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.

myself to relax a

another whiff of bloody cookie grandma scent, her fingers surprisingly deft

gentle, almost maternal touch is unfamiliar to

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

pressure. “That should go up with some medication changes,” she says, before

been ill from

13

217

Ava: Doctor’s

daycare. Turns out, she’d eaten something she shouldn’t, and there was no horrifying epidemic

ebbing from my body as she works,

has my breath catching in my throat. Vivid memories of the fight with Todd flash through

back to the present. “Just focus on my voice, Ava. You’re safe

her face as she carefully

none of the revulsion I would

Ava: Doctor’s

edges of the wounds, just shy of touching them. “They cleaned it up well. We’ll need to keep them clean

for a few minutes, her

giving me

with sympathy. “But you’re a fighter, I can see that. And with the

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

time to talk later. I’m going to reduce the frequency of your pain medication, and now

Ava: Doctor’s Care

them through the IV.”

pauses as though she’s waiting for

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 the required licensing of the government. I’m not sure how it was in your old pack, but

head, flummoxed by her

anything, your call light

Dr. Beaumont takes a moment to

it up

“Here. Nurses are around all

sure you’re aware. If you have any more questions, let them know, and I or my colleagues. can come chat with