back.

The next thing I feel is Quirin's mind. I smile, loving that it's still open to me. Right now, it's quiet with his sleep, although, images of Slater, the pack lands, andare flashing on repeat.

Those are the things he's most worried about, Raif says, purring in my mind but loud enough that I can feel the vibration against my body.

'Don't wake Quirin, Raif. He needs his sleep,' I scold him.

'What I need is for my mate to be healthy. How are you feeling, Little Pup? Sorry, I'm still half asleep. How are you feeling, Little Mate?' he asksin the mind link. Now that his mind is open to me, I can feel that his pet nforis just that, a pet name. He doesn't considera pup any longer. But I can also feel that he's not going to callthat any more, especially since...

"Really?" I ask out loud.

His hand slides over my still-flat stomach. "My Little Pup's pup," he says, and I feel his lips that are pressed against my should spread into a smile. He kisses my shoulder. "And your stomach isn't as flat as it used to be. Our pup is growing." I put my hand over his and sure enough, my stomach isn't quite as flat.

"So, how are you feeling? Raif says he's getting a hint of Echo returning," he says.

"Yes, she's fluttering around in there, trying to find her way back to me. I know she will. She's a strong, wonderful wolf." "Just like her human. It still feels like you're weak. Do you feel weak?" he asks.

"Yes, but I want a shower. I'll have Mom help me..." "Excuse me?" he says, lifting his head and looking at me. “You're MY mate. I will take care of you." "But, I saw what's worrying you, Quirin. You have a lot of work to do, and..." "Nothing is more important than you, Kennedy. Nothing. I am your mate. I will take care of you. Your mother can help, but you are my responsibility. Being mine means you're mine to love, mine to cherish, mine to protect, and mine to take care of. I haven't been a great mate to you, and I'm sure I'll screw it up again in the future, but I'm going to try to be the man you want and needto be, Kennedy." I turn my head to look at him. His eyes, always intense, are burning with his determination and love for me.

"You already are everything that I need and want you to be, Quirin. You're you. That's what I've always wanted," I say, rolling over to face him. I put my hand on his cheek and open my own mind wider, letting my love for him flow through the bond.

He gasps like he did the last time, closing his eyes and letting my love fill him.

"Goddess, your love feels so good, so beautiful, so pure," he whispers.

I lift my head and press my lips to his. "My love for you IS pure. Even if we're arguing, even if I'm angry with you, I still love you like this,” I tell him.

"I wish we could stay like this all day, but we both could use a shower. I want your mom to look you over and check our pup and I have a meeting with your father this morning. Oh, and Connor and Henry are leaving, I'm not sure you're up to saying goodbye, but I wanted to give you the option." "Let's see how I feel after the shower," I tell him.

He scoopsup and carriesinto the bathroom, settingdown before leaning into the shower to turn on the water, While he does that, he continues to hold on to my waist, making sure I'm steady on my feet. I can't help but smile at my big strong mate being so gentle with me.

"What is that look?" he says, standing in front ofand helpingpull the shirt he put onlast night over my head.

I slide my hands over his bare chest, loving the feel of his body shivering at my touch.

"I thought a lot about you being the father of my pups over the years," I tell him and he goes very still. "I'|| admit, I wasn't sure what that would look like. I sort of figured that you'd treat our pups like you treatand the rare few people in this world that you love and respect. But I wasn't sure how you'd respond if they made you angry or did something that disappointed you. Now I know that I was right about you and how you'll be as a father." "What were you right about?" he asks softly and I can tell that this, my opinion of him being a father, is very important to him.

"You'll be just as kind and gentle with them as you've always been with me. Even when I was younger, you were firm with me, but you were never harsh," I slide my hands up and around his neck as I smile up at him. "I think that's exactly the kind of father you will be. The perfect father for our pups, firm but kind and loving." "Do you know that before you, I never expected to have pups? Well, I never expected to have a mate, so pups didn't even enter into my mind. I've never really liked pups, present company excluded," he says, makinglaugh. "They're loud and defiant and distracting. But ever since Raif called you mate, I've had a deep desire to have a pup with you." "Just one?" He raises an eyebrow at me. "How many did you want? You're not going to be like your mother, are you?" "What if I am?" I ask, teasing.

"Then I'll tell you what your father told her last night. We'll talk.” I laugh again. "You do realize that ninety-nine percent of the time, their 'talks' end up with my mother getting her way right?" "Yeah, I figured, which means you may be getting another brother or sister soon." "Seriously?" "Seriously. So, how many? I need to mentally prepare for this.”