War Dog: The Lord of Wolves Series.

Chapter 3: Battle Worn

It's only been three hours before Apollo had first woken up in his confused state that he had done it again except this time I was there to remind him where he was and that he was safe, he has a blazing fever from an infection that the tree had left behind when the broken branch had stabbed into his back, my mom had given him antibiotics and fever reducers but his tolerance and resistance to medicine is incredibly strong even for a Lycan... so it was one of those situations where we had to our best and make sure he stays hydrated.

Standing in the kitchen watching the coffee maker brew the most glorious things in the world of humans when it finally beeps signaling that it was finished I reach into the cupboard and pull two tumblers out and begin to dress one with some creamer and a little bit of sugar. "So... How's dark and handsome?" Holly asks as I screw on the lids of the cups. "Still fighting the fever but it's gone down some... They're trying to get him to eat something now I just came to get mom some coffee." I tell her has I grab the cups and turn to look at her as she was studying me carefully looking around the room then back to her I shrug my shoulders at her. "What?"

Shaking her head then holding up her hands. "Oh nothing... here I'll go with you." Holly says walking beside me as we head to the clinic. "So have you found a dress you liked yet?" She asks holding a prom dress magazine and begins to flip through it before stopping at a page and points to a pale pink dress it was a sleek fit with a split going up the side it had some sequins on the hem and bust area with dark pink beads and stones. "I'm wearing this one." She says excitedly as a smile creeps across my face it was perfect for her elegant but simple and sexy at the same time.

"You're going to make it look beautiful." I nudge her gently and shake my head. "No I haven't found one yet... each one I do find my Dad has a cow thinking it's too revealing." I giggle and roll my eyes.

"If ir was your Dad's decision he'd dress you in Amish style." Holly chuckles as we get to door with my mom standing outside talking with one of our nurses who shakes his head and rubs his brow then looks at us making my mom follow his gaze as they both sigh. "What's wrong?" I ask handing mom her coffee and the nurse his which he smiles gratefully taking the cup.

"He's refusing to eat anything and his spells of confusion are being more quite frequent I think it's due to the fever and his physiological state... There's no doubt in my mind that he has PTSD... he doesn't trust us to feed him." The nurse who also serves as another doctor when my mom isn't around speaks, his name is Jacob and we as in Holly and I suspect that he might be gay but we're not sure anyway that's besides the point. After speaking Jacob brings the rim of the coffee cup his lips and sips it.

"Can I try?" I ask looking between them. Mom looks at Jacob then chuckles softly and nods. "I was hoping you would." She kisses my forehead and steps out of the way allowing me to walk into the clinic and all three follow behind me but they don't enter the room but look in from the hallway. Apollo opens his only working golden eye and looks at me as a sad and concerned expression creeps across my face as I look at him. "His tan skin his pale and clammy, he has dark circles under his eyes, and sweat on his face his gaze was defensive and he growls tiredly at me as he looks like was forcing himself to stay awake.

"It doesn't matter how many times you come in here... the answer is the same." He huffs at me as I lift my hand there was a slight flinch to his face but steels himself and growls at me again.

"Apollo... its okay." My voice is soft, gentle, and caring placing my hand on his forehead he was burning up the moment my hand slides to his cheek Apollo leans into my touch and sighs softly closing his eye looking at his face my heart starts to flutter he looked at peace. "Apollo?" I call to him gently and he opens his eye and looks at me. "Can you eat something? Please?"

The tired and sick grumpy man answers with a growl and turns his head away from me with a sigh I look off to the rolling table with a covered dish on it rolling it over to him I pull the lid off it revealing a steaming bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup the smell catches his attention and looks at me as I spoon some broth blowing on it before I offer it to him, he gulps and reluctantly jerks back sighing and rolling my eyes I put the spoon in my mouth and eat the first bite with him watching. "Pretty good. Miss Marc is a mean cook." I tease spooning another bite cooling it off for him then bringing the spoon to his mouth has he hesitantly takes the bite. "Want to eat it?" I ask bringing the table a bit closer and unstrap his arms so he can eat. Glancing at me Apollo gives a firm nod. "Thank you." He says taking the spoon and begins to eat as I sit down next to him in a chair watching him eat. "Why don't you trust us?" I ask curiously after taking a few bites, Apollo fiddles with the spoon in his hand looking at the bowl before pushing the rolling cart off to the side after he spots his clothes sitting up on the side of the bed before pulling cords and ripping the IV needle out of his arm.

"Thank you for your hospitality but I need to leave." He says softly in a huff coming to my feet immediately I tried to keep him from standing.

"No you need to rest and heal more." I said in a commanding tone as if I was talking to one of the young pups in our pack which works on them but him... not so much as he looks down at me coming to a full stand.

"I do not belong to your pack therefore you cannot keep me or you would be violating my rights." He says pushing past me and grabs his clothes even with three other people other people watching he wasn't shy about taking his hospital gown off... WITH NOTHING UNDERNEATH! Oh dear sweet Moon Mother! Help me! Needless to say my face turns red and I quickly turn my back to him as does Holly with a face as red as mine... My Mother on the other hand shrugs with a smirk on her face. "Nice." Is all she says before walking away to her office with chuckling Jacob and following behind. I can hear my heart thundering in my ears and feel the heat rising in my body as gulp nervously.