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

scent, her fingers surprisingly deft as they press against

gentle, almost maternal touch is unfamiliar

elevated,” she murmurs, -more to herself

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 had spent a day in the hospital the other day because of

toddler?-who’d been ill from some

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Doctor’s Care

all the shifter parents at daycare. Turns out, she’d eaten something she shouldn’t, and

ebbing from my body as

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

pulling me back to the present.

eyes open, fixing my gaze on her face as she carefully peels back the soiled dressings.

the revulsion I would

Ava: Doctor’s

healing 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

works in silence for a

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

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 than

mouth to respond, but she

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

giving them through the IV.”

though

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

head, flummoxed by her no–nonsense summarization of

anything, your

Hmm.” Dr. Beaumont takes a

bed, picking it up from behind

“Here. Nurses

aware. If you 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