Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 95748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“All right, good.” Jackson’s posture eased slightly. “I can take you home now.”
Emily held up a hand. “Mind if I talk to the doctor alone for a moment? Girl stuff.”
Jackson’s eyes narrowed. “Wait a minute. That asshole didn’t touch you, did he?”
“No,” Emily said firmly. “Not at all. He hit me in the back of the head, but other than that, no. I rolled around a lot in the trunk, though, and I’ve got some bruises. I wouldn’t mind having the doc check them out. Plus, I have a few…female type questions.”
Jackson stepped back, hands raised. “Got it. I’ll go check in with the scouting parties and see if anyone’s found the other two who attacked you.” His gaze sharpened. “Are you sure there were only three?”
“As sure as I can be,” Emily replied, meeting his eyes. His concern settled somewhere low in her abdomen, but she shoved it aside. She needed to focus on healing and figuring out who wanted her taken.
“That’s all right.” Jackson’s voice softened slightly. “I’ll be back in a minute.” He stepped out, shutting the door behind him with a faint click. His footsteps echoed softly down the hallway, fading into the distance.
“Whose pants is he wearing?” Emily asked.
“Oh. My partner’s. Dr. Moore. They’re about the same size,” replied Dr. Gwen, stepping closer with a small, reassuring smile. The overhead light cast a soft glow across her light purple scrubs, her stethoscope gleaming against her chest. “Okay. So, where else are you hurt?”
Emily met her gaze. “We’re covered by doctor-patient privilege, correct?”
Dr. Gwen lifted her brows slightly. “Of course. Anything we discuss stays between us.”
“And you know what you’re doing?”
“Yes.” The doctor’s gaze remained calm but steady. “I’ve trained at some of the best universities and medical schools in the world, as well as with several wolf packs that share their medical knowledge. I’ve seen a wide range of conditions, both human and shifter. Is there a reason you’re asking?”
Emily exhaled slowly, her fingers curling into the blanket. Her senses told her she could trust the doctor. “Any idea who’s been sabotaging the mines?” Perhaps someone had confided in their doctor.
“No.”
Truth. The female was honest.
Okay. Time for Emily to be just as truthful. “There’s something wrong with me.”
The doctor’s expression remained calm and reassuring. “Can you go into more detail?”
“Just over a month ago, I started getting weak in the knees. The feeling comes and goes, but now it is getting much worse. I’m not as strong as I used to be, and I need more sleep than before. It’s not exhaustion. It feels like my body’s slowing down.” Her voice dropped. “My mother and her mother both died from strange illnesses no one could diagnose. I’m younger than they were when it hit them, but it’s not getting better.”
“That quickly of a progression?” Dr. Gwen asked, her expression growing more serious as she jotted notes on a tablet. “You’re sure the illness is getting worse?”
Emily nodded. “Yes. Sometimes, I feel like my legs are going to give out entirely.”
“Any other symptoms? Difficulty breathing? Changes in appetite?”
“Nothing like that. Just weakness, numbness, and wanting to sleep all of the time.” Emily’s throat tightened. “My healer doesn’t know what’s causing it, but she doesn’t have the kind of training you do.”
The doctor set the tablet aside and offered a reassuring smile. “I’ll do everything I can to help, Emily. We’ll run some tests and see what we can find.”
“Sure. If you can help me, I’d appreciate it.”
The doctor quickly drew several vials of blood and returned to her tablet, typing swiftly. “I need you to describe every symptom, no matter how minor. If there’s a way to figure this out, we will. I promise.”
“You can’t tell Jackson or anyone else.”
“I won’t say a word,” the doctor assured her. “But if you’re planning on mating him, I think you should tell him the truth.”
Heat flushed through Emily. “I’m not going to mate him.”
“Are you sure?” The doctor’s eyes softened. “You didn’t see him pacing and growling while you were unconscious. I’ve never seen Jackson like that.”
Emily swallowed hard. “We’re friends. But there are too many reasons we can’t mate, and this illness is only one of them. If you can figure out what’s wrong, maybe I can step up as Alpha of my pack for now. They don’t have anyone else.”
The doctor nodded. “I’ll do my best. I may need to consult with some outside specialists, but I promise I’ll keep your identity confidential.”
“Thank you.” Emily pushed herself off the bed. The room tilted and spun, and she staggered. Strong hands caught her arms, holding her stable.
“Whoa. All right, breathe deeply.” Dr. Gwen’s grip felt firm and steady. “You’ll be okay.”
Emily inhaled slowly, her pulse evening out as the world centered again.
“You good?” the doctor asked.
“Yes.” Emily released a shaky breath, her legs still wobbly.