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 little

whiff of bloody cookie grandma scent, her fingers surprisingly

almost maternal touch is unfamiliar to

she murmurs, -more to herself than to me. “But that’s to be expected, given

go up with some medication changes,” she says, before launching into a casual story about

ill from some sort

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Doctor’s Care

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

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

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

back to the present. “Just focus on my

her face as she carefully peels

of calm professionalism, betraying none of the revulsion I would expect at the

Ava: Doctor’s

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

silence for

me an appraising look that makes me feel like I’m being evaluated on more than

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,

my mouth to respond, but 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

Doctor’s

them through

as though she’s waiting

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

my head, flummoxed by her no–nonsense summarization

If you need anything, your call light

Dr. Beaumont takes

it

the floor. “Here. Nurses are

and I or my colleagues. can come chat with you,