Chapter 7 He Shouldn't Know

Cathy and I returned to the offices that had been assigned for Dr. A’s personal use. I’d used these same offices in the past. As they’d mostly been abandoned since then, all of my things remained as if they’d been locked in a time capsule, simply waiting for my return. I guessed that I had Cathy to thank for this. She had always been diligent in maintaining Dr. A’s legacy, as well as waiting for her return. “I wanted everything to stay ready,” she admitted. “For the time when you changed your mind and came back to us.” I didn’t know what else to say, but, “Thank you.” "Really... thank you so much." "Why do you still thank me?" Cathy laughed and patted my shoulder. "Make the money, then divorce and get rid of that the greatest bastard!" The office assistant at reception, to spare the rest of the hospital and at my request, began redirecting the nobles that wished to see me to this office. While I prepared the necessary items for Sheila’s physical examination, Cathy answered calls and handled the line of nobles. As I had no intention of seeing anyone else, Cathy, to ease the ruffled feathers of the easily-offended nobles, took down each of their names and promised to do the best she could to convince me to see them. I doubted I would hear a thing about any of them from her. As the line finally dwindled down, giving us both a moment to breathe, Cathy pulled me aside. With a suddenly worried look, she asked me, “Did your mate bond with Lucian give you away?” “Luna?” I asked internally. She would know more about my scent and the effects of my bond with Lucian. “The scent is concealed,” Luna assured me. “That is not how he knew.” To Cathy, I shook my head. “It shouldn’t have. Not with my scent repressed.” Years ago, Luna and I had studied and developed a method to reduce my scent. Utilizing Luna’s abilities, we could repress the pheromones I released, making the environment more comfortable for my patients. The side effect of this method is that I will enter a half-shift state... My hair will turn the color of Luna’s fur, black. With enough dedication and skill, Luna and I had managed to give me a near-odorless scent. This kept me from stimulating patients, which was exceedingly useful when werewolf senses were so intense. In addition, it kept anyone from knowing my scent to recognize me by it. Including my mate. With this near-odorless scent, as well as my dark hair color and my mask, I was confident that my identity would safely remain hidden. No one should have been able to recognize me. Lucian’s earlier reaction had to have been just a mistake… Cathy, crossing her arms, quickly moved on, her thoughts likely overwhelmed by her dislike and hate of Lucian. “He can go to such lengths for Sheila,” Cathy griped, “Yet he won’t allow the divorce to continue between you and him. Why won’t he just let you go? Then he can go and be with that hateful woman as much as he wants. Those two are both so terrible, they deserve each other.” While I wasn’t going to give into the name calling and insults, I shared the same confusion at the heart of Cathy’s words. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “I have no idea why he is refusing the divorce.” With nothing else to say, I continued to prepare for the physical examination. When I was ready, I sought out Sheila in the examination room. Lucian waited outside the door. He seemed relieved when he saw me approach, as if he’d been worried I might have changed my mind. We nodded at each other in acknowledgement, before he stepped aside. I slipped by him and entered the examination room. Sheila had already changed into a hospital gown and was waiting on the exam table. Approaching her, I began the exam. For the duration, I kept my face carefully expressionless. My attitude, I worked to keep indifferent, treating her like she was just any other patient. If I focused solely on her body and her health, I could manage it. She had a problem, and I would work to solve it. That was all this needed to be. Then I could take my money and disappear. The longer the silence went on, the more agitated Sheila seemed to be. With a pouty, lilting voice, she asked, “Dr. A? You aren’t talking at all. Do you dislike me? You read the recent rumors, is that it? I swear, I’m not really the kind of woman who steps into other people’s marriages…” “Your personal life is not my concern,” I said. “I’m merely focusing on the exam.” “I prefer when people talk to me,” she replied. I hummed in acknowledgement of her words but did not give her what she wanted. Her perfect wilting flower façade cracked for a moment, her lips twisting into a displeased snarl, but she quickly covered it up with a sad sort of smile. “Surely we can be friends, Dr. A.” “You are my patient. I am your Healer. We do not need to be friends.” Fortunately, shortly after that, I finished the examination. Stepping back, I told her, “I’ve finished. You are free to leave. I will notify you when the results are available.” I turned away from her to insert her information into her chart. As I was writing things down, I heard her change back into her day clothes behind me. When I finished writing and prepared to leave, she was fully dressed. She walked with me to the door. “I meant what I said,” Sheila spoke. “And it’s the truth. I don’t step into marriages. This entire ordeal is all Aria’s fault... The newspaper is totally right.” “She’s jealous of me, you see. She’s just a poor little housewife who only knows how to do chores. She acts against me all the time, and… Dr. A, are you listening?” With my anger spiking, I pulled open the door before I could snap or otherwise reveal myself. Lucian turned to look at us from the other side of the doorway. Sheila spotted him, and suddenly perked as if she’d just thought of something. Looking at me, she asked, “Dr. A. Do you have a lover? Lucian knows many people. I am sure I can get him to give you an introduction to a good man…” “That’s enough, Sheila,” Lucian said. “We need to get back.” Sheila looked like she wanted to say more, but still reluctantly obeyed Lucian’s words, giving a tiny shrug. “Goodbye, Dr. A,” she said. “We look forward to your results.” Without waiting for my reply, she turned and started walking toward the stairwell. Lucian lingered behind, staying at my side. As he studied my face, I wondered what I looked like to him. With my eyes, nose, and cheekbones covered, I knew my identity was secret. Yet still he looked, like he was trying to piece together my face behind the mask. I was grateful for my near-odorless scent and my darkened hair for helping to spell the illusion around me. Lucian might puzzle over who I was, but he would never be able to discover the truth on his own – of that, I was certain. After a moment, he let his gaze drop. “Thank you, Dr. A. Sincerely. For taking on this case.” I didn’t reply. What could I have said? Lucian, accepting my silence, turned toward the stairs to follow after Shelia. “Sir,” I said suddenly, stopping him. He glanced behind him, looking at me once more. I almost lost my nerve, but my own hurt drove me forward, forcing a question to my lips. One that perhaps I should have left buried. “I presume that with your Alpha senses you heard through the door the things Sheila had to say.” Calmly, I asked, “Do you also think so little of your wife?”