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.

almost maternal touch

to herself than to me. "But that's to be

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 ill from some sort of tummy bug,

she shouldn't, and there was

I find myself drawn in by her soothing cadence, the tension slowly ebbing from my body as she works, carefully checking every wound on my face and neck before replacing

glimpse of the ragged wounds on my abdomen, angry and raw, has my breath catching in my throat. Vivid memories of the fight with Todd flash through my mind, and I

Beaumont murmurs, her voice a gentle anchor pulling me back to

expression is one of calm professionalism, betraying none of the revulsion I would expect at the sight

ghosting over the edges of the wounds, just shy of touching them. "They cleaned it up well. We'll need to keep them clean and change the dressings regularly, but you're on the mend.

minutes, her movements sure and efficient as she applies fresh dressings to my wounds. When she's finished, she steps back, giving me

haven't you, dear?" she says at last, her voice laced with sympathy. "But

she holds up a

she says with a shake of her head. "Just rest 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

because she pauses as though she's waiting

be checking on you daily. Most of our healers are on par with doctors, but without the required licensing of the government. I'm not sure how it was in your old pack, but here,

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