Page 66 of Alpha Fate

My heart almost breaks for him, despite how full it was just a moment ago.

“Dr. Bea?” My voice trembles with a mixture of confusion and concern. “I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”

Sierra stands, her eyes locking onto mine. There’s a gravity in her gaze that roots me in place. “Savannah,” she says softly, “we were just talking about you.”

Me? Okay, not Edirn then.

Dr. Bea clears her throat and gestures for me to take a seat beside her. I pull out a chair and sink onto it, my legs shaking.

“I’ll get you some water,” Sierra says, rising and moving to the nearby counter to get a glass.

I frown at her. Maybe I look like I need it. “Sure.” I turn my attention back to the doctor.

“I received the results back from your blood tests,” she begins, her voice steady but not without warmth.

Blood tests! Right.

My mind races back to the chip, to the routine checks they’d performed afterward. “That was quick. You only just told me you’d sent them in. And? What were the results?” I’m still breathless.

“They confirmed that you were drugged with various substances,” Dr. Bea says matter-of-factly, “which we expected given your condition when you arrived.”

I nod. “Nothing that would cause long-term issues?” I think of what Sierra told me about never being able to have pups again. Considering the new developments in my world, that would be crushing right now.

“A pretty nasty cocktail of Rohypnol, ketamine, and various other medications that would have pretty much knocked you out cold and kept your wolf suppressed. I’m guessing you can feel her now?”

I nod. “She’s back.” It’s a great feeling. “Then what they gave me wasn’t dangerous?”

“I wouldn’t say that. If you were human…” She shakes her head, looking serious. “Thankfully, with your shifter strength, recovery is straightforward; simply do what you’ve been doing – rest, hydration, good nutrition to deal with the malnutrition…”

“I’m already a lot better. Look,” I raise an arm and pinch my skin, smiling. “I’m fattening up – ice cream and cheesecake.” I turn my smile to Sierra. Her responding smile is stiff as she sets the glass on the table in front of me. I reach for it and take a gulp.

“Don’t forget the yogurt.” Sierra puts a hand on my shoulder. In spite of the little joke, she doesn’t look happy.

What’s going on?

“So, all of that’s good news, right?” I look from one to the other. “We know what they used on us and that it’s not fatal to our kind. If the others are getting it too, they’ll be okay until we can find them?”

“Aside from the trauma…and…whatever else they may be subjected to, yes. The drugs won’t kill them.” Dr. Bea gives a nod. She pauses, studying my face for a reaction. “But that’s not all we found.”

My pulse quickens again as dread creeps up my spine like ivy.

“What else was there?” My hand tightens on my glass. From their expressions, whatever it is can’t be good.

“Your hCG levels are really high, which is a concern.” She lets the words hang in the air before continuing.

“hCG levels? What does that mean?” I’m feeling increasingly confused. “Another drug? Is this one more serious?”

“Savannah, you’re pregnant.” The doctor’s words sound too simple for them to carry the meaning that they do.

I drop my glass, water spilling across the table as it rolls away and then drops off the edge, glass shattering across the floor. The room tilts on its axis as I struggle to process this.

Pregnant!?

“I… No… I…” I shake my head in disbelief. “That can’t be right.”

“I’m sorry,” Dr. Bea says gently. “We ran the tests multiple times to be sure.”

Sierra is behind me now, a hand on each of my shoulders, anchoring me as waves of shock crash over me.

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