Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 84 Ava: Doctor's Care

Dr. Ellison never appears before me again.

My new doctor is an older woman who smells like a mix of raw meat and chocolate chip cookies. Like a bunny-slaughtering, chubby grandma. It's an odd mix that makes my nose wrinkle a little.

"Good morning, Miss Grey," she greets me, her voice gentle and sweet, belying her stocky frame. It only adds to the Disney grandma effect, still with a side of vicious killer. "I'm Dr. Annise Beaumont, and I'll be taking over your care from now on."

She moves closer, and I flinch without thinking, tensing at her approach.

The rational part of my mind knows she's here to help, but after the disastrous encounter with Dr. Ellison, I can't shake the sense of unease that settles in the pit of my stomach. I don't want to be touched by people who hate me.

Dr. Beaumont seems to notice my apprehension, knitting her brows together as she watches me. "I've heard of your issues with Dr. Ellison. He's well known to be a bit of a problem child. Too big for his britches after heading off to university.

No need to worry, dear. I don't care what pack you're from. I'm just going to check your vitals and take a look at those wounds, make sure everything is healing properly."

Of course. All important things a normal doctor would do.

I force myself to relax a little beneath her ministrations. She leans over with another whiff of bloody cookie grandma scent, her fingers surprisingly deft as they press against my wrist to check for my pulse.

gentle, almost maternal touch

elevated," she murmurs, more to herself than to me. "But

the monitor beside my bed, clucking her tongue at my blood pressure. "That should go up with some medication changes," she says, before launching into a casual story about how her daughter had spent a day in the hospital the other day because of a grandchild—a toddler?—who'd been

and there was no horrifying epidemic taking down little

the tension slowly ebbing from

Vivid memories of the fight with Todd flash through my mind, and I have to

me back to

face as she carefully peels back the soiled dressings. Her expression is one of calm professionalism, betraying none of the revulsion I would expect at

cleaned it up well. We'll need to keep them clean

she's finished, she steps back, giving me an appraising look that makes me feel like I'm being evaluated

sympathy. "But you're a fighter, I can see that. And with the right help, you'll come through this

mouth to respond, but she holds up a hand, effectively silencing

and heal, Miss Grey. We'll have plenty of time to talk later. I'm going to reduce the frequency of your pain medication, and now that you're awake I'll have you swallow them as pills instead of giving them through

she pauses as though she's waiting for

and evening, just to make sure everything's going well. Our healer, Vanessa, seems quite taken with you, so she'll be checking on you daily. Most of our healers are on par with doctors, but without

keep your antibiotics through IV for now, but you'll be able to go home on the pill form. Do you have