Chapter 16
834 Words
Jasmine
This morning's workout was exactly what I needed. Lo's probably going to be a great training partner.
Someone about her is... familiar. I can't quite put my finger on it. But she's cool.
And definitely not after Perrin, which puts her a short list of she-wolves I can tolerate at the moment.
I shower at the training facility and head straight for the infirmary. Checking my phone on the way, I’m slightly annoyed I haven’t heard from Perrin, but with any luck at least one of us would have gotten some sleep last night.
I try to not to think about the date he had yesterday. Leila, I think Ethan said her name was? I slam my car door slightly harder than necessary. Well, whoever Leila is, I hope she’s ugly and their date totally sucked.
I catch a reflection of the scowl on my face in the car window. Yikes.
I seriously need to get a grip. This is all coming from Alpha Jason. It’s not Perrin’s fault.
Today's classes will be a nice distraction from the Welcome Ceremony. It's not like I'd necessarily enjoy seeing dozens of eligible she-wolves paraded in front of Perrin like carrots on a stick. So many have already arrived early. Thankfully nothing's happened so far but...
I mean, I get it. He's the Alpha Dauphin. He needs to find a mate.
But Perrin hasn’t found his mate yet. And the Sacred Call is just a big fat flashing billboard to the rest of the packs that he’s up for grabs.
Ugh. But he’s not! And I know he loves me. And he has to fight for the Alpha title anyway!
Selfishly, I hope none of the new arrivals are his mate. Perrin and I are both 18. When his birthday came a few months ago, I was so nervous. I turned 18 before he did, but werewolf lore states that one mate can’t sense the other until both turn 18. And when the second half of the pair turns 18, you’re supposed to be able to sense each other if you’re nearby.
But nothing happened. We were able to finally get… as physical as we’d been waiting to do but… but I don’t think we’re mates. It would have happened already, right?
We're in love. It's like we're already mates. So why bother looking? Who cares if we aren’t mates? We’re in love! That’s what matters!
And I know Alpha Jason disapproves of our relationship. I think he was fine when it first started because he didn’t think it would get serious. But he was wrong.
And I don’t appreciate the disrespect of our Alpha setting up his son on blind dates all around town while I sit here, hoping nothing happens.
I'm at the infirmary before I know it. Classes are held in the back of the building for new healers. It's been a long training program, and I have practical rotations for a year after this before I'm allowed to start seeing patients on my own.
My class is relatively small. Only six of us. That's nothing in comparison to what the Ascended graduated even twenty years ago. But my classmates are nice and I feel completely at ease here.
I'm walking through the hallways when I suddenly see a few Ascended surrounding the Luna.
Deidra? Why is she here?
She's walking in the opposite direction. I'm not sure why I follow, but halfway down this corridor is Ethan's room.
My heart sinks.
Ethan.
I look over my shoulder, just to make sure nobody sees me, and I slip inside.
He looks terrible.
I check his charts, trying to take the personal emotion out of it. His bruising is definitely worse; I can barely make out his face beneath the gashes and gauze. but he's stable. That's a great sign. I look back at his paperwork.
It looks as though there's been another blood transfusion early this morning, but no more indicated for this afternoon.
Good. That's another good sign.
I take a look on the wall at the x-rays taken an hour ago, judging by the information scrawled next to the images.
If it's one good thing about werewolves, it's that we heal quickly. Ethan's ribs and foot have already made progress. Part of his arm too.
But his lungs are a whole different story. Organs and bones are just... different. Nobody really knows why, not even the Ascended. He's going to have to do that all on his own.
The heart monitor beeps and I jump unexpectedly. s**t! I need to get to class.
I grasp Ethan's hand and give it a quick squeeze before I slip quietly out the door to class, sending silent prayers to the Moon Goddess for Ethan.
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