Page 66 of Bitten Shifter

“Alpha Prime,” she coos. “We have been expecting you.”

Merrick’s voice hardens. “You are expecting Lark Winters, not me.” He does not acknowledge her attempts at charm, nor does he even look at her.

I grin childishly.

She blinks, nodding. “Of course. Lark Winters. Right this way.” She barely glances at me. I might as well be invisible so much for equal footing.

She leads us to an examination room, where a doctor waits behind a desk, a bright, eager smile plastered on her face. She nods politely at Merrick but focuses on me with a vaguely predatory gleam in her eyes—the same one the receptionist gave Merrick. It’s like the look you would give a decadent dessert.

“Hello, I’m Doctor Sheridan. Please, Miss Winters, take a seat.”

“Thank you,” I say, sitting down where she indicates.

“We have several tests planned,” she says, scrolling through data on her tablet. “I’m particularly interested in your case. We’d like cerebrospinal fluid, bone marrow?—”

Merrick’s low growl silences her. “That’s not why Miss Winters is here. She is here for basic tests to confirm she is fit to leave—nothing else. She is not your lab rat.”

Doctor Sheridan’s expression falls. “Of course not, Alpha Prime. I would never?—”

His eyes narrow. “We discussed this. Just the basics, Doctor.”

She lowers her gaze. “Yes, Alpha.”

I exhale, relieved she won’t be poking and prodding beyond reason. Once Merrick leaves, she continues with the standard tests, clearly disappointed.

Twenty minutes later, I’m finished. Everything looks normal. I’m unlikely to shift for a few more days, and I’m otherwise healthy.

Doctor Sheridan can’t resist telling me I’m developing faster than expected, implying more tests would be ideal. I ignore her.

When I step outside, Merrick is waiting—silent, seething with anger that radiates off him.

“Are you all right?” I ask quietly.

“I’m fine,” he says, though he does not look fine at all. “That was absurd. I’m sorry. No one should subject you to extra procedures without explanation. I’m glad I was there.” He pauses, gaze distant. “Doctor Sheridan is good at her job, which is the only reason she is here. She got… carried away. I will have someone keep an eye on her.”

He types furiously on his phone. I begin heading for the barracks, but without looking up, Merrick gently takes my elbow and steers me towards the car park instead. A sleek black car waits.

“Fancy. The Alpha Prime must come with some great perks.”

“It was a gift from the Vampire Court.”

“Oh?” I raise an eyebrow. “Do they often give you presents, or is this a special gift?” My inner voice adds sarcastically,Like, for when one of theirs is stalking your mate?

“They send things occasionally, but I don’t always accept them.”

“And this one?” I ask, gesturing at the gleaming bonnet.

He shrugs. “I needed a new car. So this one’s mine.”

Of course it is.

“Riker will bring your belongings.”

I’m grateful I left my room tidy.

Merrick turns to me. “Before we go, I have something for you.”

He produces a delicate necklace, the chain gleaming—white gold or platinum—with a tiny vial of swirling blue liquid suspended at its centre.

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