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

whiff of bloody cookie grandma scent, her fingers

almost maternal touch is unfamiliar to

a little elevated,” she murmurs, -more to herself than to

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

toddler?-who’d been ill from

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Doctor’s Care

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

ebbing from my body as she works, carefully checking every wound on my face and neck

first 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 have to squeeze my

a gentle anchor pulling me back to the present. “Just focus on my voice, Ava.

eyes open, fixing my gaze on her face as she carefully peels back

the revulsion

Doctor’s Care

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

for a

steps back, giving me an appraising look that makes me feel like I’m being evaluated on more than just my physical state.

through quite an ordeal, haven’t you, dear?” she says at last, her voice laced with sympathy. “But you’re a fighter, I can see that. And with the right help, you’ll come through this stronger

to respond, but she holds

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

them through the

because she pauses as though she’s waiting for

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

shake my head, flummoxed by her no–nonsense

need anything, your call

takes a moment to check

my bed, picking it up

“Here.

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