Page 41 of Starting a New Life

I was in the packhouse. There were more than twenty shifters around. And my mate… I closed my eyes, letting my magic flow freely. It instantly zeroed in on one aura, a pulling sensation in my chest drawing me closer to one of the walls. My mate was right there on the other side. I could feel him, the magic within him and his wolf strong and stubborn.

Fuck this shit.

I snapped my eyes open and started getting dressed.

The clothes hung on my frame, but they did what they were supposed to do: keep me warm. I gave myself another quick look in the mirror and pulled the hood over my head, then exited the bathroom into the guest room, where Levi and the doctor were already waiting for me.

“Hello,” the doctor said, extending his hand. I eyed it carefully, my heart skipping a beat. I didn’t want to touch him. I definitely didn’t want him to touch me. Didn’t want him to come anywhere near me at all. I didn’t need a doctor. “I’m Jasper.” His voice was calm, melodic, trying to lure me into a sense of security, but I knew better. A kind face couldn’t fool me.

I gave him a short nod but took a step back.

“I’d like to examine you if that’s okay.”

“And if I say no?” I asked without taking my eyes off him.

His hands were empty. No collar to be seen. Then again, I doubted they’d try putting a fucking collar around my neck when Levi was present. If they needed one for me at all.

“Nix,” Levi chastised softly, but the doctor just smiled patiently.

“You’re conscious and not mentally incapacitated, so it’s your decision. I can only urge you to let me make sure you’re okay.”

“I am okay,” I said. There was nothing wrong that he’d be able to change.

“Are you? I was told you fainted in the woods.”

I took another step back, my eyes still fixated on the doctor. “I overextended myself. Nothing a bit of sleep won’t fix.”

He didn’t need to know that wasn’t entirely true. No one needed to know. If they realized how weak I was at the moment, they might decide now was the perfect time to attack.

“You almost fainted back in the bakery too. That was weeks ago,” Levi said quietly, giving me a pointed look.

“I just need a bit of sleep.”

And a roof over my head. Steady meals. The knowledge that I wasn’t being hunted anymore. Safety. Peace. I wouldn’t find that here.

“Nix,” the doctor said, trying to get my attention, though I hadn’t ever let him out of my sight. “May I make a suggestion?”

I shrugged. Did it really matter if I said no?

“If you’re not up for a full exam, maybe we can quickly take your vitals—blood pressure, temperature, etc. Nothing invasive, and it only takes a minute. I’m sure Levi will feel better knowing you’re healthy. And then I’d like to draw some blood for a blood panel to…”

I reared back, shaking my head. Those nice words and logical explanations were nothing but a scam. Did they think I was so out of it that I didn’t know what they were planning? “I won’t give you my blood!”

Didn’t he know what he was asking?

No, he doesn’t, that fucking annoying voice in my head said. He seems sincere. Maybe he doesn’t know anything about magic.

The doctor sighed, his eyes darting from me to Levi and back.

“What about your vitals?”

I shook my head.

Now that I knew he had needles on him, there was no way I’d let him close enough to stick one in me. They were after my blood. Already planning on a personalized collar. I’d seen how those worked. My own fucking coven had spelled some of those. Oh, they thought I didn’t know about that specific side business of theirs, but I knew everything. When your own home wasn’t a safe place, knowledge was your best defence.

The doctor sighed, a defeated expression on his face as he looked to Levi for help, but my friend shook his head and mouthed, “Later.”

“I’ll be back tomorrow to check on my other two patients. Very impressive work you did on them, by the way. Of course, shifters are usually able to heal themselves, but they were at the end of their rope. Our shooting victim wouldn’t have made it without your help. Anyway… if you change your mind, I can stop by after I check in on them.”