Chapter 35

Mabel's POV

The moment I saw Trav walk into the exam room, I froze. The sterile scent of antiseptic hung thick in the air, and there I was—draped in that ridiculous hospital gown, feeling like the world could see every bruise and cut on my body.

Nellie was drawing my blood, and Nettie was busy collecting swabs from my nose and mouth. But it was Trav who had my attention. His gaze lingered on the bruises, the marks that had become too familiar to me, too much of a reminder of what I'd endured.

I caught his eye and saw the flicker of concern, but he didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to. Zane had already told him about my lack of a wolf, how it was affecting my healing.

For a werewolf, these injuries wouldn’t take long to heal—maybe a day or two. But for someone like me, someone without a wolf, it could take weeks.

His eyes fell to my bandaged wrist, and I felt the tension rise in my chest. The last thing I wanted was to rehash the details. But Trav didn’t hesitate.

"Who did this?" His voice was low, but the weight of his question hit me all the same.

“Alpha Zane,” I said, keeping my voice steady.

Trav’ brow furrowed as he struggled to find the right words. “That was very…” He trailed off, searching for something to say that wouldn’t offend.

I couldn’t help it—I smiled, remembering Zane’s stern face as he carefully wrapped the bandage around my wrist.

“I know. That was very kind of him,” I said, the corner of my lips curling into a faint smile.

“Unskilled,” Trav muttered, raising an eyebrow. “But I’ll go with your version.”

I glanced at the door, wondering if Zane was listening from the hallway. “Will Alpha Zane punish you for badmouthing him?”

Trav chuckled and waved a hand. “Since when is telling the truth badmouthing? And besides, the Alpha wouldn’t hurt me. Haven’t you heard? I’m the best doctor in the area.” He flashed a cocky grin, and I couldn’t help but laugh despite myself.

I liked him. He reminded me of Diamond—easygoing, always smiling, as if everything would be alright. It felt good to laugh again. It felt like something normal, something that I could hold on to.

Trav leaned back, a look of satisfaction on his face as he saw me relax. I could tell he wasn’t just here to check my injuries; he was trying to get something out of me. If I kept being stiff and silent, he wouldn’t get anywhere. But if I let go just a little, maybe we could get through this without more silence.

Pulling a chair next to my bed, he flipped open a notebook. “Let’s start with your medical history…”

Outside the door, Zane paced back and forth. I could feel him—the tension in his movements, his restless energy. He was imagining things. I knew it. The thought of Trav touching me, even innocently, was driving him mad. And I couldn’t blame him.

I felt the same rush of anxiety—hearing Trav’ voice so close, knowing I was alone with him in that small exam room. Zane and I didn’t have the bond yet, not the way wolves did, but I could feel the pull. The longer I was away from him, the harder it got.

The side door opened, and I saw Nellie and Nettie leave, carrying samples for the lab.

"Is the exam over?" Zane’s voice startled them, and they blinked in surprise before nodding.

"No, Alpha," Nellie said, a little taken aback by his presence.

"Then why are you out?" Zane’s eyes narrowed, and he moved closer.

"We’re taking these to the lab," Nettie said, gesturing to the cart she was pushing.

"Does that mean Trav is alone with Mabel?" Zane’s voice was urgent now, his gaze shifting between the two nurses. "Do both of you need to go? One is enough."

Nellie and Nettie exchanged confused glances.

"I’m taking these to the lab," Nellie said quickly, "and Nettie will prepare the room for X-rays after Dr. Arzt finishes with Miss Mabel’s medical history."

Zane didn’t seem reassured. “You’re leaving her alone with him?”

Nellie looked at him with an unamused glance. “Why don’t you sit in the waiting area, Alpha? This area is reserved for medical staff and patients.”

Zane didn’t budge. He couldn’t. He was too anxious, too aware of every little movement on the other side of that door. He could hear nothing. He couldn’t pick up on anything with his Alpha hearing, and that scared him more than he wanted to admit.

The minutes ticked by like hours.

Finally, the door opened. Nellie emerged, and Mabel was pushed out in a wheelchair. Zane’s heart skipped a beat.

“What happened to your legs?” he demanded, the tension in his voice thickening.

Mabel simply shook her head, keeping her gaze down. "Nothing."

"Why are you in a wheelchair?" Zane pressed, though his worry was rising.

Nellie answered, "It’s just protocol, Alpha. She’s wearing a hospital gown, and it’s open at the back. We can’t risk exposing her."

Zane nodded, though his gaze never left Mabel. He didn’t care if they were following protocol. His concern was for her. Only her.

In the exam room, we all sat together. Trav looked over the results, and I tried to focus.

Trav glanced at me with a serious expression. “Your wrist isn’t broken. We’ll wrap it up properly. Nothing too serious. But the rest of your injuries are mostly superficial.”

I nodded, grateful for the small relief. At least the damage wasn’t worse. But then he added, "But you are underweight. Your bloodwork shows several deficiencies. You need to eat better, Mabel."

I frowned. Eat better? When was the last time I even ate more than one meal a day?

“Is it serious?” Zane’s voice was tense, his gaze snapping to Trav.

“It doesn’t need to be,” Trav replied, shrugging. “She’ll need vitamins, and I want her to see a nutritionist. We don’t have one here, so she’ll need to go to a human city for that. I’ll give you a referral.”

I blinked, processing what he said. "Three meals a day?" I echoed, feeling the knot in my stomach tighten.

"Yes. And two snacks. No junk food, no chips, no chocolates. It’ll help you gain weight, but it’s not healthy."

I looked at Zane, unsure how to feel. What if he thought I’d be too much trouble?

Zane didn’t hesitate. “Will it be okay if she eats more than that?”

I blinked. He… he was giving me more food? Not less?

Trav shrugged. “She needs to eat. Just split it into smaller meals. Avoid the junk food, though. Meat, fruits, and vegetables will be key.”

I felt the weight of everything hitting me. Three meals a day? Two snacks? Could I do that?