Tangled

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

C 84 Ava: Doctor’s Care

to be a bit of a problem child. Too big for his britches after heading

ng 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

1. do.

to relax a little beneath her

of bloody cookie grandma scent, her fingers

almost maternal touch

-more to herself than to me. “But that’s

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

been ill

13

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Ava: Doctor’s Care

horrifying all the shifter parents at daycare. Turns out, she’d eaten something she shouldn’t, and there was no horrifying

reservations, 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

throat. Vivid memories of the fight with Todd flash

pulling me back

her face as she carefully

betraying none of the revulsion I would expect at

Doctor’s

comments, her fingers 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

for a

sure and efficient as she applies fresh dressings to my wounds. When she’s finished, she steps back, giving me an appraising look that makes me feel like I’m being evaluated on more than just my

her voice laced with sympathy. “But you’re a fighter, I can see that. And with the right help, you’ll

my mouth to respond, but she holds up a hand,

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

Doctor’s Care

through the

though she’s waiting for

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, we work together. We’re going to

my head, flummoxed by her no–nonsense summarization

need anything, your call light

Hmm.” Dr. Beaumont takes

picking it up from

“Here. Nurses are around all

If you have any more questions, let them know, and I or my colleagues. can come chat with you, okay?” Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Find_Nøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the