ChapterOne
Matthias
There are worse ways to torture a man than making him a doctor in a small town where his fated mate is off-limits.
I just haven't found one yet.
It’s five thirty-two on a Monday night, and the mayor of Bad Bear Mountain’s blowing up my phone.Daisy’s called six times in the past two hours, probably to pick my brain about the Bad Bear Winterfest.
Fates, I need to avoid her.Not because I don’t want to get pulled into planning a small town festival–although I don’t.But because of Daisy’s delectable granddaughter.
Maisy.My sweet mate.
No, don’t think about her.
On long days like these, it’s hard to keep my thoughts from straying to her.I just did a double shift at the hospital in Santa Fe, and drove home only to swing by here to cover the rest of the nurse practitioner’s shift here at the clinic.I’m not tired; my shifter side has too much stamina for that.I mean, I could sleep.But I really need to go outside.My bear wants some forest time, and keeping him from going feral is a constant pressure.
Sometimes, I think I work all the time just so that when I finally go to sleep, I’m too tired to dream ofher.
I run my hand over my face.
The scent of mulled cider and caramel apples wafts through the door, and my bear instantly surges to the surface.
At first, I think I’m imagining it because when I let my mind wander, all I think of is her.Her hair, her scent, her smile, the delicious curves she hides under slightly too-baggy clothes.
But then, I realize…
She’s here.
Fuck.
I can’t stop myself from sucking the scent in through my nostrils, savoring the notes of caramel and cinnamon and delectable young female.
I groan.The smell makes my mouth water.My dick gets hard.My fangs try to punch through my gums, lengthening and ready to sink into something sweet.
Nope.
Not happening.
That can never happen.
I yank open the drawer of my desk where I keep the vials of Moon Cure.It’s a special formulation I came up with to deal with my…unique situation.I rip open a fresh syringe and fill it.I don’t even bother to sanitize the top of the bottle or my skin.I jab it into my biceps and press the plunger down.
The cooling sensation spreads through my arm.Sweet relief, just in time.In a few seconds, it’ll bring a dullness to my senses.Like bringing a curtain up between my rational brain and my desires.My logical self and my feral one.
My bear doesn’t like it, but he understands.
There’s a knock on my office door.
I withdraw the needle as I shove my desk drawer closed, then drop the needle in the trash can.I’ll put it in the biohazard box later.“Yes, Sara?”
Sara opens the door.“Dr.Matthias?We have a walk-in.”
Yes.I’m well aware.And I know exactly who it is.
“The patient hoped to see Nancy, but she just left.”
I stand.“It’s okay.Nancy left early to see her son in the school play.I’m covering her patients ‘til closing.”I straighten my glasses and give her a smile.“Show the patient to room two and let her know I’ll be there in a moment.”
