The Black Hills: Patience and Endurance

The Strength Of His Human Mate

Bradley POV

I barely have time to register the words of my mate before Dr. Caroline returns to the exam room.

“The good news is that nothing is broken, but the bad news is that your shoulder is in fact dislocated.” The doctor informs Lisa, who merely nods.

“Yes, I figured so.” Lisa says as I look down to her in horror, she shrugs with a grimace, “It’s not the first time.” She blurts out before her eyes widen and I force down the growl that wants to erupt from my chest. “I’m sorry.” She mutters quietly.

“You have nothing to be sorry for... I’m sorry I haven’t been there to protect you.” My mind wonders to how many times she has been injured by that monster. I vow to myself that never again will harm come to my beautiful mate.

“Setting a dislocated shoulder can be painful, if you’d like, we can transfer you to the surgical wing for anesthetics to be administered prior to the procedure.” Dr. Caroline offers Lisa, and I’m fully prepared for this intervention.

“No, just get it over with.” Lisa commands, and I look down to my mate in shock.

“Absolutely not.” I growl to the doctor, who looks back and forth between Lisa and I.

Lisa gives me a frown, before she replies to my outburst. “Bradley, I’ve endured more dislocations and broken bones than you can imagine.” She says sternly as I wince from all her previous suffering. “This is not the first time I’ve had a relocation, and I honestly prefer to avoid anesthesia, as it makes me horribly sick.” She informs me, and I realize my mistake of assuming what was best for Lisa.

“I’m sorry, you’re right, I just can’t stand the thought of you in more pain.” I concede.

Lisa reaches up with her less-injured arm and caresses my face with her hand. “I understand, but I can handle it. You can step outside if you need to.” She offers me, sweetly.

I shake my head no in response. “I’m not leaving you.” I tell her, if she can be strong enough to endure the pain, then I can be strong enough to remain by her side through it.

Dr. Caroline gives us both another once-over with her eyes before nodding and stepping closer to Lisa. “Ok, remember the key is to relax, and breathe.” The doctor guides Lisa as she places one hand high on Lisa’s shoulder and the other on her upper arm. “One, two, three...” Dr. Caroline counts just before a sickening pop is heard.

Lisa barely gasps from the sudden discomfort as my eyes lock upon her face. She breathed out a sigh before nodding to the doctor, who tests out her passive range of motion, before stepping back. “Ok, all set.” Dr. Caroline informs us, before advising a rotation of heat and ice to minimize residual pain and swelling.

“Rest often, no overuse of your arm, and I want to see you back in three days.” The physician orders before taking her leave.

Lisa gently rotates her shoulder before looking up at me, and I’m still awestruck by her strength. “Take me back to my babies.” She commands me, and I assist her off the exam table. I offer to carry her, but she refuses me. We follow Travis and Kyler back to the main packhouse.

Once we reach the main corridor, Sarah is waiting for us, and I realize that Travis must have mind-linked her to inform her we were headed back.

“Are you ok?” Sarah gives me a sympathetic look.

“I’ve been better, but I’ve also been much worse.” I admit. A flicker of anger crosses my sister’s eyes, before being replaced by overall sadness.

“The kids are playing in the common area, you can join us, or you are free to go rest and we can look after the boys for you.” My sister offers.

“I’d like to look in on them first.” I need to see with my own eyes that they are ok.

Sarah guides us to the common area while Travis excuses himself to go have a word with his guard. When we enter the activity room, I first note Chad seated at a card table with Kason and Kaleb while they are engaged in a game of Uno. Jenni is wrangling the young Alpha heir Trystan, and her own daughter Rosalyn as they play with their blocks on the floor, meanwhile Travis and Sarah’s infant daughter Jocelyn is seated quietly in her bouncer overseeing all the noise and chaos.

Kason finally notices my presence, “Mama! I am winning!” He squeals his excitement from across the room.

“I’m so proud of you.” I call out to him with a smile.

“Yep, he’s won the last two games.” Chad says with a wink.

“Yeah by cheating.” Kaleb groans.

I chuckle before replying, “Surely not.”

Kyler goes to join his brothers and Chad as Chad deals out another hand. I lean slightly against Bradley as fatigue settles in following the morning’s exerted energy.

“You ready to go lie down?” Bradley whispers in my ear.

I nod, before adding, “After a bath.”

Sarah looks up to me from her position on the floor with Jenni, “Go.” She mouths to me.

Bradley quietly leads me from the common area, before swooping me up in his arms gently, bridal-style, he ascends the stairs to the 2nd floor. Once we enter my guest suite, Bradley closes the door behind us, then carries me through my room to the master bathroom. He sets me carefully on my feet beside the massive jetted tub. First drawing my bath, he then turns to me and helps me undress. I feel a little shy suddenly, and Bradley notices my tension.

“Relax.” He soothes me, and I do as he says, as the final garments are removed.

He holds my hands to steady me as he helps me step into the tub, and I sink down into the water. Brad takes a seat on the side of the tub, before he lathers shampoo into my hair, followed by conditioner. He massages my scalp as warm sensations flow through my body at his touch. Once my hair is thoroughly scrubbed and moisturized, he rinses my locks.

I soak for another moment while he watches over me protectively, and when I alert him that I’m done with my bath, he finds me a warm, lush towel, before he assists me out of the tub, then wraps the towel around my body. With another towel he dries each strand of my hair from any excess moisture, and once my body is dry, he helps me to the bedroom.

Bradley peels back the covers on the bed, and I carefully crawl in, before reaching my arms out to him. A small smile plays on his lips as he kicks off his shoes, lowers his trousers to the floor, and pulls his shirt off over his head, leaving only his boxer briefs in place, before he crawls into bed beside me.

I suddenly feel bold, and unwrap the towel from around my body before I snuggle close to his body. Bradley’s arms go around me, but I can feel that he is very tense in this moment.

“Relax.” I whisper, with a grin.

“Easier said than done with your body pressed against me.” He teases, placing a kiss upon my brow before he allows his body to relax beside me.

Feeling warm and safe in his arms, I allow the exhaustion to take over as I drift away to sleep.

Bradley POV

Lisa falls to sleep quickly in my embrace, and once I’m certain she is deeply sedate, I carefully slip from the bed, before donning my clothes and sneaking out to find her sons, as I feel a need to check on them.

When I reach the main corridor, Kyler is standing there as though he’s been waiting for me.

“How is she?” He asks me.

“Sleeping.” I reply.

“Thank you for taking care of my mom.” Kyler tells me, shifting his weight on his feet as though he’s a little uneasy.

“I promise you that I will always do anything for your mom, as well as you and your brothers.” I vow.

Kyler nods to me when suddenly Kason comes running out of the kitchen, “Hiya Alpha Brad! Look cookies!” He shouts to me in glee.

Sarah follows behind looking exasperated. “Yes we are making cookies, however this little guy is really keeping me on my toes.” She says with a laugh.

I kneel down on one knee as Kason holds a cookie out to me, and I accept the chocolate chip treat from him. “Do you want to help us?” Kason asks looking nervous, as though he expects me to say no.

“I’d love to!” I tell him honestly.

“Yay!” Kason yells as he runs back to the kitchen, and I dutifully follow along with Kyler and Sarah.

Lisa POV

I awake and realize that I’m alone in the bed. I look around and realize that Brad has gone, so I carefully stretch before crawling out from under the covers. I pull on a pair of black leggings, and a t-shirt before I leave the guest room to go find my sons.

When I reach the main floor I can hear commotion coming from the kitchen, and I follow the sounds, halting the moment I enter. The sight before me is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

Bradley, Kason, and Kyler are standing over a mixer, covered head-to-toe in flour, laughing wholeheartedly. Sarah and Kaleb are seated at the counter, and Sarah is laughing equally hard while Kaleb looks slightly amused.

“Oh hey sis!” Sarah calls out to me. “Your men have just learned what happens if you don’t stir the dry ingredients into the wet before turning the mixer on full-speed.” She giggles.

Bradley grins at me, and I walk over to him. He wraps his arms around me and gives me a floury hug and kiss upon my nose. I hear the sudden scrape against the marble floor and look over where Kaleb stands from the barstool at the counter abruptly before he walks past me, not saying a word, as he exits the kitchen.

I stare after him with a frown upon my face.

“He just needs time.” Bradley whispers to me, and I nod, before I step out of his arms and follow my middle son.