A Mate Without A Mark

6. Glen's Condition

Glen

The next morning

As much as I missed my best friend, I knew what she was doing was for the betterment of our pack, so I had to trust that Alpha Colt and Chairman Roger Bryce would keep their promise and make sure that nothing would happen to her.

But that's not the only reason I was worried. As brave and simple as she is, she was also reckless and didn't know when to stop. I loved her as much as anyone could love the person who had been close to them for years, but even I couldn't ignore her faults.

I woke up to a text from her.

"Goodnight."

I smiled, rubbing my eyes before replying back.

"Good morning. I didn't see your text. Knocked out."

That wasn't the only reason I didn't see it.

For a while now, I have been experiencing pain in my stomach. It was small at first. I could easily ignore it as long as I was distracted by something. However, gradually, that pain began to build. My mother was worried, so she sent me to one of our members who had a little clinic not far from the packhouse. She was who I went to yesterday for a checkup. She said we would have the results today so that's where I planned to spend my morning.

Doctor Stephanie Chambers closed the door to her office. "Glen, my dear! Take a seat."

I smiled and took the chair in front of her desk. "Doctor Chambers, I hope I'm not too early."

She shook her head, then sat across from me. "No worries, it's not a problem at all, even if you did come early." Dr. Chambers opened a file on her desk. He clicked her pen. "How are those pain meds I recommended you?"

I drew in a shallow breath. "So far, so good. They've really helped, and I was able to sleep last night without any issues."

The paper rustled as she jotted what I said down.

"Any issues you want me to take note of?"

"Other than what we talked about, no."

"Good, good." Her finger tucked a lock of black hair out of her eyes. "Do you want me to give you the bad news first or the good news?"

I rubbed my palms along the smooth surface of my jeans. "Um, good news."

She granted me a smile and turned a page. "Remember what I suggested it might be? Turns out I was correct. What you're experiencing now is abdominal pain caused by your body holding your wolf at bay. We call it Shifter Pains. It's uncommon, but not all that rare, and usually genetic. Is there anyone in your family who has experienced this?"

I thought for a moment. "My mom and dad, no, however, my Dad's brother went through something similar during his teen years."

"The Alpha, yes. That's odd." Dr. Chambers turned her head away, muttering to herself as if I don't have enhanced hearing. "Normally the parents are the ones who pass it down. I've never heard or seen a case where..."

Dr. Chambers covered her mouth, slowly shifting her gaze to me. I stared at her, confused. "What is it?"

"You... um, nothing." A nervous smile appeared on her face. "I-I should talk to the Beta."

"But I'm right here." I stood up. "If something's off, I need to know. What's the bad news?"

"T-the bad news was that you had to wait for a few days to get the medication." Despite the fact that she was talking to me, her eyes never met mine. She picked up her coat and made a bee-line for the door. "I'm sorry. I need to meet someone, so I'll have to go."

Dr. Chambers opened the door. My hand stopped it from moving. She glanced up at me, eyes wide. I could imagine what I looked like, trying to keep my anger at bay and towering over her.

"Doctor Chambers, please. I need to know. I don't like secrets being kept from me. You're running to tell my father something, I just know it. Anything you tell him, you can tell me. So please, let me know."

Internal turmoil became visible in her green almond eyes. After a minute or so of just staring at each other, she eventually gave up.

"Did anyone tell you that Alpha Colt and Julia used to date?" She asked.

I clenched my jaw. "Yeah, Mom and my uncle used to go out in high school, but they broke up in senior year. What has that got to do with this?"

She sighed. "There were rumors... that they didn't break up."

________

Reiss

Someone knocked on my office door, successfully disturbing my work. I growled. I was already frustrated thinking about what to do with Cindy, so I answered with no regard for who stood on the other side.

"What is it?" I yelled.

No one responded. I was beginning to get more annoyed.

"It's Cindy, Alpha Reiss. You asked me to be here. Is it a bad time or can I come in?"

I sighed and pinched my forehead. *You just yelled and scared your mate. Great going, Reiss. I hope that made you feel better.*

"No, uh, I mean yes." *s**t*. "Come in."

The door swung open and there she was, in a cute pair of pink shorts and a black blouse with elbow-long sleeves. My mouth became dry.

Her hair fell over her shoulders and stopped at her breasts. Her eyes took in the interior with curiosity.

I looked at my desk. My office was an unhealthy mess with papers, files and ledgers covering the furniture. Geez, this was the first time she was visiting my workspace, and now she was going to think I'm a slob.

She stopped in front of my desk. "Is this what you wanted me to help with?" She said, motioning to the litter.

I stood up. "Oh, yes." Not at all. I just wanted her to come here. "You can start by placing all the books you see on the shelf beside the couch. It doesn't matter in what order."

Cindy nodded. "Yes, Alpha Reiss. I'll get right on it."

*Yes, Alpha Reiss*. I would kill someone to hear her say my name again. It did things to my nether regions that I would rather not think about while working.

True to her word, she did get right to it. The office space looked better than it did an hour ago.

She sat on my black leather couch, making sure the folders were arranged by alphabetical order. Although I was trying to focus on work, I found it harder and harder to resist looking at her. I took note of the little things, like the way her brows furrowed in concentration, the way she muttered to herself. Even if I didn't want to get close to her right now, knowing about these little quirks pleased my wolf to the highest extent.

A sheet of paper slipped from one of the folders in her hand and flew over the armrest. It landed at the foot of the bookshelf.

Cindy slid over and leaned down to reach for it. Her shoulder hit the shelf. A small figurine representing the physical manifestation of the moon goddess shook until it was near the edge. Then it fell. Right on top of Cindy's head before falling to the floor and breaking in front of her face.

Just like the figurine, my mind was smashed into smithereens. My common sense and logic flew out the window when I rushed to grab her head and look for any cuts on her face. We were so close I could feel my own breath bouncing off her skin and back to me.

"Are you okay? Where do you feel pain?" I asked. Cindy's eyes widened. At least they didn't look hurt. "Speak to me, Cindy." There was a small bit of china on her nose but it wasn't embedded into her skin. "I need to know that you're alright!"

She blinked, then shook her head. "It didn't cut my face," Cindy whispered. "I turned away in time. But my hand hurts."

I used only one of the hands that was holding her face to pick up her left hand. It was bleeding. A cut stretched from below her pinkie to below the knuckle underneath her middle finger.

"Crap," I muttered. Why were humans so frigging fragile?