The Wolf's Temptation

by Anastasia Chase

  Kathy made him smile. She was hugely pregnant and still flirted like a teenager. She was cute, but Evette was beautiful. Maybe he was prejudiced. He took Kathy’s advice, setting his worries aside to care for the shop. It was raining, so customers were limited. To pass the time, he emptied one shelf at a time and scrubbed them down. When he finished that, the floors were given the same treatment. He straightened the office and found there were still two hours left before closing. Under the counter, he discovered Evette’s books, with pages marked. He took a seat, sent the cashier home early, and began to read. What he found was disturbing. She would die from her illness, but before then, she could be crippled. Her muscles could weaken so much, she would lose control of them. Ending up in a wheelchair was the least of it. Her heart and lungs could be affected, requiring machines for her to survive. He couldn’t allow that to happen to Evette. Her spirit was too vital and her life too important, not just to her customers, but to her family and him as well. Women had been a dime a dozen all his adult life, but Evette had reached a part of him they couldn’t. He had to help her.

  He slid the books back under the counter, emptied the register, turned out the lights, and locked the door. It was half an hour early, but he didn’t care. He rushed home to get on the computer. Somewhere out there was a cure for Evette. It might not be conventional or even ethical, yet he was determined to find it. Even something to slow the progression would suffice while Evette continued her experiments, or the doctors discovered a miracle. Valen was used to fighting for what he wanted and this was no exception.

  Chapter Nine

  It felt like it had been forever since Valen had seen Evette. He had been running the shop for her, and rather successfully, but he missed her right there, either knocking him down a peg or letting him know he was doing a good job. No, he didn't just miss that. He missed her scent, the feel of her warmth, her lips on his. He missed all of that too. He would be crazy not to. But beneath all the feelings of longing, there was worry. He knew the fact that Evette had decided to stay home form the most precious thing to her in the world, her job, meant that she was really bad off.

  Valen was pulling into the parking garage to look for a space to park his oversized hunk of metal he used for transportation when his phone began to ring. The number that was on it was not saved in his phone, and he picked it up as he drove around, hoping to find a place that was not all the way at the top to park his car.

  "Hello?" he answered, wondering who it was that was calling him.

  "Valen, I am sorry to bother you but it's Kathy." Valen’s heart skipped a beat. If Kathy was calling him, something was going on. He just knew it. Why else would Evette not be able to call him herself? Already knowing that there had to be and new, he began speeding up and looking for the nearest exit signed to drive back down to the bottom of the garage.

  "Kathy, what’s going on? Is everything alright?" he demanded to know as he was finally able to turn his car back the other way and go back out onto the street. His heart was thumping in his chest as he waited to know where he needed to head to.

  "Evette is in the hospital. I had to bring her here. I would rather you just get here and I could tell you in person. I am here with the kids, and I know the doctors will need to talk to someone. She is unconscious right now."

  Valen swung his car out in a sharp turn, going in the direction of the hospital; the one he had taken her to before. He knew that was where she would be. "I am on my way. I will be there shortly. I hadn't even opened the store yet, so we will just keep it closed today."

  "Yeah, I think that’s for the best," Kathy responded before hanging up. Valen knew with the sound of her voice that it was not looking good. Kathy was usually one of the happiest people, making jokes and full of energy, even in bad situations. But the woman he heard on the phone sounded worried and tired; not at all what he was sued to hearing from her.

  He had finally brought himself to research Evette's disease thoroughly, not knowing too much about it. He had been saving things on his computer about natural remedies, legends of voodoo and other things that might help her because it scared him. What she had scared him to death. This wasn't just a typical human disease it threatened her very way of life. It could kill her, but not before it destroyed her will to live in the first place.

  Valen was sure he was speeding by quite a bit, but he didn't really care. If it wouldn't get him into more trouble than he could handle, he would have just abandoned the car and his collar to fly to her instead. It would have been much faster than fighting Phoenix's traffic problem. Are all large cities this congested? Valen pondered as he weaved between cars.

  Finally, he got there, glad that the hospital's parking situation was better than it was for work, and walked in, trying not to look like he was in a panic. he took a deep breath for composure and smoothed his hand over his head before walking in. As soon as he did, he went straight to the waiting room where he knew he would find Kathy and her children. Sure enough, there she was, looking ready to deliver at any moment. Valen knew she really shouldn't be facing all this stress right now.

  Kathy immediately got up and wrapped her arms around him in a hug. Valen was not expecting that, but he could tell she needed it and just went with it. There was something in him that felt safe with her like she was the family he never had. His parents had never been the affectionate kind, especially once he came out of childhood.

  "What happened?" Valen asked her as she pulled back and waddled back to her seat to lower herself back down. "You know, you really shouldn't be hanging around. You should be resting and preparing for that baby," Valen scolded with kindness.

  Kathy huffed and shook her head. "What better place to be when you could have a baby at any moment than the hospital?" she joked, but there was no smile or laugh in her voice. Valen chuckled and sat down next to her, glancing at her two children for a moment. One was flipping through a magazine while the other was buried in his phone. These kids were always so well behaved, and after running into a few since his new human existence, he was more than impressed.

  "So," Kathy began, the stress showing in her features. "I knew she was doing bad since she had called out of work. I thought it was time I checked on her since I had not heard from her. I knew she could get hermit if things progressed because she’s embarrassed and feels like a burden on all of us, you know. But when I got there, I had to use my key to get in because she wasn't answering. I found her on the floor, a cane next to her like she had been having to use it. She was out and seizing on her belly. I don't know how long she was there exactly, if it was just from this morning or the night before."

  Valen was shocked. How could she have gone so downhill from the last time he saw her? It had only been days, literally. This had truly progressed, and she was so stubborn not to be honest with anyone about it. He balled his fits up and tried not to react badly. This was not Kathy's fault, and both women needed him to be strong and calm right now. "Have the doctors said anything?" Valen asked.

  "A little." Kathy nodded, rubbing her belly with one of her hands. "Damn these Braxton Hicks contractions, if I am going to hurt it should be for a reason." Valen looked at her funny, and she just shooed him with her hand, making him drop it. She'd had two children successfully, so surely she knew more than he did anyway. "Anyway, the doctor came and told me that it appeared she had more than one seizure, probably all while she was down like that. They gave her a CT to make sure she didn't injure anything severely in her fall. She has a sprained ankle and some bruising. That's it. But they think it’s continuing to progress. They want to talk to her when she wakes up about going to traditional medicine. I know she’s gonna be hella be stubborn about it Valen, but I don't think she has a choice anymore."

  Valen was certain he heard desperation in her voice, and she placed her hand on top of his. She was wanting him to convince her. He could tell it was what she wanted. "You don't really think I have that kind of influence over her, do you? I mean, we have technically onl
y been on a couple of dates, Kathy," he told her, shaking his head.

  "Valen, I know you don't see it because you haven't known her your whole life, but there is something different about you. You care about her and her passions in a way that no man ever has. She is too much for most men. That's why she has been divorced twice. After all that heartbreak, and her illness, she would not have kept you around to attempt any relationship with you at all if you didn't mean anything. Besides, why else would you have been able to convince her to let you be an apprentice? That other girl has been working for her since she was 15, and she only started being an apprentice in her senior year of high school."

  Valen was blown away by that information. He had not realized her feelings were that strong for him. He was thinking the whole time it was all on him, all in his head, all his ideas, and feelings. But now that he thought about it, even the first time they met, he knew she was stubborn and strong-willed. That type of woman didn't just wear their heart on their sleeve. There were signs. It would be slow to notice and even longer for her to tell him. It was on him to let her know first. But if he didn't make sure she got better they may never get there.

  “I will do the absolute best I can to help her find a cure and to convince her she can’t just let herself waste away. I completely understand her stance, the way she feels about modern medicine versus doing things her way, but she is going to have to compromise a bit to save herself,” Valen reassured Kathy, even though he could not guarantee that he could make her do anything. He did, however, know what the last resort was, but he would think about that another day.

  Kathy smiled at him. "Has anyone ever told you what a good guy you are?"

  Valen actually had to chuckle at that, thinking about his past. There were a few things about himself he had; it liked before but had been perfectly alright being the dragon prince that he was. It was natural. He had been working on himself since the moment he left, seeing the biggest redeemable quality that human beings had; compassion. It was like something that had always been missing.

  Valen went for honesty. "No, but that's because I wasn't always the good guy you see before you. I've had a lot of growing up to do."

  "And there's the marker of a good man," she said, slapping his knee affectionately, and she really was feeling like a sister then. "Admitting you are not perfect."

  Valen wanted to say something. He didn't exactly like being up on a pedestal. He used to be with so many women. Women he could never commit to because of his birthright. He played them all, twisting them around his fingers to always need him. He used to be so cold to those around him, shown little love or respect as a child by his own parents, except for the occasional touch his mother snuck in when his father wasn't around.

  Just then, a doctor came into the room, the same woman from before. Good. Evette had mentioned to him once that she referred her to the other doctor that was on staff at the hospital. He stood up to greet her and placed his hand on Kathy to let her know to stay seated. She honestly could go into labor at any point, and she needed to rest, especially if any bad news was coming. "What does it look like? Valen asked, matter-of-factly.

  The doctor nodded. "Evette is awake now, though very tired and weak. She has asked that if you were here for you to come back and be with her, but she would like to send love to her sister Kathy and send her home. I hear you are having baby soon." She glanced at Kathy with a kind smile, and Valen helped Kathy up.

  "It's alright," he soothed her, knowing she was ready to pitch a fit at her sister's wishes. I will talk to her. I will call you later with everything. Just go home."

  Kathy went to collect her children on the other side of the room and waddled out, Valen felt a little better for her now that she would be safe at home. Then, he turned back to the doctor and let her lead him back to her room. She had been admitted officially and was laying in a nice bed in a private room up a couple of floors from where they were.

  When he walked in, he tried not react and make things worse for her. But she didn't look at all like herself. The light in her was almost completely snuffed out.

  Evette looked up and tried to smile at Valen, but it didn't reach her eyes. “So, now that Valen is in here, would you like me to explain where we are at, or do you want to?” the doctor asked. Evette sighed and nodded for her to go ahead. She was probably too tired. The doctor turned to Valen. “So, it seems that Evette would like your opinion on her next move. We all know she would prefer natural treatments for her MS, and I would be all for it if they were working, but this particular case is progressing quickly. They can only help symptoms if the progression is slowed down at this point. In my professional opinion, she needs the help of our medicines. I can’t promise her she won't have the side effects she is worried about or that it will completely reverse the damage that has been done, but it will likely increase both quality and length of life. Otherwise, I would give her another two months if not less before she’s in a wheelchair.”

  Valen could tell there was some tough love being dished out by the physician, but it was clearly necessary. He didn't know how much he would ever trust human medicine either, but it would be better than what Evette was going through now.

  Evette looked at him expectantly, and he nodded. “I know you don’t want this, but I also know you have a lot to give in your life to this world. The work you do is important. You should be here to do it. I think, for now, a compromise would be good.” His voice was soft and raspy, almost nervous that she would hate him now for at all taking the doctor’s side.

  Evette slumped back in her bed and looked away, but she nodded. She agreed. At least that was a small victory. “Okay, then, I’ll prepare a treatment plan. We will monitor you overnight and maybe release you in the morning if all is stable.”

  The doctor left them alone in the room, and Valen wasn't sure what to say. So, instead, he just went to sit by the window where they could be there for each other in silence until they both fell asleep.

  When he woke up, it was to the sound of rustling around and chaos. Valen sat up in his chair and saw that it was morning, and they were working on the discharge papers for Evette. She didn't look much better, but he had listened as they gave her a specific treatment plan the night before, the compromise that Kathy wanted her to take. He had already texted her about it. The strange thing, though, was the other man in the room. A guy in a baseball cap and a leather jacket whose tennis shoes squeaked on the tile every time he moved.

  “I wondered when you would be awake so I could talk to you and figure out why you were here all night with my wife.” He was startled, knowing that she had two ex-husbands but currently no one else. The look Evette gave him was murderous.

  “Ex-wife, Joe,” she croaked out, sounding dry and weak still. “And for good reason”

  “Yeah, because you were stubborn as hell, and I wasn't going to watch you kill yourself to prove a point. But I have heard from good source that you’ve changed your mind. It’s my job to help take care of you now that you want to live.” Valen stood up, ready to punch the guy in the face if necessary but something in Evettes look told him to back off.

  “I appreciate it, and maybe you’re right that I could sue the help, but it is no more than that. I don't want to be back with you. I am still trying with you, and I am dating him,” she explained, pointing finger at Valen.

  “How can you date like this?” he asked, and Valen was disgusted at how he obviously looked at her like she was broken.

  She just rolled her eyes and turned back to Vaken. “Please, keep running the store. As soon as I am feeling up to it, I will be in to handle the medicine making. I don't know if I’ll be able to do much with customers, though, so just make sure you give everyone a few extra hours to cover.”

  Valen nodded, knowing that Evette wanted to deal with Joe on her own. But as he left the hospital, he was sure to call Kathy and let her know about this new development.

  Chapter Ten

  It had been another two day
s since he had seen or heard from Evette, and Valen was done with it, finished. He got competent employees to cover the whole day, and he was going to march up to her place and demand to know how she was. In the back of his mind, he was almost certain as to why he hadn't heard from her. Joe, her ex-husband, was most likely at the house. Kathy had let him know they had called to let them know she was having the baby the day before, and he had been the one who answered. Both he and Kathy were pissed, but she had to focus on having that baby and healing from it rather than what was going on with her sister and that jerk.

  That was exactly what he was from what he had been filled in with by Kathy and her husband.

  Valen pulled up to her house and did see there was a car parked out front that he did not recognize. It meant she was dealing with Joe, probably acting like they were back together. Kathy had mentioned she never did like the guy anyway but that Evette seemed to be in love with him and happier than her first marriage, so she let it go. That Joe was a bit controlling and pushed his opinions on Evette's actions, which never went over well. Not until now, anyway. Valen could imagine that, with how hard-headed she tends to be, but he loved that about her. Joe clearly did not, and she was too weak both mentally and physically to fight him on it right now.

  Valen went up to the door and rang the doorbell, trying to look as intimidating as possible. That was what he had going for him. He was a dragon still, even if he was in his human form. He looked like a dragon prince, and somewhere in the back of most human minds, they sensed something about him; about his strength and beauty.

  The door opened to reveal the same man he had seen before, still in a baseball cap but no jacket this time. He appeared to be older than Evette, and in fact, Valen could see the appearance of wrinkles on his face under the light of the house. "Look buddy, Evette told me all about you," he began, in a bit of a condescending tone. Valen really didn't even want to listen to this. "I appreciate you being around when I wasn't, when I couldn't be. I truly do. But I’m here now. So, if you could just keep that store of hers up and running until these meds really do their job, we would both appreciate that."