Page 16 of An Unexpected Claim

Trying to take my mind off the drugs, I listened to everything happening around me. One of the paramedics called in the injuries to the hospital while the driver groaned and swore under his breath as he tried to navigate NYC traffic. This city wasn’t somewhere people ever wanted to take an ambulance ride. I’d seen more ambulances stuck in gridlock in one month than most people would see in their town ever.

“Another animal attack?” the medic in the passenger seat asked the driver.

Another? Great. Just fucking great.The last thing we needed were more reports of wild animals in the city.

“This is my third call for one, but I’ve heard there were more over the last year,” the driver replied.

“Did you see those slashes? Her spine and ribs were visible,” the passenger medic whispered. “It’ll be a fucking miracle if she survives.”

Way to stay upbeat, man.

“I’ve seen some amazing recoveries in my years on the job. You never know.”

Exactly. Thank you.

I mentally high-fived the driver, then grimaced. How did moving my body in my mind hurt too?

Kathy continued talking softly to me, trying to make me feel safe and keep my mind occupied. Sweet gesture, sure, but I really wanted to shout at her to pull over and let me out.Because that wouldn’t arouse suspicion at all…

The siren shut off as the truck pulled up to the designated entrance and the back doors flew open, then I was being transported again.

Apparently, my blood pressure was low and my heart rate elevated, so they rushed me right into an OR. I bit back the desire to holler at them in frustration. I didn’t want them to misinterpret it and up the dosage of meds flooding my body.

A doctor entered and came to stand by the head of the table they’d transferred me onto.

“Hello, Peyton. I’m Dr. Cannon. We’re going to take good care of you.”

I barely resisted the urge to roll my eyes and instead gave him a trembling smile. I didn’t have to fake the quiver because the next couple hours were going to fucking suck. Starting with the IV of blood they hooked up.

Human and shifter blood didn’t mix well any more than B- mixed with A+. So, despite being O+, the burning started out small, but after a few minutes it felt like magma slithering through my veins. The heat caused chills to race through me and nausea churned in my stomach. My panther curled up in a frightened ball, and I wished I could do the same.

As they unwrapped the bandages and prepped me, the doctor explained the procedure. He said something about stitching layer by layer, but with my level of pain, it made it hard to concentrate, so I wasn’t really listening. Until he mentioned anesthesia. My loopy brain considered making a run for it, except that even if I had the strength to move on my own, I doubted I could walk a straight line.

Go ahead. Just pile on the drugs that do nothing but bog down my system so I can’t heal faster.

A nurse walked up to the doctor and whispered something in his ear, making them both look at me with worried expressions. The meds and blood loss were obviously starting to get to me, because my shifter ears should have picked up what she’d said. But it just sounded garbled.

“Let’s get started.”

I closed my eyes and tried to ignore the building pressure from everything coursing through my veins. They asked me to count backwards from one hundred and I trailed off at ninety-three knowing they expected me to be asleep. If only… Instead, I had to lie completely still and…

Actually…it’s not so…what was I thinking?

Is it cold in here? That’s odd…

I feel funny…I fleel fubby.Fubby? Is that a worb? I mean. Wooorb. No. Woooooooorb. It still doesn’t sound right.

“Damn it!” someone shouted. “Where is all that blood coming from?”

Uh-oh. Sounds bab. Um, baaa-D. Yes!

I’m col-D…and so sleeeeeepy.

“We’re losing her!”

Am I lost? But I didn’t hibe yet! Worst gabe of hibe-and-seek ever. Cheaters.

I quib. Quiiib...t…qui-iiit.

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