Rex calmed himself, at least on the outside. He quieted his bear as best he could. “1997 was the year of a hard freeze. That might have killed off the bacteria.”
“Who’s to say. All I know is we don’t have much disease at all here anymore. That’s how good of a doctor I am. Can you say the same about your community?”
“How would you know if you have the disease? When the doctor kills the patient rather than trying to cure him, you probably don’t get any patients at all! Who would bring you their brother if he became sick when all you do is ‘put them to sleep’.”
“I consider culling an important part of animal management. It makes everyone stronger in the end to remove the diseased animals.”
“That’s murder, no matter what words you use. Everyone deserves to be cured when they get sick, not killed. Why are you even a doctor?” Rex stormed over and banged his hands on Kinney’s desk, rattling it.
“If you don’t have the balls to take a shifter or two out to save your community, why are you even a doctor?” Kinney stood. His eyebrows were tufted over his eyes like storm clouds.
“First, do no harm. Or have you forgotten that?” Rex was disgusted. He didn’t know how much more he could take. His bear was ready to rip Kinney’s throat apart.
Kinney continued. “You think you know what you’re talking about. Wait until your own family is threatened. You’re too weak, but maybe you won’t be once your own family is hit.”
Rex thought of Lawton and blanched.
Kinney scoffed at him. “What? It’s already hit your family, hasn’t it? That’s why you drove all the way up here. You’re desperate.”
“Don’t you see, if we discover the cure, then we can save so many lives. That’s why I became a doctor.”
“I became a doctor to keep my clan well, no matter what it takes. After decades of dealing with this, you’ll change your mind. Come see me then. And if the disease comes back to my people from your community, you’d better believe I’ll be there to destroy the sick shifters in Seattle to save my own clan.”
“You’re a monster.”
“No. I’m a bear shifter and I’m strong enough to do what’s necessary. You’re weak. You might as well be a man. I’ll bet you don’t even shift anymore do you?”
“Of course not. I’m a doctor first. A bear shifter second.”
“Pardon my French Canadian. But that’s fucked up.”
Rex couldn’t take any more. “I’ll see myself out.”
It took the entire five-hour drive back to Seattle for Rex to calm down.
When he arrived at Zach and Amy’s loft, Rex saw Steph immediately and made a beeline straight to her side, ignoring the disappointed expressions on the faces of Thomas and Riley.
“Hello, gorgeous,” he said, caressing Steph’s waist and back. “I couldn’t wait to get back and see you.” The spicy scent of her was enough to settle him and he breathed in deeply, kissing her hair as he stroked her neck.
Thomas and Riley slunk away.
“How was Canada?” Steph beamed up at him.
“It was enlightening. I’ll tell you all about it. But first, have you eaten? Would you mind eating with me? It’s been a long day.”
“Of course,” she said. “I haven’t had anything yet.”
“Don’t move. I’ll get you a plate.”
“Don’t be silly. We can go together,” she said, taking his hand. Her warmth shot up his arm and bloomed across his chest.
“Who were you with today?” she asked him.
“A bear shifter doctor named Jonathan Kinney. He told me that he’s been battling the same disease for decades but didn’t know about the wolf-bear connection. There is much less interaction between wolves and bear shifters there, even though both populations are twice as big as here in Seattle.”
Rex handed her a plate and she served herself a mini-hamburger and six French fries.
“I thought you said you hadn’t eaten,” he said, frowning.
“I’m not very hungry.” She shrugged.
“Here, try it. One bite will change your mind.” He held up one of the adorable burgers to her mouth and she took a bite.
“Oh my god,” she said, lifting a hand to her mouth.
“I know, right?” He popped the other half in his mouth. It was juicy and delicious. “They’re Zach’s specialty. But damn good. Here, let me help.” He served her a dozen mini-burgers and a huge pile of fries.
“Catsup?” he asked.
She nodded. He gave the fries a good squirt.
He served himself just as much food and led Steph to a table outside, grabbing two bottles of ale on the way. Because of a propane heater next to the table, it was warm and toasty on the balcony. The city lights sparkled around them and the air was crisp with the smell of brine. When they had settled and dug into their food, Rex sat back and stared at Steph.
“What?” she said, running her tongue over her teeth. “Do I have food stuck in my teeth?”
“It’s just so nice to see you, Steph. And to be with a woman who enjoys food as much as I do. It’s a breath of fresh air, I’ll tell you that.” He took a long gulp of ale.
She bit into another burger. “If everything tasted as good as these burgers, everyone would have a good appetite.”
“I can’t wait until I can cook for you.”
“You’re going to cook for me?” She smiled.
“I’m going to make grilled salmon and steaks and so many cakes and pies. Also, I make the most incredible tacos you’ve ever tasted in your life.”
“In my life? You sure? My mom might argue with you about that.”
“Is she a good cook?”
Steph nodded. “Tacos are kind of a big deal in my family.”
“I can’t wait to meet her.” He laughed and leaned over and kissed her. “Are you warm enough?” He took off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders. It was so big that it hung down almost to her knees.
“My mom’s in Florida for the winter, so you’re off the hook for now.”
“If tacos are involved, I wouldn’t mind a quick trip to the Sunshine state.” Rex didn’t want to scare her, but he needed Steph to know that he was serious about their future together.
It was time to stop playing games.
“Tell me more about Dr. Kinney,” she said, nodding.
He hesitated. Should he really get into this over dinner? Then again, Steph deserved to know. “I don’t know how to say this, but he’s a monster. He’s over eighty years old and he says the first time he saw the disease was in the 1970s. He’s been tracking it ever since. The only thing he told me that I didn’t already know was that some people get infected and get over it with no trouble, like they’ve had a cold. Others never recover.”
“But how is he a monster?”
“He murders anyone who gets the disease to prevent it from spreading. He calls it culling the pack.”
Her hand flew to her chest. “God, that’s horrible.”
“He’s prevented the illness from spreading across the northern territories, but at what cost?”
“That must have been awful for you to hear about.” She took his hand and lightly stroked it with her thumb. “Have you seen anyone recover from it like they’ve had a cold?
“Not to my knowledge. But it’s possible I haven’t seen that because I’ve only been looking at the worst cases. So, meeting him today was important. Now I can look for bears with cold symptoms.”
Just then, a bear shifter across the balcony sneezed into a handkerchief.
Steph turned to Rex and lifted her eyebrows with a question.
“It’s unlikely, but I’d better check. Be right back.” Rex walked slowly across the balcony.
13
Sometimes you look both ways before crossing the street, and get hit in the head with an airplane.
While he was gone, Steph thought back to the last time she had been at a bear shifter party. It was that day she bumped into Boris and got to know Rex
for the first time.
It was the day she decided to dive head-first into friends with benefits.
What had she been thinking?
Now she’d had sex with a friend who felt more like a long-term boyfriend. And she felt trapped in a relationship she had defined too small and too soon. It wasn’t what she wanted, not with Rex, but it seemed to be what she had.
Meanwhile they hadn’t even gone on a real date yet.
Maybe they never would.
She watched Rex feel the pulse of the sneezer and listen to his heart. Dreamy.
The more she thought about it, the more she realized she had messed up yet another relationship before it even got off the ground. She was a romantic and she was in the most unromantic relationship possible, with a very romantic bear shifter.
Had she blown it?
She had to break off friends with benefits with Rex. She had to do it tonight. As soon as possible.
Thankfully, Cleo and Lawton arrived to distract her from herself. It figured that the two of them would hit it off.
“How are you feeling, Lawton?”
“I’m fine. Just a little tired.”
Cleo was bursting with excitement. “I’m organizing a film festival with the mayor’s office. Guess who loves Hollywood?”
“I’m going to intern with Cleo for the next month to help plan the festival. That way, I’ll have contacts when I leave for Hollywood in January.”
“What’s this?” Rex said, returning to the table. He shook his head at Steph. “Just a cold,” he said, quietly, about the sneezer.
“Cleo gave me an internship!” Lawton announced.
“She has a fancy new job working for the city’s cultural affairs office,” Steph explained.
“A stressful new job. My boss is very demanding. Maybe even an asshole, I haven’t decided yet,” Cleo grinned. Clearly she loved her job.
“He keeps promoting her, right, Cleo?”
“I started as a receptionist two months ago, now I’m programming art and cultural events.”
“Is it the mayor you’re working for?” Rex asked. “Peter Conrad.”
“The mayor is so handsome,” Lawton blurted out, blushing.
“Do you know him?” Cleo asked Rex.
“Sure, yes. He’s a great mayor.” Rex ran his hand up Steph’s back, settling underneath her curtain of hair, enjoying the shiver of desire he felt run through her body.
“What do you want to do in Hollywood?” Cleo turned back to Lawton.
“I want to live a great and fun life!” Lawton’s grin was irresistible. “I’ve already found a sublet in Santa Monica.”
Diana joined them, slipping her arm through Lawton’s.
“When do you graduate?” Steph asked.
“January 13. And I turn eighteen five days later.”
“We’re driving him down to LA at the end of January.” Diana patted his shoulder with obvious pride.
Lawton shook his head. “No. I thought we’re leaving next week,” he said.
“No. After you graduate.”
“What are you talking about? I already graduated.”
“No, sweetie...Rex?” Diana’s voice raised with concern. “What’s going on?”
Everyone stared at Lawton. What was happening?
“Son, what’s your full name?” Rex asked.
“Lawton is my full name. You know that. We don’t bother with last names in these parts.”
“And your best friend?”
“Cleo is my best friend.”
Cleo batted her eyelashes at him and looked grateful. Everyone else looked concerned. Cleo had no idea what was happening.
Steph held a finger to her lips and shook her head.
“What’s wrong?” Cleo asked. “Steph?”
“Later,” Steph whispered.
“How are you different from Cleo?” Rex continued.
“Why are you asking me all these questions? It’s making me so tired. I just want to lie down. I’m gonna lie down right here.”
He collapsed on the floor. Diana dove to his side. “Lawton?”
“Get Zach!” Rex said to Steph.
Steph ran to Zach who was at the buffet, replenishing the platters. “We’ve got a problem. Lawton has Illness X.”
He dropped the spatula and ran with Steph to the balcony.
“Come on, let’s get him to my office at the hospital.” Together Zach and Rex lifted him and moved through the party to the private elevator. Diana and Steph followed closely behind.
They decided to take two cars again and lay Lawton down in the back seat of Diana’s SUV. Zach went back to his guests, promising to send everyone home and come to the hospital as soon as he could.
In his car on the way to the hospital, Steph and Rex were alone again, but she didn’t feel like it was the right time to talk. She felt tears rising and breathed deeply to keep them away. Rex seemed to sense that something was wrong though.
“What’s the matter?” he asked. “It’s more than Lawton, isn’t it? You seem upset about something else.”
“We can talk about it later,” she said. “We need to focus on Lawton.”
He smiled sadly and took one of her hands in his, the other stayed on the wheel. “For friends with benefits, we don’t get to the benefits part very often. But we’re friends, so we should tell each other everything.”
“I can’t do this anymore,” she blurted out, tears rising.
“Do what?”
“Friends with benefits. We tried it, but it’s just not for me. I’m sorry.”
“No. Why?” He squeezed her hand, shaking it a little.
“I’m just not equipped. Emotionally. I get too attached. I’m half in love with you already.”
“You’re very well equipped emotionally, I’d say. So let’s date.”
“I want to find a relationship. I need that.”
“Why not me?”
“No, dude. You’re in the friend-zone, okay?”
Obviously, not true.
He arrived at the hospital and parked. He turned to her with a pained expression and took her other hand as well.
“Steph, you’re also my fated mate. Do you know what that means?”
“It’s like Zach and Amy?” Steph’s voice dropped to a whisper.
“We’re fated to be together. There’s no one else for either one of us.” Rex looked intently into her eyes.
“I told you I don’t want to talk about it now.” She pulled her hands from his, tucking them around her waist. “We already messed it up.”
“Just wait. Promise me? Give me the rest of the night and then we can talk tomorrow.”
She nodded but didn’t speak. He kissed her forehead. They needed to hurry into the hospital and take care of Lawton.
Once inside, Diana and Rex settled Lawton in the patient room next to Rex’s office. He was asleep within moments.
“I’ll stay with him tonight. Go home and get some rest,” Rex said to Diana.
Diana nodded. “Walk me out?”
“Be right back,” he whispered to Steph.
Rex walked Diana out, his arm around her shoulder.
Lawton was finally sleeping peacefully. Steph felt his forehead. It felt feverish. She took his temperature with the ear thermometer. It was normal. How odd that he felt hot to the touch, but nothing registered on the readout. She would ask Rex about that when he returned.
While Steph was pulling down an extra blanket for Lawton from the closet shelf, a distinguished older doctor walked into the room, wearing a white lab coat and stethoscope.
“Knock, knock. Hello! Dr. Harris has asked me to consult on the patient. Is he around?”
“He’s just gone out for a moment. Can I help you? I’m Steph Lopez. I’m a nurse.” She always felt a note of pride in being a nurse, and being capable of handling illness and pain. It’s a profession she’d always considered honorable.
“Is this the patient?”
“Yes, we just brought him in to
night.”
“So he has the disease Dr. Harris is calling Illness X?”
“It looks like it, yes.”
“Have any other nurse or doctor seen the patient tonight besides you and Dr. Harris?”
“No, I don’t think so.” That was an odd question. “Why?”
“Just want to get all the information.” The older doctor smiled kindly. “I’m going to draw some blood.”
He pulled out a syringe and a needle. Steph saw that the syringe was not empty; it contained a blue liquid. He plugged the needle into the syringe. Clearly, he was about to dose Lawton.
She moved quickly, placing her body between Lawton and the doctor.
“What is that?” She demanded. “What are you doing?”
In a sudden jerk, he swung his hand towards Steph’s arm, the needle sliding off her jacket as she pulled away. She was dismayed to see that the tip of the needle had pierced her hand. She brushed it off, and it fell to the ground, liquid dripping out the tip. Did any of the injection get into her skin? She brushed her hand vigorously against the other.
The doctor smiled sweetly. “This is for the good of all the shifters, my dear. You are giving up your life to protect your clan of bear shifters.”
“You’re that doctor from Canada!” She pushed him away with all her strength. He just laughed. “I’m not a shifter!”
“Oh, my mistake. People are judged by the company they keep. Remember that in the future my dear. Oh that’s right. You won’t have a future. Even a few drops are lethal.”
Horrified, Steph felt her vision blur.
“Is it working already? My own concoction. It’s very powerful. Should only take a few minutes.”
“What was that?” she demanded.
“While your boyfriend has been trying to save a life here and there, I’ve been saving communities and towns.”
Her voice failed her and she struggled to know what to say or do.
“It’s lethal without causing any pain or suffering. Of course, that only works if you don’t realize what’s happening while it happens. Mental anguish, my dear. It’s the worst kind of suffering.”
When Rex walked in he didn’t appear to see Dr. Kinney on the floor behind him.
“Rex, look out,” she murmured, already feeling her strength retreating.
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