Early Imprint [Book 3] ✔️

28 • Some Questions

QUIL'S POV

"Try not to phase out of those sweats. That's the last pair I have for you," Emily told me. I smiled briefly in her direction before looking away.

We were sitting in the hospital waiting room. They were changing Claire's catheter so they asked us to step outside of the room. Seth had gone to the hospital cafeteria for some food. Nate was sitting in a chair that was next to the couch Emily and Sam were sitting on. Emily and Sam were sitting close together, holding hands. They were so in tune with each other that it hurt for me to look at them right now.

I sat in my chair with my elbows on my knees. I had Claire's ruby ring on the tip of my index finger and kept twisting it over and over again. It was so tiny that I had to be careful not to drop it. I had almost forgotten to grab the ring after I'd pummeled the bastard who'd hurt Claire. It had been in my pants pocket when I had phased back at the bar. When I remembered it, I had to search for the ring through what remained of my shredded clothes. Luckily, I was able to locate it. As soon as I did, Nate and I headed back to the hospital where Emily had been waiting outside for me with a new t-shirt and sweatpants.

"So if I'm your Alpha does that mean I get to tell you what to do?" Nate suddenly burst out, looking at his father.

"Just because you're the Alpha doesn't mean you can take advantage of it, Smartass. I'm still your father and will ground you if I need to." Sam replied. Emily chuckled softly.

"Besides," Sam continued, "You seem to be adjusting well. I think I'm going to try to stop phasing now, so you won't get a chance to order me around."

"So you're officially retiring, huh?" Seth remarked as he appeared with a tray full of food.

"Well, the pack has a new leader. You don't need me anymore." Sam replied before looking at Emily with a gentle smile. "Anyways, it's time."

We were interrupted from our discussion as two police officers appeared in the waiting room. They stopped by to talk to a nurse who pointed in our direction. The officers turned and slowly approached us.

"Are you the family members of Claire Young?" One officer asked.

"That's right," Sam spoke up.

"I'm Sergeant Glasko. This is my partner Officer Taggart. We've been assigned to Ms. Young's case. We wanted to stop by and see if she's regained consciousness yet?"

"She's still not awake," Emily replied.

The sergeant took off his hat that he was wearing. He started twisting it in his hands.

"That not all," he said. "We've had a break in the case. We received an anonymous tip, and the man who committed the attack on Ms. Young was found unconscious in a park. The DNA sample taken from underneath Ms. Young's fingernails where she scratched her assailant, matches the DNA we had on record for the suspect.

"He'll stand trial, correct?" Emily asked, anger in her voice.

"Ma'am, I don't think he'll be fit to stand trial. He was badly beaten. Whoever attacked him caused the assailant to have severe brain damage. I just spoke with the doctor who was treating him. He'll be a vegetable for the rest of his life." The sergeant spoke bluntly. "Personally, I'd like to shake the hand of the person who did it. The suspect had a rap sheet a mile long. Breaking and entering, rape, and battery were just a few of his past crimes."

The officer with the sergeant coughed. The sergeant looked at him and then cleared his throat. "The thing is...we need to ask you some questions."

The sergeant glanced over all of us, his eyes lingering on Seth and Sam.