The Designated Mate novel Chapter 19

No one moved a muscle as they all waited for him to make the next move. When he cranked his head back and bit into the back of my shirt, I knew he was planning to pull me off his back by the fabric. I didn't think before smacking his snout for the second time.

"You'll ruin my shirt!" I scolded before carefully swinging my good foot over to the same side as my bad and slowly sliding down his body before settling on the floor. I stationed all of my weight on my un-injured foot while leaning my body against his beastly frame for support.

"Poppy...what's happened?" The Alpha carefully asked while cautiously eyeing the animal next to me.

"It's a long story, but I fell. My ankle is really swollen, I think it might be broken." I winced while casting a painful look towards the area in question.

"Someone get the pack doctor!" The Alpha yelled out to the crowd behind him. My eyes began to droop as I grew tired from all the strain my body had been through from being hurt and scared out of my mind at the same time.

A male in a white lab coat came running out of the pack house towards me, but the second the beast laid its eyes on him, he growled maliciously while shifting his paw so I was positioned between his two legs. The pack doctor stopped in his tracks with his hands up in front of him in a surrender position. I could see sweat accumulate on his forehead when he moved to take a single step forward. The action caused the beast to release another vicious growl of warning.

"Simon, retreat." The Alpha ordered. Just then Grace, who I realized was amongst the crowd of on-lookers, took a few careful steps forward as if testing the water. When the beast remained silent, only offering an annoyed huff, she continued her slow ascent.

"Come, Poppy. We need to get that looked at." She whispered, her eyes remaining on the ground for what I assumed was the same reason I had earlier. I grabbed her outstretched hand and looped my arm around her shoulder before she began to assist me in hobbling towards the pack house. Once inside, Grace lost her cool.

"Jesus fucking Christ! What were you thinking, Poppy!?" She yelled. I could hear her heart pounding away in her chest as her chest heaved up and down. "Do you have a death wish?" She demanded.

"What are you talking about?" I asked as she set me down in a hospital-type bed, confusion lacing my tone.

"Nevermind, it's nothing. Just don't ever wander into the woods on your own ever again. You're too isolated out in your cabin." She spoke with a worried expression.

"God, now you sound like my father and ex-Alpha." I huffed in frustration to which she shook her head.

"Always a pleasure dealing with you, Grace," Simon grumbled while entering the room with an armful of supplies.

"Yeah, yeah. Let's speed this process up. She's got information about her old Alpha that Alpha Aaron needs to be informed of ASAP." She explained before beginning to examine the chipped nail polish on her fingernails. I was amazed at how much Grace interpreted from my lack of words and a single look a few seconds ago. Simon seemed to realize that Grace wasn't playing around and got to working on my injuries right away.

Half an hour and a pair of crutches later, I was exiting the medical wing towards the Alpha's office.

"Uh, just a little problem," I stated while pointing one of my crutches at the stairs. There was no way I was getting up four flights on stairs.

"Good thing there's an elevator right here, dipshit," she joked while jerking her thumb over her shoulder. I blushed at my obliviousness before making my way into the lift after her.

Grace had to show me the way as I had no idea where I was going after only being shown one time. We knocked on the door before entering when given the okay.