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

fingers

almost maternal touch

to herself than to me. “But that’s to be expected,

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

toddler?-who’d been ill from some

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Doctor’s

she’d eaten something she shouldn’t, and there was

drawn in by her soothing cadence, the tension slowly ebbing from my body as she works, carefully

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

voice a gentle anchor pulling me back to

my eyes open, fixing my gaze on her face as she

betraying none of the revulsion

Ava: Doctor’s Care

nicely,” she 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 you’re on the mend. I know it probably looks awful to

in silence for a few

giving me an appraising look that

you’re a fighter, I can see

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

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

Doctor’s

them through the IV.”

because she pauses as though she’s waiting

morning 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 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 keep your antibiotics through IV for now, but you’ll be able to go home on the pill

her no–nonsense

you need anything, your call

Hmm.” Dr. Beaumont takes a moment

my bed, picking it up

on the floor. “Here. Nurses are around

can come chat with you, okay?” Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Find_Nøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and