Another ten minutes went by before Alex waltzed in with the nurse. He was all business as he conducted a full pelvic exam, including a Pap smear. Snapping off his gloves, Alex collected his samples and told Shannon to dress and meet him in his office.
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Shannon dressed slowly, wondering what this was all about. She felt fine -- wonderful, in fact. Her legs no longer bothered her, and what sleep she did manage was sound.
Alex came into the office and closed the door behind him. He tossed her chart on his desk and sat on its edge rather than in his chair as he had on her last visit. “Level with me.
Have you been seeing Nikolai?”
Struggling mightily to keep from squirming, Shannon gave him an honest answer.
“Yes.”
“Have you been giving him blood?”
“Are you asking as my doctor or my alpha?”
“Both. Now answer the question.” Alex’s gaze bore into hers.
“Yes,” she reluctantly answered, knowing she had to, but feeling it was none of his business.
“How often?”
“Nightly. Is there a purpose to all these questions?”
“Yes. I’m trying to figure out what’s different; what changed between this visit and last.
Your blood count is within the normal range -- the high end of normal, but still normal. If you’ve been donating blood nightly, your blood count should be low. Since it’s not, I’m speculating that your body is producing just enough blood to keep Nikolai fed. The only reason that I can see for this to be happening is if you were his mate and had completed the necessary blood exchanges. Have you ingested his blood?” Shannon sighed. “Nikolai showed me what happened the night he found me. I attacked him while in wolf form and got a good piece of his arm. I think that’s what triggered the changes in my body. According to Nikolai, it was the blood I ingested that allowed him to place me under compulsion.”
Alex placed his hand on his thigh and looked down at the floor. “That’s entirely possible. Any other times that I need to know about?”
“Not that I can recall, but Nikolai claims that he’s completed two of the required blood exchanges.”
“Which leaves only one remaining?”
“Yes, according to what I’ve been told.”
“I’ll have to run some more tests to be sure, but it’s possible that the changes his blood has wrought are irrevocable. For now, Nikolai is the solution to your PV. I don’t like it, but I can’t see any way around it.”
Shannon sat on the edge of her seat, her gaze intense. “What are you saying, Alex? That I should mate with Nikolai?”
“No! Yes. Hell, I don’t know what I’m saying. Until I run more tests, this is just speculation. Let’s wait and see what the test results have to say before you go making any Nikolai’s Wolf
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life-altering decisions. I don’t like the idea of you and Nikolai together any more than Rory does. We have too few females as it is. You didn’t feel a connection with any of the Raven pack’s wolves?”
Even though she knew the answer, Shannon gave the question the careful consideration that it deserved before answering. “Unless there are some I haven’t met, the answer is no. I haven’t met anyone that I clicked with, nor has my wolf.”
“Have you tried, Shannon? Really tried to connect with any of them?” Halting the growl that wanted to rise, she reminded herself that this was her alpha and she couldn’t blow up at him. She took a calming breath before answering. “Alex, I know my duty. It’s been drummed into me since I was a child. If I had met anyone who even remotely registered on my radar as a potential mate, I would have pursued it. I’m not being deliberately picky. None of the men from my old pack appealed to me, and I’m having the same problem here. I would be happy, over the moon ecstatic to find a male who appealed to both my wolf and to me as a woman, but I haven’t.”
“What about Nikolai? How do you feel about him?” The blush she felt lit up her face was probably answer enough. “If I were human, I’d already be bonded to him. I know I have a responsibility to the pack. Even if I wasn’t already aware, Rory’s and your reactions brought it home. Besides, it doesn’t matter how I feel. My wolf doesn’t accept Nikolai.” Shannon didn’t add anything else, knowing that Alex would understand the implications.
Alex stood up, indicating that the interview was over. “I’ll call you when I have the results. See Bernie on the way out. I want to see you back again in eight weeks.” Alex watched Shannon leave. He was deeply disturbed and struggled greatly with his conscience. He’d chosen to remain unmated rather than settle for someone who was simply suitable, even though as alpha he had the responsibility to provide an heir for his pack. He had always considered himself to be open-minded, nonchauvinistic even. He was ashamed to realize that he unconsciously subscribed to the same double standard as the elders. Although he wasn’t exerting the pressure on Shannon that Rory had been, he had expected her to find a mate among the males of his pack. It never occurred to him she might do otherwise.
What if Nikolai was correct? What if Shannon really was his chosen? Could he overcome his personal prejudice and do what was best for Shannon? She admitted that none of the men in the Raven and Sparrowhawks packs moved her. That was significant. If any of their males were Shannon’s mate, Nikolai’s claim wouldn’t even be an issue. Shannon would already be mated.
Alex had his own theories about her wolf. Theories he would keep to himself until he got the results back. If they turned out the way he anticipated, he and Rory would be having a long talk.
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Chapter Twelve
Shannon escaped Alex’s office and headed directly for Hugh’s diner, in dire need of comfort food. She went inside and ordered three taco salads -- heavy on the meat -- to go, three large sweet teas, and three of Mary Elizabeth’s dark chocolate brownies with nuts.
It was the peak of the lunch rush, and the place was jumping. Fortunately, Hugh placed a priority on to-go orders so she didn’t have to wait long.
“Is this yours?” Hugh indicated the food in the take-out containers in the window.
“Yes.”
“Are you headed to the store?”
“Yes,” Shannon answered, wondering if he wanted her to deliver a message to Mary Elizabeth.
“Anne, Shannon’s food is on the house,” Hugh said, surprising her with his generosity.
“Thanks, Hugh,” she called out as he rang the bell, indicating an order was ready for pick up. Hugh waved in acknowledgment before disappearing from the window. Shannon grabbed the food and drinks and walked out of the diner.
A few minutes later, she came through the door of the store. Kiesha and Mary Elizabeth must have both been upstairs in their offices because she didn’t see them anywhere. “Lunch!” she called out.
“Shannon?”
“I smell food.” Their voices floated down the stairs, followed swiftly by their bodies.
“I brought food. Come and get it while it’s hot.” Shannon cleared off an area on one of the dining table sets on the showroom floor and distributed the food. By the time the other two made it to the table, she was already digging in.
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“You sweetheart! I was just wishing that I’d brought lunch. I’m hungry.” Mary Elizabeth hummed in appreciation when she saw what was in the container, grabbed her fork, and began eating.
“Smells heavenly. Why didn’t you call and tell us you were bringing this? Not that I’m complaining.” Kiesha’s eyes closed as she took her first bite of the salad. “Mmm, this is so good. How much do I owe you?”
“Nothing. Hugh picked up the tab. And I didn’t call because I didn’t know I was coming. By the time Alex finished poking and prodding me, I needed comfort food and decided to share. You know the saying. Misery loves company.”
“If misery makes you eat like this, feel free to share your misery at any time. I thought I had eaten everything on the menu, but this is new.” Mary Elizabeth was hunched over her food like she was afraid someone would take it from her.
“Taco salad was the special of the day. Maybe he’s trying something new, seeing if it will sell before adding it to the menu,” Shannon speculated.
“The hotel had taco salads on their menu. Hugh loved it. He must have decided to try and recreate it.”
“Speaking of hotels, how was your trip? I haven’t seen you since you’ve been back,” Shannon said.
Mary Elizabeth turned a brilliant red and buried her face in her hands, food temporarily forgotten. Shannon glanced at Kiesha, one eyebrow raised in inquiry.
“Don’t look at me. I asked and got the same reaction. She still hasn’t told me what happened.”
“You want to know what happened? I’ll tell you what happened after I find out why Shannon didn’t warn me.” The look she shot at Shannon was scorching.
“Warn you about what?” Shannon was completely baffled.
“About how bad the blue moon was going to be! You should have told me what to expect. Kiesha would have if she’d known,” Mary Elizabeth wailed.
“Hey, that’s not fair. I did warn you. I told you about it and the effect it had on shifters.
It’s not my fault that you didn’t believe me and weren’t prepared.”
“When? When did you tell me about it ’cause I don’t remember having that conversation.”
“In the diner, when we were sitting at the table. Kiesha, you remember, don’t you?”
“Actually, I don’t think Mary Elizabeth was at the table when the subject came up. She and Hugh had gone in the back to have their ‘little discussion’?”
“See,” Mary Elizabeth said. “I told you. Not that anything you said would have made a difference. Even if I had known, there was no way to prepare for that. My God, I acted like a 112
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nymphomaniac. Hugh and I could barely keep our hands off of each other. Was it like that for you too?”
“We didn’t get it that bad, according to Alex, because I’m already pregnant. It hit us the hardest at night, when the moon was full. I can’t tell you what happened because I honestly don’t remember. I seemed to have blacked out. Did you make it to the funeral?” The blush that had faded came roaring back. Mary Elizabeth lowered her eyes to the table in embarrassment. “My mother was mortified. She still isn’t speaking to me. Hugh and I had sex in the parking lot while the casket was being escorted into the church. Apparently someone saw us.”
Shannon laughed and quickly turned it into a cough when Mary Elizabeth looked up, her eyes deadly. “Don’t you dare laugh. It was horrible, and that wasn’t the worst of it.” She then proceeded to describe in vivid detail what happened in the elevator as they left for the funeral.
Shannon tried to picture prim and proper Mary Elizabeth caught in such a compromising position. The image came to life in her mind. She glanced at Kiesha and quickly looked away. Both were desperately struggling not to laugh. Shannon snickered first and attempted to hold it in. Kiesha turned her face away from the table and began to giggle under her breath.
Then Shannon got a visual of what the old couple’s facial expressions must have been, and that was it. She laughed until tears were flowing down her face and she was holding her sides. Kiesha wasn’t in any better shape. Only her grip on the table kept her from falling out of her chair and onto the floor.
“Glad you’re finding my humiliation so hilarious, guys,” Mary Elizabeth said drily. “It’s really not that funny.”
“Oh, yes, it is,” Shannon disagreed, trying to catch her breath while she wiped the tears from her face.
Mary Elizabeth smiled and then began to laugh as well. Kiesha had laughed so hard that she’d given herself the hiccups. Once they calmed down, they put any further conversation on hold until they could finish eating their rapidly cooling salads. Then Shannon brought out the brownies.
“Oooh, brownies. My favorite. That does it. We’re definitely keeping you.” Kiesha snatched a brownie out of Shannon’s hand and ripped the cellophane wrapping off it.
Shannon held out one to Mary Elizabeth. “No.” She shook her head. “That’s all right.
Ever since we’ve been back, I can’t stand the taste of chocolate.” Kiesha was stunned enough to stop midbite. “Not like chocolate? Are you okay? Do I need to have you examined by Alex?”
Shannon leaned closer to Mary Elizabeth and took a sniff.
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Mary Elizabeth shooed Shannon away from her. “Stop it! That’s just freaky the way you guys do that.”
“Are you going to tell her or shall I?” Shannon nodded her head in Kiesha’s direction before arching her eyebrow and pinning Mary Elizabeth with her gaze.
“Tell me what?” Kiesha mumbled around a mouthful of brownie.
“There’s nothing to tell. Not yet, anyway. It’s too soon to know,” Mary Elizabeth said at the same time.
“Too soon to know what?” Kiesha interrupted, trying to wash down her brownie with tea.
“What does Hugh say?” Shannon spoke over her.
“What does Hugh say about what?”
“He says what you’re thinking, but what does he know?” Shannon shook her head. “You are one wickedly stubborn female.”
“That’s it!” Kiesha slammed her hands down on the table. “Tell me what? What is Hugh thinking? Quit speaking in code. Inquiring minds want to know. Somebody better start talking, or I’ll…I’ll…” She floundered, unable to think of a threat dire enough.
“You’ll what?” Shannon asked innocently.
“I don’t know,” Kiesha admitted ruefully. “I can’t think of anything intimidating enough. You two evil heifers are hard to scare.” Mary Elizabeth and Shannon laughed. Kiesha rubbed her stomach. At almost four months, she was finally getting a noticeable bump.
“Mary Elizabeth’s pregnant,” Shannon announced, “and she’s in denial.” Kiesha squealed and high-fived Shannon. “That’s wonderful.”
“I am not in denial. I just don’t believe it,” Mary Elizabeth said over Kiesha.
Shannon and Kiesha shared a look. “Denial,” they said at the same time with a laugh.
“Y’all are no help. Don’t let Hugh hear you. He’s just as bad. He keeps insisting that I’m pregnant. Says he can smell it.”
“Don’t you want children?” Kiesha asked.
Mary Elizabeth took her time answering. “Yes, a whole house full of them, actually.