Clarke

Nate was sitting with me the next day as we waited for the doctor to return with my test results. As we were discussing possible job opportunities for Nate, my attention was suddenly drawn to the door.

Nate noticed and asked, "What's up, Clarke?"

I cocked my head to the side and replied, "I think there's a werewolf heading this way."

"How can you tell," he asked, confused.

"I don't know," I said, looking at him. "Since we've gotten here, I've been able to tell when a werewolf nears me. Remember when I pointed out the two of them at Rosie's the first time we ate there?"

"Yeah, I remember. You sensed them?"

"Yeah, before they even came through the door. Then again before that Sheriff confronted me for the first time."

"And you're feeling it now?"

"Uh-huh," I replied.

At that moment, there was a knock and the door opened to reveal two doctors coming in. The first one to enter was the one that had been treating me since yesterday. The other one, was younger, and he paused as he stepped through the doorway. We looked at one another warily, but he seemed to shake himself and came closer.

"Ms. Griffin," my doctor said, "I'd like you to meet Dr. Jackson. He's a physiologist here at the hospital."

Dr. Jackson stepped closer and we shook hands and I said, "Dr. Jackson, nice to meet you."

He looked at me more closely, but replied amicably enough, "Same."

"So, what's the diagnosis," I asked them.

"You basically undid the repairs that your surgeon had done when you first injured your shoulder," Dr. Jackson replied.

"Does that mean surgery again," Nate asked.

"I'd like to try something different this time," he replied, looking at Nate. "Instead of surgery right off the bat, I'd like to see how they heal on their own."

"What exactly does that mean for me," I asked.

"For you," Dr. Jackson said, turning his eyes back to me, "means resting your arm and therefore your shoulder. Limit the amount that you use your arm. Taking anti-inflammatory medication. Now, you've told Dr. Grayson, here, that you're fairly active, is that correct?"

"It is," I replied.

"Then we'll do a couple of things to help immobilize your shoulder. You'll need to bandage the shoulder and keep it in a sling for a period of time."

"How much time," I asked, arching my brow at him.

"Two to three weeks."

"I can do that," I said, nodding.

"Are you sure," he asked, warily.

"Yeah, I'm sure. So what happens after that times up?"

"I want to schedule an appointment to come see me and we'll see how the healing is going. If it's looking good, we'll start you on a physical therapy regime."

"Alright, sounds reasonable enough. How long will it take for my shoulder to completely heal?"

"It can take upwards of six months, I'm afraid," he answered, looking at me pointedly.

I made a face, but nodded, "I understand."

He nodded, "Good. How's your shoulder feeling?"

"There's a painful ache," I replied. "Nothing I can't handle, though."

"I see," he said and then turned to Dr. Grayson, "Dr. Grayson, I need to speak with these two privately, could you start the discharge paperwork and order a prescription of anti-inflammatory medication."

"Of course," he replied and left.

When we were all sure that the doctor had gone, Dr. Jackson said, "You're not from Polis."

I smiled slightly at his directness and replied, "We're not. We moved recently to a property just on the other side of the territory. Is that where you're from?"

"I am," he said. "I've got a clinic there. It's geared more to our kind."

I nodded, "I see. So, what do you want to know?"

He looked between me and Nate, trying to decide something, but eventually asked, "Can you tell me exactly how you hurt your shoulder."

"I was attacked initially," I replied carefully. "The reason why I'm here is because I basically ran myself into the ground. We went for a run until my shoulder couldn't handle it anymore. We took a short break. Before the pain could completely subside, I shifted and took off until I couldn't use that shoulder anymore."

"And those holes in your shoulder?"

I growled, still angered by the attack and replied, "Your sheriff attacked me without provocation."

He'd scooted back a little bit at my growl, but Nate laid a hand on my leg and I calmed down again.

"I'm sorry about that, but your sheriff was harassing and threatening me," I said, staring at him intently.

He swallowed and came closer, "I can understand your anger at him. I've never liked him."

I nodded curtly and asked, "When I see you in three weeks, where will it be?"

He cleared his throat and replied, "I'd like to see you at my clinic in Polis."

"That's a two hour drive for us," Nate said. "Wouldn't it be easier to have the appointment here."

"Actually, it takes about half an hour to drive between Eden and Polis," he said. "Before you leave, I'll make sure that you have a map of the route you should take."

"Will it be okay for me to even enter town limits," I asked, a little worriedly.

"It should, but if it makes you feel better, I'll double check with Lexa and then let you know."

"Lexa?"

"Our Alpha."

"So, your Alpha really is a woman," Nate asked in wonder.

He looked at Nate perplexed, "Yes. Why does that seem odd to you?"

Nate and I shared a look and I nodded slightly, "The pack we came from doesn't allow females to become Alphas."

"And that's all you're going to get out of us," I said, staring at him. "Let's just set up this appointment so that I can get out of here."

He nodded, but I could see that the wheels were turning in his head. We set it up, he gave me his card, I gave him my contact information, and he was out the door.

"Should we have done that," Nate asked, looking at the door.

"There are packs out there that don't allow females to become Alphas besides ours, Nate," I said, sighing. "It's not like we told him that it was a death sentence to be a female Alpha in Jaha's pack. He'll eventually forget."

"But will he tell his Alpha? That's what has me worried."

"Does it really matter? So she's learned a little bit more about me."

"Clarke," he said, looking at me, "this could end up biting us in the ass. Make her more determined to find out what really happened. Why we're really here."

"Nate, the reason we're here is to start over," I said, leaning closer to him. "That's all that she really needs to know. She doesn't need to know that I was exiled under threat of death. She doesn't need to know that the same attack that caused my injuries resulted in the death of the next Alpha. All she needs to know is that we're harmless."

He sighed and rubbed his face with his hands and said, "Fine. Why don't you get dressed? That way, as soon as the paperwork is here, we can go home."

I nodded and got out of bed. I grabbed the overnight bag and took it into the small bathroom. When I had changed, I came back out and Dr. Grayson was standing, waiting patiently for me. I signed the appropriate forms and then we were on our way home.