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“How long has she been like this?” She gets right down to it. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t need me to explain what I’m concerned about.
“All day…at least. I’m not quite sure when the change came over her because she was like this when I woke up.”
The doctor takes a step forward, and Cedara makes a warning sound.
Dr. Bea stops. “Is she still…?”
I know she wants to say “dangerous.” I’m glad she doesn’t.
“She’s been fine with me.” It’s not really an answer to her question. “In fact, before this, we thought she had a handle on it.”
Dr. Bea makes a humming sound, still eyeing the wolf. “Has anything happened since then? Anything unusual?”
I hesitate for a moment, then forge ahead. “We sealed our mate bond last night,” I say quickly.
She gives me a quick glance. “I see.”
When she doesn’t go on, I ask, “Do you think that could have caused this?”
“No telling, honey.” She looks concerned. “It seems to me that her wolf responds instinctively to extreme emotion. Fear. Rage. Passion…”
Great. I loved her into losing control.
“Is there anything we can do?” I set a hand on my hip and rake the other through my hair. It’s something I’ve done a lot today.
“You could try giving her another shot of the antidote.” She reaches into her bag. “Maybe she simply needs more of it than the others. From what they told me, she was more heavily drugged than they were. She fought harder.”
Bastards!
But it doesn’t surprise me. My mate is a fighter.
“You think it will work?” I ask.
“It’s worth a try.” She shrugs, then removes a small vial and a hypodermic syringe from her bag. A moment later, she’s drawn up the antidote and is passing me the syringe. “I think this is your job, right?”
I sigh. I have no doubt that Cedara isn’t going to let the doctor anywhere near her with a needle. But I hate having to test her faith in me this way when I know that the memories associated with this must be hell for her. Yet, when I kneel at her side and find a place to stick the needle, she doesn’t budge.
She’s still inside here. My woman. I’m sure of it.
I stand, and the pair of us look down at the panting animal. Nothing happens, but I’m not surprised.
“Barrett,” the doctor breaks the silence, “I think you should brace yourself for the worst-case scenario here.”
“What are you talking about?” I’m guessing I don’t want to hear it.
“This antidote might not be the solution.” Her eyes are gentle when she turns them on me. “And if these bouts keep getting more frequent and longer…”
“Spit it out, Doc!”
“This could become permanent, honey.”
I swallow convulsively. “You’re trying to tell me she might stay like this? As her wolf?”
“Perhaps worse.” That gentle expression is now tinged with sympathy.
“How could it get worse?”
“She might slip away completely, Barrett. If the beast takes hold…there might be nothing left of the Cedara you know.”
