Chapter 202
Ethan
Unlike most kids, I never hated going to the doctor. I never feared shots or had anxiety visiting the
dentist. It wasn’t until Paisley was born that I began dreading the sympathetic smiles of nurses or grim
faces of physicians with the unfortunate burden of bearing bad news. Over the years, watching my
baby battle her heart condition taught me to absolutely despise hospitals and the sterile scents of
testing facilities. I can’t walk into a doctor’s office without my heart sinking into my stomach, even if it’s
just for a routine wellness check.
Those feelings of dread only grew when it became my turn to battle for my life, though Paisley is still at
the heart of it. I wouldn’t care so much about my fate if it weren’t for her. I know Jane and the other
pups are safe with Devon, I know they’re healing and well on their way to bright futures. What’s more,
over thest three months Matthew and Nina have helped me make ns to ensure the pack’s survival
and prosperity if the worst should happen, but I’m terrified of what my death will do to Paisley. The pack
will recover. Jane, Parker, Ryder and Riley will recover.. Paisley might not.
So when I enter my doctor’s office this afternoon, my insides automatically tie themselves into knots.
I’vee to expect bad news from appointments like these, and even though I’ve been improving in
recent months, I can’t unlearn all those years of fear and heartbreak. It’s something of a surprise then,
when my doctor enters with a wide smile on his face.
N?velDrama.Org ? content.
I narrow my eyes at him, not trusting that he’s entered the right room. My suspicion only grows when
he greets me with the same warm expression, “Hello Alpha.”
I cock my head to the side, ring my nostrils as if I imagine I might be able to sniff out whatever trick is
about to be yed on me. “Why are you smiling like that?” I demand, wondering if he’s trying to soften
some imminent blow with his friendly demeanor. “Oh Goddess, how bad is it?
How long do I have?”
The physician rolls his eyes and gives me an exasperated look. “Honestly Ethan, it’s not bad news.
Have you no hope at all?”
“No, I don’t.” I quip, still overwhelmed with suspicion. “If it’s not bad news, then what is it?” I press, “Are
you trying to sell me something, or butter me up so I’ll give you a rmendation to the board?”
“I don’t know how your mate puts up with you.” He jokes, but his eyes linger on me, as if he’s trying to
gauge my reaction. The pack had been taken by genuine surprise when I introduced Nina as my fated
mate. After everything that happened with Jane, Eve and the kidnapping, no one ever expected our
family to split up. In the end I gave the excuse that traumatic experiences like ours could bring couples
closer together or tear them apart, and we unfortunately qualified as thetter.
That had provided the tabloids with plenty of material, but things really notched up when I announced
my rtionship with Nina. The gossip has been endless and unbearable.
Seeming to gather that I’m not going to give him any insights on my private life, my doctor eventually
continues. “Yourtest scans are excellent, Alpha.” He announces. “The fluid around your spinal cord
has finally reduced enough that our chances of a sessful surgery are now around 50 percent –
which is a vast improvement from a few months ago.”
“50 percent chance of sess?” I repeat. “And what is failure, exactly? It doesn’t work and we try
againter, or it doesn’t work and I die?”
Now he does frown. “Ethan, you’ve been paralyzed for four months now. Your wolf is bing more
erratic by the day, even with your mate and your pup helping to calm him. By my estimate, you only
have three or four months left before you cross a point of no return. Now, we can wait another month or
two and hope that your chances will improve into the 60 percent range, but I can’t predict what mental
state you’ll be in by then.”
“So that’s the best improvement I can hope for, ten percent?” I inquire, the gears turning in my mind.
“I’d say so, and while the physical damage might be reversible, the mental may not be. I’m advising you
– as your physician and as a member of this pack who wants you to remain Alpha – do not wait on this
surgery. Now is the best chance you have toe out of this in one piece, and if you wait we all might
pay the price.” He deres firmly. “Your family most of all.”
I nod, clenching my eyes shut against the truth of his words. “I need to talk to them.” I answer. “I can’t
make this decision without letting them know what’s at stake.”
The doctor offers me a sad smile, “Ethan, I understand what you’re going through better than you think,
and I know it’s difficult with a little one at home. Just remember, it might feel important to stay with her
as long as you possibly can, but if this works you can have a whole lifetime with her – in my books
that’s worth risking a few months that will probably be incredibly painful and traumatizing for her.”
“I hear you.” I confirm, “I still have to talk to them first”
When I reach the penthouse about an hourter, it’s to the sound of Nina’s exasperated cry.”
Paisley, this isn’t funny! Come out this instant!”
Despite the frustration in her voice, I feel my lip quirking up in amusement. Paisley has not exactly
epted Nina, and she gets up to no end of mischief when I’m away. If I had to guess, I’d say my
clever pup has decided to y hide and seek with my fated mate – despite the fact that Nina never
agreed to a game.
When I walk in, I find Nina standing in the middle of the hall way, holding one of Paisley’s dresses in
her hand. She turns toward me with zing eyes,
She did it again!” She exims. “I told her it was bathtime and she pretended toe along- then the
moment I turned my back she disappeared!”
Nina waves the dress at me, as if in usation.”
And of course this whole house smells like her so tracking her is like trying to find a needle in a
haystack.”
“Hmm,” I muse, striding into the living room, “if I were a sneaky little sausage called Paisley, where
would I be?” I ask loudly, ducking down to peek under the couch. I hear a small giggle from the kitchen,
and though Nina whips around with her ears cocked to the noise, I hold up a hand to stop her. “She’s
not here” I project, pulling back one of the curtains. “Did she disappear?”
“Honestly Ethan, I know you think it’s cute but she’s too old for this!” Nina hisses. Poor she-wolf, it’s not
her fault that Paisley is so set against her. I don’t think she’s ever dreamed of having children of her
own, but I don’t think she dislikes them either – and Paisley has made her experience of step-
motherhood very difficult indeed.
I pause to drop a kiss on her forehead, taking the dress from her hand. “She’s just a pup, Nina.” I
remind her in a whisper. “And she’s had a very hard life. She misses her Mommy, don’t take it
personally.”
Nina softens slightly, ncing sympathetically towards the kitchen. She exhales heavily, and makes a
gesture encouraging me to get on with the game, before stalking into the living room and slumping onto
the couch.
I, on the other hand, continue the hunt, prowling into the kitchen and making ominous announcements
every few feet, “Fee, Fie, Fo, Fum, I smell the blood of a Paisley pup!” asionally I open a cab or
drawer, making disappointed noises when I fail. “Hmm, she’s not in the freezer…
Not in the microwave – that’s a relief.”
Then, I whip open the cabs nearest her, shouting “a-ha!” Of course they’re empty, but my perceived
failure only sends my little girl into a riot ofughter. Chuckling deeply I finally pry open the door
concealing my daughter, who’s curled up in a little ball, wearing only her underwear.
“Daddy, you found me!”‘ Paisley chirps happily, leaping into my arms.
“I did!” I exim, kissing her cheeks, forehead and nose. “You haven’t been making trouble for Nina,
have you munchkin?”
“Maybe just a littles.” She flushes, peeking up at me from beneath hershes.
“Tsk, tsk.” I scold, “Such a naughty pup. Don’t you know Nina only wants to take care of you?”
“But Daddy, she’s so funny when she gets all mad.”
Paisley objects, as if this justifies everything.
I set her down and pull her dress over her head. “
March your cute butt over there and tell her you’re sorry.”
Paisley pauses, narrowing her eyes. “Do I have to take a bath after?”
“Eventually, but first we need to talk.” I answer seriously.
“Bout what, Daddy?” She inquires.
I take a deep breath, wishing this was as easy as sniffing her out. “About our future – and how long I’m
going to be in it.”
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