Lahat ng Kabanata ng Reject Me, Alpha Tate: Kabanata 31 - Kabanata 40

Nicole's POVI didn't sleep much. By morning I was functioning only on tea. I splashed cold water on my face, checked that the green contacts were properly seated, pinned my platinum hair back under the attendant's cap, and told myself I was fine.The corridor outside Tracy's room was still quiet when I arrived. I turned the corner and nearly walked directly into Tate.He stepped back as I stepped back but he was looking at me with that evaluating expression he wore like an armor."Morning," he said."Good morning." I kept moving, adjusting the supply tray in my hands so I had something to do with them.He didn't stop me, but I felt him watching as I pushed through Tracy's door.He'd been coming earlier. I'd noticed it over the past week — his presence in the corridor when I arrived for the morning round, when I left for the afternoon one. Just often enough that the pattern had started to sketch itself in the back of my mind.Inside, Sophia was already there. She was draped across the

Nicole's POVI heard his voice before I saw him. I was moving through the east corridor toward the archive room, tablet under my arm, half my attention on a notation I needed to add before the afternoon session, when Tate's voice came through the half-open reading room door and I stopped walking without meaning to."Anything at all?" Tate asked."The registration documents trace back to a filing service that dissolved years ago," Jonathan said. "The photograph request came back empty. Her name isn't attached to anything public prior to her first publication.""She's cited in alliance journals.""Her work is. She isn't. No conference appearances, no interviews, no institutional photography. Every formal record traces back to the institute's internal registry and they don't provide personnel records without a judicial order.""What about the staff registry?""Internal only," Jonathan said. "I tried that angle through the administrative office. They said all personnel inquiries go throug

Tate's POVTracy was in a decent mood when I arrived, which was rare enough that I noticed it before I sat down.She was at the window with her tea, actually drinking it instead of letting it go cold. While she complained about its temperature, I noticed a drawing was on the side table as I leaned forward and picked it up.At the bottom, in large careful letters, were the words:to the sad lady. I don't want you to be sad. always be happy. rosy.I looked at it for a moment then I looked at Tracy."Who left this?" I asked."The attendant's daughter," Tracy said. "How old do you think she is?" I asked."Four at most," Tracy said. "Maybe younger." She sipped her tea. "The attendant didn't even know that her daughter slipped out to come here until I told her.""How did she take it?""About as well as you'd expect," Tracy said. "Apologized, said it wouldn't happen again." She set her cup down. "Though if you ask me, a child that age wandering corridors alone means the mother isn't watchin

Nicole's POVIt started at dinner on Tuesday. Maple had been eating his rice then he looked up and said, completely unprompted, "Is the tall man still here?"I kept my fork moving. "Eat your dinner.""I am eating," he said, demonstrating. "Is he still here?""Yes," I said. "He's here for his mother's treatment. You know that."He considered this, chewing. "Does he eat dinner?""I imagine so.""Where?""In the guest dining room, probably," I said. "Maple""Does he have a favourite colour?"Rosy, across the table, turned a page of the book she was not supposed to have at dinner and said nothing."I don't know his favourite colour," I said."You could ask him," Maple said. "I don't ask patients' family members about their favourite colours," I said. "That's not what I'm there for."Maple seemed to find this unreasonable as he ate another spoonful of rice. "I think it's blue," he said. "Or black, he wears a lot of black.""Maple.""Mum I’m just saying," he said. "You could find out.""I'

Nicole's POVDiana Ashford's Thursday scans were the best results I'd seen all week, and I almost didn't get to see them at all.I was still at my desk reviewing the data when Amber knocked and leaned in. "Diana's morning attendant just called in sick," she said. "Fever. She won't be in."I kept my eyes on the scan. "Who's covering?""That's the problem." Amber stepped fully inside and closed the door. "The protocol medications require someone who actually knows the dosage schedule. I checked the floor roster — there's nobody else qualified, It's you or we delay the round."I looked up then."I know," Amber said quietly.Diana Ashford, Luna of North Maple Pack. A woman I had been treating from a careful distance for weeks without ever being alone in a room with her."Fine," I said, and closed the file. "I'll cover it."I put my mask on, straightened my coat, and went in.Diana looked up when I knocked. A flicker of recognition crossed her face . "Oh," she said. "You're Tracy's attenda