Across Enemy Lines

Chapter 1

I woke to the gentle hum of my alarm playing its calming melody. I grabbed it to look at the time, 5:30am. Five more minutes. I can snooze five more minutes. I hit the button and rolled over. No sooner had I shut my eyes, I heard the alarm once more. I pulled myself from the comfort of my plush bed with a stretch and an audible sigh.

I headed straight to the bathroom to relieve myself and shower. I adjusted the temperature and climbed in under the gentle heat of the water. I massaged my gardenia scented shampoo into my thick black hair. I began thinking about the day ahead. I had 27 patients today. I applied my jasmine conditioner, rinsed, and washed my face with my face wash. Today was Tuesday, face scrub day. I scrubbed my face then grabbed my rose scented cream body wash. I washed my body, rinsed and got out.

I dried myself off, then wrapped my hair and body up in towels before slipping on my house shoes and making my way to the kitchen to brew my coffee and start my breakfast. If I am nothing else, I am a creature of habit. I do the same thing everyday and have been for the last five years. I have never cared for change, I thrived on consistency. The slightest deviation sat my entire world a blaze.

I went back to my room to finish getting ready while my breakfast cooked. I was finishing up my make up when my phone rang. It was Ramona, my medical assistant. She was a short young woman with wavey natural blonde hair. By the world's standards she was gorgeous with her soda bottle frame, ocean blue eyes and deep cherry lips .

"Hello?"

"Good morning Doc! So, I'm running late. My sister can't keep Nicholas,so I've gotta-" Ramona's bright voice spoke quickly.

"Ramona, our schedule is packed today. I really don't have time for this."

"I know Doc but this won't happen again. There's just nothin' I can do. I'm tryin' to call Momma but-"

"Just bring him, but you need to get it together Ramona."

"Thanks Doc! I will. I promise." She hung up. I dropped my phone on the bed and returned to the bathroom to take the hot rollers out of my hair. It fell down in waves of onyx down my back. I grabbed a berette and pulled up one side. I gave myself one last look over in the mirror and headed to the kitchen to eat my breakfast.

I opened my laptop and began preparing my charts for the day while I munched on my bagel and sipped my coffee. "Mister and Missus Peterson are coming in today… How lovely?" I muttered to myself. The Petersons were an older couple who did everything together but when they came to the doctor it was a timely affair. I finished my bagel and charts, cleaned up, grabbed my purse and keys and headed out the door.

I arrived at work at 6:45am. I scanned my badge on the door and walked in, down the hall, straight into my office. I grabbed my water pitcher and made my way to the kitchenette to fill it so I could water my ivy and aloe plants. Bill had said no live plants but I insisted I have them. After watering my plants I finished up my charts then headed down the hall to grab my first patient. Usually, Ramona would be doing this but she was late due to the debacle with her son.

"Mrs.Hollens?" The sturdy old woman grabbed her cane and made her way to me.

"Ramona late again?" Mrs.Hollens was use to Ramona's tardiness.

"Yes. But I'm sure she will be along soon. Come, let's get your weight and you can tell me about what you've been canning lately." I gave her a gentle smile and her saggy face brightened. This was how I spent the first hour and a half of my morning until Ramona and Nicholas arrived.

"No. Mom! No!" Nicholas was wailing in the hall. I had to make a move quickly before Bill heard his shrieking little voice.

"Hi, Nicky! I'm so glad you're here visiting me today! Come with me while Mommy gets settled and you can help me feed my turtle. I waited just for you." Nicholas perked up and raced over to me. He jumped into my waiting arms and we scampered down the hall to my office.

Everyone in the office knew about Ramona's family issues so we would all try to chip in and help entertain Nicholas while Ramona worked. Dr.Ball would take him to the other side of the office to color in his office, Dr.Clack would let him watch Sesame Street in his office. At her lunch hour Dr.Queen would try to teach Nicholas as much as possible by giving him grapes for each right answer. She was convinced he was going to be a doctor like the rest of us. Even our CEO, Dr.Fine,would take Nicholas in his office to play go fish for awhile. I just tried my best to keep Bill from finding out he was there.

Bill Claymore was an older gentlemen with mostly white hair and deep blue eyes. He reminded me of the cartoon character "Droopy". Bill was a nice enough man but he was a stickler for rules. He liked everything a certain way. He didn't enjoy when people brought their children into the office because, even though we were a family practice, "the office is no place for children".

In-between seeing patients we would each take a turn playing with Nicholas and hiding him from Bill. At my lunch hour, I took Nicholas across the street to the little Columbian restaurant, where we shared a platter of empanadas and a mango smoothie. I enjoyed these moments with Nicholas. He was a handsome little guy with a shock of platinum blonde hair and ocean blue eyes. He was intelligent and at just five years old you just knew this kid would do big things. The only down fall of being around the little guy was the constant reminder of my own waning fertility.

By the time the last patient had come and gone, we were all exhausted. Ramona was packing up when Owen, one of our physician assistants, came walking up with Nicholas. I knew Owen liked Ramona but she was too oblivious to notice. Owen was a tall and lanky man with shaggy, dirty blonde hair and blue-green eyes. He had a small sharp nose and square jaw. He was attractive enough but one thing made him undesirable to me: the wedding band on his left ring finger.

"Mommy!" Nicholas squealed. Ramona chuckled and opened her arms for her son.

"Hey baby! Did you have a good day?" Ramona was aways gentle and always patient.

"I drawed you a picture!"

"Drew. You drew mommy a picture." I corrected.

"Yes. I drew you a picture. Look!" He smiled.

"Oh my goodness! Is that me? Oh its beautiful Nicky!" He had drawn a stick figure with large breast, wide hips and spaghetti looking hair.

"It is! And I DREW a picture of Dr.Wood too." He said, his little blue eyes twinkling. I took the picture from his tiny hands. It was a stick figure with large breast wide hips and black spaghetti hair. He had made little green dots for eyes and beside me he had drawn my turtle.

"Oh my. Well you certainly did a lovely job Nicky. I'm going to take this home and hang it on my fridge."

"Really Dr.Wood? You'll put it on your fridge?" He asked.

"Of course sweetheart. I never grow tired of your beautiful art work." I hugged the little boy and said my good byes. After everyone had left I made my way back to my office to grab my things before heading home.

I got in my black Subaru Forester. As began my drive home I started thinking about dinner. Maybe I can convince Maribel to bring over some leftovers. I pressed the phone icon on my stearing wheel.

"Call Maribel." The phone rang twice before a sweet southern voice picked up.

"Well, hey Miss Chloe. What can I do you for?"

"Hey Maribel. What did you make tonight for supper."

"I made cube steak, fried catfish, taters, collard greens, macaroni in cheese, green beans, corn bread, and apple pie. Uncle Henry made some ice cream to put on the pie. Why? You wan-" she was suddenly cut off by a sharp angelic voice.

"Is that Chloe Lynn?"

"Don't you tell Momma it's me Maribel." I hissed.

"I'm sorry Miss Chloe, but you know I gotta. Yes, Mrs.Wood. It's Miss Chloe." I could hear the shake in her voice.

"You tell Chloe Lynn that if she wants supper, she can bring her snooty ass over here and get it. Ain't nobody bringing her shit." My mother commanded.

"Fine Maribel. You tell Momma-"

"Chloe Lynn? You bring your ass over hear now and eat this supper. You want me to tell your Daddy?" My mother said,leaving no room for discussion or rejection.

"No ma'am. I'm coming. I'll be there in ten minutes." I knew there was no fighting it. If my father got involved, nothing good would come from it.

I stopped at the guard station before heading to the house. Every vehicle in or out got searched. It was just a precaution. I continued on my way down the long driveway until I arrived at the large house. It was shift change and the guards were switching out.

I walked in the front door and was immediately wrapped in a hug. I pulled back to see a pair of electric green eyes.

"Hello Joseph." My brother was big for a 18 year old, standing at 6'7. He was built like a line backer with his broad shoulders and large muscles. Like me,his hair was jet black and his eyes an electric green. Joseph had a strong jaw and thick eye brows.

"Hey Chloe Lynn! Did Momma make you come out here to get supper?" He chuckled.

"Yes." I looked down at my feet. I hated coming back here. It was just a constant reminder of who and what I was. "I don't see why Maribel couldn't have just brought it over to me." I mumbled.

"Because Maribel isn't your slave Chloe Lynn." Momma had found her way to the entry way. She walked over and kissed my cheek. "Come on now. It's getting cold. Joey, go get your Daddy." My brother grinned at me and turned around to head up the stairs to my father's office. I groaned. I knew she would turn this into a big deal. Before I could protest, Momma cut her eyes at me. "Dont you start with me, Chloe Lynn." I straightened my back and nodded. I didn't want to push my luck with her. My mother was not a very big woman. She was five foot even with flowing black hair and piercing blue eyes. She was a stunning woman who looked more like my sister than my mother. What she lacked in size she made up for in fire. She could take me out with one well placed smack.

I followed her to the dining hall where everyone was waiting. I got many smiles and winks, along with a few whoops and hellos. I sat in the chair that was always reserved for me and we waited for my father to come down for dinner. I could hear his footsteps before I could see him. My father was a mountain of a man. He had dark brown hair and electric green eyes. He was 6'9 and weighed about 375lbs of rock solid muscle. Despite his large size, my father was a compassionate, gentle man. It was only if you were bold enough to upset his wife that he got angry.

"Chloe Lynn?" My father's voice boomed across the great hall.

"Hey Daddy." I stood and went to him. He wrapped his large arms around me and I took a deep breath in, inhaling his woodsy scent. I felt safe.

"I missed you,little one." He whispered in my ear.

"I missed you too, Daddy"

"Not enough to come for dinner unless I make you." Momma muttered.

"Dammit Evelyn! Can't you just let her be? Just for one day?" Daddy whined. Momma was no match against Daddy. He was her weakness.

"Fine Joe. Fine. Sit down and let's bless the food." Momma's lips became a thin line as we all sat down. Daddy winked at me with a childish grin.

"Alright, little one, since you're here, you bless the food."

I took a deep breath. I hated blessing the food but I could never tell Daddy no.

"Our kind and generous Goddess, thank you for gifting our pack with an abundance of food. Thank you for allowing our pack to prosper. Thank you for each pack member that is here with us and please watch over those who have left us. In you we pray, Amen."

After dinner, I helped the the kitchen crew clean up. It was never asked or required but I never wanted the kitchen staff or Maribel to feel like I was ungrateful. When we were finished, I headed out to the front porch where my mother, father and brother were sitting discussing a rogue issue.

"I told Devin to put ten more guards along the boarder. Them rogues been in here stealin' s**t again. Ed and Sharon saids they made off with their four wheeler and a dozen chickens." Daddy took a sip of his sweet tea.

"Haley saids her momma is missing some jewelry. I told her if she hears anything at all just link me and I'll be right over. But Daddy we gotta do something. If they keep thinking they can come on to our land, they'll start getting ballsier. I just ain't tryin' to see no body get hurt." Joseph said, his green eyes filled with concern.

"Anyone. You don't want anyone getting hurt." I corrected. They all looked at me, Daddy's eyes twinkling.

"Wanna go for a run Chloe Lynn? I bet you ain't let May out in a long time." Joseph grinned at me.

"I haven't. As a matter of a fact, she stays kind of quiet now days." Joseph's grin fade.

"What do you mean she stays quiet?" Momma asked.

"I don't know. She doesn't say much. Every now and then she will comment on something mundane, like clothes or food. Mostly she's just quiet." I shrugged.

"Chloe Lynn, that's not normal. I think she's quiet because you moved away. I think its time you came home. You can be the pack doctor like we planned." Daddy stated it like it was already decided.

"Daddy,no. I like where I work. I enjoy the people I work with and the patients I care for. I can't just abandon them." I pleaded.

"Oh, but it's ok to abandon the pack and your family?" Momma chided. I looked at my father but he just stared at me as if he agreed with her.

"I didn't abandon my family. I did what normal children do. I grew up, I went to college, I moved out on my own, I got a job-"

"You're not a normal child, Chloe Lynn. Hell, you're not even a normal werewolf. You are an alpha. And here you are, playing doctor-" my mother ranted.

"Goddammit Momma! That isn't fair!"

"Chloe Lynn, you watch how you speak to your Momma now." My father's voice was low and threatening.

"I'm not doing this. I love you but I'm going home." I turned to leave.

"Hey, w-what about that r-run?" Joseph uttered.

"Not tonight, Joey." I turned to walk to my car.

"When are you coming back?" I turned to see my brother following me.

"I don't know Joey. I'm busy." I turned around to keep walking but he grabbed my arm and spun me around, his green eyes shining brightly in the moon light.

"That ain't good enough, Chloe. You never come around anymore. Now, I've already accepted the role of alpha for you, I keep Momma and Daddy from draggin' your ass back here every week. I've done all this so you can live your dream of bein' a fancy doctor. The least you can do is come run with me." He looked at me with a look that said he wasn't going to budge. I sighed.

"Fine, Joey. Fine. But not tonight."

"Then when?" He brightened.

"How about Friday? I'll come and spend the night with you all weekend and we can run, watch movies, and play Rummy. Anything you want? Deal?" I spit on my hand and offered it to him. He gave me a mega watt smile then spit in his hand and placed it in my own, shaking it.

"Deal big sister! You better be here Friday night!"

"I promise."

I got home at 9:30. I washed my hands, brushed my teeth, and hopped into bed. I grabbed my laptop and began reviewing the day's charts. I adjusted any discrepancies and signed all of them off. I was putting my laptop in my bag when I heard a crunching sound. I looked in the bottom of the bag and found the picture Nicholas drew for me. I smiled. I got up and walked to my kitchen and stuck the picture to the fridge along with all my others. I went back to bed and prayed to the Goddess that tomorrow was an easier day.