Three Alphas, Three Mates

Chapter 57 - Kicked Out

"So what are you going to do with them?" Dr. Janice asks, rubbing a pale ointment on Shen's leg.

Carson looks at Axel. Axel looks at Aiden. Aiden looks at Ethel. Ethel looks at Shen. Shen looks at me. I look at Onai. Onai looks away.

"We're not sure yet," Carson says.

The doctor frowns. "Well, you have some kind of idea, right?"

Aiden has plenty, but Axel cuts him off. "We're... figuring it out." Axel's tight smile doesn't hide the pointed looks they exchange. I wonder what they're thinking. From the tight expressions on Onai and Ethel's faces, they don't know either.

Dr Janice sighs. "Well." She turns to her nephew, meeting his worried eyes. "I'm sure they'll decide what's best."

"Will they?" he asks frantically.

She doesn't have an answer. She carefully wraps a bandage around Shen's leg, keeping the damaged limb as still as possible. "Have..." She hesitates. "You told your mom yet, Ethel?"

He pales.

Dr. Janice quickly adds, "I could tell her if you want me to—"

"No," he shouts. Then he lowers his voice, holding his forehead. "I mean, please... Don't."

Her eyes say it all.

Silence fills the room as the doctor pulls Shen's pants leg back down. "If that's all you alphas needed." She stands up. "I should be going. I've got other patients at the hospital."

Axel nods. "Of course. Sorry to keep you."

"It's fine—"

"Obviously..." Aiden's cold eyes turn to her. "This stays between us."

The doctor watches him cautiously. I do the same. Finally, she says, "I couldn't agree more. I don't want to talk to the elders any more than you do." There's some sassiness in that statement.

She grabs the bag next to her and turns towards the door. Onai's dad watches her while she does it, and for a moment—just a moment—she watches him too. Then she looks away. "I'll be leaving then. Call me if anything changes." I don't know if she's talking to us or him. Either way, she grabs a few more bags on her way out.

Ethel tells her not to. "Leave them. I've got it."

"Are you sure?" she asks.

He nods.

"Thanks." She grabs as much as she can before taking him up on his offer. When she reaches the doorway, though, her feet stop. Her body pauses in the space, shoulders turning so that she can peer back at me. "Oh, and Luna."

I meet her eyes. The brothers seem tense.

"I thought you should know. There are a few things that happen when a werewolf becomes a luna."

I furrow my brow.

"Mia's not a werewolf," Carson says.

"Still." The doctor keeps her eyes on me. "She should know, shouldn't she? Just in case."

"Just in case what?" Aiden asks.

The doctor shrugs. "Life? A potential disaster? Her actually having any of these abilities?"

"What's she talking about?" I ask.

Axel meets my eyes, giving me a reassuring look. "It's nothing." He turns to the doctor. "She's just talking about scent changes and mindlink attachments."

"Stuff you wouldn't have." Carson glares at Dr. Janice.

"What about persuading pack members?" she asks. "Creating trust among the ranks? Developing the ability to help people find their imprints?"