Chapter 40: EXCUSE ME
Trishelle
Two weeks had passed since Trishelle and Samuel arrived at the Goldmoon Pack. The first few nights proved difficult - a relentless cycle of nightmares and fragmented sleep - but the days that followed unfolded smoothly. Bradley granted her complete freedom to explore wherever she wished, and to her surprise, every pack member she encountered offered genuine help. She found herself drawn especially to the communal creche, where she visited the pups often and occasionally assisted the teachers.
Something remarkable happened whenever she entered the nursery. The children gravitated toward her as if pulled by an invisible thread. They would abandon their toys and games, rushing to greet her with outstretched arms and bright smiles. The teachers expressed astonishment at this behavior; typically, the pups remained wary around newcomers, keeping their distance until trust developed naturally over time. Yet with Trishelle, that hesitation simply didn’t exist. Many pack members whispered that the children sensed Bradley’s scent clinging faintly to her skin - a subtle claim that even the youngest wolves could detect on an instinctive level.
Despite the peaceful days, the nightmare from that first night continued to haunt her. Images would flash unbidden behind her eyes at random moments, jolting her awake in the darkness, gasping for air as her heart hammered against her ribs. The evidence showed clearly in the dark circles that bloomed beneath her eyes each morning, shadows that no amount of concealer could hide.
When Bradley noticed her exhaustion, concern etched across his features, he consulted with his wolf. The animal suggested that their scent might provide comfort and ease her troubled sleep. Bradley summoned Stacy, who had been assigned as Trishelle’s personal attendant, and requested that his own blanket be switched with Trishelle’s daily. Without her wolf, Trishelle couldn’t consciously detect the scent, but something deep within her recognized it. The ’new’ blankets that appeared each day seemed to calm her on a primal level she couldn’t quite explain, and gradually, she found herself sleeping through the night, her dreams becoming gentler, less threatening.
This arrangement had an unintended consequence - Bradley’s scent now lingered lightly on her skin and clothes, a development that pleased his wolf immensely. The animal preened with satisfaction each time Bradley caught a whiff of their combined scents.
They established a routine of spending several hours together each afternoon, talking and walking the pack grounds. Trishelle had practically swooned when Bradley first showed her the library - a magnificent two-story building with floor-to-ceiling windows that flooded the space with natural light. She spent countless hours curled up in one of its plush armchairs, losing herself in the books she borrowed, her fingers trailing reverently over aged pages.
The transformation in her physical health proved remarkable. Thanks to the abundant, nutritious meals - so different from the meager portions at Bloodmoon - her body began to heal. Her skin developed a healthy glow that replaced the previous pallor. Her hair, once dull and brittle, now shone with vitality, catching the light when she moved. Even her mood lifted, the constant tension in her shoulders gradually easing away. She found herself smiling more, laughing at small jokes, allowing herself moments of genuine happiness.
Only one peculiarity emerged: if she didn’t consume a glass of orange juice first thing each morning, her stomach would rebel violently, churning and threatening to expel whatever contents it held. The pattern became so predictable that the kitchen staff began setting a mug of freshly squeezed juice at her place before she even descended for breakfast, the citrus scent greeting her as she entered the dining room.
Bradley
Bradley felt as though he were walking on air, and his wolf shared the euphoria whenever they spent time with Trishelle. Their initial conversations had been stilted, both of them carefully navigating unfamiliar territory, but now he marveled at how effortlessly words flowed between them. They never seemed to run out of things to discuss, to share, to discover about each other.
He learned so much about her during those walks and quiet moments in the library. She loved old poetry, could recite verses from memory with a passion that made the words come alive. She possessed a secret talent for sketching - delicate, detailed drawings that captured the essence of her subjects with just a few strokes. He witnessed the quiet strength that had carried her through unimaginable hardships, a resilience that humbled him.
In return, he found himself sharing things he’d never told another soul - his deepest fears for the pack’s future, his dreams of creating something better than what he’d inherited, the weight of responsibility that sometimes threatened to crush him. She listened with such empathy, her eyes reflecting understanding rather than judgment, and he felt lighter for having spoken these truths aloud.
What surprised him most was her insight into pack matters. She demonstrated a female’s perspective that he’d been missing, pointing out areas where minor adjustments could significantly improve daily life for everyone. Her suggestions were practical, thoughtful, and he found himself implementing many of them, watching as the pack responded positively to the changes.
One afternoon, as they strolled the grounds with late sunshine warming their skin and casting long shadows across the grass, Bradley received a link from Dr. Lorenzo. *Alpha, the new medical equipment has been delivered and installed. It’s ready for your inspection.*
"Would you like to come with me to the sick bay?" Bradley asked Trishelle, extending his hand. "We just received some new medical equipment."
She placed her hand in his, and they headed toward the medical facility. Inside, they found the staff buzzing with excitement around the newly installed equipment, their faces bright with enthusiasm. Despite its name, the ’sick bay’ functioned as a fully equipped mini-hospital. Four floors housed everything from maternity and newborn care to operating theaters capable of handling serious trauma cases.
"Excuse me for a moment," Bradley said, reluctantly releasing her hand to discuss implementation details with Lorenzo.
Trishelle
Trishelle wandered the corridor, careful to stay clear of the busy workers who moved with practiced efficiency. She felt amazed by the sheer number of trained professionals - doctors, nurses, technicians, all working together in this state-of-the-art facility. Nothing like this existed at Bloodmoon, where medical care consisted of basic first aid and hope. The contrast struck her forcefully.
She found herself touched by Bradley’s attention to detail, his obvious care for every pack member’s wellbeing. He’d spared no expense in ensuring they received the best possible care. Then a sharp pang of sadness pierced her chest, stealing her breath. Maybe if Bloodmoon had possessed even a fraction of these resources, Rosie might have survived. The memory of the only mother she’d ever known made her throat tighten painfully, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes.
The strong smells of antiseptic and disinfectant suddenly overwhelmed her senses. Her stomach lurched violently, and before she could process what was happening, this morning’s breakfast fought its way up her throat. She tried to hold it back, pressing a hand to her mouth, but her body betrayed her. She began retching, the contents of her stomach splattering across the freshly cleaned, sterile floor.
Bradley
Bradley heard Trishelle’s gag, followed immediately by the sickly sour smell that filled the corridor. His protective instincts flared to life, and he reached her side in an instant, his heart pounding with concern. "Trishelle?" He scooped her up effortlessly, feeling her body tremble against his chest, while shouting for Lorenzo. "Lorenzo! Something’s wrong!"
The doctor waved them toward the nearest examination room, his expression professionally calm. A staff member immediately set about cleaning the mess. Bradley deposited Trishelle gently on the bed, then turned a fierce glare on Lorenzo, as if the doctor bore personal responsibility for her distress.
Shaking his head at his worried Alpha, Lorenzo linked his mate. *Nicole, I need you in Exam Room 3. Now.*
When Lorenzo ordered Bradley from the room, offense flashed across the Alpha’s features. "I’m not leaving her," he growled, the sound reverberating through the small space.
"Alpha, I need to examine her properly," Lorenzo said, his voice firm but respectful. "Please, just wait outside. I’ll summon you the second I know anything."
Bradley
The Alpha of the Goldmoon Pack now found himself pacing back and forth outside the examination room like an anxious father awaiting news. His wolf prowled restlessly beneath his skin, a low growl rumbling in his chest. When a worker wheeled a cart of equipment toward the room, the poor man nearly dropped everything under the weight of Bradley’s intense stare.
Each second felt like an eternity. Bradley’s imagination conjured increasingly dire scenarios, each more terrifying than the last. What if something was seriously wrong? What if he lost her before they’d even had a chance to truly begin?
Trishelle
Worry gnawed at Trishelle as she lay on the examination table. Without a wolf, her body functioned more like a human’s, complete with a normal immune system susceptible to countless illnesses. As Dr. Lorenzo asked questions and checked her vitals with gentle efficiency, terrifying possibilities raced through her mind. Cancer. Organ failure. Some rare disease with no cure.
When he asked if she’d been intimate with Bradley, heat flooded her cheeks, and she shook her head vigorously, unable to meet his eyes.
Lorenzo felt relieved to see color return to her pale face at the question. Sighing, he linked his mate. *Nicole, if she didn’t do it with Bradley, I would hate to tell him that his Luna may have cancer. The nausea, the aversion to certain smells... it fits the pattern.*
*No,* Nicole linked back, her mind racing through alternatives. *Maybe she was intimate with someone else. Before she came here. I heard that in her old pack, they didn’t wait for their mates, so perhaps that was the case?*
Lorenzo hummed thoughtfully. He’d considered that possibility but dismissed it initially. However, if Nicole was correct and the test results supported that theory, how would he break such news to his Alpha? The thought made his stomach clench. Deciding to proceed methodically, Lorenzo ordered blood work.
Nicole took the vial to the lab, her hands steady despite her racing thoughts. She returned minutes later, her expression carefully neutral. The test results confirmed their suspicions, and both she and Lorenzo exchanged glances filled with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. How would Bradley react to this news?
Bradley
Bradley stood at the window several feet down the corridor, staring unseeing at the landscape beyond. His wolf’s low growl rippled through the hallway, setting everyone on edge, making staff members hurry past with their heads down. He struggled to maintain control, to keep from barging into the room and demanding answers. His wolf worked himself into a frenzy, and Bradley teetered on the edge of following suit.
Just when he thought he couldn’t endure another moment of uncertainty, Nicole appeared in the doorway and called him in. He moved with such speed he nearly knocked her aside, but Lorenzo’s sharp growl froze him mid-step.
With a sheepish glance at the doctor, Bradley quickly made his way to Trishelle’s side. The moment he took her hand, his wolf finally relaxed, the tension draining from his shoulders. He felt her relax as well, her fingers tightening around his. Without caring how it might look, he sat on the edge of the bed and wrapped one arm around her shoulders, drawing her close.
She sighed and melted into him, and his wolf howled with joy at this small but significant step forward in their relationship. Bradley rubbed his cheek against her hair, breathing in her scent. He’d noticed it had changed subtly over the past week - sweeter, warmer, more intoxicating - but he’d attributed it to spending more time together, to finally being close enough to truly notice.
Lorenzo gave them several minutes, understanding how profoundly a mate’s touch could calm even the most agitated wolf. He wondered, though, if they would remain this peaceful when he shared his findings. The knowledge sat heavy in his chest. Clearing his throat, he turned to face the couple, who looked up at him with matching expressions of concern.
"Alpha, Luna," he began, choosing his words carefully, "I would like to share the findings of my examination."
