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.

relax a little beneath

over with another whiff of bloody cookie grandma scent, her fingers surprisingly deft as they press

gentle, almost maternal touch is

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

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

toddler?-who’d been ill

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Ava: Doctor’s

out, she’d eaten something she

soothing cadence, the tension slowly ebbing from my body as she works, carefully checking every wound

the ragged wounds on my abdomen, angry and raw, has my breath catching in my throat. Vivid memories of

anchor pulling me back to the present. “Just focus on my

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

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

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 mend. I know it probably looks awful to you, but

works in silence for a few minutes, her

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

says at last, her voice laced with sympathy. “But you’re a

open my mouth to respond, but she holds up a

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

Ava: Doctor’s Care

through the

nod, because she pauses as though she’s waiting

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

shake my head, flummoxed by her

you need anything, your call light is…

Hmm.” Dr. Beaumont takes

picking it up from behind it

the floor. “Here. Nurses are

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 highest