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friend.
"What the hell did you just say?"
    "You heard me. And don't even bother denying
the connection. I can smell it all over you. I don't know what's
going on in that pretty boy head of yours but this has got to be
your worst fucking idea ever."
    A rough growl erupted in Rafe's throat.
Friend or no friend, the wolf didn't like his tone of voice. If
Simon wanted to pick a fight with him, he was ready.
    Simon held up his hands in mock surrender.
"Don't take it out on me just because I'll stand up to you and say
what needs to be said. This is a fuck up of major proportions and
if she survives the night it's only going to get worse."
    If she
survived . His stomach dropped somewhere
around his knees. "What are her chances?" She had to live. There
was a lot about him he hadn't shared with Simon. Like the fact he'd
grown restless and edgy the past six months. If Tanner wanted a
dominance challenge, Rafe would welcome it.
    Simon shrugged. "Hard to say."
    "You know me, Simon. Give me a number, I
need facts," Rafe pressed.
    "I'd say fifty-fifty or
less. Better if she shifts. Her fever's down some now so I think
it's safe to move her back to the bedroom. Then , only time will tell."
    Rafe didn't waste a
second. He quickly lifted the woman from the tub and carried her
back to the guest room. He glanced momentarily at the door to his
own bedroom and shook it off. There was inappropriate and then
there was INAPPROPRIATE .
    With the swiftness of an unaffected friend,
Rafe placed her on the cool sheets and took the offered towel from
Doc to wipe the excess moisture from her skin. Instead of the satin
smooth surface underneath his hands, Rafe's thoughts shot to Tanner
and his little gang as they'd approached her in the forest. Fresh
anger built inside him at the intent he'd spied on each of their
faces. Ten minutes later and he would have been too late. She'd be
dead or worse and the wolf inside him would have naturally sought
vengeance.
    "Careful, Rafe, I don't want you pulling
those staples apart," Simon warned from the other side of the
bed.
    He glanced down at the white knuckled grip
he had on her wrist. He really was losing it.
    "Let me take her home with me. I can take
care of her until she heals and then I can turn her over to the
Alpha to decide her fate. This is way too dangerous for you."
    Rafe shot the Doc a hard look. "No."
    "You can't do this," said Simon.
    Rafe stood and stared down the other wolf.
He'd had enough. It was time Simon remembered his place. "I've
always appreciated your input on my decisions but there's a line
and you're crossing it. I've said no and I mean no. End of story.
If you don't like it then I'll choose another."
    His friend's face visibly paled but to his
credit, he stood his ground. "Now wait just a minute. I'm only
looking out for you here." Simon lifted his hand to cover the
woman.
    "Don't touch her," Rafe growled.
    Simon jerked back a few steps, surprise
obvious in his eyes. Rafe sighed and brushed his hands across his
face. He understood how unreasonable he was being. If he was a
smart man he'd let the Doc take her out of here and never see her
again. Too bad that wasn't him.
    "I don't think it's a good idea for you to
touch her anymore." His skin crawled just having Simon this close
to her.
    "Don't you think that's taking things a bit
overboard? Whether you see it or not, you're losing it, Rafe. For a
feline."
    "I'm not going to argue
about this anymore. My decision is made. She is staying here and
once she is well, I'll figure out what comes next. Until then the
Alpha can cool his heels." He waited tensely for Simon to
acknowledge his decision. When the slight dip of his head indicated
his submission in the matter, Rafe relaxed a fraction. He hated
pushing his friend to this point , but it wouldn't do for either one of them to
forget who would ultimately be in charge. When he took over as
Alpha some things would stay the same , but many things would change
forever.
    For decades they'd seen
very