Beyond The Edge of Instincts

Chapter 7: Seeking a Doctor

Alex raced through the streets, teetering on the edge of sanity from worry for Luna. Only three specialists in the city understood werewolf anatomy and could help her manage the transformation. But working with them wasn't easy.

One of the doctors was Alex's last resort—his relationship with that one was strained, and the doctor was reluctant to deal with him. Without wasting time, Alex decided to visit Rurik first—an old acquaintance who had always been reliable in emergencies.

Alex parked his car by Rurik's house, but as soon as he stepped inside, the stench of death overwhelmed him. His instincts immediately warned that something was wrong. Chaos filled the space: overturned furniture, scattered belongings, and signs of struggle on the floor.

When Alex reached the room, he froze. There, in the center, lay Rurik's lifeless body. His eyes were open, and his neck was torn as if he had been attacked. Alex clenched his fists, suppressing a surge of rage.

He knew time was running out. Killing Rurik wasn't random—it was either a warning or an attempt to sabotage his plans. Someone was clearly working against him.

Alex got up and ran out of the house. He would have to move on to the next doctor, no matter how much he wanted to avoid the one who was his last option. But he had no choice: Luna couldn't wait.

He jumped back into the car and slammed the gas pedal to the floor. With Rurik dead, the chances of finding help for Luna dwindled even more. His mind raced through options. Two doctors remained: one might be available, and the other—someone Alex would rather avoid—was now a necessity.

His first stop was Klaus—a werewolf and surgeon long specialized in such cases. Alex hoped Klaus was still working at his clinic on the city's outskirts. The silence in the car heightened the tension. Every tick of the second hand meant Luna's aggression could spiral out of control, leading to disaster.

At last, he arrived at the small private clinic where Klaus practiced. The doors were open, but an eerie emptiness filled the place. Alex stepped inside, cautiously scanning his surroundings as his instincts flared once again.

— Klaus? — Alex called, but there was no response.

He ventured deeper into the building and found the surgeon's office abandoned. Medical instruments and scattered papers lay across the desk, as if Klaus had left in a hurry. A faint, disordered smell lingered in the air, confirming something was wrong.

Alex gritted his teeth. This was a bad sign.

— Damn it, — he muttered, turning back toward the exit.

He had one last option left—the doctor he never wanted to meet, but now Luna's only remaining hope.

Starting the engine, Alex drove to the only place left. This doctor was notorious for being secretive and difficult. That very nature had kept him out of trouble, but it also made working with him a nightmare. Alex had avoided him for as long as possible, knowing how hard it would be to convince him to help.

But Alex knew where to find him. It was one of those places people turned to when everything else failed. He headed to a remote area on the outskirts of town, where the last doctor—an expert on werewolf anatomy—illegally treated patients in a run-down house.

Alex found the doctor in his makeshift clinic, hidden in the basement of the crumbling building. The man sat in an old chair, smoking a cigarette, and glanced at Alex without the slightest hint of surprise.

— Long time no see, — the doctor said with a smirk. — Didn't think you'd come crawling back to me.

"I need your help," Alex began directly. "It's urgent. A girl, new to our kind. Her condition is worsening by the minute."