Page 32 of The Safest Place She Knows

“Yeah?” Shewatched the doctor and the scary alpha come in with stunnedexpressions.

“They don’thave to swab my cheek. We were genotyped last year.”

“Tamara, youcan be as mad as you want for this next moment, but I will be hereto answer questions when your fury fades.”

Tamara frownedwhen the doctor cleared his throat. “I found your files, Ms.Harwell. The name on record is Lemara.”

“Well, what arethe odds of that?” Tonlya relaxed as vial after vial was pulled forthe battery of tests.

The doctorcleared his throat. “What kind of post-partum care did you getafter your child was born?”

“Just what Icould find on the internet. She was alive and healthy and the endto a long journey.”

Venka came andstood next to Tamara, putting an arm around her shoulders. “So,what have you determined so far?”

“Her arm isbroken and needs to be reset. She has malnutrition and needs somerest, but there is no reason that she won’t make a completerecovery with careful handling.”

Tamara frowned.“You are talking about her like she is a pet.”

“Your mother isin need of care. Even betas get to this point sometimes, let aloneomegas of her particular focus.”

Venka asked,“What is her focus?”

“She’s gearedto the Elite. I am guessing the imprinting happened during herdaughter’s conception.”

Tonlyamuttered, “Read my fucking file.”

The doctorlooked down and went, “Oh. Oh, god. I... didn’t read thatpart.”

“That was aneasy guess.”

Tamara lookedat her and muttered, “Mother?”

“Yes.Genetically, I am your mother. I was the business end when you wereborn, but Mom caught you, registered you, and wrapped me up so thatno one guessed I was carrying.”

Venka lookedbetween them and obviously took in the resemblance between motherand daughter. “Oh, wow. You survived bearing for an Elite?”

“Yeah. It was awhole event. It is a very long story, and Tamara won’t need thedetails for a while. I was three years older than she is now, and Ihad no idea what was happening until I ended up in hospital. Then,fast forward thirty-eight weeks, and she was here. Fortunately, Ihad a growth spurt that took most of the danger out of thedelivery.” She looked at Venka. “Can you take her to get her asandwich or something? I get the feeling that the discussion isgoing to get graphic.”

Tamara hungonto her hand. “I took sex ed in school.”

“This wasn’tsex. This was an attack, and I had the claw and bite marks to proveit. I was bleeding out of everywhere, he broke two of my teeth, andthen he dumped me on the beach where he found me.”

“Didn’t anyonesee him?” Tamara blinked.

“Sure, but theylaughed when he carried me off, and I was screaming bloodymurder.”

Tamara’s eyesfilled with tears. “I am sorry.”

“I had achoice. I made a choice. Mom agreed to raise you as hers so I couldfinish school. Then, she got sick, and you have been here for therest.”

“Oh. So, Momwas Grandma?”

“Yeah. So, howpissed are you on a scale from one to ten?”

“Let me thinkabout it. Ms. Venka, can you take me for a snack?”

“Of course.Nohehl can take notes on what is necessary for your sister’s returnto health.” She looked at Tonlya. “Would you prefer Tonlya orLemara?”

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