Mommy, Daddy Doesn't Want Us Back?

Someone, something, unexpected

It was calling for me, praying to be used. But I didn't think I'd have to use it so soon.

Next morning, I was heading to my son's ward. Wanted to start the day with a beautiful blessing. And yes, seeing my son's face first thing in the morning makes me believe all the luck in the world was for me. So I headed out.

Something in the air feels awkward. Chilling. November was cold around here, but not as cold, considering it was closer to the sea. What was this scent in the air? Made me feel so uneasy.

Must be all the species that come here, weeping, in pain, running low on hope. It's a hospital, after all. I forced the feeling out of my heart. Until...I caught a glimpse of two people I never expected to even see.

My breath hitched. My stance faltered.

Walking through the huge, blue rimmed glass doors of the hospital, self-reporting OPD, two people who made my life hell walked in, hand in hand. I was all too familiar with their profound love and PDA for each other. But here...? Why were they here?

My feet shifted on their own. I hid behind the pillar.

'Elaine! Calm down! You're perspiring too hard!' My wolf clawed in my head. But she was more anxious than I was.

At once, I sprinted back to my room, praying they didn't catch a whiff of my scent.

I slammed the door shut to my room. If I prayed hard enough, I wanted to lock myself in here until they were gone. What were they doing here anyway? And why was Leah in a hospital gown?

Their worried faces...did something happen to Leah?

Something glowed against the darkness. The amber locket artefact that I'd been hiding came to display.

"I need to use you, don't I?" I said to myself. Wore the pendant around my neck and quietly raced to Dr Rayleigh's cabin.

"Rayleigh...I need to tell you something." I said. He was standing against the window, soft morning light making his skin glisten and glow. He was panting, oh so softly. In his hand, a file.

"If it's about Leah, I have to talk, too." He said, showing the name on the file. My eyes widened.

"She's...she's your patient..." I said calmly.

"Yes. Admitted last night, 3 am. Elaine...you don't have to panic. Logan and Leah were referred to me." He said.

Oh Goddess. Is this entangled fate?

"Face your fears, Elaine. It's an opportunity. Don't you see?" He said. My eyebrows crushed.

"An opportunity?" I questioned.

"My patient has come back to me, trusting me to treat her for this virus that's inside her, again. She's only human, Elaine. How did she infect baby Jean with a virus a werewolf is naturally immune to?" He asked.

Thud...thud...thud...

My heart couldn't stop beating. He approached me. A reassuring hand on my shoulder. Soft, warm, yet making me feel secure.

"It's not a coincidence to me, Elaine. And I want you there. With me. Uncover the secrets with me. None of my patients is allowed to suffer because of an adult's jealousy. Especially....not children." He said sternly. A shaky breath left my chest.

One look into his hazel eyes, and I knew I had to rekindle that courage that was long lost. Years and Years of mistreatment had made my soul numb, my courage diluted. I took a deep breath in, nodded.

Rayleigh reached for something in his drawer. I walked in, curious.

"Wear this mask. Always have the surgical cap with you. For your scent..." he wondered,

"Don't worry. I got that covered," I showed off my pendant. That artefact? Spellbound and strong enough to hide my scent from even a bear Shifter.

And I walked behind Dr Rayleigh as his assistant immunologist. My identity? Hidden from my patients as well as other doctors.

To discover the truth, I'd go to lengths no one could even imagine.

"Good morning, Ms Leah Fenris. Remember me?" Rayleigh introduced himself, "This is Dr Angela Rhodey, our top immunologist." Said Rayleigh.

My eyebrows threatened to quirk up, because the real immunologist, senior Dr Angela Rhodey, was on a month-long vacation from the hospital.

Suppressing my reaction, I forgot to react appropriately. Leah and Logan, confused by my blacked-out nonchalance, already found me weird. Goddess, please don't even let them guess.

"Of course, doctor. You're gonna save my life twice." Leah smiled sweetly, holding her belly.

"I've been having splitting stomach aches. Muscle deterioration?" She said, pulling her gown up with Logan's help. I put my act to proper use, scribbled observations for reference.

"These...look like skin lacerations, Ms Leah. You might be right. Your muscles are necrotising. This isn't normal for a virus." He said in all seriousness.

Because that's exactly what happened to Jean's shoulder and back muscles too. Of course, he could heal better than this human.

"I'm really scared, Dr Rayleigh. No one could've done anything in other hospitals. I knew I had to find you, come to you. I'm so scared..." She said, tears ripping through her eyes.

Logan hugged her head to his chest, lovingly. The pen in my hand was about to explode from how hard I was clutching it. My jaw tightened, my anger raked up.

Rayleigh, however, had to show concern, even if he was their enemy. Quite smoothly, he covered my figure with his tall, slender yet muscular body, giving me space to breathe and control myself.

"Ms Leah, choosing me as your doctor is the first step cleared. We will get to the truth. Believe in my team, my efforts."

"Thank you, d-doc. You're the best!" She cheered. Such a grating voice.

"But let me tell you, Leah.

HIV doesn't relapse. It's never happened before in history. Once you've caught it, you're never supposed to get it again. And these symptoms...I don't think it's HIV." Said Rayleigh.

I could tell that too.

But if it's not truly HIV...

Don't tell me...

"I'm afraid it's a new fatal virus, Leah."