"I'd feel bad if he killed them."
"You would. But since you didn't do the action, then you don't bear the responsibility," Lilla reassured her.
Sasha smiled weakly. It was something she would say to the twins because it was something her dad said. Don't take on someone else's trouble—he was always telling her that.
The box on the wall spoke up then, startling them all. The twins squealed like yipping puppies and Davila jerked as if she'd been caught away from her duties.
"Miss, the nurse is here for your checkup. Can we send her in?" a man asked.
Sasha wondered why someone in Kane's household was asking her permission for anything. What would happen if she said no?
But Davila went over and pushed the button before she could think on it longer. "Yes, she's ready."
Davila returned to the bed to gather up the remains of their meal. "I’ve got to take this tray down and bring more food. Will you let me get the laundry later?"
"More food? I'm stuffed! And yes, take the laundry. Do you want help? Why wouldn't you just take it if you want it?"
The twins laughed and Davila smiled big enough to show her teeth. "Because you go crazy and scream, 'That's mine!' when I try to change your sheets."
"I do not!" Sasha gasped. She wouldn't.
In unison, they all said, "You do too!"
Sasha was making faces at them when the door opened, and Sara entered.
Sasha greeted the kind lady, pleased to see her. She had a calming way about her that put Sasha instantly at ease.
"Sweet girl, look how beautiful you are. Now your outsides match your insides." She took Sasha's hands in hers. "What a traumatic cycle this has been. Do you mind if we do an exam? Your alpha has been very worried about you. Eight days was rather a long cycle for your maturation, but we suspect that it is because of your unique background."
"He's not my alpha," Sasha said. Why did people keep saying that?
"Yes, dear," Sara answered patronizingly.
Lilla and Lanny giggled. Sasha shot them a quelling look.
She let Sara do all the prodding and poking she wanted. The woman asked questions, but Sasha couldn't remember most of what had happened to her in the last week.
Sara listened to her heart and lungs and ran some sort of medical device over her from head to toe, smiling reassuringly the whole time.
"Every girl is a little different, you know. The transition into maturation isn't an exact science. There are just too many variables. It is how the breeds came into being, after all. Science expects one outcome, nature decides on another."
"The whole process is rather miraculous, I think." Sara continued, showing her dimples.
"Now, because of the stress in your life and you not taking the HealthyB's supplements, this stage will be a little different for you, I think. Often there are six months to a year between the first estrous and the next, plenty of time for choosing a good alpha. But I'm not sure what your body is going to do. Do you mind if my Bruns comes to see you again?"
"No, I don't mind."
"Good."
Sara went on to tell Sasha of things she could expect, that she wasn't through the full change yet. Her body was still developing and changing on internal levels.
Her eyes heavy, ready to sleep again, Sasha picked out the what she thought were the finer points of the woman's words. The physical changes would be an accelerated development. In drones, this was a two to five year process. For Sasha it would be months, no longer than a year, and Sara thought as little as three months was very possible.
Because of this, Sasha would feel moody and achy. There may continue to be spots of blood in her secretions. There was a chance she could start lactating.
Half asleep as she was, it was the twins’ reaction of shocked gasps that made Sasha perk up. "Lactating?"
Sara had a motherly smile that oozed comfort. Sasha thought she smelled like cookies. "It means when the breasts produce milk for babies. You are a breeder, dear. Making babies is what your body is preparing for."
