Page 46 of Blood Pearl
Sitting in our medical facility, I feel like a fraud taking up Doc Patricia’s time. I’m sure she’s got better things to do than waste her time looking at my shoulder.
“You do know that you’re muttering to yourself again?” Raina states from her position at the door.
“And you do know that if I want to leave, you guarding the door won’t stop me?” I give her my sweetest smile.
Seeing Wallace and Gerry peer round the corner of the doorframe, I groan. “Really? You brought back-up? For the love of the Goddess, I don’t need all this protection every time I leave my office.”
“It’s not just when you leave the office, Alpha. Until further notice, you are on a twenty-four-hour watch. That was a close call. Had it not been for Gerry’s warning, you would be dead. That is not going to happen again.” Raina is as serious as I’ve ever seen her when she tells me this.
Further discussion is interrupted by the arrival of Doc Patricia, and she has quite a scowl going on, which is certainly out of character for her.
“Alpha Aurora. You need to listen to your Beta. She has your best interests at heart. In fact, she has ALL our best interests at heart. You do so much for us as a pack that we would be lost without you. You need to accept that rushing to defend us clouded your judgement. I heard what the patrol warrior told you when you arrived at the skirmish. Had you taken a moment to analyze that information, you would have arrived at the same conclusion as Council Warrior Gerry did. Half the pack applauds you for your courage. The other half think you’re losing your ability to lead us rationally. Personally, I applaud you, but you need to start being the Alpha you’ve always been and listen to advice from your team.” Doctor Patricia pauses for breath and looks embarrassed. “Now that’s off my chest, let's have a look at your shoulder.” Motioning for Raina to enter the room, she closes it on the grinning Wallace and Gerry.
“Let’s see how you’re mending, shall we? Hoodie off, please.” Removing my hoodie, I wince as my shoulder rolls.
Eyeing me critically, she says, “Well, that was easier than I expected. I suspect Aztec has been at work in the background.”
“Aztec says you are a very astute doctor, and that, yes, she has been helping me heal.”
“The original medical assistance that you were given has also been instrumental in your healing. Getting that arrow out so quickly, cleaning and bandaging the wound has definitely reduced the chances of complications. You need to rest that shoulder for at least a week. No strenuous exercise and certainly no training.”
Seeing the grin on Raina’s face, “Doctor Patricia. It was Raina that attended to my wound. Perhaps you could make some time for her to improve on her battlefield medic skills? In fact, I think we should introduce this into warrior training. When they have injuries on border patrol, it can take quite some time to get aid to them. Having a couple of trained medics in each patrol could potentially be a lifesaver.”
Looking from Raina to myself, Doctor Patricia nods and tells us she will begin putting a training plan together. Seeing that I am dismissed, I put my hoodie back on, gather my security detail, and head back to my office. Once back behind my desk and alone, I take my cell, placing a call to Flint. After only three rings, he answers.
“Aurora, how are you? How’s the shoulder?”
“I’m good, thank you, Flint. The shoulder is sore at times but is healing well. I was wondering if you had gleaned any information from the traitor?” I’m thinking Gerry didn’t take long to inform Flint about my injury.
“Very little, so far, but we have not yet ‘turned up the heat’ in our interrogation. Certain Council members are a little squeamish about shifters' personal rights. I have arranged for those members to visit packs and perform audits over the next few days. That should ease their concerns as they will have other things to occupy themselves with.”
“Very astute of you to remember it is audit time. So, what have you discovered with the softly softly approach?” My patience is running thin today, with Flint sounding cagey and being followed around everywhere. Even now, I have a guard outside my office door. Although that is not something new, it is certainly playing on my mind today.
“Well, he’s been with your pack for sometime and until recently was happy with his lot. He has never had a problem with any of the pack or yourself, so that’s a positive.” Flint sounds distracted, as though he’s doing something else other than giving me his full attention.
“Councilman Flint! If you have somewhere else to be, please feel free to end this conversation. If not, please do me the courtesy of at least pretending to be interested.”
“Alpha Aurora! I have not been present as yet during the interrogation of YOUR traitor. As such, I am reading from reports and transcripts from my warriors that HAVE been conducting them. I will acquaint myself with the details and you may call me back when you have discovered where you have left your manners!” The call ends and I feel totally and completely humiliated. Like a child that has been rebuked by a favorite teacher.
Damn. My behavior was nothing short of petulant. This could be where Taria gets her entitlement from, I think to myself. Well, I won’t be calling back until I have adjusted my mood and feel capable of giving a heartfelt apology.
Food! I need food. That should help my mood. Leaving my office, without saying a word to Crispin, the warrior on my personal guard duty, I head to the dining area. Grabbing a tray, I pile it with snacks and finger food from the serving area. Realizing that by not speaking to Crispin, is just another example of my bad mood, I point to the serving area and tell him to load up. I will be in the dining area for a while, so he may as well eat while we’re here.
Attacking my food like a starved pup pulls me up short yet again. My mood must be so bad. Looking around the room, I see members eyeing me cautiously, and looking swiftly away when I catch their eye. What must they be thinking of me right now?
Looking down at the mound of food I have thrown on my tray, it looks awful. Everything is just dumped in a heap and there is more than I could possibly eat. I sit there, head down, drowning in my self misery.
“Grandmother would be proud of you.” The words make me jump as I heard no one approach. Looking up, startled, I see Xavier standing by my table with a tray of food. “May I join you?”
“You’re more than welcome, but I should warn you. I am not fit company today. My mood is as dark as midnight on a moonless night. I make no excuses for myself, just that you should have the chance to run for the border rather than risk sitting with me.”
Hearing Xavier laugh out loud, I watch him as he full on belly laughs while placing his tray and taking a seat. “Thanks for the heads up, but I think I can hold my own against a bad mood. At least you recognize this about yourself. Most don’t.”
“It has taken nothing short of a personal sledge hammer to make me see it. I wasn’t praying, by the way. Slipping into my own pity party, more like.” I take some of the food and begin eating.
“Well, Grandmother doesn’t need to know that bit. Anything you wish to offload to help lighten the load, I’m willing to grin and bear it.”
“Thanks, but no thanks. This is one of those times that I have to work through it on my own. Are you ready for your ‘search and discover’ mission? I am eager to find if they have more rogues than we currently believe.”