Chapter 0021
Even with him looking straight at me, I knew he wasn’t talking about inviting me. That would be outrageous. No way was that happening
Lucian looked away from me, back to Sheila. His anger was clear in his features: his eyes like icicles, his mouth a hard slash.
“I’ve warned you not to disrespect Dr. A again,” he said. Even his voice was frosty.
Sheila paled a little, though her tears continued to drift down. “Did you hear the things she said about me? It was all untrue.”
Lucian ignored her, turning his attention to the older Healers standing just inside the door.
“You should leave,” Lucian told them. “I will handle this matter on my own
“Forgive me for speaking out of turn, Alpha King,” said one of the Healers.
Healers, by nature, being as rare and well–reputable as they were, had a reputation for being outspoken. Because of their status, not many people would talk back to them. Even as Dr. A, I’d taken some liberties, speaking out more than I ever would have as Aria. But typically, 1 only did this for medical matters, where I simply had more expertise.
That, I assumed, was what gave the old Healer the courage to speak out against the Alpha King
The foolish Healer pressed onward. “We need our pack’s greatest Alpha King in history to be clear–headed, not blinded by a lying female wolf like Dr. A! A healer with an unidentified status like Dr. A should not be admired!”
The second Healer added. “While we are unaware of the specific details of the Nightfall pack’s project with the hospital, we are aware of its existence. A project like that should be taken over by one of Nightfall’s own Healers! Not some interloper!”
Lucian glared at the men for a moment, then, surprisingly laughed. It wasn’t a laugh of kindness, however, but more one of annoyance and ill–humor. It died quickly in his throat.
Looking through the door to the office, he made a motion to someone outside. Ben, the King’s Beta, walked inside carrying a briefcase. Ben excused himself, pushing between the two Healers to join Lucian’s side.
“The project’s paperwork, Ben, please,” Lucian said.
Ben opened the briefcase, then pulled out a folder and passed it to Lucian.
“This is the official project plan that Dr. A and I have been collaborating on. Look it over. See if you can do better.” Lucian passed the plan to the two Healers.
Opening it, they dipped their heads together to read the notes.
“You’ll notice that Dr. A has been fundamental in bringing this plan together in a cost–effective and utilitarian way. In doing so, she has already achieved many medical successes for the pack,” Lucian said.-
The clear pride in his voice made my own chest swell.
“You’ll see that while we were investigating the best solution to bring medical care to the common people, she was able to diagnose a new contagious disease that had been festering among those most vulnerable who had not access to treatment. In less than a day, she found and implemented a cure.”
+25 BONUS
I’d already suspected that strand of illness had been growing, though I hadn’t seen it yet for myself. The cure had taken far longer than an afternoon to create, as I’d been testing it for a few days. But I wasn’t about to correct him when he was putting these jerks in their place.
Besides, even a handful of days was a quick timeline for a cure. It wasn’t something either of them could have done. I doubted they even would have known where to start.
“Can you do this?” Lucian asked. “Why should we choose you?”
one of the Healers said, shock in his face and his voice. As they glanced at each other, a hint of guilt passed between them. “A cure would take months to develop, and we’d need a research team.”
The other Healer, though guilt–stricken, was still adamantly against me. Looking back to Lucian, he said,
her identity is unknown, Alpha King! She could be deceiving you, and all of us!”
Lucian stood slightly straighter. “Do I look like someone who can be easily deceived? Secret or not, Dr. A’s identity is fine.”
“No!” Sheila cried out, loudly and suddenly. “Lucian, you have to listen to them. They are Healers. They know!”
Lucian simply turned his back to them, and to Sheila, facing only me instead.
Behind him, Sheila’s face crinkled up as more tears fell. With a loud sob, she swiveled on her heel and ran out the
door.
Lucian didn’t turn to look at her leave. He didn’t even flinch, keeping his gaze steady on me.
“I apologize to you, Dr. A. I promise this will never happen again,” he said. “I will be spreading the word that you are under pack protection. If anyone dares to offend you again, I will directly exile them from the pack.”
His face was stern, but his eyes were sincere. A man of his word, Lucian usually kept his promises.
Voice softer, he added, “I appreciate all that you’ve done for the Nightfall pack, Dr. A. Genuinely.”
It was so strange hearing him talk like this to Dr. A, when in the past, as Aria, he had never given me so much gratitude.
As his housewife, I’d almost given up everything for Lucian, desiring so greatly for him to see me and to love me. Yet he never did. Now, absurdly, as Dr. A, I barely had to try to receive his kind words and compliments.
In such a short time, Dr. A had accomplished that which Arla had tried to earn for three years.
I wondered, if I had told him my true identity at the beginning, would that have changed anything? Or maybe, everything?
With a sigh, I looked away. What did it matter now? I had decided to divorce. Thinking about what could have been in our marriage was meaningless. Lucian didn’t love me the real Aria- at all.
“If you will excuse me,” Lucian said. Turning toward Ben, he held out his hand. Ben reached into the briefcase for more paperwork. Then he handed it to Lucian. When Lucian had it, he turned to me, and handed it out for me to take. “I simply wanted to bring you these new files pertaining to the project.”
“Thank you,” I said, meaning it for this and for his early words.
He nodded, then, gesturing to Ben, they both walked out of the office. The older Healers left as well.
With the office returning to normal, Piper returned to the phones and I moved into my private office, hoping to shut out the world for a while.
23
SMAA
Not too long after I sat down at my desk chair, a knock sounded on my door.
Come in,” I said, relieved when only Cathy came through
“This was left for you,” Cathy said, handing over what looked like a card in an envelope. Written on the front, in Lucian’s handwriting was, Aria
With curiosity, I opened the envelope and pulled out an invation. The time and date was for the family gathering Sheila had mentioned.
Lucian had sincerely invited me the real me, not Dr. A.
Under the invitation, Lucian had personally written, “Aria You must attend.”
In lighter lettering, as if he had added it as an afterthought, he wrote,
-Please.”
