Page 47 of Overcoming the Beta

“This?” She holds the paper up, “the results of your blood work and urine sample. First, you’re not pregnant, but you probably already knew that. Still, I thought it best to rule it out.” She puts the paper under her notes on the clipboard. “Second, all your blood work came back normal. Tell me about how you’ve been feeling… please.” Dr. Patrice’s tone is firmer than previously.

“Well… for starters I’m exhausted all the time. I don’t have an appetite at all, and I’ve noticed I’ve lost some weight… probably because I don’t eat. Even though I’m tired I can’t sleep,” I take a breath and sigh. “When I do sleep, I toss and turn so bad that I don’t get any rest. I’m moody and don’t want to hang out with my friends. I just want to sit in my room and cry. I’m also having a hard time in school because I can’t concentrate.” I run my hands through my hair. Hearing that my blood work is normal, I feel like I’m going crazy now.

“Would you say you’re restless and get irritated and agitated easily?” Dr. Patrice makes more notes. Maybe she thinks I’m crazy.

“Yes,” I close my eyes and breathe.

“Thank you for sharing all this with me today. I know it wasn’t easy.” She puts the clipboard in her lap. “I don’t think you have anything medically wrong with you.”

“You think I’m nuts, don’t you?” I cringe waiting for her response.

“No,” she chuckles under her breath, “I don’t think that at all. I’m pretty sure the chest pains and your other symptoms are related to Ian.” She tilts her head and offers me a grin.

“How so?” I nervously bite my bottom lip.

“Do you know the story of my mate, Michael?” Dr. Patrice puts her hands on top of the clipboard.

“You met him in medical school and he’s human.” I pause and think, “that’s all.” I shrug my shoulders.

“You’re correct, I met him in medical school and he’s human. When I first met him, I instantly knew he was my mate. I felt the pull… very strongly. I pushed him away, hoping that the bond would diminish. Unfortunately, it did not. Michael had an instant attraction to me, and he pursued me. Relentlessly. I continued to push him away… I even told him that I hated him and thought he was weird looking.” She looks up to the ceiling and laughs.

“Why would you push him away?” Leaning towards her, I’m intrigued by her story.

“Fear,” she sighs out. “I was afraid that my family and pack would reject our relationship. That I’d be forced to choose between him and those who I love dearly. And if I chose him, I’d have to live away from the pack, and my family.” She looks down then back up at me.

“But… our pack doesn’t have rules against human mates.” I tilt my head.

“I didn’t say my thought process was logical,” she laughs. “I became so ill, I was hospitalized. I had many of the same symptoms you are having now… plus some. Although I never did have chest pains. I had a battery of tests run on me, and everything came back normal. My doctors finally surmised that my illness was due to stress. When Luna Martha heard of my symptoms, she thought it sounded more like I was dealing with a rejection and took her concerns to her mate. My father came to pick me up from school to bring me back home, to my surprise Alpha Nathaniel was with him. Alpha Nathaniel is not a fan of vanity rejection of mates; he believes that mates are a gift from Moon Goddess herself. He wanted to face the wolf that would spit in the face of Moon Goddess and reject such a precious gift. When I finally told him the truth about Michael and that I was the one who was pushing him away, Alpha Nathaniel just laughed. He thought I was being silly and assured me that the pack would stand behind me and my mate. Human or otherwise. We had a very long discussion about how being mated outside the werewolf community is not taboo at all. He explained that Michael’s relentless pursuing of me was due to the mate bond pull. Humans experience the pull differently, but it is just as strong. He also explained that Michael would accept the fact that I’m a werewolf, without hesitation.” She explains.

“What happened next?” I’m hanging on to her every word. I’ve always loved love stories like this.

“They left. My father and Alpha Nathaniel, both thought it would be best if I stopped fighting the mate bond pull, and explore a relationship with Michael. That if they brought me back here, I would just continue to get sicker and sicker until my death. The next day I agreed to get coffee with Michael, and we have been together ever since. After we finished medical school, we moved here.” She smiles at me.

“So, you think that I’m feeling this way because I miss Ian?” I look away, trying to process everything.

“In a matter of speaking. The mate bond is very powerful, we are meant to be with our mates always. I think you are feeling his feelings the same as he can feel yours. These negative feelings are fueling each other. Being apart, like you both have been, for long periods of time puts a strain on the mate bond as well. All this combined can manifest itself into a physical illness. Your symptoms should go away when you’re both together again. When is he due home?” She gives me a warm smile, which is comforting. Her smile is telling me she completely understands how I’m feeling, and that she doesn’t think I’m crazy after all.

“His last final was this morning… so late this evening. I’ve already moved all my things into a cottage we’ll share this summer before we move back to college in the fall.” I smile and breathe out. I’m feeling like a weight is being lifted off my shoulders.

“That’s wonderful. I think we should wait and see if the pains stop. If not, I can order some tests.” Dr. Patrice makes some notes.

“Sounds like a plan. Thank you for seeing me today.” I slide off the table and breathe a sigh of relief. Hearing her story gives me hope that something serious is not wrong with me.

“Of course,” she stands and shakes my hand when I’m hit with pains in my chest again.

“Ughhh…” I groan while gripping my chest and lean back on the examination table.

“Woah,” Dr. Patrice wraps her arms around me, so I don’t fall to the floor.

“This one is worse than normal.” I breathe heavily through the pain.

“It’s ok,” she says as two nurses walk through the door. Together the three of them pick me up and lay me down on the examination table. “Get comfortable and rest here. Let me know when the pain stops.

I roll onto my side and apply pressure to my chest with my hands. This is the worst one by far, but the pain remains only in my chest. I breathe in and out slowly. Every time I have one of these pains Sasha cries out for Alex. Her cries are so sorrowful that it makes the pain worse.I need Ian.The pain only lasts for five minutes or so, but soon a wave of guilt crashes over me.What the hell is that about?

Ian

‘This isn’t cool, Ian. Kate is my sister.’Kelsey snaps at me through the open mindlink with Zane and me.

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